Alison Smith believed she’s left her ugly past behind her, but a murder pulls her back to Dublin and the nightmare she endured in college. Back then, Alison fell hard for a charming fellow student, Will Hurley. She believed she’d met “the one” only to discover behind his mask, Will was a serial killer, and one of his victims was Alison’s best friend. Put away for his crimes, that should have been the end of it, but 10 years later, another woman is found murdered, the MO matches Will’s signature killing style. Will agrees to tell everything, but the only one he will tell is Alison. This is a high octane thriller, I stayed up late to read it, then could fall asleep after I finished it

This is a fascinating, fast paced psychological thriller. The suspense builds slowly from the beginning, ratcheting up as new details are revealed. The storyline alternates between past and present. You try to piece together the details of the past as the author expertly weaves them into the present. Alison has done her best to put her past life behind her, but a new series of murders will bring her face to face with her biggest fear, a ghost from her past that she can never outrun. Her ex boyfriend Will, currently waiting out his days on death row in a psychiatric facility, has promised to help the police in their investigation, but he will only tell his information to Alison. She reluctantly agrees to meet him, but she will soon find out that her life will be forever changed by this encounter.

Early on in the book we are given a chilling glimpse into the mind of the killer as he stalks his next victim. The police are desperate to discover any clues that will bring them closer to stopping the killer, using Alison any way they can to get Will to cooperate. When new clues emerge, Alison takes it upon herself to investigate the possibility that the police had it all wrong from the start. She soon finds herself in danger as she gets too close to the truth, leading to a riveting conclusion and a huge plot twist that will leave you stunned.

I would recommend this book to fans of suspense and psychological thrillers. I received this as a free ARC from Blackstone Publishing on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a great thriller with an awesome premise! When Alison meets Will in college she falls hard for him and they spend all their time together...until her best friend Liz becomes the fourth victim in a serial killer's spree and Will is suspected and actually confesses. Fast forward years later as detectives contact Alison informing her that Will--confined to a psychiatric facility--has something to say but will only confide in her. What follows is past and present alternating chapters detailing what really happened. Is Will the Canal killer or was his confession coerced? Can Alison move on with her life, or is she doomed to live with the guilt and darkness that shadows her tortured soul? Kept me turning pages so fast! A must-read for fans of thrillers!

I would like to thank Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for an advance copy of The Liar's Girl, a stand alone psychological thriller set in Dublin.

10 years ago Alison Smith's boyfriend Will Hurley confessed to murdering 5 women and was imprisoned for it. Alison ran away from the shame to The Netherlands and never returned but now there are 2 Gardai at her door, not only asking her to return but to try and prise the information from Will that he says he has about a spate of copycat killings.

I enjoyed The Liar's Girl which has many twists and turns and kept me hooked from start to finish. The novel has 2 timelines, helpfully titled Alison, now and Alison, then with the odd chapter titled Will, now. Alison, now covers the events after her return to Dublin which take some very unexpected turns. It makes for interesting but slightly implausible reading. Alison, then covers her relationship with Will and her deteriorating relationship with best friend Liz, ultimately Will's last victim. The reader needs the background which is doled out sparingly to make sense of the present. I'm not generally a big fan of this approach but in this case it works extremely well.

The final twist to the novel is clever. I had suspected something but not what it turned out to be - it's well disguised.

Alison is an interesting character. It is never overtly stated but the general impression is that she has not had another relationship since Will, as she found the fact that she did not have a clue about his murderous impulses totally mortifying. Her mother accuses her of never moving on from the event emotionally and making it more important than it actually was. There's a lot of truth in that as there doesn't seem to be much difference between then and now. I found myself getting impatient with her as she is now and her inability to move on.

The Liar's Girl is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.

I received an ARC from NetGalley to read and review. The below is my honest, unbiased opinion. Thank you, Catherine Ryan Howard, the publisher, and NetGalley, for allowing me to review.

THE LIAR'S GIRL is a standalone psychological thriller written by Catherine Ryan Howard. Will Hurley is an attractive, charming, and impressive student at Dublin's elite St. John's College. He's also Ireland's more prolific serial killer. He stalks and drowns his young victims in the muddy waters of the Grand Canal. When he was nineteen, he was sentenced to life imprisonment, locked away in the city's Central Psychiatric Hospital.

Alison Smith is a freshman at St. John's, where she fell fast and hard for Will Hurley. Her best friend, Liz, was the latest victim of the Canal Killer, and she discovered the boy she'd been dating (and sleeping with) was the killer. Unable to come to terms with the twists and turns thrown into her world, Alison fled to the Netherlands and never looked back.

A decade later, a young woman is found in the Grand Canal, and detectives on the case question Will, hoping he will help them solve the copycat killing. Instead, Will offers a confession of his final secret, but there's a catch. He will only tell Alison, who has no intention of being dragged back into the life she ran away from. Reluctantly, she returns, discovering that Will's secret is far worse than anyone could have imagined.

I LOVE THIS BOOK. It was so good. It's perfect for fans of the television show THE FALL. Catherine Ryan Howard did a fantastic job building truly dynamic characters and vividly describing the world (with just the right amount of detail) so you feel like you're experiencing the characters' pain, joy, and deceit. I loved the twists and turns thrown in, and I found myself clinging to my Kindle, itching for the next chapter. I read this rather quickly and in one sitting, because it was so good.

I highly recommend this one if you enjoy a great psychological thriller with mystery elements.

Ten years ago Alison was starting a new life in Dublin as a college freshman. She was making new friends but also had her best friend from Cork by her side. She had met an amazing man, Will. But girls started getting murdered along the Dublin Canals. Will is arrested and, under duress, he pleads guilty to the charges that he is the Canal Killer. With this confession and the judicial system as it is, a guilty plea leaves Will imprison at The Central Psychiatric Hospital.
It is 10 years later, Alison lives in the Netherlands and Will is in jail for murder. She does not like to think or talk about what happened all those years ago. In fact, her current best friend, Sal, does not know about what happened in Dublin. However, she is now being forced to not only recall those days. but also visit Will in prison. The killings have started and Will indicates he knows information that will help the police, but he will only speak to Alison. When Alison speaks to Will be tells her he is not guilty. Not only does Will claim his innocence, Garda Detective Michael Malone, also feels Will might have been wrongly imprisoned.
Alison and Malone are searching for the current killer and also trying to determine if this current killer is a copycat or if Will actually is innocent of being the Canal Killer. This search is putting Alison in danger of becoming the next victim.
This book was very enjoyable and fast paced. It is told in two timelines, Alison, then and Alison, now. Both are written in the first person. We also get a look inside the mind of the killer which is told in the third person. There is more than the murders which Alison wishes to not remember about her live 10 years ago. This adds to the intrigue of the Alison, then chapters. I do not get scared when reading books, I am able to read with minimal lighting, and alone, but I will be honest, there was one part in which I actually got chills. This book, especially that part will stay with me a long time. Solid 4 star review.

One of the best books of the year! It kept me glued to my screen. I even put down the other book I was reading so I could read this one instead. And I may have read this when I should have been doing my homework. I don't want to give anything away, but the nuances between relationships was amazingly well written. I hope there is a sequel with Malone in it.

The fear brought about by the "Canal Killer" will infect readers of this psychological thriller. It will have you constantly looking over your shoulder when walking alone at night.

Despite the fact that it has been ten years since Will was arrested and convicted of the four murders, Sally-Anne wants to know why. Why kill anyone, and especially why would her boyfriend kill her best friend? It is with those questions in mind that she agrees to talk to Will and find out what he has to say to the police about the latest murder.

From that point until the very last page, readers will find themselves engrossed in this fast-paced, mind boggling mystery/thriller.

I thought I had the book all figured out early in the story, but I was wrong. This tale has so many twists and turns that readers will never be bored and will be unable to put this book down.

The author has a knack for character building and for making those characters come to life. It is inevitable that readers become invested in Sally-Anne's life.

Secrets, murder, friendship, romance, terror, security, love, hate, jealousy, happiness, chills and thrills all abound in this psychological thriller that I rate as 4.5 out of 5 Stars.🌟🌟🌟🌟 I am very much looking forward to reading more books by author Catherine Ryan Howard.

**A special Thank You to Netgalley for providing me with a free ARC (Advance Review Copy) of this book.**

I devoured this book in one sitting as it drew me in from the first chapter. I really loved the way that I kept switching my opinion as to who was the 'baddy'. The characters were very well drawn and I particularly enjoyed the different time lines. A well plotted, extremely well written book

The Liar's Girl by Catherine Ryan Howard is an engrossing psychological thriller that has a dash of mystery thrown in.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

What happens when the past you've worked so hard to move on from sudddenly shows up at your door? Alison left Ireland 10 years ago when a serial killer destroyed her life. Now someone she once loved is asking for her help. But, that means returning to Ireland and facing the past.

I devourered this book in one sitting. The characters were very well fleshed out. The past and the present was interwoven perfectly to move the story along. I had no luck in guessing the killer. And the ending caught me by surprise!

I highly recommend this book.

This book was really good! Totally engrossing and kept me turning pages as the story progressed, I could not put it down. The story is original about two college students in Ireland who fall in love and then a serial killer is all the sudden on the loose on their campus. I love how the story is in Ireland because I really know nothing about it, all the language quirks and places in Ireland definitely added to the story. Alison and Will are such a cute couple, but then as the murders increase in number, everyone on campus is on high alert. When Ali's best friend is found dead, the police start looking at and questioning the students including Ali and Will. Through a series of circumstances, Will becomes a suspect and is coerced into confessing and goes to prison which obviously shocks devastates Ali a long with the death of her best friend. She leaves the country for 10 years but then is asked to come back when new killings start occurring and after the police question Will in his psych hospital and he requests Ali's presence. The rest of the story is really interesting, many twists and kept me interested until the very last page. Definitely worth reading! Great psychological thriller! Will definitely read more from this author. Thanks NetGalley!

Excellent book. I adored the storyline and the characters. A real page turner. I would this recommend this book.

10 years ago Alison was living a great life at university and experienced her first love. Then things go terribly wrong when women from her dorms start to disappear only to turn up murdered in Dublin Canal. As we move forward it comes to light that her amazing boyfriend Will, is charged with the murders and is sent to a psychiatric hospital for 10 years. Unable to cope and feeling as though Alison contributed to Will's incarceration, Ali flees to the Netherlands and starts a new life there. Not returning to her Irish home in all that time. Until, the murders begin again. Reluctantly, Ali heads home because there is new information and the only person Will wants to speak with is Alison.

The publisher provided me with the opportunity to read this in exchange for providing feedback. (via NetGalley)

I enjoyed this.It moved at a good pace and it was hard to put down at times. A lot of twists, some I predicted as they unfolded but enjoyable nonetheless.

Alison Smith had hidden herself away in the Netherlands, away from Dublin and Ireland where 10 years ago she was the girlfriend of a serial killer Will Hurley who was killing young, female college students at St James College. After 10 years the Gardaí (police) come calling for her as the murders have started again and Will has said he would talk ... but only to her. A truly enjoyable read which keeps you guessing as to what is going on. Catherine Ryan Howard has written a wonderful book which I had trouble putting down. Definitely Recommended.

Wow ...wow ...wow! Incredible story! There are so many twist and turns throughout the whole story. I never, ever would have figured out who "dun" it! The ending blew me out of the water! The story starts off slow, but man o" man, does it build up speed for the grand finale! I would definitely look for any other books from this author!

I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for receiving a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

*I received this book from NetGally in exchange for an honest review.

This book is why I rarely give out 5 star ratings! This may just be the best book I have ever read! Howard writes an amazingly terrifying story of how one small lie can change the course of your entire life, and those around you. I simply cannot say enough good things about this book, it left me utterly speechless! The characters are all very real with each having an emotional struggle tied to the past and the present. Howard weaves in family dynamics, first love struggles, guilt, shame, righteous determination, and a twist that will blow you away to create a story that will keep you hooked long after the book is finished!

Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this novel! While in college, Ali's was convicted as a local serial killer and is serving time in prison. Now, ten years later, another girl has gone missing and Alison is looking for answers. Was Alison's charming ex really a serial killer or was he wrongly convicted as the real murderer lurks among them? The plot is mainly told from Ali's perspective -rotating between past and present. I enjoyed this style as it kept the suspense growing while details of the past are revealed and present day information evolved. I flew through the second half of this book and couldn't wait to see how it ended. Although there were no major twists, I did enjoy this novel and would recommend it to suspense fans!

The best part of the book is the scenery of Ireland. The horror of the murders, the horror of realizing who the killer is and the manipulation make this book a little difficult. The writing is good, and it makes me wonder who can imagine a story like this.

It is frightening to consider how much someone can hide of themselves, and manipulate people they supposedly love.

*netgalley copy*
Enjoyable read, good mystery and pacing with just the right amount of past events sprinkled throughout to add to the story without being distracting.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me an opportunity to read this truly great, suspenseful book. It was hard for me to put down and quite honestly, kept me guessing to the end. And what a twist the end was! I like how you really told two whole stories in one. How young friendships change and can sometimes turn on a dime to become unhealthy. And guilt is a terrible burden to bear and can make you do the wacky! Great book. Highly recommend reading all the way to the end. Really nice style of tying it all up...

received a free electronic copy of The Liar's Girl by Catherine Ryan Howard from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

An amazing story about one very small lie and how it changed her life and affected the people in her life. Great characters with tons of emotion and lots of twists. This story hooked me in and kept me in it's grasp till the very end. A thrilling ride!

This was a very good psychological thriller. It focused on freshman year college students in Dublin ten years in the past, a serial killer, and the end of innocence. The story went back and forth between past and present and was easy to follow, eventually filling in all the years. It kept me turning pages until the satisfying ending. I would love to read more from this author.

The Liar's Girl is a breakout, heart stopping thriller that you won't be able to put down. This thriller takes you back to Alison's college days - when her boyfriend was accused, confessed and committed to a mental hospital for being a serial killer. He's still in custody - but someone has started again. Did they get the right person? Did he have an accomplice? And how does Alison fit in?

With more twists and turns than a maze, you'll find yourself up all night with this amazing read!

3.5 Stars

First let me send out a ‘Thank-You’ to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for giving me an ARC of “The Liar’s Girl” to read and review.

Catherine Ryan Howard’s latest book is a psychological thriller that keeps the pages turning with a fast moving storyline that doesn’t ask the reader to suspend belief in the plausibility of the plot. I really liked this book, despite keeping me up late on more than one night reading just ‘one more chapter’.

Alison Smith is called back to Ireland 10 years after she fled to the Netherlands after her boyfriend, Will Hurley confessed to be the serial killer dubbed the ‘Canal Killer’. Because of the recent discovery of two new female bodies in Dublin’s Great Canal, doubts have arisen as to whether the right man was incarcerated for the murders 10 years ago. Will says that he has information to share with the police, but he will only talk to Ali about it. Hence the police department’s request that she come back to Ireland to meet with Will. They want her to find out if Will has any new information to shed on the killings from either 10 years ago, or recent deaths.

What follows is an interesting unfolding via alternate chapters set in the present day, and the months leading up to the discovery of the final victim of the Canal Killer; Ali’s best friend, Liz ten years ago. I was always a bit uneasy about who (if anyone) was an unreliable narrator in this story. It was one of the things that kept me turning the pages. But who could be resuming the killing, and why? Is Will still somehow involved? Can he persuade Alison to continue to stay engaged enough with him to help him by being his eyes and ears on the outside? Is it possible that trying to pursue the truth will put her in grave danger now? It’s a thriller, so of course it will. But how she copes with the hurdles thrown at her are part of the fun of this page-turning ride.

I recommend this for readers who are fond of psychological thrillers, especially when they are glad to still be able to be surprised by unexpected plot twists.

Howard keeps you guessing throughout this tale of a killer who might be a copycat or might be the real deal. As you weave your way through Ali's story of love lost when her boyfriend, Will, is arrested and put away for murdering girls in their college town, you just know the latest murders mean he was innocent. Except the evidence continues to make you consider that Will is somehow involved in the murders past and present. The author finds a way to keep you walking the tightrope between Will's guilt and innocence until the last pages of this engaging novel.

Liar's Girl is a very atmospheric, creepy mystery. i read the author's previous book and though it was quite clever and I'm happy this one lived up to expectations!

What if you thought your ex-boyfriend was a murderer, and then it turns out maybe it wasn't true? That's the premise of The Liar's Girl, a well-written crime thriller that kept me up reading most of the night. I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading, but then I was hooked and couldn't stop until the end. There are plenty of twists and turns, and the ending was a total surprise.

Alison Smith is a freshman at St. John's college in Dublin. She meets Will, and is instantly smitten. They become inseparable all term until after Christmas, when the body of a fellow student is found in the canal near the school. Then another, and another, and finally the body of one of Alison's friends, Liz, is discovered. Will is arrested and put into a secure psychiatric facility. Alison moves to The Netherlands and doesn't come home to Dublin again. Ten years later, another girl is found in the canal and Will tells his doctor he's innocent and will only to talk to Alison. The police get involved, Alison meets Will and she thinks she believes him. But is it true? Did the police get it wrong ten years ago? Alison isn't sure, and whatever the answer is, it's going to rock the foundations of her life.

The book is written in flashbacks from the past when all the characters were in school to the present during the police investigation. It's a great read and I was sorry when the book ended. I highly recommend this book.

I was given an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my candid review.

I found this book to be very readable and compelling. I liked the characters, including Will, and wanted to find out the anwers to the mystery.

The book takes place 10 years after a serial killer who killed 4 young students is captured. The main character is the former girlfriend of the young man who confessed to the murders. He has been locked up in a mental facility for the past 10 years, but is scheduled to be transferred to a prison.

The catalyst to this story is that someone has started to murder students again at St. John's University . Will (the convicted serial murder) says that he has some information on the killings....but he will only talk to his former girlfriend Alison who has tried to forget about Will and the killings for 10 years.

Allison gets dragged into the new set of murders and the story flashes between the past and the current days.

I thought that this was a great start for a new author, however, I found the budding romance between the Garda officer and Allison to be unsettling and confusing. I guess it was in there to lead the reader away from wanting Will and Allison to get back together. The surprise ending was good, though. First the author convinces us of Will's innocence, but then takes us to another place.

I thought that the book was well written and compelling and I wanted to finish it quickly to find out the answers. It was a good read.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Catherine Ryan Howard, and Blackstone Publishing for allowing me to review an ARC of The Liar's Girl.

I read most of this book in one sitting because I was enthralled with the plot and wanted to know how it all ended. I was a bit disappointed with the conclusion of the book (the identity of the current-day killer. I feel like there could have been a few more hints throughout the novel), but the ending... so satisfying ;)

I did feel as though certain areas of the novel dragged, and I thought that the detective was unprofessional, but that didn't hurt the plot at all.

In all, I give this book a 4/5, and I would recommend it to friends.

See goodreads link

4 stars - Publishes 2/27/18 - Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC in return for a truthful review.

Pretty girl, Allison - handsome man, Will.

The setting is a college campus in Ireland. One day everything is bright and shiny for the young couple, the next tragedy strikes. Allison is beside herself and not inclined to believe it when Will is identified as the Canal Killer - a spree of several killings - including her childhood best friend.

After Will's conviction, Allison moves away. Then ten long years later the call comes. Allison is being called back to Ireland to talk to the imprisoned Will about a possible copy cat killer. Will insists that he will only talk to Allison. Detective Malone enters the picture. He elicits Allison's help in trying to solve this case. He has doubts that Will was the guilty party ten years ago.

This story was written from varying personal perspectives. We see the young college couple and campus and also see them in present day - 10 years later. There are a number of twists and turns in this novel that keeps you guessing. The characters are well formed and believable. If anything is a bit off kilter it would be the latitude that Malone grants to Allison in solving these crimes. However, by that time, you are hooked and what to read to the conclusion.

I enjoyed The Liar’s Girl very much. The storyline was enjoyable. My measure for this is whether or not I’m anxious to get back to reading after I’ve put the book away when life calls. I always was.

The characters were believable – some likable, some not – but always believable. There was excellent use of the twists and turns with no eye rolling by me. Many times I thought I knew what was going to happen and even sort of braced myself – well, not literally – because of the suspense of it, only to have the story take a right turn and go somewhere else.

Everything fit together – no loose ends – for a great ending. I’m not so sure I liked the way it ended, since there were many ways this could have gone, but it was well done nonetheless. Nice job, Ms.Howard.

A sincere thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Fast paced thriller with lots of twists and unexpected turns. Loved it!
Thank you publisher and netgalley for this ARC in exchange of an honest review.

Will Hurley was a handsome and likeable student at Dublin's St. John's College, and fellow student Alison Smith fell hard. They were inseparable until Alison's best friend was murdered--another victim of a serial killer, dubbed the Canal Killer.

When Alison learns that the person she loves and trusts most in the world is also the prime suspect in the serial killer investigation, her world crumbles. She flees to the Netherlands and starts a new life, but her old one won't leaver her alone: Another body has been found and the method is the same as the Canal Killer, and the police are trying to interview Will in prison. The trouble is, he will only speak to Alison.

If you enjoyed Catherine Ryan Howard's Distress Signals, pick up her latest, The Liar's Girl! Imagine your first serious boyfriend gets accused of killing your childhood best friend and several other girls you went to college with? After realizing he wasn't the person she thought he was, he goes to jail and she moves far, far away, leaving the entire life she knew behind. Now, ten years later, he's still in prison, but new bodies of college girls are being found in the same way they were back in the day. The police track down her down and it becomes her mission to determine, once and for all, if her boyfriend really murdered all those girls years ago. Full of twists and emotion, you won't be able to put it down!

This book starts out with a mystery and the tension keeps growing as you get farther into it. I wasn't sure who to trust, what to believe or whether some of the characters were even who they said they were until well into the novel--I love it when that happens.

If you enjoy books where there are multiple red herrings that throw you off course, then you will likely really enjoy this one. The author did a great job of telling her back story in a way that wasn't confusing and making each of her lead characters three dimensional and interesting. There were times when I was reading this that I felt myself literally holding my breath waiting to see what would happen next.

There is a bit of romance in this book, but it isn't over done. I liked the way the author made me question everything that was happening and I felt a great sense of curiosity building before I reached the end and things were resolved. This was a great way to spend an afternoon and I recommend this book to others who like suspenseful mystery.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

I give this book 4 out of 5 Thrilling Stars! I really liked this book and thought it had major potential to be a 5 star in my opinion. The issue I had with this book it felt like it was really slow in the beginning and felt like it took forever to get to the thrilling stuff and meat of the story. Once we get through atleast the first 60 pages or so it was quite suspenseful and thrilling. The plot was great and the characterisation was good as well. I also liked how unique the twists and turns of this story was. There was a lot of page turning moments and know that this story will capture a large amount of readers’ attention! Man did some of it make me cringe!
I just think with the beginning it set me off a tad but definitely a book that I would recommend to people who love thrillers because it ended up being really good and surprising. Overall, I liked this story and am glad I read it because it had me keeping the lights on and had me cringing at some points with the intensity!

I was not expecting that!!! That's all I'm saying. No spoiler alerts here!
The Author did an incredible job of putting the story together. Keeps you spellbound to the very end.
The characters are real. The storyline is believable. There is not enough positive feedback that I can give this novel.
Highly, highly recommended.
5 Stars

Book Description

Freshman Alison Smith moved to the Big Smoke to enroll in St. John’s and soon fell hard for Will Hurley. Her world bloomed … and then imploded when Liz, her best friend, became the latest victim of the Canal Killer—and the Canal Killer turned out to be the boy who’d been sleeping in her bed. Alison fled to the Netherlands, and, in ten years, has never once looked back.

My Thoughts
This is one of those books where I don't want to share any details that aren't already available in the publisher's descriptions. A good psychological thriller depends on engaging characters, a fast-paced plot, lots of twists and turns, and to me at least, no spoilers since I like to puzzle out the clues provided and make my own guesses along the way.
There were many reasons that I liked this book. As the story unfolds we go between events in the past and those in the present and different characters narrate the tale. Allison is pulled back into Will's world when the police want to speak to him about a potential copycat killer and he states he will only talk to Allison. As the last pages drew near, I thought I had read all the clues correctly and knew how the story would end, but the author proved me wrong with one last twist.
The story started off slowly, but after 60 pages or so, I was totally invested and since I particularly enjoyed the character of Allison, I was crossing my fingers and toes hoping there would be a happy ending for her. It would have taken a lot to pull me back to a time and place that had been so tragic, but the author did a great job making me understand how Allison was then and how she managed during the next ten years, so I hoped she would get the answers she needed and ultimately closure.
The Liar's Girl will be released in February and if you enjoy a story with interesting characters and a good plot, I would recommend this one. This was my first novel by Catherine Ryan Howard but it won't be my last.
Thank you to the author, Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for the digital ARC to read and review. I gave up some sleep to finish this one and it was well worth it.

The Liar's Girl is a book I started reading with much anticipation. I was a bit disappointed in the beginning of the book. I found myself having to reread passages several times and also looking back to make sure I had the correct character in mind. The author switched from past to present and at times from the perspective of the unknown killer to the accused killer, then Ali, her friend, etc. It was all a bit complicated. About a third of the way in, it became easier to follow and the plot began to pick up. Ali, Liz, and Will are all going to the same college and Ali and Will start dating. In the meantime, a killer is on the loose, knocking girls in the head and putting their bodies into a nearby canal. After being accused of the murders, Will confesses and is incarcerated. Ten years later the killings have started again, even though Will is locked away. He requests to speak to Ali and she agrees. He tells her he is innocent and needs her help to prove it. She is driven to help him, by her feelings of guilt in the role she may have played in his being caught.

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for sending me a copy to read in exchange for an honest review.

A slow building mystery that had me questioning a thing or two until literally the last 2 pages. Loved the alternating time periods that kept the story fresh. A smooth read. If you enjoy books where there are multiple red herrings that throw you off course, then you will likely really enjoy this one. The author did a great job of telling her back story in a way that wasn't confusing and making each of her lead characters three dimensional and interesting. There were times when I was reading this that I felt myself literally holding my breath waiting to see what would happen next.

Alison Smith has fled Dublin to hide out in the Netherlands. She has been there for ten years with little contact with her former life. Will, her former boyfriend, prompted her disappearance. While on campus as students, a serial murderer was at large. It was Will who confessed to these murders.

Ten years later, the Irish Garda comes to her door. The murders have started up again, but Will has been in a psych hospital for the past ten years. It seems Will has additional information to impart, but he will only tell what he knows to Alison. She decides to return to Dublin to confront Will, the notoriety that attached to her and learn what really happened. How could she not know that he was the killer? And what if he wasn’t? Why did he confess? Propelled by a desire to answer these questions, Alison reluctantly returns.

This is a psychological thriller that switches back and forth from Alison’s past life at St. John’s University to her current situation in Dublin. The “set-up” of the book begins slowly but picks up speed after the first few chapters. At that point the reader will become hooked to learn the answers to Alison’s questions. Recommended.

It's been ten years since Allison left Dublin forever. She's worked hard to leave behind all the dark memories of that place, where her boyfriend confessed to the murder of five college classmates, including her best friend Liz. Will was the love of her life. She'd trusted him completely. How could she not have known what kind of monster was sharing her bed?

Then the murders begin again. Police pay a visit to Will with the hope that he can shed some light on this copycat murderer. But Will has new information for them. And he'll only share it with one person: Allison.
Reluctantly, Allison agrees to talk with Will, motivated by the idea that if she can help catch the killer, she could save the lives of his potential victims. But when she meets with Will, he drops a bombshell on her: He is not, in fact, the Canal Killer.

Allison doesn't know what to believe. Why confess to murders he didn't commit? But something about his pleading gets under her skin. And the young detective on the case is open to exploring the possibility that Will is innocent. Together they piece together this puzzle, re-examining old evidence, reconsidering new evidence.

As Allison's view of what happened all those years ago shifts and morphs, dredging back feelings of guilt, fear, and jealousy, time is running out for the killer's next target. And for Will who is due to be moved to a max security prison in days. Can she and Detective Malone find the real killer before he strikes again? Or is this just another of Will's lies? What isn't he telling her this time?



Told from Allison's point of view, with snippets from the killer, and flashbacks to that semester in college, the reader gets a front row seat to the range of emotions that roll over her. With a visceral honesty, through dimensional characters, Howard examines the complexities of female friendships under the strain of the first year at college, the struggle to remain loyal in a relationship when doubting everything, and asks: what kind of betrayal is worse than killing four innocent strangers? While it isn't so much a pulse-pounding, twisty-turny thrill-ride, the suspense is thick and building, the emotions raw and relatable, as the reader turns the pages more quickly with each new development toward a conclusion that will stick with you.

4/5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley, Blackstone Publishing, and author Catherine Ryan Howard for the ARC of this novel.

To read a more in depth discussion of this novel, please visit my blog GreyKat Reviews.

Wow! I finished this book in two days. What a great story! The ending was definitely not what I expected. Great story. I love how the author went back and forth between the past and the present. The characters were believable and real. I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a good mystery.

Five murders on the campus of Irelands St. John’s College ten years ago drove Alison Smith to a new life in the Netherlands. Her boyfriend, nineteen year old Will Hurley was attractive, charming, and also the man accused and convicted of the murders.

Now a decade later two Garda detectives have found Alison and want her assistance with a new killing that mimics the five previous killings. Currently confined to the Central Psychiatric Hospital in Ireland Will insists he has information concerning the new killing but will speak to no one but Alison.

A reluctant Alison returns to her roots to confront Will and her own memories and in the process allows the reader to examine the relationship they shared with each other those around them.

As the talented Catherine Ryan Howard moves the current investigation forward she keeps you guessing until the final disturbing page of this atmospheric thriller.

3.5 stars

This was an intriguing and entertaining psychological thriller with a suspenseful storyline and interesting characters. I enjoyed the layout of the novel which was told in Past and Present timelines. The pacing of the story was on the slow side and some parts started to drag, but overall, it kept me intrigued all the way through.

A big thank you to NetGalley, Blackstone Publishing and Catherine Ryan Howard for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Loved this book! It consistently keeps your interest throughout. It does flip from present to past, which I am not always a fan of. But this author does a great job of it. She gives you just enough of the past to make you wanting more. Great read! Thanks Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley!

Although this novel started a bit slow, it quickly picked up the pace and had me totally hooked. Is Will the real Canal Killer? Ten years later is there a copycat or was Will originally framed?? Told in the past and present by different voices, this novel is filled with believable characters and many page turning moments. The ending had a nice twist, but it ended a bit abruptly. Would love to see a series with Alison and Malone!!