Review: " A Game of Lies," Clare Mackintosh

By Liz Soares

The irrepressible Welsh police officer Ffion Morgan is back for another round of murder and mayhem in the resort town of Cwm Coed.

In her first outing, The Last Game, she tackled a death at “The Shores,” a luxury lodge development on Llyn Drych (Mirror Lake). This time, a reality TV show—“Exposure”— is filming on Pen y Ddraig (Dragon Mountain). Things start to go very wrong when the contestants are told they’re not competing physically against each other for survival. They have to expose each other’s secrets—or be exposed themselves.

The group includes an accountant, a vicar, a head teacher and a firefighter—all seemingly upstanding citizens. Cwm Coed’s postal carrier, Ceri, is also vying in the competition. What could any of them have to hide?

But one contestant is so afraid of possible repercussions, he disappears, and is feared lost on the mountain. As police search the rough terrain, the other contestants turn on each other. No one is surprised when murder soon follows.

A Game of Lies is fun and fast-paced. The show’s contestants and crew are mostly noxious.  The northern Wales setting is appealing. The reality show machinations are intriguing.

Best of all, Ffion’s life is messier than ever. She’s adopted a big, galumphing dog named Dave, and constantly has to find people to take care of him. Since he tends to eat furniture when she’s not around and Cwm Coed is a small village, she is fast running out of options.

Her erstwhile boyfriend, Leo, joins the investigative team, but relations are frosty between them. Ffion’s ex-husband Huw, has a new girlfriend, which presents an unexpected problem. And her daughter, Seren, is preparing to start a new chapter in her life as she prepares for university.

Ffion continues to buck the rules and take chances—which gets her into trouble, but also helps her solve crimes.

The book includes the prologue and first chapter of The Last Party, as well as an interview with Mackintosh. I was pleased to see that more adventures for Ffion are planned. I’m already ready.