Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC publication for an honest review.

I was so excited to see we were continuing this series with this amazing couple! Nick and Annie have come so far, and I love how the dynamics between them have changed and their relationship has matured over time. This is book 3, and I highly recommend starting at the beginning!
This takes place after the previous book, and Annie is just getting back to work from medical leave. (Read the last book to get the full story...) The depth of emotion and realness of Nick and Annie's partnership, both as law enforcement and as husband and wife, is so well done. Especially with Nick trying to remain stoic in his feelings as his role as Annie's boss versus being her spouse is such a delicate line. The storyline this time focuses on two missing men. The one case is a missing drug addict who supposedly was turning his life around...or was he? His mother is frantically searching for him and Annie is pulled into the case. The other is the missing "golden boy" who Nick is investigating. A body is found but beyond recognition. Suddenly both the cases are crossing paths...filled with bad lies, and bad liars, everywhere. Nick and Annie try to figure out the truth all while staying alive.

Another solid book! I hope we don't have to wait as long for the next installment!!

4 stars

Thank you to Brilliance Audio and Dutton Books for the ARC and ALC!

I was so excited to start this one even though I haven't read the others in the series. Since I haven' read them, I'm not sure what I'm missing but do feel confident enough to say that this can be read as a standalone.

I liked a lot of this, but did feel that overall it was a little too long and confused me at parts as to what was going on. This type of book is usually right up my alley but unfortunately this one was a miss for me.

The narrator Hillary Huber did do an excellent job on the narration as always. I give the audio production 5/5 and the story 3/5.

This is available on September 24, 2024.

First off, I always love a new book featuring Annie and Nick. This one was twisty and full of suspense. Just when I thought I had the whole thing figured out, the author threw me for a loop. I wanted to savor the story, but I read it too fast. It was a one sitting read for me. I couldn't put it down.

Bad Liar is the second book in the Broussard and Fourcade series. A dead body is found in the bayou, at least one person is missing and no one knows if these two things are connected to the same crime or not. This takes place in a small town where everyone knows everyone. A lot of secrets will be revealed leading up to the suspenseful conclusion. The story will definitely keep you guessing!

My first from this author and I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I love a good detective novel.

There was a great amount of suspense and I love Annie. The book was immersive, thought provoking and fun. I enjoyed the setting, the southern gothic charm and the deep bond the reader feels with the characters!

Can't wait to read more from this author.

Bad Liar is a tale of choices and the adage that you reap what you sow. The book setting is a small town in Louisiana and how a high schooler's career-ending football injury has a ripple effect 10 years later.
Tami Hoag is a talented writer that paints a story with her words, immersing the reader into the fabric of her books. The characters she creates entices one to read through the night to find out if justice prevails. Her description of Louisiana encourages one to experience its beauty firsthand.
4 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
I had a hard time getting in to this book. I will probably give it another try at a later date. I don't think this book was bad, I just don't think I was in the right mindset to fully enjoy it. And sometimes that happens. It was just ok in my opinion.

Many thanks again to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book.

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Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review an advanced copy of this novel. I highly enjoyed it and will be recommending it to others.

Book #3 in the Broussard and Fourcade series. BAD LIAR makes an excellent stand alone, but the reading experience is enriched by knowing the background of the characters and the community. Set against the background of a small parish in Louisanna, your neighbors haved known you since you grew up together, attended the same schools and seen all of your ups and downs. Life from all parts of town follow the same circles and end in the same jailhouse. BAD LIAR begins with two missing men and one body that has been mutilated to the point of being unidentifiable. The police procedurals take readers in depth while the investigations circle closer to each other. As the clues get darker, the tension ramps to the point that you'll not be able to stop before the reveal. Easily 5 stars.

I used to read Tami Hoag's books as soon as they came out however over the years I have moved on to other authors. This book reminds me why I loved her earlier books. It is set in Bayou Breaux, where Cry Wolf was set (my first Tami Hoag book). It had a great mystery.

Bad Liar by Tami Hoag is the third in the Fourcade and Broussard series. In this installment, Nick and Annie start out investigating separate crimes that eventually intertwine as things in a small town often do. Tami Hoag is an auto read author for me and this latest did not disappoint!

Hoag is a solid author who always delivers with her thrillers. She has been away for too long and it was nice to see bad liar as a return to from.

Haog always excels in her settings of the Deep South and this one takes place in the Louisiana bayous. An unidentified body is discovered dismembered in the bayou. As the police try to identify the body, office Annie Broussard is confronted with another problem. A mother arrives to request assistance in finding her missing adult son-recovering from addiction. Annie realizes that the two cases are connected by more than she even realizes at first and stumbles upon a. Larger mystery when a pattern of missing men in the bayous emerge.

While this a police procedural, it also tackles the opioid crisis, relationships between mothers and sons, poverty on the Deep South, etc.

If you are a fan of hoag, southern gothics, or police procedural, reach for this one!

Thanks to the publisher for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley.

Perfect for October and Halloween season.
Full of that Southern Gothic aesthetic.
Twisty mystery, and interesting characters, make this a quick read with plenty of all the things we love about a dark mystery.

Annie is a great character. Her story is one I'd definitely pick up again.

"Sometimes the ways of the world just drained the optimism right out of her. But there was nothing for it except to keep putting one foot in front of the other and hoping she could make a difference every once in a while."

Tami Hoag is one of my favorite authors so I was so looking forward to this read. I was immediately drawn into Annie’s life - and fell in love with her approach to her job as a detective. Her open mind and her no nonsense approach as well as her desire to treat people respectfully won me over. Annie’s instincts in attempting to locate Robbie were fascinating. Her relationship with her husband, who was also her boss, added another layer of authenticity to the descriptions of their interactions both at work and at home.
The setting of the bayou in Louisiana set the stage and the realistic dialect added to the interesting characters in this dramatic police procedural involving an unidentifiable corpse and several missing men. So many suppositions that later proved to be untrue kept me guessing throughout this intriguing read. The relationships between the mothers and their sons also added much realism and emotion, making me feel so compassionate, especially for Robbie.
Many many thanks to Tami Hoag for providing me hours of pleasure while immersed in this story, Dutton, and NetGalley for affording me the opportunity to read an arc of this engaging read published on September 24th.

This is another book in the Anna & Nick series, and it's the best yet! Wow, the twists and turns, including missing persons, unidentified bodies, different cases that link together, very exciting. No end of trouble, sadness, bad guys, and not so bad guys, and a few good guys. Very interesting, takes place way down in Louisiana, and the cajun speak, and alligators, and, lots of interesting characters. You will enjoy this book, its hard to put down! highly recommended!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest book by Tami Hoag. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Detective Nick Fourcade is investigating the death of a man dumped at the end of a deserted country road, unrecognizable because he was shot in the face. His only lead takes him to the family of hometown hero Marc Mercier, who didn't return home from a hunting trip. His wife, Detective Annie Broussard is back on the job after suffering an attack on her last case, and meets with B'Lynn Fontenot, a mother desperate to find her son, Robbie, who is a recovering drug addict. The local police have no interest since he is an adult, and an addict to boot. Could either of these men be the murder victim?

This was a wonderful police procedural/murder mystery. I love Hoag's writing but did miss the first two books in this series. Never worry thought, there is enough back story to read perfectly as a stand alone. The writing was so atmospheric, set in the swamps and small towns in Louisaana, where everyone knows all your secrets, and you can't escape what people think. It deals with the darker side of human emotions - jealousy, shame, abuse, addiction - but the characters feel real because of all that emotion. Nick and Annie make great detectives and an even better team. I couldn't put this one down!

Set in small-town Louisiana, Tami Hoag’s *Bad Liar* is a tense psychological thriller. The story follows a team of detectives investigating a murder and a series of disappearances, mixed with drugs, secrets and deceptions unraveling at every turn. Hoag masterfully builds suspense, blending a gripping plot with complex characters.

Though the pacing slows at times for character development, the suspense builds toward a satisfying climax. Fans of thrillers and character-driven mysteries will find *Bad Liar* a compelling read.

This was one of my most anticipated books for this fall and it did not disappoint! I’ve been a huge fan of Tami Hoag’s since the day I picked up a mass market paperback of A Thin Dark Line – over 25 years ago! Nobody crafts an intricate plot with deeply developed characters and then sets them in the perfect immersive scene quite like Hoag does. It’s no exaggeration to say I credit her with inspiring my love of thrillers and police procedurals, and Bad Liar is a prime example of why.

We’ve got one man dead, his headless body giving no clues as to his identity, and more than one local man missing. The backstories are dark, with plenty of potential culprits and red herrings, but also a depth of emotion that is unusual in this genre. The atmosphere is so skillfully drawn that I could picture myself poling a pirogue through the Louisiana bayou, with the cadence of the characters’ Cajun French dialect adding to the authenticity. Detectives Annie Broussard and Nick Fourcade are the perfect team both on and off duty; I love them together and I love how Annie has softened Nick’s rough edges over time since we first met him in A Thin Dark Line. But no worries if you haven’t read the first two Broussard and Fourcade books though, you can totally read Bad Liar as a standalone!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Dutton Books for providing me an advance copy of this book.

Tami Hoag is a master at jumping you right into a story and building intrigue and suspense, and Bad Liar is no exception. Annie Broussard and Nick Fourcade are detectives in the sheriff's department in a small Louisiana town. The damaged-beyond-recognition body of a man is found on the edge of the bayou and two local men are reported missing, leaving Annie and Nick searching for people and answers. This was an excellent mystery that had me trying (and largely failing) to figure it out before they did. I wasn't entirely satisfied with how the final parts of the mystery came together, but it probably was consistent with "solid police work"; I guess I expected a bit more excitement at that point? The characters are likeable and have depth, and although this is the 3rd book in the Broussard and Fourcade series, it is easily read as a standalone. A solid crime/police procedural that will keep your attention throughout.

Tami Hoag’s Bad Liar reminds us that evil often wears a friendly face. In a novel that is both intense and mesmerizing, you’ll find yourself eager to reach the end and figure out which of the many suspects is our dangerous liar.

The day starts with a dead body and ends with two missing persons, either of whom could be the corpse Lieutenant Nick Fourcade is called to investigate. Left in an isolated area abutting a gator-filled swamp, the body is unidentifiable after having the face and hands blasted off by a shotgun. Nick’s only lead as to the identity of victim is a business card in a pocket reading Mercier & Sons Salvage, $2,875.00 dollars.

When he visits the facility to see if they can tell him anything about the transaction listed, Nick learns that Marc Mercier left his home for a weekend hunting trip and hasn’t been seen since. His brother Luc, his erstwhile hunting partner, had arranged to meet him at the Corners, a local gas station/restaurant, at five am the previous day, but Marc wasn’t there when Luc arrived and hasn’t called, spoken to, or been seen by anyone since.

Detective Annie Broussard, Nick’s wife, is both anxious and excited to begin her first day back on the job after her medical leave. A brutal, unexpected attack during her last investigation has left her with PTSD and a host of other issues, but she has finally been deemed fit for duty. Heading to human resources to fill out some necessary paperwork, she encounters a woman desperate to find her missing son. B’Lynn Fontenot has been to the small local police department, who blew her off, claiming her recovering, formerly drug-addicted adult child Robbie has probably just gone on a bender. B’Lynn is confident that hasn’t happened and is so anxious to get to the bottom of his disappearance she plans to prevail on her friendship with the Sheriff to get his office to take the case. Fortunately for her, the area where her son lived is within the Sheriff’s jurisdiction. B’Lynn is also lucky that Annie is a mother as well. B’Lynn’s worry and anguish touch Annie’s heart, and she agrees to take the case.

Annie and Nick couldn’t be seeking two more different fugitives. Marc, a high school football hero, college graduate, and popular figure in town, seems almost universally loved. Robbie, who barely graduated high school, is, at best, pitied and often spoken of with scorn. Yet our two detectives find their investigations intersecting as they try to unravel just where these men disappeared to – and why,

The author has a terrific knack for showcasing the dark side of human nature and how even the most seemingly normal of us is capable of doing the most horrifying things when desperate. Ms. Hoag also does a fantastic job of demonstrating that sometimes families and friends are our salvation, and other times, they are the cause of our undoing. It was fascinating to see what is uncovered as each man’s darkest secrets are slowly brought to light by the cops.

While this is the third book in the Broussard and Fourcade series, it doesn’t read like a series book. The emphasis is not on Annie and Nick or their relationship. Their son Justin barely makes an appearance and is hardly mentioned and the narrative focuses firmly on the mystery, which works fabulously well here. The lives of Marc and Robbie are both complex and convoluted, and how they converge, and the fallout from that makes the story riveting. Each man and the people around them are drawn with a slowly revealed clarity that leaves us moved by their story.

I can’t say enough good things about the writing. Hoag gets the balance between characters, plot, and location perfectly right. We get a real sense of how the community and the area where these men live play a part in the outcome of their lives – and how the people we interact with and trust are ultimately the ones who can harm us the most. From the start, the narrative has a dark, almost gritty feel that helps immerse us in their world.

We also get a strong feel for who Annie and Nick are as people, and how that affects the way they handle their cases. Annie is all heart, wanting to see the best in people but experienced enough to know that is rarely what she will encounter. Nick is her mirror image. Wise enough to know that nice people rarely get caught up in the kind of nasty problems that result in his being called in, he nevertheless has empathy for the perpetrators and the dark paths that lead their lives to entwine with his. Both of them have the strength of character needed to muck through the dark places most people fear to go, the cynicism necessary to ferret out the truth, and the compassion necessary to do so in a manner that cushions the fallout for the victims. If you were ever to find yourself at the heart of an investigation, you would want them in your corner.

I’ve mentioned the book has a dark and gritty tone, and I want to reiterate that this story deals with some troubling issues. Drug abuse and addiction, alcoholism, prostitution, theft – all of them are covered. The author doesn’t go into needless detail or glorify the situation in any way, but she does shine a light on what it is like to live in a world where those things make up your reality. If any of these is triggering for you, this is probably not a book you’ll want to read..

Bad Liar is more of a mystery than a thriller, and I absolutely loved that. Rather than spending a lot of time in the twisted mind of a psycho, I got to see the good guys (kinda) win one for once. If you enjoy detective stories at all, I strongly recommend this one.