I will never look at game shows the same after reading A Game of Lies! In a real-life version of bait-and-switch, 7 contestants find out the reality show premise is not what they signed up for. Whose secret is worth killing for and why?

DC Ffion Morgan is back to try to figure out everyone's alibi, including staff and friends. The setting is the Welsh countryside and the Exposure encampment, surrounded by a wire fence. Everyone has an alibi, but everyone also has a motive. Mackintosh masterfully creates a well-developed persona for each of her characters through backstories and retellings from each POV of their time on the set of the reality show. I loved the addition of Dave, a large rescue who thinks he's a puppy and clings to Ffion like Velcro.

Thank so much to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this book by one of my auto-read authors!

What would you do if your biggest secret was going to be revealed?
In book 2 in DC Morgan series, seven contestants are on the new reality show, Exposure. They thought it was a survival reality show but when they get there they find out it’s meant to expose them and their secrets. And they can’t leave due to their sneaky contracts.
When one contestant goes missing, Ffion and the crew investigate. And then a murder happens. Most of the contestants and crew have an alibi. Ffion must figure out all the secrets and see who is lying and what really happened.
You do not have to read book one first but I highly recommend it to get a deeper knowledge of the characters.
Can’t wait to see where the characters go next!

"A Game of Lies" by Clare Mackintosh is a captivating thriller that takes readers on a suspenseful journey into the world of reality television, where deception and betrayal lurk behind every smile.

Set against the backdrop of the Welsh mountains, the novel follows seven contestants stranded in a remote location for a reality show. As they vie for survival and recognition, each contestant harbors a secret, knowing that exposure could mean their downfall. But when one contestant goes missing, the game takes a dark turn, and Detective Ffion Morgan must unravel the truth amidst a web of lies.

Mackintosh expertly crafts a tale filled with twists and turns, keeping readers guessing until the very end. The tension mounts as Ffion races against time to uncover the identity of the killer, knowing that the truth may be more elusive than it seems. With its atmospheric setting and complex characters, "A Game of Lies" is a gripping read that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the final page. Mackintosh's skillful storytelling and knack for building suspense make this novel a must-read for fans of thrillers and mysteries alike.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks for this Advanced Readers Copy of A Game Of Lies.

Clare Mackintosh has ranked up top of my favorite authors as I find myself reading any books she writes without reading a synopsis.

This is the 2nd book of DC Morgan series. I loved the first and Ffion Morgan is really a complex, odd, yet loveable character.

The first book cemented some of Ffion’s secrets, her family and town. This book nicely added to that, along with a new case.

Up high on Pen y Ddraig mountain, a TV show is being filmed. This is one of the biggest things to hit Cwm Coed and townspeople are excited. A game of 7 people surviving in the wilderness, but what they don’t know is that their secrets are about to be exposed by the shows’ producer Miles. If they don’t say their secret their worst fear will be dumped on them. This show reminds me of a Survivor/Fear Factor type show. All of the sudden there is a missing contestant, upset over his secret that will be exposed for the country to see. People in town are all talking and a little afraid. Then someone ends up dead. As DC Morgan and her partner Georgina (George) start to investigate and find the missing contestant , DC Brady is brought in. Bringing Ffions feelings to the surface again.

I LOVED the character addition of Dave the dog. I laughed out loud at some of his antics and Ffions dry sense of humor. I also enjoyed that she was partnered up with George, who I think some of her life needs to be revealed more in the next book.

I love whodunnit books like this. It is like a locked room mystery but they are not locked in a room. Great scenery, characters and plot. I went back and forth on who was guilty and never did guess who it was until the actual reveal.

The ending was a cliffhanger. So I will be waiting impatiently for the third book.

A Game of Lies is the second in a series by Clare Mackintosh. I did read the first book book in the series, The Last Party, but if you did not, there’s enough background given that it is not necessary (it is also a really good book, so you will want to!).

DC Ffion Morgan is investigating a disappearance of a reality tv contestant whose show is being filmed in her area. It quickly becomes more and brings her back in touch with Leo, who was also in the first book. I really like the character of Ffion and also like how there were multiple perspectives throughout the book. And Dave, the dog, is hilarious! I thought the story dragged a bit though and was a three star read for me until about 80% in when the twist came into play.

I will definitely read the next in the series and anything else this author writes (she recently released a nonfiction/essay book on grief called I Promise it Won’t Always Hurt Like This that was poignant and insightful).

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and Sourcebooks for the opportunity to read this digital ARC.

"The Game of Lies" serves as the second installment in DC Ffion Morgan's series, yet stands solidly on its own as a compelling narrative. Ffion Morgan finds herself entangled in a dual investigation, tasked with unraveling the mystery behind a missing person and a murder during filming of reality TV show. This show, orchestrated by Miles Young, masquerades as a Survivor-esque competition named "Exposed." However, as contestants soon realize, the stakes are much higher as Miles holds secrets about each participant. Bound by contracts, contestants are compelled to continue filming despite the unexpected turn of events.

Readers are drawn into the unfolding drama as the cameras start rolling, transforming "Exposed" into an instant sensation. Amidst the strategic gameplay of each contestant, Ffion diligently pursues her own mission to locate the missing competitor. Alongside her, Ffion's loyal foster dog, Dave, provides a dose of comedic relief amidst the tension of the investigation.

I confess that I've been a bit worried about this one... I wasn't exactly a fan of The Last Party and I hadn't realized that A Game Of Lies was actually the second book of that series when I requested a copy. Still, I usually do love a good reality TV angle in thrillers, so I decided to just dive in and see how things would go. Thankfully this sequel somehow ended up working a lot better for me in the end! I'm still not a fan of the main character Ffion, but the reality TV element made for an excellent distraction along the way.

It's actually kind of funny how much I'm drawn to thrillers with a reality TV element considering the fact that I would NEVER watch this kind of contest on TV. I guess knowing that most shows are complete trainwrecks is more fun for me to read about than watch Anyhow, Exposure without doubt fits the bill of bad reality TV that people can't help but watch. Is it fun for the contestants? Absolutely not. But the promise of secrets, drama and ruined lives makes it very easy to believe that the show would be a big hit. And this makes the plot so much more plausible...

Like I said, I'm still not a fan of Ffion at all. I didn't like her in the first book, and she doesn't exactly redeem herself in this sequel. The constant tension between her and Leo as well as the whole love triangle vibe doesn't help either, and having to spend time with both characters was probably my least favorite part of the story. I did love her dog Dave though, and the role he played in the plot. As for the rest of the cast... The Exposure contestants and other people involved aren't exactly likeable either, but somehow this bothered me less as I wasn't expecting them to be. I was more intrigued by what they were trying to hide, and what they could offer as potential suspects... Proof that sometimes unlikeable characters don't have to be a bad thing.


A Game Of Lies uses a multiple POV structure, and there are a lot of different characters and POVs to keep track of. It might take a little time to keep them apart, but I think the multiple POV structure actually worked in the story's favor this time around. It ment spending less time with each unlikeable character, and the focus was more on the plot instead of a thorough character development. There are also some jumps between past and present that will need your full attention; you will have to keep track of the dates mentioned or you might get confused otherwise.

I don't want to give away too much of the plot to avoid spoilers, but A Game Of Lies has plenty of action, secrets and lies for you in store. And yes, you will even get a dose of murder and a LOT of potential suspects along the way... If you don't mind unlikeable characters and are intrigued by a reality TV element, this sequel might just be the book for you. It can even quite easily be read as a stand-alone without missing out on too much other than some character background.

Ffion and Leo are back together solving another crime, as a reality show filming in Cwm Coed calls in a missing contestant. Seven strangers think they are signing up for a wilderness show, living in the wild for weeks until one is left as the winner, they are told the truth, that they all hold secrets, and in order to survive they have to keep theirs while exposing others. After this revelation one contestant runs away, prompting a man hunt that doesn’t have a chance to end well.

A lot of recurring characters along with a lot of new ones. Ffion is the same heard headed, stubborn cop as before, and the sexual tension between her and Leo is intense. The plot was fun and engaging. In a game of lies I had no idea who to trust. A mix of police procedural with a little more uumph.

I loved being immersed in the Welsh countryside again with DC Ffion Morgan in Cwm Coed and the surrounding mountains. When she and a coworker are called out to check on bones found at the filming site for a reality tv show, little did they know they’d soon be investigating a missing person and a murder. With 7 contestants, all tricked into being on a show that was going to expose their deepest secrets, there was no love lost between the and the director. Ffion is thrown in with a new coworker, Georgina, and then, more alarmingly to Ffion, DS Leo Brady. The author’s portrayal of the relationship ship between the two, both professional and personal is so believably written, you can just feel the tension and regret in the writing. Then of course there’s the murder, the storyline kept me glued to my kindle. And lastly, Dave, the small pony size dog Ffion has rescued and now won’t return to the shelter because her ex husband has predicted she would.
Thank you to. NetGalley and Sourcebooks for an advance copy of this book, I highly recommend it and the first in the series, The Last Party. Both are brilliantly plotted with twists and turns, and a unique, closely knit Welsh community providing a wonderful backdrop.

A Game of Lies is the second book in the DC Morgan series but works completely fine as a standalone thriller. I enjoyed the first book, and I really loved this one! A reality tv program is being filmed at a mountainside camp in Northern Wales. Seven contestants think it's a competition to see who can survive, but it's really about secrets. Detective Ffion Morgan is called in when one of the contestants disappears. The case reunites her with DS Leo Brady who she had a connection with during a previous case, but backed off when she worried things wouldn't work out. Now they must each get past the awkwardness and work together to find a killer. 

The story is told from multiple points-of-view which helps the reader get to know the contestants and the detectives involved in the investigation. Ffion is an intelligent detective who is loyal to her friends and family. I like her a lot, but some of her decisions can make that hard! She is headstrong and never met a rule she won't break, but she makes the book interesting, and she is someone I enjoy rooting for. Leo is a good guy who always tries to do the right thing. I wasn't sure about her at first, but I came to appreciate Ffion's new colleague George and look forward to seeing her in future books. (4.5 stars)

There is an intense, scary ending to the case and an excellent ending to the book overall. I can't wait to find out what happens in the next book!  Dog Lovers will especially love the storyline about Dave, the challenging rescue dog Ffion adopted. 
I received an advance copy of this ebook at no cost from NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark. My review is voluntary and unbiased.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark & NetGalley for an ARC of this book, in exchange for my honest opinion!

This was my first book by Claire Mackintosh and it didn’t disappoint! It was a deeply engaging thriller centered around a reality show! A quick and gritty read that I enjoyed! (Just realizing it’s the second in a series but could be read as a SA).

This was a fun, fast paced, thrill ride, which had me jumping from one contestant to the next. Hold up, I am jumping ahead. I of course am reading this book out of order. The is the second book in the DC Morgan series and I loved it. There is some background I wish I had; you do not need it to thoroughly enjoy this book. The characters are fun and completely relatable. Clare Mackintosh has thrown in a rescue pupperoni by the name of Dave. That will have you cracking up as he eats his way through everyone's couches and into your heart. The descriptions of the beautiful Welsh countryside had me wanting to book my plane ticket asap.

Seven reality show contestants are excited and ready to start filming. Set on the side of Dragon Mountain which looks down upon a gorgeous lake. They are under the impression they will be competing in a reality show competition. When in fact they are trying to expose each other's hidden secrets. Secrets that no one wants to let out in the open. The contestants had no idea this was what they signed up for until the first episode. Leaving everyone in a state of panic. Ryan, one of the contestants has run off and is missing. As the police are called in and a search ensues, other contestants are battling extreme feelings of anger and despair. Detective Ffion Morgan is sent to the camp to figure out what exactly is going on. As more secrets are exposed and a murder is committed. All the contestants are suspects, as the race is on to catch the killer.

I loved this book, and I cannot wait to back track and read the first. Ffion is a phenomenally flawed character who I need more of in my life. Ex husbands, past loves, a dog that cannot be more than an inch away. Leading to laughs, gasps, and a cliffhanger ending, that I cannot handle. I need the third book stat! Thank you to Clare Mackintosh and Sourcebook Landmark for my gifted copy.

A reality show that threatens exposure of the contestant’s deepest secrets is the basis of this 2nd in a series novel. There are lots of characters so it was helpful to me at the beginning to jot down a quick reference list of names and who they were. The mystery moves a bit slowly at times but the clues that appear then are important to solving the murder. The setting in Wales sounds just beautiful and the 2 recurring main characters are well written and fun to watch work.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the ARC to read and review.

I liked the mystery aspects and the returning characters and most of the interpersonal stuff. Though I think the first one was stronger in that respect.

The ending took it down a bit bc the interpersonal stuff played out a little rushed.

If there’s a third one coming though, I’m still into it. I just wish there’d been a more natural build up with the characters.

I've gotten really into reality shows the past couple of years and when I read the premise of Clare Mackintosh's "A Game of Lies," I was intrigued!

Seven reality show contestants have been told they are part of a show that's being aired to show their survival skills, Exposure! But when they find out the show is really about exposing their deepest secrets, tempers flair and a contestant goes missing.

This book started a little slow for me, the settings and some phrases were in welsh (?) but overall once we got into the missing person and hidden secrets storyline, I was hooked! The secrets were juicy and it was hard to tell who to trust with all the characters seemingly hiding something.

I'd highly recommend this book, although it's the second in a series and some things may make more sense if you had read the first one.

I will be honest - as I started reading this book I knew the characters sounded familiar and I was struggling to place them and then I learned that read the first book as my "Book of the Month" about a year prior.

I greatly enjoyed following up with the characters and seeing where life took them on the next case. As far as which book was better, I like the story line of the first book more however this book had more character development for Ffion than the first book.

I am looking forward to see where Claire takes these characters or if she calls it a day after this book.

I really enjoy Clare Mackintosh's work and especially the setting of this series in Wales, but this book wasn't quite my cup of tea. It felt a little too convoluted with too many POVs and too many characters to keep track of towards the end, and it didn't help matters that the ultimate solution to the mystery felt very "mustache twirly" and not as complex as Mackintosh normally writes. I really liked the addition of George's character, she was a standout from the jump and I hope that we get more of her as the series continues. I missed having more of Leo and Ffi's partnership since the two were at such loggerheads in this installment, so hopefully in the next, they'll be more of a united front.

ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Unusual concept. Love this author. Period. I think this is one of her best. Contestants on a very unusual and frightening game show.. Kept me riveted and wanting more. Thank you, Natali and publisher for providing this advanced copy.

4.5/5 ⭐️
The second Ffion Morgan mystery finds her investigating a missing person on the set of a new reality show. The contestants were told it was a survival show, but it was actually more about their darkest secrets. When things take a turn for the worse and someone is murdered, the detectives must find the culprit before more people die.

Another good entry into this series! I like the way it layered in the tv shows through different viewers, and thought the mystery built really well! I did worry about Ffion’s character development at points, but in the end it was good. Can’t wait to see where the mysteries go next!

I received my copy from Netgalley on exchange for an honest review.

In November 2022, I read The Last Party by Clare Mackintosh. This was the first in a police procedural series featuring D.C. Ffion Morgan. So, I was super excited to read book two, A Game of Lies.

Ffion Morgan is still a strong female lead, but she also gets a little more vulnerable in book 2. She still grapples with being a constable in the town she grew up in, torn between loyalty and her duty to the job. Questioning what's next for her after the big case she's just finished.

This story was such an interesting concept, centering around a very controversial reality TV show, Exposure. Contestants thought they were coming on a survival show, but it turns out they were deceived. The show I'd actually meant to expose their deepest secrets. Secrets none of them want exposed. Ffion and her colleague, George, get called to the location site after one of the contestants goes missing.

Part I of the book focuses on the search for the missing person. But, after the producer is found murdered the investigation shifts to a murder investigation. There were so many secrets and lies that I was suspicious of everyone. There was a plot twist that I never saw coming. I wouldn't have figured out the murdered beforehand.

I love animals in books, but I was very thrown by Ffion's rescue dog, Dave. He kind of bothered me at first, but by the end, I was sad thinking she was considering sending him back to the shelter. He'd definitely grown on me.

In book one, because there were boundary issues with the case, Ffion had been paired with DC Leo Brady from a force on the English side of the boundary. I loved his character, and they had a bit of a "will they won't they." I was pleased to see Leo make a reappearance in this story.

I read this book over a day. It was very intriguing, and I couldn't put it down until I knew how it ended.

I'd recommend this one to anyone who likes a good police procedural with interesting cases. This one can be read as a stand-alone.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark for the.advancrd digital copy of this book. My opinions are my own.