ARC Review: Liar's Creek by Matt Goldman

Liar's Creek
Author: Matt Goldman
Publication: Minotaur Books (April 21, 2026)

Description: From New York Times bestselling author and Emmy Award-winner Matt Goldman comes Liar's Creek, which asks how far we'll go to protect the people we love.

Riverwood, Minnesota is a scenic town threaded with trout streams carving their way through limestone bluffs. But beneath its picturesque facade, danger runs rampant.

Clay Hawkins isn’t a stranger to the secrets of his hometown. After twenty years away, Clay has recently returned home from abroad with his twelve-year-old son, and his relationship with his father, the recently replaced sheriff, is as strained as ever.

But when Clay’s beloved uncle disappears, the three generations of Hawkinses must overturn every stone in Riverwood and confront deep familial wounds to find the one person who brings them together. As danger looms, Clay worries that it might be too late to save his uncle―and that the rest of the family might be next.

My Thoughts: Clay Hawkins has come back to his hometown of Riverwood, Minnesota, along with his 12-year-old son Braedon. He left right after high school, attended West Point, served in the military and then had a successful career playing professional soccer. 

He is slated to begin a new job as soccer coach for his alma mater, a local private school. He is trying to rebuild his relationship with his father who has recently left his job as the Chief of Police. The two have had a difficult relationship all of Clay's life. His mother was diagnosed with breast cancer when Clay was born and battled it until her death when Clay was about 10. Clay feels that his father blames him for the loss of the love of his life. And Clay and his father Judd have little in common. Clay doesn't hunt, he didn't play sports his father could understand, he preferred reading to outdoor activities. Clay is a fly fisherman while his father prefers other fishing. The one thing they have in common is their love for Braedon who is enthused about hunting and fishing with his grandfather.

The Hawkins men all have to come together when Clay's Uncle Teddy disappears. Judd's fraternal twin has been a screw-up all of his life and Judd has spent a lot of his life picking up after him. Now he's missing and Judd doesn't want to go to the new Chief of Police to ask for help. He's depending on his own investigations and that of two of the police force who are his loyalists. 

Clay is willing to go to Zooey Jensen who is the new Chief. She's an interesting woman who is half-Dakota and who has recently moved to Riverwood from a similar job in Northern Minnesota. Clay is interested in her as a woman and as an investigative partner. She's quirky and she's smart and she has a history that she isn't eager to share. 

Clay has an interesting past of his own. He was an employee of American Intelligence while he was playing soccer in Europe and had his cover blown which is why he decided to come home now. 

As the investigation continues. lots of secrets are revealed. This was an engaging story. I loved the Minnesota setting since the story takes place near where I lived and worked for twenty years. I also like Clay's character and especially his relationship with his son Braedon. I liked Braedon's part of the story and his role in its resolution. I also like Judd's part of the story as he works toward a better relationship with his son.

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.