The Lying Room - Nicci French

With the finale of Nicci French's Frieda Klein series, I was curious as what this husband and wife writing team would pen next.

What's next is the newly released The Lying Room, a wonderful stand-alone mystery.

Neve's marriage has reached that twenty year marker. She's tired of it all - husband, kids, job and more. She wants a little excitement - and finds it in the arms of her boss, Saul. Uh huh, familiar story right? Well, yes, right up to the point where she calls on him early one morning after being with him the night before.....and finds that her lover has been murdered. But instead of calling the police, she then makes a crazy decision and cleans the apartment, erasing all traces of herself and her time there.

A setup I've read before, but one that offers up so many possibilities as to how things can play out. As a matter of course the police interview all the employees at the firm, including Neve. And she of course lies. The lead detective, Hitching, makes a great foil for Neve - one hunting for answers and one determined to keep her secrets. They dance around each other, with the suspicions there, but left unvoiced.

Muddying the waters is a large cast of supporting players. Much of the book takes place in Neve's home, where her family, friends and acquaintances tend to congregate. Each of them is just a little bit 'off' - too flamboyant, too quiet etc. Relationships are tried and tested throughout the book. The dwelling is a bit of a madhouse. As is Neve's mind as she tries to keep her lies straight.

But at the heart of it is who killed Saul? Any one of those at the house is a possibility. French provides many choices for whodunit as the book progresses. And who I thought it was? Wasn't. Nicely done Nicci French - I enjoy not being able to solve things early on!

Another great read from French - see for yourself - here's an excerpt of the Lying Room.