Lia Fairchild

This is a story of a young woman, Lucy, who has reached stalemate in her life: at a tender age, the family dynamic is shattered by the death of her stepfather. Her mother reacts badly by turning to one-night stands and alcohol. Lucy becomes the lynchpin of the family having to be mother to her half-sister and having to control the downward spiral her own mother is pursuing. Lucy has to grow up way before her time and sacrifice not only her college education, but her own childhood and teen years. Eventually, her mother decides she cannot cope with life as it is and abandons them and her half-sister opts for a life with her boyfriend; it is 6 years before the two are to meet again when Lucy discovers she could be the one person to save the life of her beloved, now seriously ill half-sister. But the life of sacrifice has made Lucy disillusioned, unmotivated, frustrated, distrustful and somewhat insular – can she break through these negative emotions and head towards a reunion with her sister and her family?

This was a poignant and moving story and well-crafted by the author. Lucy’s unhappy years are never over-dramatised – you are doused with just the right amount of pathos. She’s easy to like without feeling pathetically sorry for her, despite the wall of self-preservation she has built around her; the author has created a group of friendly and sympathetic characters around her, who can see through her armour: one of them with serious romantic intentions in mind.

There is a little of Lucy in all of us…..I’m not talking about her train-wrecked family or seriously ill sister, but we all reach a stage somewhere along our life’s journey when we wonder, is this it, is there really nothing else and how can I kick-start my life? I couldn’t wait to get to the end of this book and discover if Lucy finds a sense of purpose, if she manages to reclaim her family and of course, if she lets romance find a chink in her armour.

An effortless and enjoyable read.
… (meer)

I’m no stranger to Lia’s writing. She’s a multi-faceted writer who can turn her hand to contemporary fiction, crime thrillers, chick lit and short stories.

This was a story about four people, bound by a long-standing friendship, a friendship that's tight and unbreakable. Adulthood and circumstances has meant four very different paths have been followed, but the binds that tie can never be broken. The four are Jax, Sage and twins Emily and Ned. We catch up with them at a time when each has reached a turning point in his/her life: there are decisions to be made, lifestyles to examine, careers to change…and needs to be met.

What I liked about this novel was that while the skeleton of the story is unremarkable, Lia’s perspicacity and insight present four friends who bring the whole thing to life. Four very diverse characters, each likeable for different reasons. Each has depth and different perspectives on life. There’s a feeling of warmth throughout and you are cocooned in a glow as you read this is; no matter what happens or what gets in the way of bringing the four together, the bond of their friendship is unbreakable.

This is a feel-good and satisfying story, beautifully written.
… (meer)

Number 3 in the Hint of Murder series, Lia gets better and better!

This is another well-composed, neatly structured, short whodunnit and once again when you reach the last word on the final page it's hard to believe you have read a short story and not a novel.

A wealthy man is found dead in his rather clinically decorated home and the suspects are many: was it the disgruntled business partner, was it the latter's somewhat naïve cousin working as a bouncer in a night club, was it the exasperated wife or was it the faithful 'butler'? Lewis and his rookie female partner, Barnes, are the detectives assigned to the case with the task of exploring motives of deception and infidelity.

As with Lia's previous AHMs, the characters are well-rounded and it never ceases to amaze me how much we learn about them in the space of 10,000 words or so. Along with the thriller content that keeps you guessing until the end, this is another excellent short story.

Spot on, yet again, Lia.
… (meer)

This was a short story by Lia. Small and perfectly formed. It was a nicely rounded murder mystery about a serial killer who is copycatting the murders from the novels of a successful author.

Each character was neatly drawn and there was just enough information about each of them to give them a status in the story and for you to perceive them; the plot had the right amount of intrigue for the length of the story and the conclusion left you pondering thoughtfully. To say anything more, would I think, spoil the story, but if you like short stories and have 45 minutes to fill, you won't go wrong with this.… (meer)