TELL ME NO LIES by Lynn Chandler Willis begins a new series set in a town in a small Appalachian Mountains town. Ava Logan runs the town newspaper and is hunting for her friend’s killer while caring for the orphaned toddler and her own kids. It’s well-written and has very well-rounded relatable characters.

I was quite surprised to find that this author has a very short back list. I was immediately drawn into and became part of the world she created in “Tell Me No Lies”. I will certainly be reading her other books in the near future and waiting for new books in this series.

Ava Logan is the publisher/editor of the local newspaper in her fairly small town in the North Carolina hills. She is also the widow of a law enforcement officer, Tommy, who was killed in the line of duty years before. She is also the mother of two, a pre-teen daughter and a teenage son, so her hands are quite full with both duties at home and at work.

She has agreed to watch her friend’s toddler daughter, Ivy, so Trish can have the evening free. When she goes to take Ivy back home, the book explodes into a mystery thriller which leaves the reader trying to figure out both whodunnit and why. The ending was a bit shocking to me but it completely made sense.

I was very impressed with the fluidity with which the author wove in Ava’s back story, giving me bits and pieces to guess at what has brought her to this point in her life. The characters became real to me and the plot line could be lifted from a newspaper. My mother was born and raised in the hills of North Carolina and I felt that the author captured the essence of the people who live there.

I was provided a digital advance reader copy of this book by the publisher via Netgalley.

A single mom, Ava Logan, runs the only newspaper in this small Appalachian Mountains town. Her husband was killed in the line of duty some years ago.

An election is coming up soon and Ava's newspaper is doing well with all the politicians paying for advertising. She's busy trying to keep up with the politics and investigating a rash of poaching. Seems lots of ginseng is going missing. And with the advent of a new buyer, who's paying more money than anyone else, there's lots of groaning.

Ava's friend has left her baby daughter with Ava for a rare night out. The next morning when Ava goes to return baby Ivy, she finds her friend horribly murdered.

The sheriff is someone she has a history with ... a history filled with love, passion ...and guilt.

For 10 years she has kept him at arm's length ... but when someone comes gunning for Ava, the past seems very unimportant. Why would anyone want to hurt Ava?

This is an extremely well written murder mystery. Because the characters are so deftly written, they feel like people I could know and like. Of course, there's always that one or two who are hiding secrets that eventually see the light of day. The characters are credible. Her teenage son is hiding something from Mom. Her 12-year-old daughter is discovering boys. And baby Ivy is too young to know where her mama is. Ava was raised in the system and wants Ivy to have a real home.. especially when her own grandparents don't want her and no one knows who her father is.

There are stories seamlessly woven amid other stories. This is he first of a series ... one that I really wanted to continue when I got to the end. No cliff hangers, I am happy to say.

Many thanks to the author / Henery Press / Netgalley for the digital copy of this most interesting book. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

Awesome read!! I love a good mystery & Tell Me No Lies delivers a gripping story. This is the first in the Ava Logan series & I am so excited for the next book.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

An extremely enjoyable and well-written read. The first-person, conversational tone made me feel as if Ava was a friend of mine – telling me her story.  She is easy to identify with – a caring mother with a complicated past of her own that shapes her decision making.  You can feel her attachment to Ivy growing, and know she would do whatever she can help ensure the child’s safety and future well-being.  At the same time, her feelings of guilt over something in her past keep her from truly giving her heart to either of her love interests in the story. This mystery was well crafted; its intricate plot held lots of surprises and kept me guessing right to the end. I’ll definitely be on the lookout for future books in this series.

So happy to see this is the first in a series. I was immediately drawn into the story and did not want to quit turning the pages. Clever mystery with several viable suspects. Romance, children and a dog add to its charm. Friends, co-workers, and neighbors add interest and heart. I shed many tears throughout this story. I am eagerly awaiting Ava Logan Mystery #2.. I will be looking for other books by this author. She grabbed my heart and squeezed.

Nice little quick read with strong characters. I flew right through it. A great blend of suspense and romance. It managed to surprise me a few times. I think it's a strong start to a series!

Ava is a single mom doing her best. Her police officer husband was killed in the line of duty years ago. She has her hands full with twelve year old Emma, fifteen year old Cole, and publishing the small town newspaper. After her friend is murdered while she watches her toddler, life gets complicated. Who would want to kill Trish, a charming artist with seemingly no enemies? Turns out, she had a second job digging up ginseng that may have not been exactly legal. Ava is being pressured to investigate stolen ginseng from local farmers. Soon she finds herself in the middle of a mystery, much to the concern of her handsome sheriff friend. Now she may be in the same danger Trish was... is it business rivalries, or something else? Time is running low to find out.

I was given an ARC of this book by Net Galley and Henery Press, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.

Great romantic mystery, fun characters and super fast paced read. I am excited to see more in this series.

This was a great book as it grabs you right at the beginning starting with the murder of Ava's friend and doesn't let go of you until the end. Ava is babysitting her friend's toddler daughter and goes to drop her off the next morning and finds her dead. That's the opening of the book. Ava does not know who Trish went out with and she does not know who Trish has been seeing or if she has been seeing anyone.

Ava is the owner and editor of the small town local newspaper where she lives.

Not only is Trish's murder investigation going on. There is a poacher loose and he or she is digging up people's ginseng and is selling it. Apparently, ginseng is worth a lot of money. Money that people will kill for. Ava gets involved in this investigation and pretty soon, someone is shooting at her.

While there were not a lot of suspects in this book, I had my eye one person. The jaw dropping ending in this book is certainly enough to make me want more. As this is the first in the series for the Ava Logan mysteries, I think this book promises a lot to look forward to.

Thanks to Henery Press for approving my request and to Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

Ava is a single mum who runs a local newspaper while bringing up her two children. One day she's been looking after her best friend's baby when she discovers her friend's body. Suddenly she's caught up in a murder investigation rather than reporting on one and it brings her into contact - and conflict - with the local sheriff, who was her late husband's partner on the police force. Soon Ava herself is a target as she tries to juggle her work (including an investigation into ginseng thefts), a bit of investigating into what happened to her friend and her family which now has an extra member. And all this as the sheriff is up for relelection.

I enjoyed this mystery, which is the first in a new series, and think it has great potential as a series. There are a few tropes here that some readers may find problematic, especially if they're coming from the romance end of the reading spectrum, but I thought it was all thought out and handled well. I'll be looking out for the next in the series.

I enjoyed this book it kept me on the edge of my seat, I couldn't second guess the outcome and it was a puzzle until near the end when I managed to work out who the guilty party was.I felt the book could have been a little shorter but its no big deal, it was a good book,and I enjoyed reading it.Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC

Ava Logan is a widowed young mother of two - twelve-year-old Emma and fifteen-year-old Cole. She lives in Jackson Creek, North Carolina, deep in the Appalachian Mountains, and owns the town's newspaper, The Jackson Creek Chronicle. Her husband Tommy was a police officer killed in the line of duty and she's doing her best to care for her family and eke out a living.

She's also taking care of Ivy Givens, daughter of her friend Trish, who needed an evening away from the toddler. When Ava arrives at Trish's trailer to return Ivy she comes across a horrific scene: the body of her friend, or at least what's left of her. When the police arrive, headed by Sheriff Grayson Ridge, everyone goes through the motions: when did you last see her, how long have you had Ivy, did she tell you who she was seeing, etc. It's not what Ava ever wanted her kids to go through and it puts her in a precarious position. As the editor of the newspaper she knows the people have a right to know what's going on; but as a witness she has a duty to keep certain facts to herself.

But as in any small town, news gets around and people are afraid there's a serial killer on the loose. It doesn't help that it's also an election year and Ridge's opponent, Ed Stinger, is purposely trying to cause a stir and get him ousted, not only using the murder but asking Ava to look into the poaching of ginseng (a big market) and use both to his advantage. With Ed being a big advertiser with his real estate business, she has no choice but to agree. She soon learns more facts about the poaching and wonders if it might have anything to do with the murder.

Yet she also has problems with her feelings for Ridge - he was her husband's partner ten years ago when Tommy was murdered and Ridge was on vacation that day leaving Tommy alone. She can't seem to separate the guilt from her feelings for Ridge, leaving things complicated. But while she thinks she has a handle on her emotions and can ride everything out, what she doesn't count on is that Trish's killer isn't finished yet, and she's next on the agenda...

I cannot convey how much I enjoyed this book. While the Appalachians took a back seat in the story, it doesn't matter. What does matter is the characterization, and this Ms. Willis does beautifully. She can create characters that have character; people who have real emotions and pull you deep into the story she is weaving. This is the first book in a new series, and as such, is only a prelude of what I hope will be a long one. Ava Logan is a strong independent woman who loves her children and more than that: she has the capability to spread that love to others, and that love is shown in the people around her and their reaction to her; including her taking into her home a toddler who has suddenly become an orphan.

We are given snippets throughout the book of her past and how it has shaped her life thus far, and this is important as it not only shows us who she is, but her strengths and weaknesses. It makes her human. But Ms. Willis does not stop there. She gives a genuineness to the characters in the book, too: Cole, Emma, Doretha and Ridge. These are the people most important to her, and they are given a feeling of believability in their own right.

I mention these because without them a book is weak; you can only take it so far with a great plot if you have weak characterization. Which brings us to the plot, which is very good indeed. There are a few subplots, but also several red herrings (which I leave to you to discover yourself). What seems tied together isn't, and what seems irrelevant may not be so in the end. There is a sadness tied in, and there was a point (I will admit) that I found tears in my eyes for loss, for hurt, for sadness itself. The discovery of the murderer was a surprise, as well it should be, and you would do yourself a favor to read this. Highly recommended.

Tell Me No Lies

by Lynn Chandler Willis

Tell Me No Lies is an outstanding mystery. While marketed as the first book in the Ava Logan Mystery Series, it reads as a standalone. If the author Lynn Chandler Willis has more adventures in mind for the main character Ava, I am excited at the prospect.

A woman is brutally murdered as Ava Logan, a widowed mother of two, babysits her adorable toddler, Ivy. Who would murder this beautiful, young artist and why? Representing law enforcement, handsome Sheriff Grayson Ridge, and Ava, small town newspaper publisher, pursue their independent and joint investigations into these questions.

With a very effective gossip machine, many in Jackson Creek, North Carolina, wonder why the small town even needs a newspaper. The mystery plays out with continuing danger, various potential suspects, a heated sheriff election, Ginseng poaching, speculation of abuse, and romantic intrigue.

Tell Me No Lies is a hard book to put down. It will keep you engaged until the very end--an ending you won’t expect. Willis has won several awards for previous books. I anticipate this one will add to her accolades.

I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Henery Press for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Mystery, Thriller

Notes: Can I give this one a 6/5? It’s just a really splendid mystery!

Publication: February 7, 2017 -- Henery Press

Memorable Lines:
Rain splattered against the windshield then, like magic, disappeared with the hypnotizing swipe of the wipers. I wished life was that simple. Whenever you felt the sting of a broken heart, the crush of a disappointment, or the torment of a bad decision, you could just flip a lever and a giant mechanical arm would wipe it all away. It was a nice thought but, like the rain, there would always be more to come.

[Describing Ava’s office manager] Ever the social butterfly with a manicured nail on the pulse of the town...

For so many years, we had walked around carrying words we wanted to say but never did. We raised silent questions, hoping to never really know the answers.

Small town America, with all its small town problems.


In The Appalachians of North Carolina, mother of two Ava Logan goes to return her friend’s toddler after an overnight babysit and finds her friend dead in her trailer. It’s a small town, where everybody knows everybody else, and their business. The news soon spreads shock waves through the community.

Ava also runs the local newspaper and soon finds she has a conflict of interest between what is newsworthy and what the police want her to hold back. The sheriff is up for re-election and this adds to the pressure to discover the murderer. Added to all this is that nobody know who the baby girl’s father is, and whether the murder is connected to him...

The style of writing reminded me very much, rightly or wrongly, of a James Patterson novel and this feeling stayed with me through the book. It is written in the first person through Ava’s eyes and her various conflicts.

The author pulls all the strands together, the baby; the death; the upcoming election for sheriff; Ava and her own children.

The book itself is described as a thriller and the first of a series about Ava. Personally, I found it a little too slushy to be described as that. I was also surprised that, amidst the chumminess of small town America, guns are so easily accessible.

I did stick with it and it did pay off in the end but I also found myself bogged down in a fair bit of saccharine and soon had enough of reading about “chubby cheeks”.

Take out the saccharine and it would deserve a 4 star from me for the storyline.

Mr Bumblebee

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of this book to review.

Tell Me No Lies: An Ava Logan Mystery by Lynn Chandler Willis is described as “Mystery Thriller General Fiction (Adult)” Knowing that, I settled in for what I hoped would be enough to take my mind off politics :). And, to just get it out of the way, I really really enjoyed this book. The author’s background includes ownership of a small-town newspaper (like her protagonist Ava Logan), and work in television, both of which may have contributed to the way the writing flows nicely while providing a rich visual portrait of both characters and environment.

Another thing to get out of the way is to clarify that it isn’t really possible to say much about the book without spoiling it. Now, about that: I am an avid mystery reader who generally doesn’t figure things out ahead of time, which is fine by me. I prefer being surprised (but only in reading, never in real life!) But there was a mention early on of something about the character that turned out to be the villain that made me say “hmmmm.” So, perhaps other readers may find the ending was telegraphed early on – but I was actually still somewhat surprised AND it didn’t lessen my enjoyment.

So, here is what I CAN say: the protagonist, Ava Logan, is a single mother to amazing children who live deep in Appalachia (and the setting turns out to be a significant aspect of the book’s appeal, as Willis uses both the natural beauty of the region and the appalling poverty to move her story along. Ava’s past is referenced (she tells us “…I had always been the girl with the mom in prison”).

Ava has made a good life for herself and is the publisher of the local newspaper. In her role as publisher/writer, she encounters some stories related to the upcoming local election about a rash of ginseng thieves (really? Who knew? Well, not me). Then on a day when Ava is watching a toddler belonging to her friend (another single mom), the friend is murdered and Ava finds herself in the middle of that case, the thievery, and a side plot about her multiple male friends, who are both prominent in the town.

When I write it down it sounds so cliché and like it might not be that much fun to read, but seriously, you just need to trust me. If you enjoy a clever mystery, mostly likeable characters (including a “plucky heroine”), you will like this.

With thanks to Henery Press and NetGalley for providing an advance copy in exchange for my honest review, I give it four stars. Only negative for me was the fact that the clue to the mystery may have been too obvious which I know turns off some mystery readers. Again, for me, that was not an issue and I will definitely recommend this one.

Tell Me No Lies

This is the first book in Willis' Ava Logan mysteries.

Ava Logan is a single mother who lives with her children in the Appalachian Mountains; to say her life is hectic is an understatement!!

When her life turns into a murder mystery, things take a whole new turn. Action, suspense, murder, love...Tell Me No Lies has it all and you can't fail to be gripped by this book.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book, with thanks to Netgalley and the publisher. 5*

3.75 stars

This debut series novel was a gripping read. The characters are real, and they manage to capture our interest with their flaws, bad decisions, and heartache. Newspaper editor and publisher Ava Logan has been a widow with two children for 10 years, ever since her police officer husband died in the line of duty. Ava, a product of the foster care system, has had more than her share of unhappiness but she is a survivor and is determined to do right by her children.

Ava's good friend Trish, also a single mom, is brutally murdered and Ava is the one to discover the body. Ava instantly brings Trish's toddler Ivy into her own family, ever mindful of her own checkered history. But Trish isn't the only casualty -- someone is out to kill Ava, and they seem determined to keep trying until they succeed.

There are lots of secrets in this novel, which shape the course of all the characters' lives. The strength in this story is the appeal and familiarity of these well-drawn men and women. They don't always act logically, especially Ava, but I guess that is pretty realistic as well.

I was provided an ARC via Net Galley in return for my honest review.

I was enthralled with Tell Me No Lies from the very beginning of the book. I was taken to a location in North Carolina that I'd never visited and introduced to characters that were richly drawn and complex, without being overwhelming. The mystery was gripping, with an ending more surprising than I'd read in a long while. I am encouraged that this is the first in a series and can't wait for more!