This was a decent police procedural with a likable detective inspector. I enjoyed the storyline of Anna and Jamie, the siblings of the guy killed. Not knowing much about autism, I don't know how accurate the portrayal was but the storyline regarding the meds and how they might have contributed to Eddie's death led to an interesting motive and case. I was wholly invested and I thought the writing was solid. Thanks so much for the opportunity and apologies for just now getting to it!

DEADLY LIES by Chris Collett
DI Tom Mariner thinks he’s seen it all, but now he faces an investigation which will push him to his limits.
A brilliant read. Loved it. Couldn't put it down. Really had me guessing. 5*.

Very fast paced and very intriguing. I enjoyed how it kept me hooked and it was an original story. Nowadays so many books read the same. Highly recommend

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. This book got my attention right away. Anna's story of growing up with a disabled brother (severe autism) and the family dynamics that went with that is actually enough for a good book. But, murder always makes things better and I am liking Detective Martinez very much. LOVED IT

This book was fantastic I loved everything about it. The characters were likeable and the storyline was interesting enough to keep me engaged and wanting more. A hard book to put down. Really well written, a real page turner. Well deserved 5 stars.

A crime thriller with a twist that has life changing consequences. I really enjoyed this book, the characters and storyline was believable. I will look out more from this author

This was a great book, I really enjoyed, a fast paced thriller with plenty of twists and turns in the plot. Highly recommend this page turner.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Chris Collett for the copy of this book. I agreed to give my unbiased opinion voluntarily.

A well written, interesting read that sympathetically highlights autism really well. A clever plot and typically damaged characters combine well to make this a solid offering from Follett but I did work out the main protagonist long before the conclusion

Enjoyable read, first in a series featuring DI Mariner, based in the West Midlands. This was previously published under another name, so is set a few years in the past.
What I found most interesting in this book was the character of Jamie, a young man with autism. Unlike most fiction, which portrays autistic people as high functioning, with Aspergers, Jamie is presented as being low functioning. This is actually more common, and Jamie, with limited language and needing 24-hour care is much more typical and realistic.
The story is interesting, and although the character of Mariner is similar to many loner middle-aged detectives, he is nonetheless a sympathetic character that I would be interested in reading about again.

*thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

2 stars.
This was a struggle to get through. I found it often boring and it didnt hold my attention. It felt more like a chore to get through. But the description of the story sounded really good, so it definally had potential. I dont think this was a bad story, it just wasnt for me. So that doesnt mean that others wont like it, it was just too slow for my liking. On a positive, I do like the cover.

D.I. Mariner, book one. Definitely worth a read. Well written, great plot and plenty action in the story line to keep you interested. A great start to this series. Thank you Net Galley for my copy. I reviewed on Amazon and Goodreads.

This was a great first novel, I am so hoping that there is a second novel coming up soon. The characters were well developed and very easy to relate to. It was quite informative with the information on autism and the struggle to deal with someone with this .

A very interesting detective thriller. One of the main characters has autism and its very well dealt with. The character is an adult which is unusual as it has its own difficulties.

This is a reprint of a book released in the early 2000’s, I believe.
It is a solid start to a new series. I did enjoy reading it and will continue to read the next books in the series.

Overall impression: The premise drew me in, and I enjoyed the twists and turns as the investigation progressed. The pace increases dramatically toward the conclusion.

What I like:

The premise: the only one who could say what happened...can't say what happened.
The Brocken Spectre (you'll have to read the book to see how it applies).
Snappy observations are sprinkled through the book. My favorite is when Anna first meets DI Mariner, whose recent nose injury makes his speech sound a bit thick, and "Anna had to fight a bizarre urge to pinch her nose and respond in the same way."
Good opening sentence: the who and the what are identified, but not the back story which would have bogged down the opening.
Short chapters. New info, red herrings, changes of perspective are all moved along very well in chapters that are quickly read. Also, the chapter endings are good: they made me want to turn the page right away and get to the next part.

What I don't like:

DI Mariner, Anna Barham, PC Knox
Is this story a treatise on autism and medication, or a mystery? Difficult to tell. It's labeled mystery.
DI Mariner jumps to conclusions. How does a newspaper story that is "personal" to its author bend itself in Mariner's mind to be about "personal services"?
The story reads like it was hastily abridged: answers are sometimes announced before the evidence is introduced.
Anna's brother Eddie took care of Jamie for years. When Anna assumes care of Jamie, she starts from scratch learning his favorite foods, etc. Why didn't she just check Eddie's cupboards to see what he stocked for Jamie?
Too much detail that doesn't relate to the story. While the detail does establish the characters' experience and mindset, the reader doesn't need that much detail to get the picture.

Thank you to Joffe Books and NetGalley for an Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book!  It was set at just the right pace, the plot was gritty and gripped me right from the off and I was second guessing myself as the book went on.  The characters are great and I thought that they really worked well together.  I live in the West Midlands so reading a book set in that area is always a plus for me. I read the book in less than a day and it is a really promising start to what looks to be a great new series!  (This was previously published as The Worm in the Bud).

Deadly Lies is the heartbreaking, terrifying medical murder mystery that could be ripped from today's headlines. Chris Collett is at the top of his game with this who do it....you'll never guess who done it!!

The book has a good pace, the plot unravels nicely. Makes a good read.

Pretty typical book in the genre for the most part really. Not overly predictable though which was nice. I liked Tom Mariner although yet again we're in old territory with a middle aged loner who lives on booze and takeaways. Can't say I was a massive fan of Anna Barham although she did get better as the book went on. I imagine Jamie Barham and the events of the book could be rather controversial however.

I found the book held my interest well. It's apparently a reprint and in some ways seems very dated but that wasn't something that put me off. We know it's set a few years ago before we had the sort of technology we have today, that's made clear at the start. I'll be looking out for more in the series.

A good suspenseful detective novel with information about autism woven into the plot as Jamie, a young autistic man witnesses the murder of his brother.