The Liar’s House by Carla Kovach
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I was initially attracted to The Liar’s House by the cover, which posed an immediate question: whose house is it? I certainly wasn’t disappointed by the contents. What a brilliant story! Faultless police procedural and questions you are desperate to find answers to in every chapter. The card one of the characters received containing a certain part of human anatomy (or is it human?) was a masterstroke. It sent shivers down my spine. I have to say here that Carla Kovach’s characterisation is excellent. I felt this woman’s isolation, also the frustration of the possible owner of the certain part of anatomy, Samantha. The characters within the relationships are all totally relatable to – though there are some you perhaps wouldn’t want to relate to. As well as telling a gripping story, looking for the link between Samantha, a girl who liked to party and sadly disappeared on the way home from one seven years ago, and the current day brutal murder of Jade, who seems to be her exact opposite, the author delves beneath the surface couples present to reveal what goes on behind closed doors: sexual predilections that wouldn’t be considered the ‘norm’, controlling relationships. Insecurities. All are real flesh and blood characters and that always holds my attention.
I love the way the author weaves Harte’s backstory seamlessly into the story, skilfully linking her ghosts from the past and making them a pertinent part of the present. This also makes the book easily readable as a standalone story. If you like your crime with lots of twists and characters that come complete with all their foibles, this is a must-read, one I would highly recommend.
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