good book, starting with so much sadness at the death of 3 year old hue, but how amazing that years later the sad truth was revealed, selfish people trying to save themselves, the end was so unexpected - I didn't see that coming!

This is a masterfully crafted mystery that had me on the edge of my seats with its clever twists and turns. Ward’s skillful plotting left me turning the pages into the night.

I really enjoyed her previous book “the birthday girl” and so was thrilled with this instalment. It’s nice to get to know Mallory’s son, Toby as we didn’t hear much about him in the first book and so this added another layer to Mallory’s character and backstory.

This is about 6 friends and one of them them killed a young child, whether it by accident or murder it all unravels in this book. I thought this was a great follow up and I eagerly await the 3rd!







This is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and police procedurals alike.

2nd in the series sees Police Consultant Mallory Dawson unravelling a decades old murder after a murder victims mother is found dead, with only a cryptic message to start with Mallory must try and unravel and find the killer

I found this book easy to follow. Loved the setting a welsh coastal village. Felt like I was right there. I didnt pick the culprit so this very much influenced my rating. This is the second book in the series.

Once upon a New Year's Eve in 2011, Huw Jones vanished from his bedroom while his dad and five pals partied downstairs. It was like he vanished into thin air, but later, they found his body on the cliffs near St Non's.

What makes this tale even murkier is that on that fateful night, all six friends gave statements to the police, and guess what? Every single one of them lied. Fast forward over ten years, and Huw's mom, Heledd, meets a tragic end.

Now enters Mallory Dawson, a sleuth on a mission. She's got to unravel the web of lies in the tight-knit community of St Davids. But here's the kicker – someone's been holding onto these secrets for over a decade, and they're ready to go to extremes to keep them hidden, even if it means resorting to murder.

The plot kicks off with a gripping mystery that leaves you hooked from the start. The disappearance of Huw and the subsequent lies woven by his friends set the stage for a decade-long enigma that needs solving. The death of Heledd adds another layer of intrigue, pushing Mallory to untangle the threads of deception in this seemingly idyllic community.

The strength of the story lies in its complex characters and the secrets they harbor. As Mallory dives into the investigation, the reader gets a front-row seat to a drama where everyone seems to have something to hide. The tension escalates with each revelation, and the stakes keep getting higher.

The writing style is accessible and straightforward, making it easy for readers to immerse themselves in the narrative. The pacing is well-balanced, allowing the suspense to build gradually while keeping the reader engaged. The small-town setting adds an extra layer of atmosphere, making it feel like you're right there, navigating the narrow streets and hidden secrets of St Davids.

As Mallory peels back the layers of deceit, the story unfolds with twists and turns that keep you guessing. The author skillfully crafts a narrative where trust is a scarce commodity, and every revelation adds a new dimension to the mystery. The emotions of grief, guilt, and the quest for justice are palpable, creating a compelling backdrop for the unfolding drama.

This is more than just a mystery; it's a journey into the intricacies of human relationships and the consequences of secrets. With its well-crafted plot, compelling characters, and a relentless pursuit of truth, the book delivers a satisfying read for fans of mysteries and suspense. So, if you're ready for a thrilling ride through lies, deception, and the pursuit of justice, this one's for you.

I just reviewed The Sixth Lie by Sarah Ward. #TheSixthLie #NetGalley

Another fantastic book by Sarah Ward. It begins with a great premise of a three year old boy disappearing from his bedroom on New Year's Eve although other people were in the house at the time. What exactly happened to him and what did the other people in the house know about the disappearance. It transpires that they all lie about something in the statements they give to the police at the time. It is only ten years later when all the lies are revealed that the solution to the boy's disappearance and two other murders can be worked out. Sarah Ward keeps you guessing throughout!

New years Eve 2010 a young boy named Huw is found dead on the cliffs of St. Non’s, just a short distance from his home. The death is ruled as an accident and the case is closed. Now, over ten years later, Huw’s mother Heledd is found dead. Former police officer Mallory Dawson is brought in to aid in the investigation of Heledd’s death and to reopen the death of young Huw. Witness statements from 2010 are reassessed, and multiple lies come to light. It’s a race against time as the killer strikes again and Mallory soon finds she may be the next victim. This was a twisty read that I absolutely loved. I am a huge fan of this series and look forward to more from this author and series.

Following the wonderful The Birthday Girl, I was delighted to catch up with Mallory Dawson in The Sixth Lie. Newly housed and employed in St David’s, Britain’s smallest city, Mallory is tempted back to investigating as a part-time consultant, so this lead to a more police procedural feel for this book.

I liked getting to know DI Harri Evans better as he draws Mallory into the cold case of what happened to Huw Jones. His colleague Sian brings some lighter moments into the story. We also get to see more of Mallory’s son, Toby as he comes to stay, bringing his own difficulties with him. The wider cast of characters – the six friends – are well described and I don’t think I would want to be friends with any of them.

The Sixth Lie is as well-written and atmospheric as its predecessor with the icy cold weather blowing through the tiny city, the grandeur of the cathedral and the spirituality of St Non’s. What happened to Huw and Heledd are both intriguing and heartbreaking mysteries and Mallory’s investigation is well-plotted and engagingly told. I really enjoyed this second book and I am already waiting for the next in the series.

I read and enjoyed the first book in this series, although I think you would be able to read this as a standalone. There were some aspects of creative licence that seemed a bit of a stretch but overall a good enough mystery. There were some storylines left open so I imagine there will be further books in this series to come.

The Sixth Lie is an intriguing mystery crime thriller by Sarah Ward. I've read this author before and am a huge fun. This one didn't disappoint. I liked the concept of 6 lies and how the author slowly reveals them one by one to the final reveal. The story kept me interesting and guessing. This author can write great mysteries and I'm looking forward to seeing what she comes up with next. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for an early copy of this book.

Loved reading this gripping page turner crime thriller. Fast paced and just the way I like it

Great style of writing and definitely 5 stars

Good characters and plenty of suspense

Thank you to Netgalley from Canelo co

Mallory is an ex-policewoman, now living in Pembrokeshire and working part time in the Cathedral at St Davids. The mother of a child whio was found dead 11 years previously has been found. It gradually becomes apparaent that she was looking into the events of the evening that her son was found . Mallory is asked to help with the investigation and goes on to question the 6 people who were in the house when the child disappeared. Each of them had not told the full story in their witness statements.
I had misgivings about the plot initially, because a young child was involved, however the book was more concerned with relationships between the adults around the time and later on. The plot is quite cryptic and intricate but does come together as the book progresses and it is fairly believable. I liked the growing friendship between Mallory and Harri but some of the other characters could have been developed more.
All in all a good read, thanks to Net Galley for the ARC

Received this as an ARC but didn't get around to reading before it was released. After reading the blurb on NetGalley I thought, this book sounds like my kind of thing. After finishing it... I was right. What an amazing read. The writing style is also fantastic. It keeps you guessing throughout and brings you to a thrilling climax at the end. Looking forward to more from the author I'm the future! I've also just downloaded the first book in the series!

'The Sixth Lie' is the second book featuring Mallory Dawson, a former police police detective who had to leave the force due to a leg injury. Since then, Mallory has been at a bit of a loss. Last time we met her, she was the manager of a boutique island hotel. Now, she's working in the shop of a cathedral in a small village in Wales. It may not be much of a life to some, but it's her life and it'll do for now. Until she's asked to dig into a cold case.

Ten years ago, three year old Huw Jones disappeared from his home. Only to be found dead near the cliffs a while later. His mum was at a party across the street, but his dad and five of his friends were all at the house. How did nobody notice little Huw was no longer in his bed? Did he wander off on his own? Did someone help him? Was it an accident? Or worse? Now, Huw's mum is found dead in a field. Self-inflicted? Or did someone have a hand in this death too? People lied the night of Huw's death. It's time to find out the truth.

Sounds easy, but it's really not. These six friends used to be as tight as can be. And even now, after all these years, they care only about protecting each other. But mostly themselves. 'The Sixth Lie' is very much centred around the connections we make, the friendships we hang on to, be they good or bad. I often felt there was something rather toxic about the relationship between these six friends, and they came across as quite unlikeable. Even back in the day, coming from a different background than her, they looked down on Huw's mum, unable to understand why their friend would choose to marry her. And now they're all successful in their own right : a GP, a politician, a lawyer, ... People who have a lot to lose if the truth were to come out. I found it particularly hard to stomach how one of them, Huw's dad of all people, seemed to care more about protecting his career and current life, than the death of his former wife and their son.

At the opposite of that, we find Mallory and her own son, Toby. Toby seems to be struggling with something, something he's unwilling to share with his dad or his mum. But Mallory, although severely lacking motherly experience, knows something is wrong. It's just so difficult to find the time to deal with things, now that she's trying to juggle two jobs. But Mallory is desperate to try to get through to her son, fully aware he is near the age Huw would have been, if he had lived.

I couldn't at all figure out who was responsible for Huw's death or his mum's. When the conclusions came, all I felt was sadness and anger. That just shows how good Sarah Ward is in bringing these characters to life. Some you'd very much like to punch in the face, some you want to hug and tell them it's all going to be okay. And then you maybe spare a thought for a little three year old boy whose life never should have been cut short.

I thoroughly enjoyed 'The Sixth Lie', even more so than the previous book in this series. I don't think they're quite up there with the Connie Childs series, which is still my favourite work by Sarah Ward, but she's one of those solid authors who never disappoints me. And I shall eagerly await the next instalment and very much look forward to seeing where Mallory ends up now.

The Sixth Lie is a terrific follow up to The Birthday Girl. I love the main character, Mallory Dawson and the fact that this is a series! This book is atmospheric and full of secrets & twists. It definitely seals Sarah in as a must read author in my book.

Thank you @canelo_co for allowing me to read this book ahead of publication in exchange for my honest review.

(This review was also shared on the Barnes & Noble website.)

This has dual timeliness an dmiltiple povs which keeps the story moving forward at a really good pace. I liked the Welsh setting as most books are either England or Scotland sk it made a nice change, and it was so vividly brought to life that I kinda now feel like I've actually visited Wales! Its well written and perfectly plated out. The characters are so 3 dimensional and well created. It also has so many twists and turns and manages to combine being a police procedural with a lot of elements of a psychological thriller. Loved it

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review an early copy of this book. The Sixth Lie by Sarah Ward was released on November 2nd, 2023.

I did not realize that this book was part of a series. While that didn't inhibit my reading of the book, I do believe that I would have enjoyed it more had I read the other books that came before it first because I didn't feel as invested as I maybe could have been. The premise is intriguing and the writing is solid, but I was ready for the book to be over. I may pick this one up again and reevaluate after reading the other books.

New Year’s Eve, 2010 in St Davids, Wales. While Heledd Dawson was across the road at a New Year’s Eve party, her husband Jack and five of his friends were at her house, downstairs from her young son Huw. But when she returns home, Huw had disappeared, only to be swiftly found dead at the nearby cliffs at St Non’s. No blame was ever apportioned, but no rationale was found for how and why Huw left the house… And each of the sixth friends lied in their statements.
One decade later, Heledd is found dead in a field. While there seems to be no obvious cause of death, a police investigation ensues, with ex-police officer Mallory Dawson recruited to look into the cold case of Huw’s death. But people are never keen to admit the truth behind their lies, and at least one person will kill to protect themselves…
First of all, a round of applause to the blurb writer on Amazon. “For fans of Clare Mackintosh and Robert Gold” presumably because Clare’s most recent books are set in Wales and Robert wrote a book called Eleven Liars. You can see what they did there…
OK, back to the book, and this is the second Mallory Dawson book following the excellent The Birthday Girl. I’ll be honest, I wasn’t under the impression that The Birthday Girl – serial killer in a hotel on an island isolated by a storm – was the start of a series. Necessarily, Mallory has moved on from that hotel, otherwise they would have no guests after book two, and I’m guessing that she’s going to be settling in St Davids, as this time round, time is taken to set up her situation in such a way that there are clear directions for her story – and those of her family, friends and co-investigators – to develop in future books, most notably with her son, Toby, and her police liaison Harri.
As for the mystery element, Sarah has her work cut out as I’m never a massive fan of cold case investigations, even Five Little Pigs. There’s also a slight struggle with the concept, the idea that every person in the house told a lie, because simply by the nature of the situation, unless all six are complicit in a major crime – which they’re not – some of those lies are fairly slight, and at least one is more of an omission, rather than a lie, something that is actually pointed out, to be fair.
There are three central mysteries to keep the reader busy. Was Huw murdererd? Was Helen murdered? Was the person who was smashed to pieces by a hammer murdered? OK, the last one is a yes, obviously, but there’s a complex set of events here with lots of secrets to be uncovered and a well-hidden murderer.
I think it’s a brave choice to write a very different sort of mystery for book two in a series, but it works very well here. Sarah’s plotting and character work is strong and it’s a real page turner, as with everything she writes. While I think I did prefer The Birthday Girl, this is still an excellent read and does a good job setting up the series for the future. Looking forward to the next one.

I read the first book of this series The Birthday Girl earlier this year and I really enjoyed my time with this atmospheric read, so I was excited when I found out main character Mallory Dawson was going to return. I couldn't resist adding The Sixth Lie straight away, and I have been looking forward to read it ever since. And it turned out to be quite a solid sequel! I did slightly prefer the first book, but if you like engaging psychological thrillers packed with lies and a side of murder, The Sixth Lie will deliver.

I have to say that this story can quite easily be read as a stand-alone, because both the setting and the case itself are completely different. You might miss out on some character background, but I don't think it would affect your reading experience too much. That said, The Birthday Girl was an excellent read, so I would personally suggest reading it anyway. The Sixth Lie has a different setting than the first book, which is in a way a bit of a disappointment as I loved the small island setting. The story is still 100% Welsh though, and it shows both in the names and the setting itself. The descriptions were solid and made the Welsh town come alive for me.

I was surprised by the fact that certain parts of The Sixth Lie were a lot slower than expected, and this story definitely reads more like a psychological thriller than a detective thriller. Sure, the main character Mallory is an official consultant of the police this time around, but there was a lot of focus on the secrets and lies of the six friends involved as well as some more personal issues. This isn't a bad thing, but I was expecting something a bit more fast-paced and suspenseful... Especially after that ominous vibe and tension of the first book. Despite the slower parts, there was something strangely addictive about it all as well, and I found it easy to keep reading.

The Sixth Lie uses a multiple POV structure as well as a dual timeline, where we switch between the events on December 31st 2011 and the present. Mallory is the main character of this story, although we see quite a lot of DI Harri Evans as well. I liked what his character added to the plot, because it gave us a closer connection to the actual investigation. As for the six friends under scrutiny: I can't say I liked any of them, but then again I guess they were ment to be this way. I liked how their lies were slowly unraveled in the plot though, although some of the lies were pretty predictable.

If you enjoy a well written and more character focused psychological thriller, a Welsh setting and don't mind a sometimes slower pace and a dose of murder, The Sixth Lie is a great choice. I'm definitely curious to see what Mallory will be up to next!

Compelling Mystery..
The second outing in the Mallory Dawson crime series and a case with a solid mystery at its very heart comes knocking for Mallory. When Heledd, mother of the deceased Huw Jones, is discovered dead the case opens up questions relating to an original decade old case. Secrets may out. A pacy and atmospheric mystery with a deftly drawn and credible cast, a tightly constructed plot of many threads and a firm sense of place. Compelling and wholly engaging.