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Only Lies Remain
Everyone thought Danny Walsh deserted his family when his sons were young. But when Danny's body turns up fifteen years later and his wife, Maura, is implicated in his murder, accusations and old rumours surface.
Aoife rushes in to clear her mother-in-law's name. But why is it that Maura's story surrounding Danny's disappearance doesn't quite add up?
Aoife's investigation uncovers old secrets, long-held jealousies, and lies upon lies. With every new revelation, Aoife realises she doesn't know her family at all. Now her new boss is acting strangely, her best friend is more and more distant and her husband is no help at all.
With her support network crumbling and her family threatened, Aoife must race to keep one step ahead of danger before more innocent lives are lost. But how will she uncover the truth when only lies remain?
Aoife rushes in to clear her mother-in-law's name. But why is it that Maura's story surrounding Danny's disappearance doesn't quite add up?
Aoife's investigation uncovers old secrets, long-held jealousies, and lies upon lies. With every new revelation, Aoife realises she doesn't know her family at all. Now her new boss is acting strangely, her best friend is more and more distant and her husband is no help at all.
With her support network crumbling and her family threatened, Aoife must race to keep one step ahead of danger before more innocent lives are lost. But how will she uncover the truth when only lies remain?
279 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 19, 2020
About the author
Val Collins
5 books114 followersVal Collins is the author of the award-winning psychological thriller GIRL TARGETED and the No. 1 international bestsellers ONLY LIES REMAIN, THE SILENT SPEAK & WHERE LOYALTIES LIE. My fifth book, Dying To Tell, will be published on 1 March 2023. All five books are stand-alone thrillers and they can be read in any order.
Val has lived in Ireland her entire life, and graduated from University College Dublin. She enjoys chocolate, going for long walks in the countryside, seeing as much of the world as possible, meeting friends, writing, and reading. In fact, she devours books at the rate of one per week, and her favourite authors range from Philippa Gregory and Sophie Kinsella to Lee Child and Linwood Barclay.
Join Val online at valcollinsbooks.com, and on social media @valcollinsbooks.
Val has lived in Ireland her entire life, and graduated from University College Dublin. She enjoys chocolate, going for long walks in the countryside, seeing as much of the world as possible, meeting friends, writing, and reading. In fact, she devours books at the rate of one per week, and her favourite authors range from Philippa Gregory and Sophie Kinsella to Lee Child and Linwood Barclay.
Join Val online at valcollinsbooks.com, and on social media @valcollinsbooks.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
February 24, 2020
EXCERPT: '...I'll have to tell the boys tonight. '
'Tell them what?'
'Their father. He's dead. '
'Oh no! Oh, Maura, I'm so sorry. He'd come back to Ireland?'
Maura shook her head.
'Jason will be devastated. I know he always says he hates him, but deep down I think he hoped his dad would get in touch someday. If only so he could scream abuse at him for abandoning you.'
'But that's the thing, Aiofe. Danny didn't abandon us.'
'He may have sent you money, Maura, but he still disappeared without a word.'
'Not willingly. He was murdered.'
'What! When?'
'Fifteen years ago. Remember a few weeks back, a body was found in the grounds of that old house in the city centre? They just identified him as Danny.'
'But - I don't understand, Maura. How could Danny be dead for fifteen years? I thought he was sending you money every month.'
'So did I.'
ABOUT THIS BOOK: Everyone thought Danny Walsh deserted his family when his sons were young. But when Danny's body turns up fifteen years later and his wife, Maura, is implicated in his murder, accusations and old rumours surface.
Aoife rushes in to clear her mother-in-law's name. But why is it that Maura's story surrounding Danny's disappearance doesn't quite add up?
Aoife's investigation uncovers old secrets, long-held jealousies, and lies upon lies. With every new revelation, Aoife realises she doesn't know her family at all. Now her new boss is acting strangely, her best friend is more and more distant and her husband is no help at all.
With her support network crumbling and her family threatened, Aoife must race to keep one step ahead of danger before more innocent lives are lost. But how will she uncover the truth when only lies remain?
MY THOUGHTS: Only Lies Remain is a quick but intriguing read. The story is told over one consecutive timeline from the point of view of Aoife, Maura's daughter-in-law.
But just because the story is told in a straightforward manner, doesn't mean that the tale itself isn't complex. Every time I thought I had it sorted, that I knew who had murdered Danny, who was threatening Aoife, and why, the author would throw a spanner in the works.
There is an interesting mix of characters...Maura, disowned by her own family for getting pregnant out of wedlock, and despised by her mother-in-law for bringing shame on the family; Aoife, separated from Maura's son and trying to reconstruct her life but absolutely certain that Maura is innocent; Detective Maloney (or Moaney as Aoife's small daughter Amy calls him) who seems intent on proving that Maura murdered her husband; Cian, wealthy and unpredictable; Orla, Aoife's glamorous friend; and Father Jack,an old family friend of Maura's who now runs a halfway house. Maura's own mother-in-law is an absolute nightmare and she too is certain that Danny's fate is Maura's fault.
This is a well constructed story that certainly held my attention and kept me turning pages.
😊😊😊.5
#OnlyLiesRemain #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: Val Collins is the author of the award-winning psychological thriller GIRL TARGETED and ONLY LIES REMAIN, both of which feature heroine Aoife Walsh.
She has lived in Ireland her entire life, and graduated from University College Dublin. She enjoys chocolate, going for long walks in the countryside, seeing as much of the world as possible, meeting friends, writing, and reading. In fact, she devours books at the rate of one per week, and her favourite authors range from Philippa Gregory and Sophie Kinsella to Lee Child and Linwood Barclay.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to VCB Publishing via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Only Lies Remain by Val Collins. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
'Tell them what?'
'Their father. He's dead. '
'Oh no! Oh, Maura, I'm so sorry. He'd come back to Ireland?'
Maura shook her head.
'Jason will be devastated. I know he always says he hates him, but deep down I think he hoped his dad would get in touch someday. If only so he could scream abuse at him for abandoning you.'
'But that's the thing, Aiofe. Danny didn't abandon us.'
'He may have sent you money, Maura, but he still disappeared without a word.'
'Not willingly. He was murdered.'
'What! When?'
'Fifteen years ago. Remember a few weeks back, a body was found in the grounds of that old house in the city centre? They just identified him as Danny.'
'But - I don't understand, Maura. How could Danny be dead for fifteen years? I thought he was sending you money every month.'
'So did I.'
ABOUT THIS BOOK: Everyone thought Danny Walsh deserted his family when his sons were young. But when Danny's body turns up fifteen years later and his wife, Maura, is implicated in his murder, accusations and old rumours surface.
Aoife rushes in to clear her mother-in-law's name. But why is it that Maura's story surrounding Danny's disappearance doesn't quite add up?
Aoife's investigation uncovers old secrets, long-held jealousies, and lies upon lies. With every new revelation, Aoife realises she doesn't know her family at all. Now her new boss is acting strangely, her best friend is more and more distant and her husband is no help at all.
With her support network crumbling and her family threatened, Aoife must race to keep one step ahead of danger before more innocent lives are lost. But how will she uncover the truth when only lies remain?
MY THOUGHTS: Only Lies Remain is a quick but intriguing read. The story is told over one consecutive timeline from the point of view of Aoife, Maura's daughter-in-law.
But just because the story is told in a straightforward manner, doesn't mean that the tale itself isn't complex. Every time I thought I had it sorted, that I knew who had murdered Danny, who was threatening Aoife, and why, the author would throw a spanner in the works.
There is an interesting mix of characters...Maura, disowned by her own family for getting pregnant out of wedlock, and despised by her mother-in-law for bringing shame on the family; Aoife, separated from Maura's son and trying to reconstruct her life but absolutely certain that Maura is innocent; Detective Maloney (or Moaney as Aoife's small daughter Amy calls him) who seems intent on proving that Maura murdered her husband; Cian, wealthy and unpredictable; Orla, Aoife's glamorous friend; and Father Jack,an old family friend of Maura's who now runs a halfway house. Maura's own mother-in-law is an absolute nightmare and she too is certain that Danny's fate is Maura's fault.
This is a well constructed story that certainly held my attention and kept me turning pages.
😊😊😊.5
#OnlyLiesRemain #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: Val Collins is the author of the award-winning psychological thriller GIRL TARGETED and ONLY LIES REMAIN, both of which feature heroine Aoife Walsh.
She has lived in Ireland her entire life, and graduated from University College Dublin. She enjoys chocolate, going for long walks in the countryside, seeing as much of the world as possible, meeting friends, writing, and reading. In fact, she devours books at the rate of one per week, and her favourite authors range from Philippa Gregory and Sophie Kinsella to Lee Child and Linwood Barclay.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to VCB Publishing via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Only Lies Remain by Val Collins. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
February 19, 2020
Danny Walsh was thought to desert his family 15 years ago. They were wrong .... someone stumbled over his remains today. The cops are looking at his widow ... Maura ... as the prime suspect.
Aoife rushes to her mother-in-law's side ... she doesn't believe for one moment that Maura killed or had her husband killed. But Maura's story is changing a bit.
Now she declares that someone she thought was Danny has been sending her money every month ... for 15 years. If Danny has been dead all these years .. where did the money come from?
Aoife decides that since the police don't seem interested in looking for any other suspect, she will investigate on her own.
But someone doesn't want her investigating. Threatening letters are delivered to her home. Her estranged husband doesn't want her doing anything. Her best friend has become distant ...has she also been threatened?
Not all is as it seems. There are years-old secrets, and no one wants to talk about what was happening in their area all those years ago. And then someone close to Aoife is murdered.
The characters are quite interesting, even though more than one of them had my hackles raised. The plot is complex, and unpredictable. Held my attention from the very first to the very last.
Many thanks to the author/ VCB Publishing / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime mystery. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
January 3, 2020
Wow! This book! It kept me guessing. I did not see it coming. I was everywhere with who was doing what. I only put it down because I had some health issues crop up. Otherwise this would have been a sit down and read until I’m done book. Every time I had to put it down, my mind was on the book, what happened and what I thought might happen. I am planning to read it again when I’m over this medical thing so that I can read it in one sitting. The plot is twisted. I felt like I couldn’t trust anyone, even Aoife and I really liked her. I just felt like she was allowing her feelings to get in the way of believing people and what they were or weren’t doing. I’m not going to say anything else really. The book has a lot going on and you really need to discover everything yourself. I highly suggest you put this on your TBR and look for it’s release. Make sure you add it to your want to read shelf here on Goodreads so you get updated. You really don’t want to miss this one!
*The book is set in Ireland so some things may look like typos to American readers. It’s not. The author also has a very short video on Instagram where she pronounces the names that may be unfamiliar to us. I knew two of the names. The third I didn’t so I was super happy with that.
**A big thank you to the author and Goodreads for putting this book in a giveaway. I’m grateful to have won a book I greatly enjoyed. The review is voluntary and is based on my thoughts and feelings while reading and afterwards in thinking over the book.
*The book is set in Ireland so some things may look like typos to American readers. It’s not. The author also has a very short video on Instagram where she pronounces the names that may be unfamiliar to us. I knew two of the names. The third I didn’t so I was super happy with that.
**A big thank you to the author and Goodreads for putting this book in a giveaway. I’m grateful to have won a book I greatly enjoyed. The review is voluntary and is based on my thoughts and feelings while reading and afterwards in thinking over the book.
February 9, 2020
What I Loved:
Only Lies Remain had a way of sucking me straight into the story. I felt like I was enclosed in the book, knew the characters intimately, and was overall so intrigued and needed to know what was going on and what would happen next!
How I Felt:
The Writing: Val Collins has a writing style that keeps the reader guessing. I had no idea who to trust and it kept me on my toes. This book is set in Ireland and there are some names that are difficult to pronounce. The author provides a pronunciation guide in the beginning of the Only Lies Remain for some of the characters and I found it so helpful when reading.
The Characters: The characters in this book were wonderful! I felt like I couldn’t trust anyone! Everyone seemed to have secrets and wasn’t quite who you thought they were. The changes in who a character really was deep down was a highlight of this book! You think someone is one thing, then turn the page, and they are a totally different person! Very sneaky character building and I loved it.
The Plot: Whoa, this plot! Such amazing twists and turns! You think you know what is going on, and then BAM! a new plot twist. This was such a fast-paced story, but never confusing. I enjoyed how quickly things moved and changed. It made for a great story!
Overall: Only Lies Remain was an excellent thriller with a plot that kept me turning the pages to see what would happen. I enjoyed the location, the characters, and overall just this entire book.
To Read or Not To Read:
I would recommend Only Lies Remain for readers that are looking for a psychological thriller that will have them wanting to read with the lights on. It made me nervous and excited and was oh-so-good!
I was provided an advanced readers copy of this book for free. I am leaving my honest, unbiased review voluntarily.
All of my reviews can be found at: https://shejustlovesbooks.com/
Only Lies Remain had a way of sucking me straight into the story. I felt like I was enclosed in the book, knew the characters intimately, and was overall so intrigued and needed to know what was going on and what would happen next!
How I Felt:
The Writing: Val Collins has a writing style that keeps the reader guessing. I had no idea who to trust and it kept me on my toes. This book is set in Ireland and there are some names that are difficult to pronounce. The author provides a pronunciation guide in the beginning of the Only Lies Remain for some of the characters and I found it so helpful when reading.
The Characters: The characters in this book were wonderful! I felt like I couldn’t trust anyone! Everyone seemed to have secrets and wasn’t quite who you thought they were. The changes in who a character really was deep down was a highlight of this book! You think someone is one thing, then turn the page, and they are a totally different person! Very sneaky character building and I loved it.
The Plot: Whoa, this plot! Such amazing twists and turns! You think you know what is going on, and then BAM! a new plot twist. This was such a fast-paced story, but never confusing. I enjoyed how quickly things moved and changed. It made for a great story!
Overall: Only Lies Remain was an excellent thriller with a plot that kept me turning the pages to see what would happen. I enjoyed the location, the characters, and overall just this entire book.
To Read or Not To Read:
I would recommend Only Lies Remain for readers that are looking for a psychological thriller that will have them wanting to read with the lights on. It made me nervous and excited and was oh-so-good!
I was provided an advanced readers copy of this book for free. I am leaving my honest, unbiased review voluntarily.
All of my reviews can be found at: https://shejustlovesbooks.com/
January 4, 2020
Only Lies Remain is a psychological thriller that builds from the first page and doesn’t quit until the last paragraph. The protagonist, Aoife is one of those people you think you can push around but she has a hidden strength that can be stretched but never broken. Aoife is featured for the second time in Only Lies Remain, Val Collin's second novel.
Aoife is looking for a job. She has asked her husband to leave, but he is back claiming he wants move home to reconcile with Aoife and also to establish a relationship with his daughter Amy. Aoife gets even more embroiled with her in-laws when her father-in-law’s body is found after being missing for 15 years. Meanwhile Aoife finds a new job with a strange arrangement that gets even stranger when her best friend gets involved.
I have to say I found this book fascinating. It seems to start slowly but rapidly moves to being extremely fast paced. There are so many twists and turns that the reader never gets to rest. Often you think you have figured it out and something unexpected happens.
The character development is excellent. Most of the characters are not who you think they are. You think someone is nice but he turns on you. You think someone else is not too bright, but he is just manipulative. You then think someone is honest but he is the farthest thing from it. This happens over and over again in the story.
Most of the story is told through dialogue, which I like because one gets to know the characters very well and it keeps everything quite orderly. Although there are many facets to the story it is easy to follow. Collins also does not distract us with extremely violent scenes or passionate interludes, which are certainly alluded to but not dwelt upon.
I usually can predict a story’s ending but not in the case. I highly recommend this book because it is surprising and entertaining. I give it a 5 on 5. I want to thank BookSirens for providing me with a digital copy of the novel in exchange for a fair review
Aoife is looking for a job. She has asked her husband to leave, but he is back claiming he wants move home to reconcile with Aoife and also to establish a relationship with his daughter Amy. Aoife gets even more embroiled with her in-laws when her father-in-law’s body is found after being missing for 15 years. Meanwhile Aoife finds a new job with a strange arrangement that gets even stranger when her best friend gets involved.
I have to say I found this book fascinating. It seems to start slowly but rapidly moves to being extremely fast paced. There are so many twists and turns that the reader never gets to rest. Often you think you have figured it out and something unexpected happens.
The character development is excellent. Most of the characters are not who you think they are. You think someone is nice but he turns on you. You think someone else is not too bright, but he is just manipulative. You then think someone is honest but he is the farthest thing from it. This happens over and over again in the story.
Most of the story is told through dialogue, which I like because one gets to know the characters very well and it keeps everything quite orderly. Although there are many facets to the story it is easy to follow. Collins also does not distract us with extremely violent scenes or passionate interludes, which are certainly alluded to but not dwelt upon.
I usually can predict a story’s ending but not in the case. I highly recommend this book because it is surprising and entertaining. I give it a 5 on 5. I want to thank BookSirens for providing me with a digital copy of the novel in exchange for a fair review
January 27, 2020
*I received a copy of the book from the author in return for my honest review*
This is the first book I have ever read from Val. This has a creepy cover that gave me goosebumps the moment I saw it.
I absolutely loved this book. Val has a unique way of sucking you into the story as you follow every character. This thriller had an amazing plot to it. Great twists having me on the edge of my seat waiting to see what happened next.
Her writing isn't like any other author I have read. She almost made me feel like I was one of the characters involved in the story. This is a page turner that you won't be able to put down once you start reading it!!!!
I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting a great family thriller that is fast paced.
My rating: 📕📕📕📕📕 (5 stars)
This is the first book I have ever read from Val. This has a creepy cover that gave me goosebumps the moment I saw it.
I absolutely loved this book. Val has a unique way of sucking you into the story as you follow every character. This thriller had an amazing plot to it. Great twists having me on the edge of my seat waiting to see what happened next.
Her writing isn't like any other author I have read. She almost made me feel like I was one of the characters involved in the story. This is a page turner that you won't be able to put down once you start reading it!!!!
I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting a great family thriller that is fast paced.
My rating: 📕📕📕📕📕 (5 stars)
January 30, 2020
The main character Aoife is the wife of Jason, Jason’s father disappeared then his body was found. He was actually murdered with a knife. Everyone close to home was a suspect mainly his wife Maura because of the mysterious envelopes of money she’d been receiving for the last 15 years. The story takes you on a tour of whodunnit and I wasn’t expecting that person to be the one was a total shocker.
I really enjoyed this book. Gave it 4 stars.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I really enjoyed this book. Gave it 4 stars.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 6, 2019
Oh MY GOSH. Oh my goodness. I’m, what?!
So now that I’m able to speak, this psychological thriller was absolutely incredible. I was hooked from beginning to end and struggled to stop reading this novel. The plot was so good but the best part was that she kept building on it. When I thought I knew what was going on and how we were going to solve it, she added something else. However, it was in such a way that I didn’t get confused but I did say “wtf no way” more times than I can remember. I truly enjoyed this one.
Psychological thrillers usually get in your head but this one just made you think. You had to put yourself in everyone’s shoes, including a two year old’s! I was wrong so many times because she’d be like “yeah that’s true but look at this character”. Man, the surprises in this one were just..I’m at loss for words. I have to say, this has been one of my favorite thrillers that I’ve read this year. Can’t wait to read about Aoife’s life beforehand!
So now that I’m able to speak, this psychological thriller was absolutely incredible. I was hooked from beginning to end and struggled to stop reading this novel. The plot was so good but the best part was that she kept building on it. When I thought I knew what was going on and how we were going to solve it, she added something else. However, it was in such a way that I didn’t get confused but I did say “wtf no way” more times than I can remember. I truly enjoyed this one.
Psychological thrillers usually get in your head but this one just made you think. You had to put yourself in everyone’s shoes, including a two year old’s! I was wrong so many times because she’d be like “yeah that’s true but look at this character”. Man, the surprises in this one were just..I’m at loss for words. I have to say, this has been one of my favorite thrillers that I’ve read this year. Can’t wait to read about Aoife’s life beforehand!
February 10, 2020
I won this awesome book from a goodreads giveaway! I was hooked from the beginning. The different layers to the psychological thriller kept me guessing until the last 10% of the book! Had a twist I didn't see coming which I love in a book! Val did an amazing job keeping my attention and my anticipation high! They way the story tied together was great! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Grab your copy 2-19-2020!!
February 13, 2020
Giveaway winner!!
Oh wow, this book really got to me. There is so much family interaction and drama with hard feelings and heartache. The plot twists grab you and keep you guessing throughout the story!
I really enjoyed this story and it is one that kept my attention and I was not able to put it down at times. Very well done!!
Oh wow, this book really got to me. There is so much family interaction and drama with hard feelings and heartache. The plot twists grab you and keep you guessing throughout the story!
I really enjoyed this story and it is one that kept my attention and I was not able to put it down at times. Very well done!!
December 9, 2019
This thriller had my heart racing from the first page. with twists and turns where you least expect, you won't be able to put this down. If you enjoy stories set in Ireland, you will love this book. I received this book as an ARC and this is my honest review.
January 31, 2020
Really really good. Loved the characters and the story is fabulous. Kept me guessing all the way to the end. I had my doubts about a few of the characters, but I didn't see the tangled end coming. Well paced and interesting throughout. Highly recommended.
January 14, 2020
Wow, this book kept me wondering what's going to happen next with every turn of the page. Never expected the ending.
January 28, 2020
I won this Kindle edition book in a Goodreads
Giveaway. Thank you to everyone involved.
A great book. Keeps you guessing!!!
Giveaway. Thank you to everyone involved.
A great book. Keeps you guessing!!!
February 19, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley for the copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I would like to start off by saying I was worried this book would fall into the 'typical thriller' category and let me down. After devouring this book in 24 hours, I was very, very wrong.
Aoife's Father-in-Law was murdered 15 years ago, but his remains were just found. So many questions arise all these years later, leaving her Mother-in-Law to deal with the repercussions and accusations. While she takes on the investigation herself, she uncovers a lot of skeletons that were never meant to be let out of the closet. Aoife now has more questions than ever about her already fragile family, friends and co-workers. How far will she go to figure out the truth?
I 100% did not see the ending coming. I had suspicions throughout the whole novel, which never turned out to be accurate and kept me guessing the whole way through. I absolutely loved that this book was not your typical 'poor young mother who relies on medication to not be crazy', but instead featured a strong but silent mother who would go to the end of the earth for her child and her family. There were a few different storylines to follow, but they all centred back to focus on the murders and whodunit, which made the book easy to follow, while also very interesting and full of depth. The characters were beautifully written, even when you didn't know who you could trust. Val Collin's writing style is extremely unique and refreshing in the world of thrillers and I can't wait to go back and read her other novel based on Aoife!
I would like to start off by saying I was worried this book would fall into the 'typical thriller' category and let me down. After devouring this book in 24 hours, I was very, very wrong.
Aoife's Father-in-Law was murdered 15 years ago, but his remains were just found. So many questions arise all these years later, leaving her Mother-in-Law to deal with the repercussions and accusations. While she takes on the investigation herself, she uncovers a lot of skeletons that were never meant to be let out of the closet. Aoife now has more questions than ever about her already fragile family, friends and co-workers. How far will she go to figure out the truth?
I 100% did not see the ending coming. I had suspicions throughout the whole novel, which never turned out to be accurate and kept me guessing the whole way through. I absolutely loved that this book was not your typical 'poor young mother who relies on medication to not be crazy', but instead featured a strong but silent mother who would go to the end of the earth for her child and her family. There were a few different storylines to follow, but they all centred back to focus on the murders and whodunit, which made the book easy to follow, while also very interesting and full of depth. The characters were beautifully written, even when you didn't know who you could trust. Val Collin's writing style is extremely unique and refreshing in the world of thrillers and I can't wait to go back and read her other novel based on Aoife!
February 22, 2020
This psychological thriller is set in Ireland. Danny Walsh, Aoife's father in law, has disappeared 15 years ago. while everyone believed he deserted his family all these years, today his remains are found. Police is suspecting Maura, his wife.
Aoife doesn’t believe that Maura had anything to do with it. she thinks the police department is not
investigating it the way they should. and is determined to find out what happened.
This is when she finds out that someone out there doesn't want her to do this. At this point her husband doesn’t want her to get involved in this situation anymore and her best friend is taking some distance from has become distant. Yet she doesn’t give up and wants to find out more about the secrets.
Val Collins has perfectly penned the story; the details get you hooked. The writing style is amazing, I felt like I can't trust anyone in this story. The plot is perfect, and it gets even better towards the end. The twist and turns are jaw dropping and the characters are perfectly developed.
Many thanks to Val Collins and Liz Psaltis at EHP Marketing for this gifted copy.
You can see the more reviews on:Bookoholiccafe and @Bookoholiccafe
Aoife doesn’t believe that Maura had anything to do with it. she thinks the police department is not
investigating it the way they should. and is determined to find out what happened.
This is when she finds out that someone out there doesn't want her to do this. At this point her husband doesn’t want her to get involved in this situation anymore and her best friend is taking some distance from has become distant. Yet she doesn’t give up and wants to find out more about the secrets.
Val Collins has perfectly penned the story; the details get you hooked. The writing style is amazing, I felt like I can't trust anyone in this story. The plot is perfect, and it gets even better towards the end. The twist and turns are jaw dropping and the characters are perfectly developed.
Many thanks to Val Collins and Liz Psaltis at EHP Marketing for this gifted copy.
You can see the more reviews on:Bookoholiccafe and @Bookoholiccafe
January 1, 2020
an interesting who did it with the interactions of a family rift and hard feelings all thrown in for additional drama. Just when the reader thinks he or she has it figured out, another twist takes you down another path. This is a very intriguing mystery with plenty of emotions to go around.
January 10, 2020
What a book, what a story! My goodness edge of my seat with this one. Thoroughly enjoyed this read. So good Val Collins did fantastic job
February 5, 2020
I really enjoyed this pychological thriller. Had me engaged all through with many twists and turns. Had my doubts about one or two of the characters but never expected the ending. I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 2, 2020
Everyone thought Danny Walsh deserted his family when his sons were young. But when Danny's body turns up fifteen years later and his wife, Maura, is implicated in his murder, accusations and old rumours surface.
Aoife rushes in to clear her mother-in-law's name. But why is it that Maura's story concerning Danny's disappearance doesn't quite add up?
Aoife's investigation uncovers old secrets, long-held jealousies, and lies upon lies. With every new revelation, Aoife realises she doesn't know her family at all. Now her new boss is acting strangely, her best friend is more and more distant, and her husband is no help at all.
With her support network crumbling and her family threatened, Aoife must race to keep one step ahead of danger before more innocent lives are lost. But how will she uncover the truth when only lies remain?
This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believeable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building that adds so much to the story.
Can't wait to read more of these.
Recommend reading.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
Aoife rushes in to clear her mother-in-law's name. But why is it that Maura's story concerning Danny's disappearance doesn't quite add up?
Aoife's investigation uncovers old secrets, long-held jealousies, and lies upon lies. With every new revelation, Aoife realises she doesn't know her family at all. Now her new boss is acting strangely, her best friend is more and more distant, and her husband is no help at all.
With her support network crumbling and her family threatened, Aoife must race to keep one step ahead of danger before more innocent lives are lost. But how will she uncover the truth when only lies remain?
This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believeable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building that adds so much to the story.
Can't wait to read more of these.
Recommend reading.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
February 24, 2020
What an incredible read!
I’m sitting here shook at the events that led up to the ending of this novel.
Wow.
It starts off quite innocuously. A story of a father, Danny, who one Saturday afternoon seems to vanish into thin air. The family believes that he’s deserted them...but fifteen years later, they learn that something far more sinister had happened. He’s been murdered, and his body has just been found.
As an investigation is launched to get to the “bottom” of this murder mystery, it reveals to the main character, Aoife, many perplexing revelations that maybe she doesn’t know her in-laws family as well as she thought she did.
Collins takes you through twisting hypotheses and quickly shuts them down before you can even wrap your head around what may be the answer. She throws you a bone, just to rip it away time and again.
I did have a sneaking suspicion about how it would all turn out due to one potential “slip” by the author, that I’ll leave ambiguously at that. In retrospect, it appears as a moment of foreshadowing, to me, at the time I read it I simply put it in the back of mind and continued to follow along and lose myself in the twists and turns that were being presented as the investigation into Danny’s murder progressed.
All in all, a great read with an ending I could have never guessed at!
I would like to thank BookSirens and the publisher of this novel for allowing me to read this advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review!
I’m sitting here shook at the events that led up to the ending of this novel.
Wow.
It starts off quite innocuously. A story of a father, Danny, who one Saturday afternoon seems to vanish into thin air. The family believes that he’s deserted them...but fifteen years later, they learn that something far more sinister had happened. He’s been murdered, and his body has just been found.
As an investigation is launched to get to the “bottom” of this murder mystery, it reveals to the main character, Aoife, many perplexing revelations that maybe she doesn’t know her in-laws family as well as she thought she did.
Collins takes you through twisting hypotheses and quickly shuts them down before you can even wrap your head around what may be the answer. She throws you a bone, just to rip it away time and again.
I did have a sneaking suspicion about how it would all turn out due to one potential “slip” by the author, that I’ll leave ambiguously at that. In retrospect, it appears as a moment of foreshadowing, to me, at the time I read it I simply put it in the back of mind and continued to follow along and lose myself in the twists and turns that were being presented as the investigation into Danny’s murder progressed.
All in all, a great read with an ending I could have never guessed at!
I would like to thank BookSirens and the publisher of this novel for allowing me to read this advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review!
March 2, 2020
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Wow! I finished this book in one sitting and what a rollercoaster! I like to think I'm quite switched on when it comes to "whodunits" but there were so many twists I truly didn't expect the ending. Not only is this is a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat, but it's also brilliantly written. There were only two things I would have liked to have seen done differently. The first is that it would have been nice to see Aoife stand up to her husband a bit more. She was such a strong character but she seemed to let him walk all over her. The second is that it would have been nice to see a few romantic moments (to avoid spoilers, I won't say between whom). Obviously this is not a romance novel so it didn't affect my rating in any way, I just felt like it might be easier to root for those characters if there was at least some sweet, romantic moments between them.
The book is set in Ireland and I found the info on how to pronounce the names at the beginning of the book very helpful.
I'd highly recommend this book to anybody who likes a mystery that will keep you guessing.
Wow! I finished this book in one sitting and what a rollercoaster! I like to think I'm quite switched on when it comes to "whodunits" but there were so many twists I truly didn't expect the ending. Not only is this is a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat, but it's also brilliantly written. There were only two things I would have liked to have seen done differently. The first is that it would have been nice to see Aoife stand up to her husband a bit more. She was such a strong character but she seemed to let him walk all over her. The second is that it would have been nice to see a few romantic moments (to avoid spoilers, I won't say between whom). Obviously this is not a romance novel so it didn't affect my rating in any way, I just felt like it might be easier to root for those characters if there was at least some sweet, romantic moments between them.
The book is set in Ireland and I found the info on how to pronounce the names at the beginning of the book very helpful.
I'd highly recommend this book to anybody who likes a mystery that will keep you guessing.
December 18, 2019
Thank you to Book Sirens for the free digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Only Lies Remain is a Psychological Thriller that had me hooked from the start. I love a book that keeps me guessing and this one did just that. I never guessed who was responsible until the very end. Well written and an enjoyable read.
Only Lies Remain is a Psychological Thriller that had me hooked from the start. I love a book that keeps me guessing and this one did just that. I never guessed who was responsible until the very end. Well written and an enjoyable read.
February 10, 2020
A page-turner from beginning to end, this quick read is everything you want when you reach for a crime mystery. The characters and situations are relatable, realistic, and well fleshed out. Scenes evoke a myriad of emotions and reactions. Intrigue and surprises at every turn, and an ending not even I could predict. This book is very well written and satisfying.
January 31, 2020
I devoured this book in a couple sittings, I absolutely loved it. It started off with a bang and kept me at attention through out, I’m so used to more long and drawn out mystery novels it was really nice to read one that kept moving so quick. My hats off to the author for creating such a genuine and relatable main character, I really do enjoy reading about Aiofe and can’t wait to see if she continues on more adventures. It was fun and twisted and had a very intriguing cast of characters.For all mystery/thriller/suspense fans this book is released this month and this author really is one you should keep your eye out for.
February 25, 2020
A fast-paced read with lots of interesting underlying problems in what seems to be a big and happy family.
I really liked the way some characters could be very outspoken and the family dynamics were very clear from the beginning.
Despite all this, I gave the book 3 starts instead of 4 because sometimes I had to read back because there are so many characters in this book that it can be confusing. It is sometimes hard to remember who is who and I think the book could have done with a family tree.
Thanks to BookSirens for this digital review copy.
I really liked the way some characters could be very outspoken and the family dynamics were very clear from the beginning.
Despite all this, I gave the book 3 starts instead of 4 because sometimes I had to read back because there are so many characters in this book that it can be confusing. It is sometimes hard to remember who is who and I think the book could have done with a family tree.
Thanks to BookSirens for this digital review copy.
March 9, 2020
Wow this grabbed me after a few sentences, it’s quite intense & fast paced! Aoife’s father in-law disappeared 15 years ago, the family assumed he ran off. His body is discovered and turns out he was murdered and now his wife is suspected of his death. As Aoife helps clear Maura, she digs up secrets. There’s twists & turns, keeps you guessing til the end. Great read! Thank you to the author via Goodreads for this giveaway. This is my honest review.
March 12, 2020
When Danny Walsh disappeared, everyone assumed he abandoned his family. That assumption quickly changes when his body is found fifteen years later. As his wife Maura becomes the main suspect in his murder, estranged family members and other characters from the past resurface with old rumors, secrets, and jealousies.
Aoife doesn’t believe for a second that her mother-in-law Maura killed anyone. Even as Maura’s version of the story changes, Aoife stands by her and rushes to clear the woman’s name. However, it seems that no matter which way she goes, she encounters more lies and deception — and not just from Maura.
“Only Lies Remain” by Val Collins is one of those books that’s good right out of the gate, but gets better and better as the story progresses. It can be a little overwhelming to keep up with everything at first. There are a lot of characters of which to keep track, but each one is needed in the story and important to the plot.
Typically, in books of this genre, there’s one character that seems a little creepy — or something about the character seems off (even if the character is only being used as a red herring). None of the characters in “Only Lies Remain” are totally unlikable or creepy.
But not all of them are as as they seem either. There’s always dark corners in their personalities, secrets peeking out from their closets, or inconsistencies in their behavior to make you question their motives. That’s part of what makes “Only Lies Remain” such an edge-of-your-seat treat. There’s always a new twist that brings with it new revelations. What you believe to be the truth on page 50 won’t be the same truth you believe on page 100 — or 200.
“Only Lies Remain” is a dialogue-rich novel that spares the reader unneeded, lengthy narratives and descriptions. The result is a fast paced story that never gets dull or tiresome. Even though “Only Lies Remain” is a psychological thriller, there’s a ‘whodunnit’ quality to the book that makes it impossible to put down.
“Only Lies Remain” is the second book by Val Collins to feature Aoife as the main character. You don’t need to read the first book, “Girl Targeted” to understand or enjoy “Only Lies Remain”, but it’s helpful. Having not read the first book made the very beginning of “Only Lies Remain” a little disorienting for me. I felt like I was missing crucial pieces that would be needed to sink into the story. I was wrong, thank goodness! I was hooked before I realized it — and I can honestly say I loved each new page more than the last.
Thank you to Goodreads Giveaways, VCB Publishing, and Val Collins for the free Kindle edition of this book.
Aoife doesn’t believe for a second that her mother-in-law Maura killed anyone. Even as Maura’s version of the story changes, Aoife stands by her and rushes to clear the woman’s name. However, it seems that no matter which way she goes, she encounters more lies and deception — and not just from Maura.
“Only Lies Remain” by Val Collins is one of those books that’s good right out of the gate, but gets better and better as the story progresses. It can be a little overwhelming to keep up with everything at first. There are a lot of characters of which to keep track, but each one is needed in the story and important to the plot.
Typically, in books of this genre, there’s one character that seems a little creepy — or something about the character seems off (even if the character is only being used as a red herring). None of the characters in “Only Lies Remain” are totally unlikable or creepy.
But not all of them are as as they seem either. There’s always dark corners in their personalities, secrets peeking out from their closets, or inconsistencies in their behavior to make you question their motives. That’s part of what makes “Only Lies Remain” such an edge-of-your-seat treat. There’s always a new twist that brings with it new revelations. What you believe to be the truth on page 50 won’t be the same truth you believe on page 100 — or 200.
“Only Lies Remain” is a dialogue-rich novel that spares the reader unneeded, lengthy narratives and descriptions. The result is a fast paced story that never gets dull or tiresome. Even though “Only Lies Remain” is a psychological thriller, there’s a ‘whodunnit’ quality to the book that makes it impossible to put down.
“Only Lies Remain” is the second book by Val Collins to feature Aoife as the main character. You don’t need to read the first book, “Girl Targeted” to understand or enjoy “Only Lies Remain”, but it’s helpful. Having not read the first book made the very beginning of “Only Lies Remain” a little disorienting for me. I felt like I was missing crucial pieces that would be needed to sink into the story. I was wrong, thank goodness! I was hooked before I realized it — and I can honestly say I loved each new page more than the last.
Thank you to Goodreads Giveaways, VCB Publishing, and Val Collins for the free Kindle edition of this book.
February 17, 2020
This book honestly blew me away and sadly, I almost refused to finish it after 50 pages.
I struggled a bit with the way it was written and seemed leap ahead a lot but I grew to greatly appreciate it after some time. This isn’t like most books where you are fed a bunch of useless, boring information. It immediately hooks you on the second page with the investigation being opened.
There was never a dull moment. There was always someone Aoife was questioning for more information, or the detective coming at them with a turn in the investigation. In this book, everyone is made out to be a suspect and most have a motive or something tying them to the investigation in some way.
And as if the main investigation wasn’t enough, the author was brilliant enough to throw in a few extra things to keep the reader guessing. I truly enjoyed this book. I enjoyed playing detective and being completely wrong about everything I thought I knew.
My only complaint in targeted towards the person that does the proof reading. The first page of chapter 45, “Maura left the room and returned with a photo album more than twice the size of Maura’s”. I assume Bridget was the one that left the room? Also Detective Moaney or Moloney?
Other than that, the story was beyond my expectations and I’m excited to read more from this author in the future.
*I received this book for free via BookSirens in exchange for an honest review*
I struggled a bit with the way it was written and seemed leap ahead a lot but I grew to greatly appreciate it after some time. This isn’t like most books where you are fed a bunch of useless, boring information. It immediately hooks you on the second page with the investigation being opened.
There was never a dull moment. There was always someone Aoife was questioning for more information, or the detective coming at them with a turn in the investigation. In this book, everyone is made out to be a suspect and most have a motive or something tying them to the investigation in some way.
And as if the main investigation wasn’t enough, the author was brilliant enough to throw in a few extra things to keep the reader guessing. I truly enjoyed this book. I enjoyed playing detective and being completely wrong about everything I thought I knew.
My only complaint in targeted towards the person that does the proof reading. The first page of chapter 45, “Maura left the room and returned with a photo album more than twice the size of Maura’s”. I assume Bridget was the one that left the room? Also Detective Moaney or Moloney?
Other than that, the story was beyond my expectations and I’m excited to read more from this author in the future.
*I received this book for free via BookSirens in exchange for an honest review*
February 15, 2020
"it's not like I wanted to kill him. These things happen...... It was fate. His and mine. You can't fight fate. You just have to accept it"
A great mystery thriller that's keeps you guessing till nearly the end.
The remains of Danny Walsh is found 15 years after everyone thought he ran off. Who killed him and is it linked to money going missing at the bank where he worked? Who had been sending his wife money every month?
Aoife is caught in the middle of things. Trying to help her mother in law and having problems with her husband who does not want to give her space and work out their problems. Will she be able to figure out what happened.
Thank you to Netgally and VCB Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
A great mystery thriller that's keeps you guessing till nearly the end.
The remains of Danny Walsh is found 15 years after everyone thought he ran off. Who killed him and is it linked to money going missing at the bank where he worked? Who had been sending his wife money every month?
Aoife is caught in the middle of things. Trying to help her mother in law and having problems with her husband who does not want to give her space and work out their problems. Will she be able to figure out what happened.
Thank you to Netgally and VCB Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
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