Her first love confessed to five murders.
The truth was so much worse.
Finalist for the Edgar Award for Best Novel 2019
A Library Journal Best Audio Book 2018
One of The Guardian’s Great Thrillers Written by Women Since 1945
Dublin’s notorious Canal Killer is ten years into his life sentence when the body of a young woman is fished out of the Grand Canal. Though detectives suspect a copycat is emulating the crimes Will Hurley confessed to as a teen, they turn to him for help. Will says he has the information the police need, but will only give it to one person – the girl he was dating when he committed his horrific crimes.
Alison Smith has spent a decade building a new life. Having moved abroad, she’s confident that her shattered life in Ireland is finally behind her. But when she gets a request from Dublin imploring her to help prevent another senseless murder, she is pulled back to face the past, and the man, she’s worked so hard to forget.
A sharp and modern thriller, cleverly plotted and completely immersive. [A] sinister, sly and addictive read. Magnificently murky.
Sunday Independent
A terrific read. The plotting is faultless and the writing assured.
RTE Culture
Absolutely fantastic.
Jenny Blackhurst
The Liar’s Girl is an addictive page-turner… Catherine Ryan Howard ladles out the suspense like spoonfuls of sugar, building to a heady rush of tension – and a heartbreaking final twist in the tale.’
Jo Furniss
Howard’s emerging talent could not be clearer … expertly plotted, with a series of stunning twists.
Daily Mail
A sublime character-based tale with immense pace, depth and style.
Irish Examiner
A very satisfying and twisty tale.
#1 NYT bestseller Charlaine Harris
What lifts Catherine’s work above many others in the genre is the quality of her writing and the strength of her characterisation. Dublin comes alive in this slice of Irish noir.
Sinead Crowley
Howard has certainly pulled off, with remarkable confidence, the notoriously difficult task of surpassing a debut novel that was met with critical acclaim and garlanded with awards
Irish Independent
An exceptional thriller … Howard keeps the readers turning the pages right through to the shocking and satisfying resolution.
Publishers Weekly (starred review)
[An] exceptionally well-crafted thriller.
Library Journal (starred review)
A thrilling whodunnit with a shocking final twist.
A.J. Banner