Ask No Questions

I received an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review

Loved this one. Very unexpected, kinda creepy, bit of a slow burn. But I loved it, even if a had to take a hot shower after. Definitely good for a Halloween read

Did you remember to lock the doors? Are you sure? Go double-check. Goosebumps might not be the only thing that surfaces when you read, “Ask No Questions” written by Claire Allan to be published January 21, 2021. You’ve been warned.

Imagine finding out that the bogeyman is real. Just ask Ingrid Devlin. She knows. On Halloween night twenty-five years ago, 8-year-old Kelly Doherty, went missing. A couple of days later her body was found in a creek behind a housing estate in Derry. A neighbourhood boy, Jamesy Harte was charged with her murder. Even though childhood innocence was lost for those children who knew Kelly, everyone has slept a little easier at night knowing that the monster was behind bars. In possession of her interview with the recently released perpetrator, Ingrid, now a tenacious and unrelenting reporter, attempts to shed light on what really happened that night. It starts out as a quest for a feature article in the local paper, but Ingrid soon discovers that writing the Kelly Doherty anniversary story has become her worst nightmare. Hoping to sideline her story, someone has broken into and vandalized both her car and her home. Desperate to get to the root of the story, she faces her fear and continues to re-interview those who gave statements 25 years ago. Are the twin Heaney boys telling the truth? Was Jamesy wrongfully imprisoned? If so, does that mean the monster is still at large?

I was born in Northern Ireland, along the Antrim Coast, not far from the setting of this fantastic crime thriller. I loved recognizing the names of places I’ve been and reading Irish expressions I’d grown up using. Many times my Irish accent surfaced while I was reading in my mind and I smiled when I realized what was happening. All warm feelings aside, this book was at the outside edge of what I was comfortable reading. Allan kept it under wraps and the actual murder was never described, but I’ll admit I skipped a few lines when the Heaney boys described what they’d found at the ‘rezzie’.

You’ll love Allan’s writing style and her masterful transitions between October 31st 1994 and October 2019. With 4 bestseller novels under her belt, I’m not surprised that this was a spectacular thriller. Allan has mastered the successful twist that trademarks a great suspense. I didn’t see it coming. She’d let me down the garden path and then when I least expected it…BOOm! In fact, the ending contained multiple surprises and was tied up in a masterful, satisfying resolution. She created rich, flawed and human characters and the storyline was fast-paced with well-timed twists. Her 18 years as a journalist no doubt had a positive impact on her success with this novel.

Thank you Claire Allan, Avon Books UK and Netgalley for this advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Claire Allan, is a former journalist from Derry, Northern Ireland. This book contains easy to understand Irish dialect such as 'eejits" or idiots and "jumper" also known as sweaters in America. This book made me feel like I was a local in Ireland following the case of a young girl murdered. The murder is not described in detail so this book is suitable for people that may usually shy away from anything depicting harm to a young child. There's one sexual situation that does NOT involve the child. I enjoyed this book and would classify this as MYSTERY/THRILLER.
I really enjoyed the twists, the fact that the author did not include too many characters and the depiction of Halloween in Ireland. The plot was perfectly cultivated and the author did not stray from the main plot.
I also enjoyed the fact that the author named a character in her book after a fan she met at a book signing - Sue in the police department.
This book comes out January 2021 and in the mean time, I will read her other books! I invite you to check out this author!
Her name is Rose
Apple of my eye
Forget me not
The liars daughter

Thanks to Netgalley and Avon for a preview of this book I absolutely loved it. I had read Allens previous books but this is my favourite. Imogen is a great character & very likeable. The storyline is fast paced & exiting. I don't want to give to much away about the book, but READ it! It's my favourite thriller of 2020. I can't wait for more from this talented writer.

The fifth thriller from Claire Allan sees several of her Derry-based characters return, most notably the dubiously-ethical Ingrid Devlin, a journalist we've seen make life trickier for several people in the past. This time Ingrid is the central character, writing up a piece on the 25th anniversary of a crime in her own old neighbourhood - the murder of an 8-year-old girl one Halloween.
Her editor, with whom she is having a tiny bit of an affair, doesn't want her to delve into the claims of innocence that the man accused is now making. And the twins who found the body, boys she grew up with, have changed utterly: one a charismatic, successful man; the other stumbling through life. All three men are hiding something, and Ingrid will discover the truth... even as the personal threats towards her grow more and more violent.
This is not an IRA novel, but it is very much a Northern Ireland novel - a world in which the legacy of violence and swallowed-back secrets is evident, even as Derry happily succumbs to globalised/Americanised/commercialised Halloween customs.
Allan uses her own background in journalism to give a satisfying texture to Ingrid's work - yes, she is sometimes off interviewing people whose stories are relevant to the plot, but she is also covering the courts or dealing with HR regulations. She's also used to a certain level of hostility towards her - it's only when this ramps up that she starts getting worried, and us as readers along with her. The stakes are personal, not just a matter of professional pride, and it's a story that lets us see Ingrid with more nuance than we ever have previously.
And it's a page-turner - a read-in-one-sitting, what-happened-I-must-know tale. Much fun to read, despite the grim subject matter.

It’s been 25 years since Kelly Doherty disappeared on Halloween night. The eight year old’s body was found three days later, but no one has ever been charged. Intrepid journalist Ingrid Devlin wants to get to get to the bottom of the case and get justice for the little girl, but someone doesn’t like her poking around. The Doherty family seem strangely unconcerned about their daughter’s death and the more Ingrid digs, the more she realizes that this family is not at all what they appear

This was a great book to read a week before Halloween. It was well written and kept me interested in the outcome.

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

OMG! This book was absolutely fantastic! I was given an advanced copy this afternoon & it had me hooked from the start. Fast paced, edge of your seat reading, full of twists & turns with an ending I thought I had the answer to, but was totally wrong.

Perfect Halloween reading!

I don't want to give anything else away add this is a book highly recommended by me & well worth a read! Looking forward to reading more of this author's books.

Journalist Ingrid Devlin in Derry is writing a story about Halloween Night 25 years ago as a remembrance of the 8-year old who was brutally murdered on that night, Kelly Doherty. It changed everything for the the people of Derry; innocence was lost and fear filled in.
But someone seems to want to shut her up and she has some very frightening physical and mental threats.
This is a fast, intense read that, despite my not liking Ingrid, had me reading till I thought my head would explode! She was just too pushy; to the point of endangering herself as well as others. Would definitely not be my choice of jobs...
The ending was unexpected, very good.
Recommended for lovers of psychological thrillers.
Thank you NetGalley and Avon UK Publishing for the eARC.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. A girl was murdered over twenty five years ago in a small town. Journalist Ingrid wants to find out what happened that night. People she knew maybe hiding a secret. Someone does not want her to figure out what happened. This book was very intriguing.

I thought this book was very good. It captured my interest right away and I loved the fact that I didn’t guess the ending. Claire Allan just keeps getting better.

Another page turning read from the awesome Claire Allan. This book is a case of who done it - no spoiler alerts.. But the ending was not who I thought it would be. If you enjoy a fast moving murder mystery then you need to read Ask No Questions, it is brilliant and it also deals with families being torn apart and all of them secretly harbouring their own demons, but the truth always wins through in the read. This would be a great story line for TV drama. Thanks to Claire Allan, her publishers and Netgalley for the advance copy in return for an honest review.

Ambitious journalist Ingrid Devlin learned as a child that monsters were real, when local girl Kelly Doherty was found murdered after a days-long search. Now, it's the anniversary of Kelly's death, and there's a story out there which needs to be told - is the man convicted of her murder really guilty?

But not everyone wants the truth to be uncovered...

Ask No Questions is well written and plotted, and if it never totally grabbed me, that could well be because I was a little distracted by events in the outside world (the US election) at the time. I appreciated Ingrid's drive and ambition, even if she wasn't necessarily likeable, and it all got quite exciting towards the end.

An enjoyable read.

I love Claire Allen's books and it was fun to have one focus on Ingrid Devlin, a character who has been "challenging" in the past.

This book focuses on the murder of an 8-year-old girl on Halloween, the man accused of the crime and those who experience the fallout.

Tough subject matter handled well; this is gritty, dark and entertaining. I could not put it down.

Thank you to Avon UK for sending me a widget. It was my pleasure to write an honest review.

I've read all of this author's books and she just keeps getting better! This book kept me guessing right up to the fantastic twist at the end. This book has everything you could want in a thriller.

I have enjoyed all of Claire Allan’s books and this one was no exception.

Kelly Doherty was murdered on Halloween when she was 10. Twenty five years later Ingrid Devlin is doing an anniversary story for the local paper. Ingrid was friends with Kelly all those years ago and as she digs deeper into the darkness of that night, someone is watching Ingrid and is determined to stop her.

A great thriller with plenty of twists. I thought I guessed the killer but was completely wrong. I look forward to the next book from this author.

Claire Allan just gets better and better - her last book, The Liars Daughter was such a masterpiece I wasn’t sure if she could do it again, but she has. Ingrid Devlin has appeared in some of Claire’s earlier thrillers and she is not a likeable character! This book goes a long way to giving Ingrid her back story - but doesn’t do that really annoying thing that some writers do - where you are expected to completely forgive all past behaviours . You can empathise with her, and wish her luck, but still not be entirely sure if you would like to go for a meal with her ...
Long buried secrets - the impact on the people around, the added dimension of a relatively small community united by a past tragedy - the absolute shock of the reveal, which I didn’t see coming at all! The perfect colour given to the characters - could almost smell a wet coat at one point ...
A completely absorbing story - with plenty of diversions - until the final meeting of them all into a shocking finish. Raw and sad - frightening and real - as much a look at a moment in time as a thriller - absolutely loved it - would thoroughly recommend

Ingrid Devlin, journalist was a child herself when a schoolmate was murdered. Now on the 25th anniversary of Kelly's death Ingrid starts to write an investigative piece. and all sorts of horror comes out into the daylight at last. I loved Claire Allan's previous books and this was just as good. In a gut wrenching , frightening and unsettling way. Marvellous and yet at the same time horrific. Highly recommended. Thank you #Netgalley and @AvonBooksUK for the chance to read this. @ClaireAllan

Having grown up in Northern Ireland in the 80s and 90s I found reading this book really nostalgic. I remember Halloween before it became Americanised and kids running in and out of each others' house in 50p false faces. Even against the backdrop of the troubles we felt safe so I could relate to the shock and horror at the disappearance and subsequent murder of a young girl. It really was unheard of here so I could understand why all these years later Ingrid was still affected by it and was determined to find out the truth. It was as big a shock to me as it was to her when she finally unearthed what had really occurred on that fateful Halloween night. A great thriller which just demands to be read in one sitting.

Claire Allan always writes gripping drama and this is no exception. It's a quick read and a fast one as there's lots of drama and investigation. I didn't see the end coming at all and was worried as it's a missing child case and a murder. Always upsetting to read about but Claire writes it in such a way that it's compelling. Characters are well formed and developed. The ending was quite something.

I have read all of Claire Allan's novels but this is by far my favourite. I loved it!. A great page turner and I didn't want it to end. I read it in two sittings!! I thought that I had the plot worked out in my head 2 or 3 times but I was so off the mark!!! This is a must read for any fans of the thriller genre. Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for the chance to read this.

Ingrid Devlin is a thirty-five year old journalist in Derry, Northern Ireland, who has devoted her life to her career. Hallowe'en 2019 is the 25th anniversary of the abduction and murder of her childhood friend, Kelly Doherty, a tragedy that had scandalized the nation. Her editor assigns her to do a piece on it, she reconnects with the twin boys who discovered the body and the neighborhood man who was convicted of the crime. Now on release, he continues to protest his innocence and has found attorneys to champion his cause.

As Ingrid dives into the story, she quickly becomes part of it. Someone targets her, warning her off. When the violence escalates, Ingrid realizes there are reasons why someone wants the truth to remain buried.

I read the story in two sittings. The first late at night until my eyes gave out. The second sitting the following day. As I came to the climax, the kindle's battery gave out. While I waited for it to recharge, I paced the room unable to focus on anything else. The story is that compelling.

It's a thriller, It's gritty. It's about a murder. It's about a young woman's harsh appraisal of her own life. The story is expertly constructed with ever-increasing tension. It represents the best of the new thriller subgenre, the female protagonist. I highly recommend.

Claire is a really skilful writer and has really come into her own in this genre. I have read all her books and each one gets better. Lots of twists to keep your guessing and a tight plot line keeps the pages turning.

How sad that so many lives are destroyed because of a swift wrong decision or event. This book showed the anguish that was caused by the death of a young girl in Derry many years ago. Ingrid , the same age as this child is now a reporter for the local newspaper and is committed to finding the truth of what happened that Halloween night so many years ago. What she discovered is traumatic to her own life as well as to so many others. The book is a compelling mystery in that what appears to have happened so many years ago is so far from the actual truth.

This was an edge-of-your-seat, stay-up-until-2am-to-finish-it kind of psychological thriller -- featuring one of the character's from Claire Allan's work that I've always wanted to know more about.

Twenty-five years ago, on Halloween night, eight-year-old Kelly Doherty went missing while out trick or treating with friends. Two of her young classmates found her body, floating face down on the banks of the Creggan Reservoir, three days later.

Journalist Ingrid Devlin, who was friends with Kelly, is investigating – but, as she digs further, it becomes clear that someone doesn’t want her to know the truth. She starts to realise that the Doherty family are not as they seem - and neither are some other ghosts from her past. But will she expose what really happened that night before it’s too late?

This book was absolutely brilliantly paced (and just brilliant, overall). Full of so many twists and turns, it had me constantly guessing who was responsible -- even though I ended up getting it wrong each and every time.

Ingrid's been a character that pops up in Allan's other work, so I was really happy that we got more insight into her as a character -- and having a journalist as the central character added an interesting layer to the story.

A young girl went missing on Halloween 25 years ago. When her body was found a few days later, a local man, Jamesy, was soon convicted and served 17 years in prison. He's now been out for 8 years and is contacted by a journalist, Ingrid, who is working on an anniversary piece for her newspaper. But he surprises her by stating that he's innocent and determined to finally clear his name. She has always been haunted by this crime, as all of the young children of Derry were, and for some reason she feels there might be some truth to Jamesy's claim.

Understandably, no one wants to hear what he has to say, and her editor has forbidden her to included anything in her piece about him declaring his innocence. She can't help herself though, and she continues to dig into the old case. She's in touch with the two twin brothers who discovered the body, whose lives have taken significantly different paths in the years since the crime. She used to be friends with them before the crime, but now that so many years have passed, they are both strangers to her. But there's that hunch she has that they may know more than she thought... Even though Ingrid continues to be harassed and threatened for her digging, she continues in her pursuit of the truth. But can she find out the whole story before someone silences her for good?

I enjoyed this book and was surprised at how everything turned out, which doesn't happen too often! It's a gripping read that leads to a satisfying and emotional conclusion. You won't want to pass this one by!

I read this book in one sitting, I could not put it down. Claire is an amazing author that leaves the reader really feeling the anticipation into where the story is heading. I felt the unease at the start and it didn't let up until the last few sentences. I became so engrossed with this story that I didn't realise I had nearly finished it. What makes a good psychological thriller is this book right here, with twists and turns at every corner and the ending was superb. Each chapter is a different person so you feel as though you are getting their background aswell as the story, which makes it even more exciting to read. If you haven't read a book by Claire Allan before I would highly recommend her books.

This book was absolutely fantastic. It was well written and kept me interested in the outcome. The Author created rich, flawed and human characters and the storyline was fast-paced with well-timed twists.

Interesting twist on the journalist doing a story on a 25 year old murder,when that journalist grew up with and was friends with the victim.
Fast paced and had me guessing all the way... or at least until I KNEW who it was. Wrongly so.
I love it when that happens.
Really liked the main character ,despite some of her more foolish decisions.
A very decent read.

I loved this thriller! The atmosphere was ominous as befitting this type of novel, and gThe interaction between the characters kept me glued to the pages. Highly recommended!

Lots of twists and turns in this psychological thriller! It was quite creepy and kept me guessing and I can usually figure out the “bad guy” halfway through, but this one took me by surprise! Loved it!

Loved this creepy thriller of a book by Claire Allan. It kept me on my toes and kept me turning page after page fro the beginning to the end. My first book by Claire Allan, but will definitely not be my last!
Thank you to netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

I think Claire Allans books just keep getting better. Ask No Questions is a thrilling read with a brilliant ending. I never imagined who the killer really was. I couldn't put this book down and read it in two sittings.
Thanks to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read this book.

Completely gripped from first to last. An atmospheric and twisty thriller that I highly recommend – though suggest you don't read in the wee small hours (spooked!). Already looking forward to Claire Allan's next one.

Wowwwww!! Y’all I just knew by looking at the cover of this book and the title that I would love it. Amazing characters and the storyline and writing was phenomenal.

Such a exciting thriller. Has everything a good book needs. Kept me in suspense
Would recommend this to anyone who asks what to read next

A fantastic thriller with a most unexpected ending. I really enjoyed the plot, and each of the characters added an interesting dimension to the story.

The intricate past relationships of the characters add to the tension of the story and it is easy to see how we assume things and judge people based on little more than outward appearance.

This is the first novel by this author that I have read, but it definitely won’t be the last!

#netgalley #claireallan #asknoquestions #avonbooksuk

Didnt see that one coming. Great book well written characters and plot.
Has everything a great thriller needs. Enjoyed this one.

Thanks to the Author, the publisher and NetGalley for an early release of this book.

Love the fact that this is set in Derry and mentions the craic and plenty of other familiar Irishisms! We follow ingrid who is investigating a case about a former classmate who was murdered way back when.

The plot kept me guessing right all along and the ending was totally unexpected - exactly what you want from a thriller!

What a fabulous book! I really loved this psychological thriller set in Derry NI it was very atmospheric I really felt I was there.A real page turner ,one of those books that once you start you don't want to put down .Ask No Questions is a gripping fast paced read and I didn't guess the ending !! Many thanks to the Publisher the Author and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review .

Well this was an interesting read such a great premise and I had never read anything like it before. I kept me gripped and I had to find out what happened next.

I thought I knew but I didn't well done.

Pure escapism as I had never read any of her books before but will now.

I was given an advance copy by Avon books and netgalley in exchange for a honest and fair review which I have done.

I really enjoyed this book. It is a really good psychological thriller with all the twists and turns you’d expect to keep you guessing right until the end. It has a slow and steady pace as the story gradually builds up in intensity and edginess and you get to know the different characters and their shared history, This is the second book I have read and loved by Claire Allan and I’m pretty sure it won’t be my last.

This is an excellent journalistic thriller, set in Derry with enough local colour to assure any middle-class liberal readers that they are not in Islington any more.

Ask No Questions really is a novel about assumptions, both those of the leading characters and those of the gentle reader. Although many of the characters either know or suspect that there has been a frame-up and a cover-up, most of them have wasted a quarter century of their lives on one wrong assumption or another about just what that was. The police and the law are mostly in the background of the story, but their wrong assumption, as is sometimes the case in real life, is that somebody who is less capable of dealing with everyday life than the average man, is somehow going to be more capable of murder.

Murder is a talent which most of us lack, and in times of war the majority of conscript soldiers cannot bring themselves to actually aim to kill unless they are in immediate personal danger themselves; many of them cannot do it even then. This is why murder as a talent is sought after by organised crime, terrorist gangs and paramilitaries the world over. Even when the victim is a little girl, the search for a murderer needs to be a search for the rare talent which allows someone to kill another human being, not for the disability which sets a person apart, but which generally mitigates any harm they might do.

There is a cover-up as well as a murder and in this story the motive of the person who is instrumental to that cover-up is so surprising and unsettling that the reader probably won’t guess what it is until the very end. Murders can happen with very little motive, or at least the motive is often meaningful only to the murderer, but cover-ups always need a motive and that can be more shocking than the crime being concealed.

I really enjoyed this. We follow Ingrid, a journalist reporting on the 25th anniversary of the murder of an eight year old girl on Halloween. Ingrid was only ten herself at the time of the murder, and remembers it well. As she investigates for her article, it becomes clear to her that the man who has spent most of his life in prison for the murder was probably wrongfully convicted, and someone will stop at nothing to ensure she doesn't look too deeply into it.

I didn't particularly like Ingrid's character, but she was well written and there was a constant feel of tension throughout the book. I felt desperately sorry for Jamesey, the outsider who had been wrongfully accused of the murder and the author did a really good job of pulling on my heartstrings. I also liked Declan, whose life has gone in a downward spiral since he found the body at only ten years old himself.

It was difficult to know who to trust, the whole time I was confident I knew who was responsible and let's just say I was only very slightly right about it.

Overall I would say this is an excellent thriller and I would absolutely recommend it.

I have read most of Claire Allan’s novels and none have disappointed. This is another cleverly plotted storyline which leads the reader in several different directions.

Twenty-five years ago, on Halloween, Kelly Doherty disappeared and was found a few days later murdered. Her body was found by twins from her class and it affected the two of them in different ways. The murder rocked Derry.

Ingrid Devlin is an investigative reporter covering the anniversary of the murder for the local newspaper and interviews Jamesy Harte, who was convicted and sent away to prison for the murder. He has been released and has always stated his innocence. Ingrid was at the same school as Kelly and has always felt guilty.

The plot follows the investigation and things begin to get nasty as somebody is trying to stop the investigation.

I read this in a day. The writing and plotline are superb along with clever twists and turns as everybody seems to know something about the night Kelly vanished which they have not spoken about.

Another brilliant read from Claire Allan. Not to be missed and highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books UK and Claire Allan for my ARC of “Ask No Questions’ in return for my honest review.

An intelligently written psychological thriller with a riveting storyline and a cast of highly believable characters. A very satisfying read.

My third book by Claire Allan and this was my favourite one so far although I am sure I will say that about any future books as she really is a most talented author. The plot was extremely well crafted and I loved the main character of Ingrid Devlin she was so likeable and she just never gave up as she was determined to get to the bottom of the murder of Kelly Doherty who was killed when they were both children. Twenty five years on and Ingrid is a journalist covering the anniversary of the the murder and beginning to wonder wonder if the man who was convicted for the murder and has just been released really did it, then things take a nasty turn and Ingrid finds herself being targeted her car and flat vandalised and she begins to fear for her safety.
Well the plot just thickens from then on and races along at a fair old pace, full of suspicious characters I just couldn’t put the kindle down !!
Loads of twists and secrets kept me guessing and I have to say I didn’t figure out the ending making it a great read and I look forward to reading the next book from Claire Allan and I can highly recommend this one.
My thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

WOW. I loved this book. First ive read from this author but another name added. I thought i knew what was going to happen in it. Boy was i wrong! Twists and turns like you wouldnt believe. I couldnt put it down. FAB

Clare Allan does it again, this author never fails to impress me. This book has the pure grit needed for a crime book yet still has the emotional elements to allow the audience to connect with the characters. Ingrid is a successful ambitious reporter , currently working on a story she recalls from her childhood. Tragically a young Kelly went missing and was found murdered. The local oddball was arrested and served a life sentence. He is now released and wants to clear his name. Ingrid is covering the story but someone wants her to leave well alone.. she soon becomes the victim of some serious threats and criminal behaviour. This one had me hooked...prepare to be engrossed.

A dark, disturbing story, full of secrets and cover ups. I enjoyed this and although I knew that one character had to know more than first appears, I still didn't expect quite the final reveal when it came.

The opening of this story is quite harrowing when twins Niall and Declan find the body of missing eight-year-old Kelly Doherty, a girl they went to school with. The story then rolls forward to the present day as the 25th anniversary of her death on Halloween is approaching.


Ingrid Devlin is the journalist who is going to write the story and will include a piece on the convicted killer, local man Jamesy Harte, who served 17 years in prison for her murder. Ingrid had also grown up in the town and knew the little girl and Jamesy. Jamesy hadn’t returned to his home town when he had served his time, but it isn’t long before she knows where he now lives. The story she gets isn’t the one she thought it would be from Jamesy and so Ingrid begins to poke at the past to fill in some of the gaps that seem to widen and become a hole she could find herself in, that is impossible to get out!


It is such an intense storyline. Ingrid is such a strong and independent woman that knows what she wants in life, including relationships. The more she rattles the past and the more dangerous the present becomes. It was nail-biting stuff on every page and impossible to leave these characters overnight. I read this book in one go. When I couldn’t read, I listened to it, which played with my mind, all these characters buzzing in my head. There is an intimacy about this book, that is rarely captured as the whole story seemed to get personal.


OMG, this is one almighty book high that will take some beating this year! Superbly written, I was winded!


I wish to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.

4.5 stars for this chilling read.

Ask No Questions has everything: Hallowe'en, the bogeyman, murder, lies , secrets.

It is the 25th anniversary of the murder of the young child Kelly and Ingrid ( I do love her) is about to write an anniversary article. The accused is out of prison and now says he is innocent.

That's all I am saying.

The pages turned themselves (as I was checking the doors were locked) as I raced to the conclusion.

I am a great fan of Claire Allan, she is a great storyteller.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK, Avon for a creepy chilling read.

I received my copy of Ask No Question from Netgalley. The plot is chilling and brilliantly paced with some surprising twists. It's a riveting psychological thriller that at one point was really scary but not to the point that I wanted to put it down. A slow burner that will soon grab you and probably keep you guessing right to the end.

It is 1994. The place is a small Irish community in Derry and the focus is on eight year old Kelly Doherty, all dressed up and out trick or treating, knocking on neighbours doors and collecting her bounty of treats. A night of pure childhood excitement and joy that tragically ends with Kelly’s disappearance, her body discovered days later floating in the local reservoir. Twins Declan and Niall Heaney are the unfortunate pair to make his horrifying discovery, an event which shatters the lives of the residents on the Creggan estate and the whole of Derry. A local man is arrested and imprisoned for her murder yet the shockwaves from this heinous crime are still reverberating throughout the county twenty five years later. Journalist Ingrid Devlin, who was ten at the time of this terrible tragedy is planning to write an anniversary piece in remembrance of Kelly’s murder for the newspaper The Chronicle. Except it would seem there are many people in this small community, including her editor Ryan Murray and of course the Dohertys who would prefer her to let sleeping dogs lie. What good can come of raking up the past, opening up old wounds simply for an article that will become tomorrow’s fish and chip wrappers?But Ingrid, with her ability to sniff out a great story believes the murder of Kelly deserves further investigation, a story that could define her career. However by digging into the past, Ingrid is walking into a veritable minefield of secrets and lies, the discovery of which could stir up bad feelings and have further devastating consequences for all those involved.

Ingrid Devlin is intrepid in her resolve to elicit the truth and it is this quality that leaves you in no doubt that she will achieve her aim despite being rattled by warnings, some not so subtle, to leave well alone. Although presenting as a rather cold figure, rarely showing her true emotions I admired her tenacity in searching for the truth. I couldn’t decide whether she was either incredibly foolhardy or ridiculously brave and the deeper she delved the more petrified I felt for her safety. Ingrid’s ruthlessness in obtaining the scoop of the decade didn’t endear me to her;her trampling over the feelings of others in particular the Dohertys helps perpetuate the mistrust people in general feel towards journalists so I could understand the reluctance of certain individuals to talk openly.

This is one of those storylines where you reach the end saddened by the fact there are no winners,you’re just left with evidence of multiple lives lying ruined or in tatters, families torn apart all because of one long held deadly secret. Untruths are fostered and strengthened over time for no other reason than to keep the fragile peace of this small Irish community intact. Forget childhood stories and fears of the dreaded bogeyman; real live monsters lurk in broad daylight on these streets, rather than under the bed. There’s something incredibly sinister about individuals you’re familiar with masquerading as perfectly ordinary people, whilst disguising their true selves. That is what is so compelling about this dark storyline, where menace hides in every corner. It is the loss of childhood innocence, the loss of trust, the heartbreak and the injustice that result from Kelly’s murder that makes you yearn for the truth and for Ingrid Devlin to keep picking away at the scab, to keep asking the difficult questions. Knowing the process will be painful is immaterial, finding that one tiny golden nugget of truth is all that matters. Suspicion is cast on every single character and I had no idea who was the the real threat, past or present, which of course makes the overall reading experience so addictive and entertaining. Exactly who is responsible for warning Ingrid off from following her intuition is just as compelling as understanding what really happened that fateful Halloween night.

I’m not sure why but I was under the impression I had read more books by this author. It surprised me to discover I’ve previously only read The Liar’s Daughter which means I have a lot of catching up to do! Despite reading in one day, sandwiched either side of that annoying thing called work, I am of the opinion that this is a good but not terrific storyline. The fact it’s so readable AND I didn’t guess the outcome means that Ask No Questions is a psychological thriller worthy of 4 stars and I would recommend to fellow lovers of this genre. My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read.

So well written dark creepy.I stayed up way too late I could not put this book down.A new author for me will be catching up on her other thrillers#netgalley#avonbooksuk

A great read. This book has you guessing from the beginning. When a reported decides to investigate a murder of a childhood school friend all manor of surprising things begin to happen. Lots of twists in the story too.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for the advance copy.

I've read a few thrillers by Claire Allan now. While they were all very good, I think that this one might just be the best yet.
Journalist Ingrid Devlin usually just reports on stories, but when she starts to look in the events surrounding the death of an eight-year-old twenty-five years previously, she soon finds that she is part of the story itself. As Ingrid starts to look at whether the right man was found guilty at the time, it soon becomes clear that there are lots of people who don't want her to look too closely and stir things up.
Ingrid is an interesting character, while she is caught up in the drama here, it's clear that she's usually an observer and possibly not too bothered who she upsets in her drive to get the story. With this story, she was on the scene as a ten-year-old at the time and so has a much more personal connection to the story. The disappearance had a huge impact on the community at the time and as we meet different characters through the book, it's clear that there are few, if any that don't still bare the effects of the events of Halloween twenty five years ago.
This is a thrilling and gripping read. There are quite a few twists and turns to navigate your way through, I didn't see all of them coming by any means and once I started, I didn't want to put this one down until I got to the end. A fantastic read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Since I first read a Claire Allan book, I’ve kept in touch with all of her new work and I want to read them all. Thank you to @AvonBooksUK and @ClaireAllan for this advanced copy of Ask No Questions in return for an honest review. Ask No Questions is due to be published on 21st January 2021 and you can get a copy here.

Description 🔖

In the early nineties, eight year old Kelly Doherty goes missing on Halloween. Shortly afterwards, she is found dead by twins Declan and Niall; her classmates. There was an arrest and conviction made at the time, but journalist Ingrid Devlin has started to investigate the case and finds that not everything is quite right.

As Ingrid starts to dig around in the past, people in Derry aren’t happy, but it doesn’t deter her from getting to the truth. Her challenge is to get to that truth before anyone is hurt.

General Thoughts 🤔

I’ve been a fan of Claire Allan’s books for a while so I have no shame in admitting that there is probably a slight bit of bias from me. I really enjoy her writing and this book was no different. I found that this book had a slightly different pace to her different books. It didn’t feel like there was explosive drama but a slow burn and unravelling of a story.

Of course the book has it’s mysteries, of which none are revealed until the end. There are just enough hints throughout to make you question each character and their integrity, but not enough to make the ending completely obvious.

Characters 👫👭👬

I liked Ingrid’s character. She aggravated me at times, but I actually think it made me like her more. There were moments that I thought she put herself in danger and was careless, but it was all in the name of the investigation and the truth. What her character made me realise is how difficult journalism must be. I can only imagine that it’s a constant conflict between having to report news; whether good or bad whilst also empathising with people that are involved with the story.

I was really interested in the twins and the paths that their lives had taken after the tragedy that had gone through as children. Twins, raised in the same household that both experienced unthinkable trauma, but their lives went in completely different directions.

Writing Style ✍️

The book is only told from two people’s perspectives; Ingrid’s and Declan’s. Ingrid makes up the majority of the book but I loved the way that the author chose to include Declan, but no other characters. I found myself wondering why this was done and thought it was a nice touch to the way that the story was structured.

As I mentioned above, I thought this was slightly slower paced than Claire Allan’s previous books but I found it to be a perfect pace for the story. It was enough tension to keep me reading and on the edge without feeling like my heart was in my mouth the entire time.

Conclusion & Scoring 🏅

I’ve been reading this in the evenings, wrapped up warm with a scented candle burning and it’s been a fantastic companion. I had to keep those pages turning simply because I just had to know! Once I knew it was a fantastic ending, with no stones left unturned. Another great Claire Allan book that I’ll be recommending to friends as soon as it is released.

Firstly a big thank you to Avon for my copy to review . Im a huge fan of this author so couldnt wait to get stuck in.

Claire is a fantastic thriller writer who never dissapoints. This was clever, creepy, unpredictable and addictive

Loved the twists and turns and it is quite thought provoking. We as humans always jump to conclusions and point the finger at a certain type of person in society. This storyline explore this concept and the damage it does.

Published 21st January and if your new to her books i highly recommend adding to your tbr pile!

Having been a big fan of Claire Allan's Forget Me Not, I was really looking forward to her new book and I wasn’t disappointed. Whilst the story line is much grittier and more shocking than her previous novels, her writing style is every bit as engaging. How she describes the different areas of Northern Ireland adds to the realism and enjoyment of the book and the character development is complex and draws you in.

It is heart stopping thriller and Ms. Allan had me suspecting everyone committed the sad crime of killing a wee girl, yet it was gripping to find that the one who was responsible, was a person I never suspect. Brilliant , clever , emotional book, not to be missed. The story develops to a climax that I genuinely couldn’t put down. Very well done Claire Allan, can't wait for your next book.

It’s the twenty-five-year anniversary of Kelly Doherty’s death. The Eight-year-old was found murdered at a reservoir in Derry on the eve of Halloween. Where twins Niall and Declan found her.
Present day Ingrid Devlin an aspiring journalist, is writing a piece on her death. Did the man who was convicted of her murder, really kill her? The man in question Jamesy Harte spent 17 years behind bars for her murder now released after eight years. Ingrid was a child in Derry and lived in the same town when it happened and knows the people involved. So, it is kind of personal to her. But her boss Ryan Murphy keeps telling her to leave it well alone. Nothing good will come of it. So why all the secrecy?
I always excited to hear Clare Allan’s has another book out. I have read her previous books and really enjoyed them and this one does not disappoint. Ask no questions is a slow building and dark gripping thriller with twists and turns, that keep you on your toes throughout. I thought I had it all figured out who the culprit was but once again she had that twist at the end that I didn’t see coming. 5 stars from me.

The anniversary of the death of little Kelly is coming up on Halloween. She was only eight years old. Her body found face down in water. Her killer has been in prison for the past 25 years. He has recently been released. A reporter decided to write a story for her paper on this sad anniversary. Her editor is not very happy at the prospect. This reporter learns something that will put her life in danger. Also, who she can and cannot trust.
Lives are on the line in this thriller.

Ask No Questions by Claire Allan is a thrilling whodunit that kept me guessing up until the very end. I have previously loved Ms Allan's novels, and this latest proves no exception.

Ingrid Devlin is a reporter who is called back to her hometown of Derry to write a piece marking the twenty-fifth anniversary of the death of Kelly Doherty, found murdered when she was only eight years old. As a child herself at the time, Ingrid well remembers the fear and paranoia that pervaded the town, and it seems that the crime has had a long lasting impact on all who remember it. As Ingrid stirs up the case once again, it is very apparent that there are those in Derry who would prefer that it remain firmly buried in the past.

This is a well-paced and compelling thriller, unfurling just enough threads throughout the narrative to reel the reader in to a shocking, yet satisfying conclusion. I enjoyed getting to know Ingrid Devlin, a reporter who will stop at nothing in her pursuit of the truth, and would love to see her again in a future novel. 4.5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for this ARC.

I really enjoyed this novel. An engrossing story, well told with well drawn plot and characters. Held my attention throughout

Claire Allan is fast becoming one of my go-to authors, her books are really good. I do love an Irish setting! This one is really tense, making me check my doors were locked more than once. It is the story of a murdered 8 year old, set at Halloween and the characters of the Irish town 25 years on who are all affected when it appears that the convicted murderer might have been set up.
The book worked well as a thriller, but it worked equally as well as a family drama, domestic noir to a certain extent. It left me feeling really sad for all the lives that had been ruined in the town. Really good read, I would recommend this author.

Twenty five years ago Kelly Doherty was found murdered face down in a reservoir. She was discovered by two brothers who since their have barely maintained a relationship. Ingrid Devlin was at school with them and is now a reporter on the local paper. She is approached by the man who was convicted of the murder, having served his sentence, he has now been released and swears he was innocent.
Someone clearly doesn’t want Ingrid poking around though, her car is vandalised and her flat broken in to. She is scared and does not know who to believe. She is determined to discover who is telling the truth and there are dire consequences.
This is an exciting thriller, plenty to keep you guessing - I did feel the ending was a little rushed.

Thank you netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book. I loved this book it was one of those books that had you guessing who done it. Even though Jamesy done time for it. You think you know but then something changes your opinion. Very hard to put down this one. It would be an awful thing to do time like that when you are genuinely innocent. Great storyline and characters. A great book from start to finish. A 5 star from me.

Claire Allan is quickly becoming one of my go-to authors for thrillers. I enjoyed 'Her Name was Rose' and 'Apple of My Eye' was also a great thriller. I was excited to read this and was not disappointed. Ask No Questions is a fast-paced thriller with a great twist. The atmosphere was perfect; adding the right amount of darkness and storm to the story.

On Halloween in 1994, 8 year old Kelly Doherty goes missing and the entire town is out looking for her. 3 days later, Kelly's body is found floating in a reservoir by her two young classmates. The town of Derry will never be the same. Young Ingrid learns the boogeyman she fears, so much, is very real.

25 years later, Ingrid is a journalist and is working on a piece that is close to home for her; the anniversary story of young Kelly Doherty. Around the same time of the story, Jamesy (the man accused of murdering Kelly) is proclaiming his innocence. He claims he was set up all those years ago and wasted too many years of his life in prison for a crime he didn't commit. Being the journalist she is, Ingrid wants the scoop on Jamesy and begins really looking into the murder. It soon becomes clear that not everyone is pleased with her bringing the past up. Threats turn into murder and a race against the clock begins for Ingrid. Who really is involved with the murder of Kelly Doherty? Is Jamesy lying or is there something more sinister lurking in the town of Derry?

Ask No Questions kept my attention and I didn't want to put the book down. I was wary of every character and had a couple guesses at the outcome. The tension was very thick and I held my breath a few times! Great thriller!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for this ARC.

Just what I wanted from a thriller.

Ask No Questions follows the story of the historic brutal murder of a young girl and the reporter chasing asnwers.

This did have me guessing right up until the end, with great twists throughout. Though not a page-turner, I did really enjoy this latest Claire Allen read.

Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review.

I love Claire's books, I have loved them all equally. This one is no exception. I like Ingrid's character - which is unusual for me due to finding journalists to be a bit irritating in books I read. Perhaps it is her connection to the story of Kelly's death or maybe because of the trauma she went through while chasing this story down.

This book had me on the edge of my seat, I couldn't wait to finish it, to find out what was coming next and when I did - I was NOT disappointed!

Brilliant. Creepy, dark and gritty with plenty of action. I love books set in places I know. I had no problem visualising Portstewart and Derry. I was totally immersed in the story from the start and didn’t work out who had killed Kelly. This is a very cleverly written story that I would definitely recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley for my copy.

Oh I do love a Claire Allan thriller! Ask No Questions had me hooked right from the beginning and that ending! I thought I had it all worked out but there is always that twist you don't anticipate with this author - I love it.

Ingrid Devlin is a reporter and sets out to do a story on the anniversary of the murder of Kelly Doherty. Kelly was just a girl when she was found murdered in Ingrid's home town. They were in the same class at school and the research brings her back to her home village. The man convicted of killing her has now been released from prison and is claiming to be innocent still after all these years. The more she investigates, the more Ingrid starts to believe him. But somebody doesn't want her looking into the case and her life is threatened. Who wants to stop the truth from coming out ?

A fantastic, fast read that I thoroughly enjoyed. Thanks to Avon Books UK for my advanced copy of this book to read.

I am a huge fan of Claire Allan’s thrillers and once again I was not disappointed. I thought I knew where the story was going but was totally surprised by the ending! This is the reason I like her novels, as there is always a twist you don’t see coming. I would thoroughly recommend this book and I look forward to the next one.

This book was a slow-burner. It started off well, sent shivers down my spine most of the way through but, halfway through it seemed to loose pace a little and it didn’t really pick up. Although the book was slow I did enjoy it. It was creepy and made me feel cold, there was a lot of descriptions about rain and bit old which, didn’t help. The book kept me guessing who did the murder so that was. A twist at the end.

Sheer Brilliance - This has it all. Loved the structure, the plot, the characters and the surprise at the end.

It’s a five from me!

Thank you to the author, publishers and NetGalley for providing an ARC via my Kindle in return for an honest review.

Another cracking read from Claire Allen. This rollercoaster of a murder mystery that spans twenty five years had me suspicious of everyone. A young girl was murdered during the night of Halloween and a local man was convicted. Fast forward to the present day and Ingrid Devlin who was ten at the time of the murder and is now an ambitious reporter feels the true story hasn’t been told. She sets about interviewing those involved at the time but soon receives warnings to leave well alone. This only feeds her enthusiasm to uncover the truth. A chat with the convicted man fuels her belief that he is innocent. In this small Northern Irish community the secrets and lies seem well buried but Ingrid is determined to uncover them but in doing so puts her own life in danger. A sad, tale that although came to a final conclusion, had no winners but many losers.

This was a dark twisty read for me. Clare Allan has an natural talent for drawing the reader into her story and keeping them guessing to the end. I found the storyline a little slow to begin with but the pace definitely picked up and I was page turning as I became more engrossed in the story.

Ingrid the main character, a journalist on the local paper, is writing an article on the anniversary of the disappearance of eight year old Kelly Doherty. Ingrid knew the girl personally and the community she lives in still remembers the tragedy as if it happened yesterday .

Twins Niall and Declan Heaney found Kelly’s body and shorty after a local man was charged and found guilty of her murder. As Ingrid begins to dig deeper into the story she finds that some people are obstructing her . Ryan Murray her editor, Kelly’s parents and the Heaney twins all seem to have secrets they prefer to be left hidden, but will Ingrid's determination to find out the truth, help to resolve the terrible events of the past ? Or will it put her personally in grave danger?

I was shocked at some of the discoveries in the book and the ending which tied up all parts of the plot was brilliant.

Thank you to netgalley and Avon Books Uk for this arc one which I throughly recommend.

Thrilling suspenseful, Ask No Questions is a tense mystery thriller bound to keep you on the edge of your seat!

Ingrid is the lead journalist on the case, covering the anniversary of tragic schoolgirl Kelly Doherty's brutal murder. A man has been found guilty of the crime and served his time, yet as he continues to protest his innocence, Ingrid's detective skills are put to the test. Did he really kill Kelly Doherty, or was he framed all those years ago?

As Ingrid finds herself drawn into the case, the past comes back to haunt her with a vengeance. With suspicious circumstances and shifty characters around every corner, this is an excellently paced novel with plenty of surprises to keep you guessing.

Ingrid is a tough cookie and a top-quality journalist. She refuses to back down from a story and is totally committed to her work. She's likeable and well-rounded, with just enough vulnerability to make you want to protect her. The supporting characters are also intriguing. From Ingrid's boss Ryan to the grieving Doherty family and the twins Declan and Niall, it seems as though everyone has a story to tell.

This is a slow burner of a thriller, yet it is still gripping and thoroughly engaging. With each new revelation, it feels as though you are in the room with Ingrid, helping to piece together clues and untangle each thread. The story is twisty and unexpected at times, making it hard to predict what will happen next. It's complex and well-crafted, leading up to one last shocking twist at the end of the book.

Unpredictable and difficult to put down, Ask No Questions is a gritty, atmospheric read.

I received this arc through net galley and I couldn’t wait to read it,
The murder of an eight year old girl twenty five years ago is the focus of this story
We find out who killed her and why, after a few scary incidents to the reporter trying to find out the truth.

A fast paced book I couldn’t put down and I stayed up well past bedtime to finish it.

I would highly recommend this

A superb psychological murder mystery set in Derry.

Twins Niall and Declan find the body of missing eight-year-old Kelly Doherty, a girl they went to school with. The story then moves to the present day with the central character, Ingrid Devlin, seemingly having doubts about the guilt of the man sentenced for the crime - all as the 25th anniversary of Kelly's death on Halloween is just around the corner.

Ingrid (who has appeared in previous books by this author) is a writer and journalist and also a fellow pupil at the school with the twins. She starts to look closely at the case with some violent consequences, but no more spoilers from me. I will say that I could have shaken her at times for being so stubborn - who doesn't change locks on their doors after someone has broken in?

Well written with a believable ending that I didn't see coming.

Thanks to Net Galley and Avon Books UK for the chance to read and review.

*Disclaimer I was kindly approved to read this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest refiew*

I’ve loved Claire Allan’s books before and she definitely didn’t disappoint with this book.

Full of all of the usual twists and turns but with the added emotion of the storyline featuring so heavily on children.

I normally have a vague idea of who might of committed the crime. But this time I didn’t.

Claire Allan was definitely back to her best with this book. Can’t wait for the next one. ****

Yet another unputdownable book from Claire Allan. She is really coming up on my pouncing pile, meaning as soon as I see a book of hers I just have to grab it and dive to a peaceful cosy corner to read.

Although I had it sussed at a quarter of the way in, delightfully it came to be wrong. Fantastic how it was written to make me think I was right until the last 10% when I found out it was wrong. Great writing to make me think that. Also couldn't put it down as even though I thought I'd sussed it, it still hold my attention. Different aspects of the story are told from Ingrid and Declan. Now the truth is out at the end, does Declan's life improve? Or bring him even more down? Mmm..

Look forward to yet another gripping book from Claire.

I found myself in a bit of a reading slump, so decided to try this book out to see if it would get me through. And it sure gave me everything I was looking for.

It grabbed me from the off. A small town in Northern Ireland where secrets from the past are rife. That when someone's starts investigating a huge tragedy that happened in the small town, everything starts going wrong for Ingrid the reporter. Who like a lot of just had to follow her gut for this story.

I sailed through the pages of this book pretty quickly and look forward to returning to some of Claire Allans previous books that I have waiting for me.

Ask No Questions is a great read from Claire Allan, the basis is 25 years ago eight-year-old Kelly Doherty goes missing during Halloween and is found dead a few days later, her killer is found and sentenced and for the anniversary of the murder, ambitious journalist Ingrid Devlin wants to write a piece for her paper but with Kelly’s killer now released and saying he didn’t do it, she has the thought to look into the claims and turn the story into a book but someone doesn’t want her revealing anything.......

This book is really good at keeping you guessing right to the end.

Wow!
What a emotional crime thriller!
A cold case in Ireland.
Talk about a suspenseful, creepy read that keeps you enthralled to the last pages.
Yes, it was slow in parts but not enough to stop me from reading on and on and on. What a lead up to such a dramatic ending!
The main character is Ingrid. At a young age she experienced a traumatic event where a friend is found dead after Halloween. Now it’s the 25th anniversary and Ingrid as a journalist is digging into the events that led up to her friends murder. Not everyone is happy about this.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.

Riveting read, I stayed awake until 3am to finish this. Great plot and sense of pace with an oppressive atmosphere. Fabulous!

This is a great read and one that I did not want to put down. Although I felt that at times Igrid was being stupid I loved her gutsy determination to resolve the murder that happened all those years ago. There were twists and turns a plenty and each time I thought that I had solved the murder a few pages further on ruled my ideas out. Throughout the sceery and characters are very well decribed and easy to feel that you there in Derry and that the people are your neighbours.
This is the first book that I have read by Claire Allan and I will now look out for her other books.
Highly recommend this book to anyone who likes an enthralling prchological thriller.

Ingrid Devlin is back in Devlin 25 years after 8 year old Kelly Doherty was murdered. The two of them were of an age and the murder, which happened at Halloween, has been in the back of Ingrid's mind for years. She's a journalist now, and James Harte, who was convicted of the murder, has written to her proclaiming his innocence, Ingrid's warned off investigating by her editor and others but she can't not. What she finds, though. are secrets and lies that surprise her (and the reader as well). No spoilers from me but know that this is well crafted and twisty. I liked the atmospherics and the setting. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A very good read.

Ingrid is a newspaper reporter doing an article on the death of a young girl 25 years ago. A man was found guilty of the crime and has served his sentence. But someone is trying to stop her looking into it. The characters are very human and relatable if not so likeable.
I got really drawn into this book staying up late to finish in one day

25 years ago, three days after she went missing whilst out trick-or-treating, the body of 8 year old Kelly Doherty was found near the reservoir, shocking the inhabitants of Derry. Back in the present and journalist Ingrid Devlin is tasked to write an anniversary piece. But she has a personal connection to the crime. She was there when it happened, a child herself. And with the man convicted of the crime having just been released and still protesting his innocence, she decides to do a little more than just a puff piece. But, as you can expect, there are those who want the past to stay in the past. Those with secrets they don't want exposed. But as she peels back the layers of intrigue, as she scratches the surface of the truth, as she starts to realise there is a whole lot more to what actually happened, she also starts to fear for herself and others, as the stakes get higher, so does the danger...
Oh my. This is so gritty and dark. And it had me spinning around chasing my tail as I tried to second guess things and work it all out ahead of time. There are so many secrets and lies contained herein, served with a healthy side of duplicitous behaviour that I really didn't know who to trust! Every time I thought I had it all sorted, BAM, another twist or turn or shock! Phew what a ride.
And the ending when it came - perfect, just perfect. Leaving me wholly satisfied.
I've read a few books already by this author , all have been good but I think this is my favourite... so far... roll on next time!
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

This was my first Claire Allan book and it did not disappoint. Ingrid has to do a news piece on the disappearance a girl that disappeared when Ingrid herself was still a child. This leads her to the convicted killer and then believing in his innocence. Lots of strange things starts to happen to Ingrid and the people connected to Kelly. This book had me guessing until the end. A great read that I would recommend.

This book was a bit slow throughout, but do not let that fool you. I think the tempo lent to the eeriness of the story. It was unexpected and suspenseful, I really enjoyed it.

Another masterpiece by the extremely talented Claire Allan that I devoid, Claire's books have yet to disappoint me everyone that I have read has gripped me from the beginning to the end!

The main character Ingrid Devlin is a strong determined character that will stop at nothing to get to the truth I'm hoping that this is not the last they we will see of her!

A well-paced compelling thriller, unravelling just enough threads throughout the narrative to reel the reader in to a shocking, yet satisfying conclusion.

Firstly, a big thank you to NetGalley for the early copy of Ask No Questions by Claire Allan. Secondly, wow! I've read a couple of Clare Allan's books... I loved The Liar's Daughter, and I very recently listened to the audiobook of Forget Me Not which was excellent. So I was thrilled to find out the main character in Ask No Questions is Ingrid Devlin, the journalist who featured in Forget Me Not. I've read my fair share of crime novels but am yet to read one from the point of view of an investigative journalist, and I really enjoyed this angle. And I really loved Ingrid! She's a fantastic protagonist and a very strong female lead who will stop at nothing to get to the truth. So a big tick from me on character.

Ask No Questions is set in Derry, a place I've never been but feel as if I have, thanks to Claire's excellent scene-setting. On the 25th anniversary of 8-year-old Kelly Doherty's murder, Ingrid starts to delve deeper into the story, believing that there's a chance the man convicted of the murder is innocent. But she's soon warned off. Not only by her boss, who believes nothing good will come of it, but by someone else too. Someone who is interfering with Ingrid's life... and will do anything to keep the past buried.

Claire's writing style is both entertaining and engaging. Ask No Questions is told from multiple viewpoints, which keep the pages turning quickly in this pacey thriller. And it's so atmospheric. It's dark and chilling with a plot that builds and builds, keeping me guessing until the climactic ending that I totally did not see coming. And it was oh-so-satisfying. Highly recommended!

A solid four star read. Good premise. Great characters. Enjoyed t writing style. Plenty of suspense to keep me guessing. It even had a twist that I didn’t see coming. Definitely look forward to the next offering. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it

This is the second book by Claire Allan that I have read. Like the last one, it took me a while to get into the story, but once I did I found the story very enjoyable.

In this novel it is nearing the 25th anniversary of the death of young Kelly. Ingrid, who was a child at the time, is now a journalist writing a piece about the anniversary. I won't go into detail about the plot out of fear of spoiling the narrative. Suffice to say that the happenings on Halloween Night all those years ago are not as clear cut as they seemed.

I really like the way that the characters are crafted and developed. You will probably enjoy this book if you like a story with plenty of twists and turns, with a fair shoal of red herrings thrown in.

The end is extremely sad.

I give my thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books for a copy in exchange for this review.

Ask No Questions is the first book I've read by Claire Allen and it certainly won't be the last.
Ingrid Devlin is a journalist in Derry ,Northern Ireland, where she's lived all her life. She decides to write an article about the murder of 8 year-old Kelly Doherty,who she knew as a child,on the 25th anniversary of her death. As well as the newspaper article Ingrid is also writing a True Crime book, which will include an interview with Jamesy Harte ,who has served a sentence for murdering Kelly but insists that he was innocent.
It soon becomes obvious that Ingrid is opening a whole can of worms and there are people determined to stop her from probing the events of 25 years earlier who are trying to scare her off.
This is a great read as Imogen refuses to give up while she's being threatened by unknown tormentors and warned to leave the case alone wherever she turns and figures from her past reappear.
This is a fast-moving book that keeps the reader on their toes as there appears to be more than one character keeping the secrets of the past and Ingrid often seems to get far too close to potentially dangerous people.
The few hours I spent reading this book seemed to fly by,Claire Allen has an easy to read but involving writing style and I'll certainly be looking out for more of her books.

Ingrid Devlin was herself a child in Derry on the night twenty five years ago when eight year old Kelly was found murdered. Now a journalist in the local paper, the Chronicle, Ingrid agrees to commemorate the anniversary with an article in the paper. She begins to wonder if an innocent man, now out of prison, was convicted for the murder. That suggestion and the renewed publicity given to the murder triggers unexpected anger - and fear. Thus the title of the book. The storyline might not sound particularly original but it is exceedingly well handled in the book. The Ulster setting is well used and the characters seem real. The story unfolds gradually and the ending is unexpected. This book is a riveting read. I recommend it.

Thank you NetGalley and AVON/Harper Collins Ireland for a copy of "Ask No Questions" in exchange for an honest review.

Ms. Allan brought to life the streets of Derry, Northern Ireland with incredible clarity. The story in told in the voices of Ingrid Devlin a reporter at The Chronicle, and Declan Heaney. The story starts with a prologue, then the 3rd of November 1994. Then the story fast-forwards to the 16th of October 2019 and ends at the 31st of October 2019 which is the 25th anniversary of the disappearance and murder of Kelly Doherty, a 10 year old from the Creggan Estate in Derry.

The kids were all out trick-or-treating when Kelly was separated from the group. Missing for 3 days, everyone realizes that monsters are real. The Heaney twins Declan and Niall find her in the reservoir. Jamesy Harte is arrested, convicted and sent to prison for a crime that he insists that he did not commit. He served 17 years and was released 8 years ago but never returned to Derry where he feels that people might still resort to vigilante justice.

Ingrid Devlin is writing a book about the murder and also writing for The Chronicle about Jamesy Harte's innocence. Jamesy contacted her, asking her to help him clear his name. He lives on the Antrim coast between Ballymena and Portstewart. Ryan Murray is Ingrid's boss at the paper and he doesn't want her in Creggan talking to people. Ingrid wonders how Ryan knew she was in Creggan or that she had met with Declan Heaney.

Things start to happen, things that appear to Ingrid as someone trying to warn her off her investigating. Her car is vandalized in the office car park. Her desk appears disheveled as if someone has gone through her things. A locker drawer is slightly ajar. Her contacts book is missing. When she returns from meeting Jamesy - someone has broken into her apartment.

Declan has fallen on hard times, has no money for food or his bills. He feels that Jamesy is innocent and is haunted by the night they found Kelly. His brother Niall on the other hand is adamant that Jamesy is guilty, he seems to have no bad feelings about that night and he has gone on to be very successful and living the good life in Belfast.

When a body is found on the tracks between Coleraine and Portstewart - Ingrid has a feeling that she is getting very close to finding the truth out about what happened to Kelly.

As Declan starts to remember events and put the pieces together, he realizes that Ingrid may be in more trouble than they thought and hopes that he can get to her in time to save her.

The conclusion of this book is as thrilling as it is shocking. Once all the pieces come into play everything that happened to Ingrid, that had her thinking she was paranoid start to make sense. Very well-written and gripping to read.

**In Chapter 52 and Chapter 55 Kelly Doherty is mistakenly identified as Kelly Heaney.

This was another great thriller from Clare Allen. She really is a great writer, expertly capable of weaving suspense throughout her work to keep us on tenterhooks right up until the climax of her tales. I thoroughly enjoyed this read. I finished it in two days and had I been home alone I would have done so in just one. It was unputdownable!! And the fact that her novels are so relatable, set in cities I've visited, in this case Derry, make it all the easier to become swiftly invested in her novels. Here she wrote the horror of the body floating in the lake so eerily well, and the curiosity of the Doherty family's reluctance so cleverly also that I really couldn't bear to put this book down. What were they hiding, and why??? I loved this read and can't wait for her next installment!!

Claire Allan is a author where I don’t really read what the book is about, I just know it’s going to have me hooked from the very start.

Ingrid is a journalist that has a love for investigating and finding the truth, no matter what that is. She is currently investigating the death, 25 years ago, of an eight year old girl, in her home town. The man convicted of her murder has recently been released from prison and still claims he is innocent. Was the wrong person convicted of murder ? Is a murderer still roaming the streets ? Does Ingrid know the killer ?

As Ingrid starts to investigate someone tries to intimidate her but the more she digs the more she is convinced the killer is still out there. Will Ingrid find the truth before it’s too late ?

This is a great twisty psychological thriller with an ending I didn’t see coming. A book that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Thank you to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book.

Ask No Questions is a well written, realistic psychological thriller set in Derry in 1994 and 2017. Its well-drawn characters are interesting, if not always likeable, and the twists keep you guessing to the end. This is the first Claire Allan book I’ve read but I can see why she’s become popular.

Journalist Ingrid Devlin is drawn back into the lives of people she grew up with and into the drama that took place 25 years ago, when 8-year-old Kelly Doherty disappeared on Halloween night and was found murdered a few days later.

This thriller is a plot-driven whodunnit, but it’s Allan’s characters that keep you hooked. Far too many thrillers have clichéd, one-dimensional characters that might as well just be named ‘Wily Cop’, ‘Damaged Girl’, ‘Evil Killer’, etc. because they are so damned obvious. By contrast, Allan keeps you guessing, not just about what the different characters have done, but about their essential …. character!

To start with, the protagonist Ingrid is a convincing, multidimensional character, trying her best to be a conscientious, intrepid journalist while at the same time she’s terrified, wondering if she should get the hell out of all this, fast. She’s at a loss to know who she can trust, she doesn’t always make the wisest decisions and she puts herself at risk. In fact, she’s a bit out of her depth and floundering. All of this makes it easy to empathize with her, even when you’re thinking, ‘No, stop, don’t DO that!’.

We see the other characters from Ingrid’s perspective, sharing her uncertainty and inability to figure them out. Is Ingrid’s boss Ryan just a common-or-garden cheating creep doing what he can to keep his paper afloat, or is there more to it? What’s up with the weird twin brothers Niall and Declan? Is one of them a bad guy, and if so, which one? Is Jamesy a naïve innocent or a psycho manipulator? And who’s side are the police actually on? Is everyone hiding behind a mask?

Ingrid receives several warnings to back off: everyone is suspect and no one’s motives are clear.

Ask No Questions is a fast paced, tense, tightly plotted novel and the ending, while totally believable, will no doubt surprise you.

I definitely recommend this and I’ll be putting more Claire Allen books on my reading list!

My thanks to the publisher, the author and Netgalley for giving me a free copy of this book. All my reviews are 100% honest and unbiased, regardless of how I acquire the book.

The description of this book drew me in, I’m not usually one for a crime thriller but this seemed to stand out for me, and I, glad I gave it a read as I really enjoyed it. Ask no questions brings up a mound of emotions throughout and kept me gripped

This was a slow burner with a jaw dropping finish. It took me a bit to get into it, but once I did, it was hard to put down. It kept me guessing right until the end. I liked the different perspectives & the flashback chapters - it all added tot the creepiness of the story.

Eight years after his release from prison, a convicted child murderer claims he was innocent and a reporter working on an anniversary story about the case gets drawn in determined to find the truth. A really gripping thriller with twists that kept me hooked.

A fast paced, riveting thriller of a cold case set in Ireland. Though I didn’t like the main character, I liked the book for its narrative and suspense with everything coming to a fitting conclusion. The place descriptions and the dialogues gave me the feel of Ireland. 4.5 stars

You can’t go wrong with any of Claire Allan’s books. I’ve read everything she’s written, and each story keeps me glued to the pages!

Ask No Questions was a well-written page-turner, though dark and gritty, which I didn’t mind. The pacing is perfect, just enough hints to keep you invested, lots of suspense and a main character, Ingrid that I really cared about. She’s strong and ambitious but cares about the people she’s writing about. The case is sensitive, an innocent young girl died on Halloween and her death was unsolved. Ingrid is there to write a piece on the murder, but someone clearly doesn’t want her asking questions…

Synopsis:

Twenty-five years ago, on Halloween night, eight-year-old Kelly Doherty went missing while out trick or treating with friends.

Her body was found three days later, floating face down, on the banks of the Creggan Reservoir by two of her young classmates. It was a crime that rocked Derry to the core. Journalist Ingrid Devlin is investigating – but someone doesn’t want her to know the truth. As she digs further, Ingrid starts to realise that the Doherty family are not as they seem. But will she expose what really happened that night before it’s too late?

I highly recommend this book if you are into suspense/mysteries!

Comes out on January 21, 2021

May contain spoilers: Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book as an ARC in return for a honest review. This was my first book by the author Claire Allan. It was a quick read and I really enjoyed the suspense.
The book follows the story of the death of an 8 year old girl named Kelly on then night of Halloween. Twin brothers Declan and Nail find her in a lake. Declan has never really gotten over this trauma while Nail seems to have succeeded without difficulty. The main character is Ingrid who is a journalist covering the 25th anniversary of the "murder". She also happened to be a classmate of Kelly and the twins. Strange incidents keep happening to Ingrid which seem to be trying to tell her to stop investigating the incident. A man who lived in the neighborhood and always appeared strange was the one convicted and sent to prison for the murder. Ingrid has doubts if he really was the culprit. The ending was truly unexpected when we find out who was really involved. I would recommend this book and plan to read others by this author.

One of the best books I’ve read this year by far. It’s no surprise that the author graduated with a Masters in Newspaper Journalism and has had a successful carrier as a journalist in Derry. This book could not have been so well written if they hadn’t “ earned the t-shirt.
Going back to her home town to do a 25th anniversary article on the murder of an 8 year old girl Ingrid Devlin remembers the night well, she was 10 at the time.
She remembers the devastation it had on the family, and how the lives of the neighbours children changed overnight
She remembers the “simple” young lad arrested and imprisoned for the murder, a man he was released 8 years ago and is protesting his innocence
When she accepts his invitation to meet, so he can tell his side of the story, she has no idea the can of worms she’s opening.
A stunning story written brilliantly

A dark modern thriller.
At times the storyline seemed almost too realistic. It was well thought out and set perfectly within both the times and the backdrop.
A deliciously twisty tale, where nothing was quite as it first appeared. Plenty of mystery and intrigue, fast paced and easy to read.
The characters are well crafted and perfectly suited to the plot.
A very modern mystery, with plenty of grit.
A highly enjoyable read

I do love Claire Allan’s books, so I was very excited to get started on this one!!

Ingrid Devlin a journalist returns home to do an anniversary special on the murder of Kelly Doherty, who was murdered 35 years ago when she was 8, whilst she was out trick or treating with friends.

The man who was convicted of her murder has now been released from prison and is declaring his innocence. As Ingrid starts to investigate, she also believes his innocence. But someone out there does not want her digging into the investigation and will stop at nothing to keep the past well and truly buried.

I loved this book, it’s twists keeping me well and truly hooked. I was kept guessing until the end, every time I thought I knew who the murderer was there was another twist!!

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.

Tense crime drama with tenacious Irish journalist Ingrid Devlin looking back on the murder of one of her childhood friends as she prepares an article to commemorate the 25th anniversary of her death. As she starts to wonder whether the convicted killer really was framed as he maintains the tension is racked up as it becomes clear some people will stop at nothing to prevent the truth from coming out. Really enjoyed this although I had to double check the doors were locked before I went to bed.

I’ve read and enjoyed other books by the author and was really looking forward to Ask No Questions. The blub made it sound like something right up my street. I also liked the fact the book is set in Derry; I’ve never visited Ireland but there’s something really appealing about it. I’ve enjoyed other books set there. Ask No Questions ticks all of the boxes of a good thriller; fast pace, twists, turns, misdirection and a great atmosphere. As Ingrid revisits the terrible crime for an anniversary piece, she discovers that old wounds are far from healed and locals are riled up again as the man convicted of the murder has been released from prison and claiming he was set up. Someone wants the story to die and is the truth worth the possible costs? This is a great thriller.

When a local newspaper reporter decides to write an anniversary piece to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the death of a local child she doesn’t realise the events she is about to set in motion.

This is a book that will have you in the edge of your seat from start to finish. A great read.

This was an excellent story, it was written very well and had short fast paced chapters that you just couldn’t stop at....you had to read the next chapter and then the next.

I enjoyed the way the story unfolded. The characters were likeable (apart from one to two). I also thought I had it all worked out but how wrong was I?
The ending maybe not what I was expecting but it was a very good one!

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was my first Claire Allan book and it certainly won't be my last.

This is the story of a journalist returning to her hometown of Derry, Ireland on the 25th anniversary of the murder of her young classmate. The person that was accused and sent to jail is now out, however, there are many questions about his guilt. Did the right person go to jail for this horrible crime? Can Ingrid get to the bottom of this story before it is too late?

This is an edge of your seat type of thriller and I sure enjoyed it!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books for this advanced readers copy. This book is due to release in January 2021.

Brilliant book and story. This kept me enthralled from the moment I started it, had no idea of how it was going to end. Absolute must read!

4.5 I liked the first two thirds of this book quite a bit. the main character was strong, gutsy, determined, flawed and hot on a trail of a story that she lived through as a child. the last part of the book fell off a bit for me, was a bit flat, but still worth reading. I have read other of her books and have enjoyed them

I absolutely loved this book the story grips you from the start and keeps the pace right through to the end.

On the 30th anniversary of the murder of young Kelly Doherty, local journalist ingrid is asked to write a memorial piece about the little girl. Jamesy Harte was convicted of her murder and upon his release from prison launches an appeal against his conviction claiming he was set up ingrid is intrigued by his claims and decides to investigate. Feelings are still running high in the little Derry town regarding Kelly’s murder and people are not happy at Ingrid’s digging resulting in many threats being made against Ingrid.

I would highly recommend this book as a must read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

The story takes place in Derry twenty five years after the murder of eight year old Kelly Doherty. Reporter Ingrid Devlin decides to write an article for the anniversary of Kelly’s death and while investigating she discovers that the past is filled with secrets that someone wants to keep buried. Will Ingrid discover what really happened twenty five years ago or will history repeat itself?


Ask No Questions is the first book by Claire Allan that I have read and I really enjoyed it. It is narrated from the dual POV of Ingrid and Declan Heaney. The story follows a dual timeline which uses flashbacks to provide insight into past events. I liked the use of flashbacks because it felt like I was slowly putting together a puzzle piece by piece. I found the characters to be interesting and well written to the point where I didn’t know who I could trust anymore. The twists, turns and secrets throughout this book had me hooked from the very start. The ending was brilliant and I never saw it coming.

I recieved an advanced copy for free, and this is my honest opinion.