A locked room murder mystery at a writing festival/book fair. The headliner, Mark Swift, is in the green room preparing to be interviewed on the main stage. But he’s late again. When someone goes to fetch him, he’s dead. Kate Ballentine attended the event because her husband, Van, likes murder mysteries. She doesn’t, because she has to solve them IRL. Like this one. Detective Ballantine jumps into action and we have a front-row seat to her actions and thought processes.
It’s quite a satisfying story. There are some hints to previous cases (this is #4 in the series), and I will definitely go back and listen to the earlier ones, as I like her character and her relationships with her best friend and her husband. The tension between her and her work superior reminds me of the series featuring Detectives Linley (Elizabeth Brown) and Richard Jury (Margaret Grimes) and their officious and odious bosses. Very enjoyable.
My thanks to the author, publisher, @BrillianceAudio, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook of #TheLyingMan for review purposes. Publication date: 29 April 2025.

3.5⭐️ rounded up.

Starting with the fourth book in a series isn’t always the smartest, but I found myself enjoying this nonetheless. Detective Kat Ballantyne is a super interesting character. As she attends a crime writing convention with her husband, Van, one of the authors is found dead in the green room. Detective Ballantyne takes on the case and starts to investigate who might have wanted Mark Swift dead. There were plenty of twists and turns and the ending was both heartbreaking and satisfying, with the final twist taking me by surprise.
I really enjoyed Kat’s eye for detail and inability to stop until the case is fully closed. She recognizes when things aren’t quite right and can decipher even the most difficult of clues. I definitely want to read the other books in this series!

Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and Brilliance Publishing for the ALC!

Rating: 4–4.5 *

The Lying Man is the 4th installment in the Detective Kat Ballantyne series. I really enjoyed the setup: a murder at a crime-writing festival? Yes, please. The locked room mystery vibe is always fun, and this one kept me on my toes with clever twists and a steady build.

Without giving anything away, I’ll just say: this book had me questioning my own sense of right and wrong a few times. There were moments where I found myself sympathizing with the killer and I love when a story challenges my thinking like that.

I was also really glad to see what happened with Tom after everything that went down in the previous book. I was worried...

As for Carver? Yeah… still waiting for karma to do its thing. Maybe in the next one. Fingers crossed.

Oh...almost forgot... I really like the new team addition. He seems capable, grounded, and a great balance to the existing cast.
Also, I really enjoyed the narrator’s performance in the audiobook. She brings Kat’s perspective to life in a way that feels sharp, steady, and believable ... she really matches the tone of the series.

Overall, this was a smart, layered mystery that delivered on both the plot and the characters. If you enjoy twisty crime reads with a bit of moral gray, this one’s worth checking out.

📖 ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Release date: April 29, 2025

The lying man ; detective Kat goes to a crime writer conference as a rest from life. But then the headline writer is found dead in the green room. When it becomes obvious that it was murder , Kat needs to find the killer

The fourth Kat Ballentyne and the best of a continually evolving character and an improving series, with the caveat that you don't have to have read the previous books to be able to enjoy this one. The Lying Man presents us with the classic locked room mystery with the howdunit being as difficult to fathom as the who making for an enjoyable listen

Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for the opportunity to listen to this audio book.

I really enjoyed this.... I did not realize it was part of a series. SO it can be a stand alone. There are a few things that happen that may have been in other books, but this was totally fine. You don't miss anything of the mystery at hand.
Solid 3.5- voted up.

A famous victim. A locked room. Dark secrets. For DS Ballantyne, murder isn’t black and white.

DS Kat Ballantyne came to the crime-writing festival for an escape. Instead she’s walked straight into a murder scene.

Moments before he’s due on stage, a famous novelist is found dead in a locked room. It looks like natural causes, but Kat sees tiny clues that suggest murder. As she investigates, she uncovers literary rivalries, personal vendettas and hidden agendas. Is there anyone who didn’t have a motive to murder Mark Swift?

As the case takes a turn for the darker, Kat finds herself in a world where the line between right and wrong is blurred. Can she bring Swift’s killer to justice? And, if so, should she?

A best selling crime author is murdered at a writing festival in a locked from the inside room. DS Kat Ballantyne must investigate the suspects- crime authors and personal vendetta holders with lots of motives.

The 4th in the Detective Kat Ballantyne series, this was a fun mystery. Literary rivals are as petty as middle schoolers. There is also the moral question: Do some people deserve to be killed. All in all great fun.

Ell Potter did a fantastic job bringing the characters to life.

Great book loved the suspense I love any thrillers but this was such an easy book to listen to.

Would highly recommend it to others.

I liked the narrator and the main character. However there was too many mini side plots that didn’t make sense, weren’t necessary, and drew away from the main plot. It made me feel like I just didn’t care about what was happening anymore with the main investigation.

Love this book! I wasn’t sure what to except but this was an engaging suspense/thriller.
Quick and easy read. Read it all in one afternoon.
Someone is dead and we have a cool main female character to save the day.
Word of warning, I was afraid there was going to be cheating during one scene in the book - there was some mild lusting - but it was quick and never mentioned again. Thankfully.
Check this out as quick thriller! I found myself almost (gasp) rooting for the killer - if that tells you anything!
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

"Moments before he’s due on stage, a famous novelist is found dead in a locked room. It looks like natural causes, but Kat sees tiny clues that suggest murder. As she investigates, she uncovers literary rivalries, personal vendettas and hidden agendas. Is there anyone who didn’t have a motive to murder Mark Swift?"

This is book four in the Detective Kat Ballantyne series, and I can confidently say that you don't have to read the others in the series first (because I haven't, ha). However, after reading this one, I will seek them out because I really enjoyed this "locked room mystery" mystery!

Kat and her crew battle against internal strife, lying mystery writers, interfering podcasters, and the fact that the victim was such a POS that it is easier to number people who DIDN'T have a grudge against him than did. Kat also has to confront her personal feelings about the case: she's always believed that no one deserves to be murdered, but dang, Mark Swift was a real piece of work. Kat discovers more horrific details of his life, and wrestles with the feeling that the murderer did the world a favour by disposing of a horrid man.

I enjoyed this novel: the characters are well thought out, the plot is twisty enough to keep the reader engaged, and the solution isn't too far out of the realm of possibility and believability.

I'll definitely look for the other books in the series!

I received a free audiobook copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

I've always loved mystery novels where it turns out that the murder victim was such a terrible person that there's a seemingly endless list of suspects. This is one of those. It's written in the style of a police procedural with a lot of questions, which I also like. Although I think I would have liked it more if I knew there detective better, she was definitely likeable and I enjoyed the narrator's voice and portrayal of her. There were dark secrets, and I didn't like everything, but the author did a good job tying things up. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me listen to this audiobook

This book was OK for me. It wasn't spectacular, but it wasn't awful. A classic detective who-done-it mystery with a few twists. It kept me interested and was well written. The narrator did a fantastic job capturing the emotions and personalities of the characters.

#TheLyingMan #AndyMaslen #NetGalley

Another absolute blinder! I love this series so much; brilliant characters, the perfect balance of Kat's work and personal life and a thrilling plot.

A bestselling author is murdered at a crime writing festival, inside a room that is locked from the inside. As Kat delves into possible suspects and motives, she finds herself drowning in vendettas and revenge.

This fast paced page turner is so well written, I like Kat more and more with each book and the plot was excellent, with Tomski's life hanging in the balance and Kat curious to know more about her recently discovered, but deceased half sister, the connection between her father and her boss, Stuart "Carve-up" Carver and why Tom is acting strangely.

I think this may be my favourite DS Kat Ballantyne book so far as her morals hugely conflicted with the knowledge that she had to arrest a murderer, despite the knowledge that the victim was a monster. I loved the scene with Ernie, the caretaker at the festival venue, where Kat ties up loose ends from the case. The new member of Kat's team, Fez, is set to become a favourite and I hope he is around for a while.

I listened to the audiobook and Ell Potter did a fantastic job of bringing Kat and the team to life.

5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Andy Maslen and Brilliance for an ARC in return for an honest review.