Review: Tell Me the Truth (Adler and Dwyer, #2) by Matthew Farrell

  

Print Length: 335 pages

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer (June 22, 2021)

From Goodreads.com:  Eighteen-year-old Jenny Moore is looking forward to a fresh start at college. There’s just one problem: the people in her life won’t let her go.

When Jenny is viciously stabbed and left for dead, it’s her mother who finds Jenny’s body underneath the pines outside their home in the upscale town of Lewisboro, New York. State police investigator Susan Adler and her consultant partner Liam Dwyer are called to investigate the crime scene, but they sense something’s off right away.

The clues contradict the story Jenny’s parents keep telling, which makes the entire family suspects in Jenny’s murder. But who did it? Was it the wealthy father? The disappointed mother? The strange, quiet little brother? The jealous best friend? An ex-lover?

So many suspects. Too many secrets. One town with a history of hiding the truth.

But this is only the beginning of Susan and Liam’s investigation…because the killer is just getting started.

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My Rating: 3 stars out of 5

While this book can absolutely be read as a stand-alone, there are mentions of events that took place in the first book, which can be a spoiler if you intend to read that book as well. 

On the whole, I enjoyed this novel more than I did the first in this series. Unlike some of the other people who have reviewed, I enjoyed the glimpses into Susan's family life and the way she often struggled to balance her home life with her work. I felt it made her relatable to the other single parents out there who are trying their best everyday. I also enjoyed the budding romance between her and Liam, although I sincerely hope that doesn't begin to overshadow the whodunit portion of future novels.

This was definitely an interesting read, with all of the twists and red-herrings needed to keep the reader guessing and invested. I will say at times, certain things became a little too... convenient, and at other times, had I been Adler and Dwyer, I would have started hauling people in for obstruction of justice. I will also admit that sadly, while I was interested in the outcome of the story, I found myself skimming parts towards the end because it started to become a bit tedious with all the withholding of information and secrets. 

The ending was something that I did not expect, and looking back, I can't even pinpoint a time when one of the culprits was even hinted at having something to do with any part of the murder previously. 

In conclusion, I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys slow burn police procedurals that will keep you guessing. 

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

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                                                    Tell Me the Truth is available from Amazon.com