Lying Ways by Rachel Lynch

J-LBRBSBLOGS

Sep 24

An unforgettable addition to the DI Kelly Porter series from one of British crime fiction's rising stars.

Book blurb

When the danger is already inside, nowhere is safe...Highton prison sits nestled within the moors of western Cumbria, close to the coastal road.

When two former inmates turn up dead, DI Kelly Porter is tasked with finding out why.

It soon becomes obvious that she is hunting for one killer and the place where both victims were incarcerated holds the key.

As Kelly delves into life at Highton she finds more questions than answers.

A web of corruption and deceit emerges within the prison walls. As Kelly gets closer to unpicking the relationships between the officers and their wards, a full scale prison riot explodes - with police caught in the middle.

Kelly now faces a hostage situation with a well-loved member of her team caught in the middle.

My thoughts

Another whip smart and terrific read from Rachel Lynch. In this book a lot is happening personally and that is cleverly interlaced through yet another wonderful story set in Cumbria.

The main murder investigation storyline, however, is never lost and takes us into the world of the criminal whether that be on the outside or inside of the British prison system, to where the lines blur and how easily you can be drawn into this world regardless of who you are.

This time we have two deaths with links to a prison in which both of the deceased served time - Highton Prison. Kelly and the team have to find out what has happened, who killed them and why? And is there really something bad happening within Highton? What is it and who should Kelly and her team be seeking? Then there's a prison riot and this deadly story comes very close to home as one of the team is caught up in it!

I really enjoy this series. The setting of Cumbria is beautiful with it's hills, lakes, towns and countryside even though we find ourselves in it's darker, criminal areas the setting shines through. The characters are well drawn throughout. The regular characters that we have got to know over the previous books are now familiar and bring much to the stories as this book so vividly demonstrates. As we got to know the team we have become invested in what is happening to them and this makes for a more gripping story.

Of course, DI Kelly Porter is the main character and certainly she has been the main character focus but as the series has gone on we are getting to know her team better and this enriches each new book. Even though each book can be easily read as a standalone the more personal storylines become important to those who start to follow the series from the beginning.

As we have come to expect from these books Rachel Lynch weaves a dark and twisty tale which keeps you gripped throughout. This is a series that I definitely recommend it grows with each book and brings such good characters, settings and stories.

Book: Purchsed

Information

Published: Canelo Crime (07/10/2021) ISBN: 9781788638715

Buy: Hive UK | Bookshop.org (affiliate link) | Your local bookshop | AmazonSmileUK

Author: Rachel Lynch grew up in Cumbria and the lakes and fells are never far away from her. London pulled her away to teach History and marry an Army Officer, whom she followed around the globe for thirteen years. A change of career after children led to personal training and sports therapy, but writing was always the overwhelming force driving the future. The human capacity for compassion as well as its descent into the brutal and murky world of crime are fundamental to her work.

Twitter - @r_lynchcrime

Books

Canelo Crime - all Rachel Lynch Books

Coming soon!