...[a] gripping debut ... Luckily, Caz Frear has come out of the gate with a corker of a thriller, introducing us to a firecracker of a new copper in the form of the fascinating London-based DC Catrina 'Cat' Kinsella ... she’s believably flawed, self-deprecating, and very human—you’ll love her ... Frear has churned out a very assured, accomplished debut that’s quintessentially British and compulsively readable ... Caz Frear is now on my instant-buy list, and I can’t wait for her next book.
Sweet Little Lies is a mesmerizing psychological murder mystery. An extraordinary debut novel that effectively takes a deep look at how we often struggle to cope with the realities of our darker past ... unforgettable characters and a plotline that is gripping, thought-provoking and genuine ... Frear delivers a captivating story that is filled with multiple layers of complexities that unveils nicely into satisfying and surprising realities. It features an outstanding blend of police procedural and thrilling murder mystery that effortlessly combines interesting characters, exceptional writing and convincing storytelling into a novel that doesn’t disappoint.
Sweet Little Lies is a multilayered, complex novel that explores how the sins of our fathers reflect upon us in an entirely new way. It exposes the seamy underbelly of Irish society and its tawdry connection to London’s criminal class. Frear lays bare all the ways that dysfunctional families guard their family secrets and the havoc they wreak upon each other to keep it that way. The case takes many twists and turns before winding up with one of those double whammy surprises so dear to the hearts and minds of readers like me. Cat is as fascinating as she is likable, prickly, flawed and thoroughly believable. I can’t wait for her next adventure.
Frear has fashioned a remarkably rich and sympathetic character in Cat, and her portrayal of dysfunctional families, especially their mix of world-weary dialogue interspersed with cutting comments, is cringingly realistic ... it will also work as a way of keeping Tana French fans happy while waiting for French’s next book.
...it's a bit slow to start. Cat is somewhat prickly, which makes her hard to get to know, but as the investigation and the story wind on, she earns our sympathy and our trust ... The solution to the mystery is a legitimate surprise, and Cat’s evolution from one-dimensional sad sack to complex, honest adult is both believable and welcome, putting her on par with Susie Steiner's and Tana French's female detectives ... A truly satisfying—and gritty—mystery.
...[a] taut, psychologically twisted debut ... As the case takes its own twists and unexpected turns, just as fascinating are the mental gymnastics that Kinsella performs ... readers will root for the spiky Kinsella, with her empathetic center, and hope to see more of her in future books.
