Tell Me No Lies

by Lynn Chandler Willis

Tell Me No Lies is an outstanding mystery. While marketed as the first book in the Ava Logan Mystery Series, it reads as a standalone. If the author Lynn Chandler Willis has more adventures in mind for the main character Ava, I am excited at the prospect.

A woman is brutally murdered as Ava Logan, a widowed mother of two, babysits her adorable toddler, Ivy. Who would murder this beautiful, young artist and why? Representing law enforcement, handsome Sheriff Grayson Ridge, and Ava, small town newspaper publisher, pursue their independent and joint investigations into these questions.

With a very effective gossip machine, many in Jackson Creek, North Carolina, wonder why the small town even needs a newspaper. The mystery plays out with continuing danger, various potential suspects, a heated sheriff election, Ginseng poaching, speculation of abuse, and romantic intrigue.

Tell Me No Lies is a hard book to put down.  It will keep you engaged until the very end–an ending you won’t expect.  Willis has won several awards for previous books. I anticipate this one will add to her accolades.

I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Henery Press for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Mystery, Thriller

Notes:  Can I give this one a 6/5? It’s just a really splendid mystery!

Publication:  February 7, 2017 — Henery Press

Memorable Lines:

Rain splattered against the windshield then, like magic, disappeared with the hypnotizing swipe of the wipers. I wished life was that simple. Whenever you felt the sting of a broken heart, the crush of a disappointment, or the torment of a bad decision, you could just flip a lever and a giant mechanical arm would wipe it all away.  It was a nice thought but, like the rain, there would always be more to come.

[Describing Ava’s office manager]  Ever the social butterfly with a manicured nail on the pulse of the town…

For so many years, we had walked around carrying words we wanted to say but never did. We raised silent questions, hoping to never really know the answers.