Book Review: Ask No Questions by Claire Allan

Not all secrets are meant to come out…

Twenty-five years ago, on Halloween night, eight-year-old Kelly Doherty went missing while out trick or treating with friends.

Her body was found three days later, floating face down, on the banks of the Creggan Reservoir by two of her young classmates.

It was a crime that rocked Derry to the core. Journalist Ingrid Devlin is investigating – but someone doesn’t want her to know the truth. As she digs further, Ingrid starts to realise that the Doherty family are not as they seem. But will she expose what really happened that night before it’s too late?

Firstly, a big thank you to NetGalley for the early copy of Ask No Questions by Claire Allan. Secondly, wow! I've read a couple of Clare Allan's books... I loved The Liar's Daughter, and I very recently listened to the audiobook of Forget Me Not which was excellent. So I was thrilled to find out the main character in Ask No Questions is Ingrid Devlin, the journalist who featured in Forget Me Not. I've read my fair share of crime novels but am yet to read one from the point of view of an investigative journalist, and I really enjoyed this angle. And I really loved Ingrid! She's a fantastic protagonist and a very strong female lead who will stop at nothing to get to the truth. So a big tick from me on character.

Ask No Questions is set in Derry, a place I've never been but feel as if I have, thanks to Claire's excellent scene-setting (and my devotion to Derry Girls). On the 25th anniversary of 8-year-old Kelly Doherty's murder, Ingrid starts to delve deeper into the story, believing that there's a chance the man convicted of the murder is innocent. But she's soon warned off. Not only by her boss, who believes nothing good will come of it, but by someone else too. Someone who is interfering with Ingrid's life... and will do anything to keep the past buried. 

Claire's writing style is both entertaining and engaging. Ask No Questions is told from multiple viewpoints, which keep the pages turning quickly in this pacey thriller. And it's so atmospheric. It's dark and chilling with a plot that builds and builds, keeping me guessing until the climactic ending that I totally did not see coming. And it was oh-so-satisfying.

This gripping psychological thriller lands on 21st January and you can preorder your ebook here or paperback (out 22nd July) here.

Roxie

@RoxieAdelleKey

About the author

In 2006, journalist Claire Allan decided to try and fulfil a lifetime ambition to write a novel and spent six months writing Rainy Days and Tuesdays. This was published by Poolbeg Press in Ireland in 2007 and became an instant bestseller.

Seven more women's fiction novels followed before Claire decided to leave journalism to concentrate on writing, and also to try her hand at writing psychological thrillers. Ten years after Rainy Days and Tuesdays, Claire began to write Her Name Was Rose, which was published by Avon Books in 2008. It became a bestseller in the UK, Ireland, Canada, America and Australia. 

It was followed by Apple of My Eye (Jan, 2019) and Forget Me Not (May, 2019) and The Liar's Daughter (January 2020).

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