Only Lies Remain: A Psychological Thriller – Val Collins

(Reviewed by Don Jung)

This story takes place in Ireland and starts out slowly as the characters emerge in this psychological thriller. A husband, Danny Walsh, disappears and his wife Maura is left alone to raise five sons. She mysteriously receives money each month and you assume the husband ran off but is still paying for the children. All this ends fifteen year later when his body is discovered, and tests show he apparently died the same day he was reported missing.

Aoife is the unemployed daughter-in-law who has her own marital problems and is intrigued by this sudden discovery. She tries to probe into what happened and why. As the protagonist in this novel, she starts out as a naïve personality but as she gets to know her husband’s family, she has to improvise on how not to step on their toes.

Aoife finally lands two unrelated jobs, and these are pivotal to the story. Add murder, a kidnapping, bank robbery and the surprises keep coming. Friends aren’t who they appear to be as each character shows a different face when confronted with the truth.

One minute you can point your finger at someone and then that person adds another element to the plot that keeps you guessing. Maloney, the police detective, tries to help Aoife solve a fifteen-year-old murder and as he tries to get closer, she abruptly gives him the cold shoulder.

The conversations between the characters are lively and keep you in suspense. Aoife changes from a reserved timid personality to a more inquisitive questioner as she finds problems with her husband, his siblings and her two employers. The talks make you feel comfortable at first but then their dark sides show up when you least expect it.

When a young student is shockingly killed, Aoife and the police detective band together to find out who the real killer is. Their love-hate conversations lead to more chaos and the search is on, but who could it be? Aoife doesn’t open up on everything as she doesn’t trust anyone. Even her best friend doesn’t tell her everything until it leads to disaster.

Most of the characters have family jealousies and hide secrets. As the action progresses, you don’t know who is lying or who is telling the truth. As more clues lead to danger and intrigue, you get sidetracked on what can happen next. Then the mystery starts to unravel, and you’re surprised as how this will all end. It’s an enjoyable read and one of the best thrillers I’ve read in a long time.