“Six lies killed Huw Jones.

On New Year’s Eve 2011, Huw Jones disappeared from his bedroom while his father and five friends were downstairs. His body was later discovered on the nearby cliffs at St Non’s.

That night, all six friends lied in their statements to the police.

Over a decade later, Huw’s mother, Heledd is found dead.

Mallory Dawson must uncover the lies lurking in the tight-knit community of St Davids. But someone has kept their secrets for years, and they would kill to protect them…

An absolutely unputdownable Welsh crime novel perfect for fans of Clare Mackintosh and Robert Gold.”

Hello and welcome to damppebbles. Today I am delighted to share my review of The Sixth Lie by Sarah Ward. The Sixth Lie is published by Canelo Crime today (that’s Thursday 2nd November 2023) and is available in paperback and digital formats. I chose to read a free eARC of The Sixth Lie but that has in no way influenced my review.

I have a list of authors whose books I will read without a moment’s hesitation and Sarah Ward is an author on that list. I first discovered Ward’s books with the DC Connie Childs series set in Derbyshire (it’s a great series, well worth picking up if you get a chance). Earlier this year Ward published the first in a new series featuring ex-MET detective, Mallory Dawson. The first book, The Birthday Girl was a fantastic introduction to a new character and I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent getting to know Mallory on a small, cut-off, somewhat creepy island off the coast of Pembrokeshire. So I was very much looking forward to the second book in the series, The Sixth Lie, being published.

Following recent events on Eldey, ex-detective Mallory Dawson has found herself a quiet, more sedate job in St David’s. She’s the manager of the cathedral shop which suits her just fine, for now. When DI Harri Evans arrives at Mallory’s door asking for her help, Mallory is determined to turn Evans down. But the more she hears about the suspected murder of a local woman, the more intrigued she becomes. Mallory, as a civilian investigator, has been tasked to look into the tragic death of the victim’s 3-year-old son, Huw, twelve years ago. DI Evans can’t help but feel there are links between that fateful New Year’s Eve night and the death of Huw’s mother, Heledd. When new evidence is brought to light it becomes clear that those present in the Joneses’ house the night Huw died all told a lie in their statements. Can Mallory determine the lies from the truth before it’s too late…

Mallory Dawson is back! Rather than being stranded and alone on an island, fighting for her life, in this latest instalment she’s helping out DI Harri Evans with her knowledge of murder investigations and using her MET experience. Mallory is tasked with digging deeper into a cold case which could lead to a fresh killer. The victim, Heledd Jones, never really fitted in with her husband’s group of close friends. She always felt ‘less’ when compared to them, with their university educations and high powered jobs. But she always tried to make the effort, whether it was appreciated or not. Leaving a New Year’s Eve party early, Heledd is astonished to discover the host of the party, along with the rest of her husband’s close knit friendship group all gathered in her house. She’s even more shocked when checking on her young son upstairs, she finds his bed empty. Huw has vanished. His body was later discovered on the nearby cliffs of St Non’s. The Joneses’ marriage was torn apart by the tragedy and Heledd never stopped grieving. Could Huw’s death, twelve years earlier, be the key to discovering what happened to Heledd?

Mallory is a strong, determined woman who, once she sets her sights on something, sees it through to the end. I loved her tenacity and her drive to discover the truth. Alongside the investigation, we get to see a slightly softer side of the character as her 15-year-old son, Toby, comes to stay for the half term holidays. But their relationship is a little strained as Toby tends to live with his Dad in London most of the time, and Mallory recognises the relationship isn’t as easy as it could be. However, when she notices something about Toby that raises alarm bells, her calm head and practical manner rise to the fore. I thought this side plot was handled well and sensitively by the author and I look forward to seeing how things develop in the future.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. The Sixth Lie is a well-written mystery where the tension builds over the course of the book to a thrilling denouement. The author skilfully uses the tools she has at hand; the freezing cold, blustery Welsh weather, the dramatic, atmospheric cathedral and the small, close-knit community where everyone knows your business, to create tension and suspense. What really happened to Huw? Slowly the lies the friends told in their statements are revealed. Some are small and show the cracks in the group. Others are quite shocking. The Sixth Lie is a wonderfully vivid, dramatic read thanks to its Welsh setting and I cannot wait for the third book in this series to experience Ward’s Wales for a third time (now I’ve said that the third book will be set in London, I’m sure 😂). All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable mystery with a character that is fast becoming a favourite. Recommended.

I chose to read and review a free eARC of The Sixth Lie. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.

The Sixth Lie by Sarah Ward was published in the UK by Canelo Crime on 2nd November 2023 and is available in paperback and digital formats (please note, the following links are affiliate links which means I receive a small percentage of the purchase price at no extra cost to you): | amazon.co.uk | Waterstones | Foyles | bookshop.org | Goodreads | damppebbles bookshop.org shop | damppebbles amazon.co.uk shop | damppebbles amazon.com shop |

Sarah Ward is the author of four DC Childs novels, In Bitter Chill, A Deadly Thaw, A Patient Fury and The Shrouded Path set in the Derbyshire Peak District where she lives. She also writes gothic thrillers under the name Rhiannon Ward. The Quickening is out now.

Sarah was a 2015 Amazon Rising Star, A Patient Fury was The Observer’s Thriller of the Month in 2017 and The Shrouded Path an Amazon kindle top ten bestseller.

Follow Sarah on Twitter @sarahrward1

Find her on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/SarahWardCrime