THE NIGHT SHIFT

4 stars out of 5

Same town, same gruesome scenario, 15 years apart: Four teenagers working late - one set at Blockbuster Video and the other at an ice cream shop, both in Linden, New Jersey - are brutally attacked. In each instance, only one of the four survives. The aftermath of the first attack in 1999 devastated lives of family and friends as well as that of Emma, the surviving girl. Now a therapist, Emma is called in to help calm the survivor of the ice cream shop murders; that plus her status as the lone survivor of the 1999 incident, she's thought to be eminently qualified.

Turns out the survivor, Jesse Duvall, is quite the handful; she's belligerent, refuses help and generally uncooperative - albeit a bit less so when she learns Emma is a survivor like she is. And suspicions that the two attacks may have been done by the same person are solidified when Jesse shares with Emma the words the attacker spoke to her when he left her for dead: "Good night, pretty girl." Shockingly, they're the same words Emma's attacker said to her.

Enter Sarah Keller, a very pregnant FBI agent who's trying her best to get the case solved before her twins decide to enter the real world, and a public defender who, unbeknownst to everyone else, is the traumatized brother of the man believed to be the Blockbuster murderer - and the man who got away.

Chapters switch from perspectives of various characters as well as time frames, with each adding bits of information that give readers insights into what's to come - which includes plenty of surprises (I did guess the culprit early on, but I'm always delighted when that happens). My only question? All the characters are referred to by their first names except the FBI agent, who's always "Keller." If that is supposed to mean something, it went over my head.

That puzzlement aside, I heartily recommend this action-packed book that I truly had trouble putting down. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy. Another excellent book by this talented author!

The Night Shift by Alex Finlay (Minotaur Books, March 2022); 368 pp.

HOSTAGE

5 stars out of 5

Note: I finished this book on May 11, but as per the publisher's request, my review has been withheld until about 4 weeks prior to release.

Have mercy! Granted, I'm one of those fear of flying fruitcakes (make that terrified), but this book is one of the scariest I've read in I can't remember when. That I'm still shaking in my shoes days after finishing it, though, is testimony to the author's skillful presentation of a story that would be at least a little frightening no matter who wrote it - but she hit it out of the park. Put another way, wow!

Mina and her husband, Adam, have a precocious adopted young daughter, Sophia, who suffers from several psychological disorders and, to put it mildly, is a handful. For the past dozen years, Mina - who once dreamed of becoming a commercial airline pilot - has been a flight attendant. Now, she gets the chance to serve on the 29-hour inaugural nonstop flight from London to Sydney - taking her away from Adam and Sophia just before Christmas.

Even before the plane is in the air, Mina has misgivings about the flight. It gets real, though, when a passenger gives Mina a note that chills her to the bone: Unless she cooperates, the plane - and all its passengers - will never get to Sydney. As the story progresses, the situation becomes more dire by the hour, especially after one passenger turns up dead. Chapters shift perspectives to present information on various passengers and what's happening back home with Adam, Sophia and their babysitters, making a guess fest for readers as to who did what, when and why and putting me on the edge of my firmly grounded sofa for the rest of the ride. 

To say this one is a thrill a minute would be an understatement - and that doesn't count a bang-up surprise ending. Suffice it to say this one's a winner in my book - many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy. If you like thrills and chills, do not miss this one!

Hostage by Clare Mackintosh (Sourcebooks Landmark, June 2021); 362 pp.

A DARK AND SECRET PLACE

4 stars out of 5

Convicted serial killer Michael Reave, better known as Red Wolf, has been in jail for years. So when another woman's body turns up murdered in the same gruesome manner that was Reave's trademark, it raises the question of who the killer is this time around. Coincidence or copycat? It's a question that dogs journalist Heather Evans when she learns that her mother, who just committed suicide, had been exchanging letters with Reave throughout his two decades in prison. It's got the police stumped as well, so when Heather shows the letters her mother got from Reave and kept hidden away, Detective Inspector Ben Parker arranges for her to visit Reave in hopes he will not only explain his connection to Heather's mother but say more about the women he's insisted he didn't kill.

Reave, however, isn't forthcoming; instead, he tells a story about a young boy who drank water that turned him into a wolf. But he admits to knowing Heather's mother, Colleen, who he claims loved stories like this. Meanwhile, yet another woman's life is snuffed out. At this point, there's no doubt someone is imitating Reave, but who, and why? Heather discovers a communal place where her mother and Reave may have met not far from London; today, it's a spa popular with rich folks. Still, she's certain the site holds keys to the past that somehow have been unlocked in her world today.

As the investigation continues, it becomes clear that Heather, too, may be at risk; as she stays in her old home - where her mother lived until she died - strange and creepy sounds and objects appear to make her doubt what's real and what's not. Meantime, interspersed chapters revert to "Before," slowly revealing clues as to what really happened all those years ago at the commune and how what happened there relates to Heather, her mother and Red Wolf.

Needless to say, there are more than a few fairytale-like twists in the story, with one of the biggest evident to me very early on. And I do have a few issues with Heather's behavior - one a professional screw-up that no journalist I know would ever make. The other came near the end, when the formerly strong-willed but for the most part sensible Heather veered off down the B-movie path toward the dark alley instead of the well-lit street to the police station. At that point, I have to admit I pretty much stopped caring what happened to her.

As a whole, though, it's an engrossing and entertaining story with a very dark side that certainly held my attention throughout - and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy. Last but definitely not least, I'm happy to say I learned a couple of new words ("skewhiff," for instance) - always a treat because I love sharing these finds with our wonderful English daughter-in-law. 

A Dark and Secret Place by Jen Williams (Crooked Lane Books, June 2021); 304 pp.

THE DROWNING KIND

5 stars out of 5

Mysterious and spooky, altogether ookey, I say with a nod to "The Addams Family" theme song lyrics. And to make matters even more creepy, I was so close to the end that I took it upstairs to finish before I turned out the bedroom light to go to sleep. Do not - repeat, do not - do that. Even if you're got just one chapter to go, finish it in daylight hours.

Let me warn out the outset, though, that the story leans far more toward Stephen King's version of creepy than your average psychological thriller. So if you can't get into the concept of a man growing "Thinner" day by day because he consumed a piece of cherry pie, this book probably isn't for you. I, however (huge Stephen King fan that I am) have no problem with otherworldly things that go bump in the night.

In this case, they tend to go bump in the deep, dark pool. It's more of a health spa, used for decades by people looking for miracle cures even though it's on private property. At one time, an upscale hotel drew guests from far and wide; now, it's owned by a young woman named Lexie, who inherited the property and the house that was built on it from her grandmother. Clearly, Lexie has mental issues - thought to be manic by her family including her semi-estranged sister Jackie (Jax).

But then, something awful happens; Lexie turns up dead, apparently having drowned in the now-gate-protected pool. When Jax gets the call, she not only feels great sadness, but guilt because she hasn't responded to a flurry of calls from her sister in recent days. When she returns to the Brandenburg, New Hampshire, property, she soon learns that Lexie had been frantically conducting research on the history of the property and the pool - which in fact has been the scene of many other deaths since the late 1920s.

Through flashback chapters, readers learn about Ethel Monroe, a newlywed back in 1929 who wants a baby and learns about the pool's healing powers which include, rumor has it, the granting of wishes. The problem? What the pool giveth, it taketh away; it's tit for tat, and no wish comes true without a corresponding loss of some kind. Certainly everyone who has begged the pool for help over the years has paid a price, from Ethel back then to Jax and Lexie now. The ending is one I expected - nothing else, I think, would have worked - but that doesn't mean it's a welcome one (especially late at night when you want to fall asleep after closing the book).

The story does get a little repetitive, mostly as accounts of what happened or is happening are shared among the various characters. But that's really not a criticism; it's a riveting tale from beginning to end. The bottom line? Highly recommended. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for providing me with a pre-release copy to read and review.

The Drowning Kind by Jennifer McMahon (Gallery/Scout Press, April 2021); 285 pp.

EVERY VOW YOU BREAK

4 stars out of 5

It was easy to see the direction this story would take fairly early on - as well to question why on earth any reasonable woman would get herself in this kind of situation - but the details nonetheless kept me turning pages. In the end, I'd describe it as a case of bad love gone way, way worse.

Abigail Baskin is getting married to a good-looking, uber-rich guy named Bruce; she loves him, she thinks, but it's not what could be called a passionate, head-over-heels kind of love. So when her nearly beloved pays for a fancy-schmancy bachelorette party in Los Angeles, she gets tipsy and meets a guy who's determined to get her in the sack. Rationalizing that it's one last time in the frying pan before she hits the fire, she takes him up on the offer. For me, it's stop right there; if she's that tempted so close to her wedding day, she has no business marrying the rich guy (unless, of course, rich is the real point).

One vow she does make, however, is never to tell Bruce about her indiscretion (well, at least not before the wedding); given his family background, he'd never, ever forgive her. Besides, what are the chances that the one-night stand, whom she dubbed "Scottie," will ever be seen again? Ah, you guessed it: back in New York a few days before the wedding, she's stunned to see Scottie in her neighborhood. She's downright gobsmacked, then, when she gets an email from him claiming he wants to bed her one more time to prove their tryst was far more significant than she wants to believe it was.

Somehow, Abigail realizes that would be a mistake and conveys that to Scottie, although she seems to give it some consideration before she responds (second clue that she has no business marrying the rich guy). That's that, then, and the wedding goes on with a hitch (pun intended). For the honeymoon, rich guy Bruce sets up an escape to a remote private island on which he and some partners own and operate a luxury resort with virtually no outside access. And once again, that's that - until it isn't. Want to make another easy guess as to who shows up?

From that point on, it becomes a dangerous game of who do you trust (or more accurately, who do you distrust) the most. The situation soon escalates to life and death, with the big question who will survive. It's a not-so-merry chase to see who makes it to the finish line (I think I know who I was rooting for, although I'm not totally sure any of the characters was worth saving). At any rate, it's a fast-paced adventure that makes for good reading, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy.

Every Vow You Break by Peter Swanson (William Morrow, March 2021); 223 pp.

BLOODLINE

4 stars out of 5

Back in the '60s, when this book takes place, I'll cop to inhaling once or twice, but I never tried "acid." By the time I got a halfway through this book, though, I was imagining that this must be how it would have felt. At the very least, it's a pretty creepy story that, as I'm sure other reviewers have noted, is might be subtitled Rosemary's Baby meets The Stepford Wives.

After pregnant Minneapolis newspaper reporter Joan Harken is mugged, her boyfriend and father of the baby, Deck, convinces her to relocate to his insular hometown of Lilydale. Here, he insists, she'd be safe - and he assures her the local newspaper, although small, will give her the opportunity to earn the byline she's always craved. Despite a few misgivings about leaving big-city life, she agrees.

It doesn't take long, though, for her to realize something's not quite right, starting with the "friendliness" of all her neighbors - attention that soon begins to cross the line of intrusiveness once she realizes nothing she does or says escapes the knowledge of everyone who lives on her street (most notably Deck's parents, who are town VIPs). The situation gets even murkier when she begins to investigate the decades-earlier disappearance of a young boy; and spotting a too-familiar man from her Minneapolis past makes her wonder all the more what's really going on in this extremely close-knit town. When the townspeople begin to take unusual interest in her baby, Joan really starts to freak out.

Honestly, I didn't warm up to any of the characters (to begin with, any parents who would name their kid after their back porch have to be three bricks shy of a chimney). And although Joan has a few issues in her own past that cloud her present, she comes across for the most part as a paranoid wimp who won't stand up for herself. Still, the story is creepy and scary and I couldn't wait to find out what was really going on (hint: it's even creepier and scarier than I thought it would be). In short, it's a great diversion during these times of not being able to go much of anywhere. Thanks to Amazon First Reads for this one!

Bloodline by Jess Lourey (Thomas & Mercer, January 2021); 347 pp.

HE STARTED IT

4 stars out of 5

My emotions are mixed on this book. Some aspects I liked very much; others not so much. My rating, then, is something of a compromise - but I hasten to add that above all, it's a clever and well-written plot that made me wish I had a mind half as creative as this author.

The thing is, not a single character here is remotely likable or honest, nor do any of them like or trust each other. But on the plus side for those of us on this side of the pages, finding out how and why all that came about makes for interesting reading that leads to a bang-up ending I didn't see coming - one that left me feeling a bit like I'd been sideswiped by an errant tumbleweed (not an uncommon sight in a desert, which is where the adventure comes to an abrupt halt). 

Grandpa, you see, is dead and cremated but not mourned. As the sole survivors (well, except for two others who are pretty much out of the running), brothers and sisters Beth, Portia and Eddie Morgan stand to inherit a bundle. But as in life, with Grandpa there's always a catch. This time around, he's put strings on the deal; according to his iron-clad will, the "kids" must complete a cross-country road trip exactly as they did when he took them on an adventure when they were kids. That trip holds many memories for the siblings - most of them quite unpleasant - but if they want to get rich, they have no choice but to follow his instructions which, not insignificantly, include taking his cremains along for the ride. Two of the kiddies - Beth and Eddie - are married, and they've dragged their spouses along for better or worse (based on what I've written so far, I'll let you guess which description is more accurate).

As the chapters unfold, readers learn what happened on that earlier trip as well as secrets known only to the occupants of the car (and perhaps a couple of other nefarious characters who pop in and out of the travelogue). It all makes for great intrigue, although I have to admit that somewhere around the time they'd completed three-quarters of their trip, they were growing weary of the journey and I began to wish they'd just get it over with, already. But just a few pages later, the action caught fire and reignited my attention from there to the last page.

My own conclusion? Well worth reading. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-publication copy.

He Started It by Samantha Downing (Berkley, July 2020); 400 pp.

DARLING ROSE GOLD

5 stars out of 5

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, or so it's been said. Whether that's a result of nature, nurture or a combination of both is, I guess, still up for discussion. After reading this book I'm not much closer to deciding which option I lean more toward, but however this mother-daughter pair got where they are, it's not a pretty place.

To say their story is a wild ride would be an understatement; I was hooked from the beginning and reluctant to put it down. Likable characters? Oh heck no; but then, that's what makes this book so special. Mom is Patty Watts, who seriously mistreated her "beloved" daughter, Rose Gold, almost from the day she was born (apparently a severe case of Munchausen by Proxy). Somewhere around age 18, Rose Gold (her mother always objected to anyone who shortened her name to "Rose") figured out why she'd been so sickly and in and out of hospitals all her life. Her court testimony resulted in Patty's incarceration for five years, convicted of severe child abuse.

For almost all of those years, Rose Gold refused to have any contact with her mother. But then, as Patty is about to be released, Rose Gold begins to visit - claiming all is forgiven and that she wants nothing more than for them to be together from now on. Even though Rose Gold is now the mother of an infant son, she responds in the affirmative when her mother begs to stay with her after she's sprung from jail.

Needless to say, no one in their small town who knew what happened to Rose Gold is willing to forgive and forget what Patty did, and they're aghast that Rose Gold wants to be anywhere near her mother. But Rose Gold stands firm and mom moves in; but don't think for one second that everything from now on will come up roses (not even close). Chapters told from the perspectives of Patty and Rose Gold reveal what's going on in their hearts and minds. Some things have changed and others have stayed the same, but one thing is certain: neither has forgotten the past.  

All told, it's a dark tale that pits the psychological manipulation of two women at loggerheads - leaving readers to wonder who will emerge triumphant right up to the end. It's a "wow" from me - and I heartily thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

Darling Rose Gold by Stephanie Wrobel (Berkley, March 2020); 319 pp.

THE NEW HUSBAND

4.5 stars out of 5


About a year-and-a-half ago, Glen Garrity's boat was found with his blood on it, but not his body. He's presumed to be dead, and six months from now, his wife Nina can have him declared legally dead. That will free her up to marry her new love, Simon Fitch, a teacher who appeared on her scene almost immediately after Glen went missing. Much to the dismay of her middle-school daughter Maggie - who thoroughly detests and distrusts Simon - Nina has moved the family (including Maggie's older brother, Connor) into a new home that includes Simon. 

Even though Maggie has so far resisted Simon's proposal of marriage, she's pretty sure that's how things will end up. After all, Simon's got plenty of money and anticipates her every need and want (almost before she does). The tension between Simon and Maggie gets worse almost by the minute; but when Maggie complains about something nasty she's sure Simon did to her (readers get a closer look by way of chapters told from her perspective), Simon always has a plausible excuse and ends up looking like a rose in Nina's eyes.

Until he doesn't. Little by little, Nina begins to have doubts - mostly triggered by Simon's intense dislike of her decision to return to her career as a social worker. Somehow, she suspects, he's overreacting, but the question is why? Even before her husband disappeared, Maggie learned some unpleasant and totally unexpected facts about him. Now, she's understandably wary of making another mistake. But if Simon's not the person she believes him to be, can she ferret out his intentions before her family is totally destroyed?

Somewhere around the 50% mark comes a major reveal; from that point on, it's a race to see who makes it to the finish line (and a race to see if I could get there before I absolutely had to go to bed). Safe to say the book held my attention all the way - and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the privilege of reading an advance copy.

One of the big plusses of the book for me is that although Nina questions her own actions and beliefs, she never crosses over to the hand-wringing, wishy-washy female characters who tends to populate stories like this (never failing to make me want to throw up). On the other hand, the epilogue, which is attributed to one of the major characters, would be far more appropriate, IMHO, as an afterword from the author. While I agree 150 percent with the opinions expressed on spousal abuse and bullying, it just doesn't fit as part of a novel itself (and I just can't believe the text as written could have been done by this character). But that's just my opinion; read it for yourself - it's an enthralling story that will hold your attention from start to finish.

The New Husband by D.J. Palmer (St. Martin's Press, April 2020); 384 pp.

SINGLE

5 stars out of 5

This may be one of the shortest books I've read in a while, but by golly, it's got more twists and surprises in it than one three times its length. That brought another plus: That meant I didn't want to put it down - and I didn't have to!

I'll give the author props for something else; all too often, with female characters in situations like this (more on that later), at least one of them is such a hand-wringing, self-doubting, paranoid person that all I really want to do is smack her upside the head. Not so here - even when Darcy, a single mother who's struggling from the devastating loss of her husband, disapproval from her late husband's family and trust issues with the new man in her life. Oh sure, she has her emotional ups and downs, but at no time did I yell into my Kindle, "Get a grip, woman - put on your big-girl pants and move on!"

Following some kind of mental breakdown after her husband died, his parents took custody of her two young sons. Now, she's trying to prove she's capable of taking them back to live with her. Early on, one of her sons suffers a severe asthma attack and his rescue inhaler is nowhere to be found. Enter George, a local doctor, who runs in to save the day. His good looks and single-parent status aren't wasted on Darcy (nor are hers on him), and - you guessed it - they start what Darcy hopes will be a beautiful relationship.

Shortly after she and her boys move into George's fancy mansion, though, she gets a bunch of flowers with a dire message. George claims they're from an ex-girlfriend who's now stalking him, but he's not forthcoming with details. Darcy is concerned that she's not getting the whole story, but she's reluctant to ask because, as it happens, she's got a few secrets she's not ready to share with George. 

Plenty of other intriguing characters keep the pot stirred, including a long-time housekeeper who isn't happy that Darcy may be usurping her job and a woman who, shall we say, came between Darcy and her late husband. It all comes to an exciting end as new details are revealed, making for a book well worth the time to read. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

Single by K.L. Slater (Bookouture, November 2019); 143 pp.

MY LOVELY WIFE

5 stars out of 5

"Full of twists, well-drawn characters and riveting suspense," they said. "Clever, manipulative, dark and disturbing," they said. What do I say? If you have but one book in this genre to read before the end of this year, make it this one. Yeah, it's that good. 

Narrated by a man known only as Tobias, the plot follows his "love story" with his wife Millicent; at the beginning they were a perfect couple with a run-of-the-mill life. But before long, Millicent's job as a successful realtor in Woodview, Florida, and his as a club tennis pro turn boring; clearly, the marriage fire needs a bit of  rekindling. Fanning the flames evolves into a murderous joint effort, and because they choose their victims with care, the plan works beautifully until one of the victims turns up unexpectedly. 

It's only a temporary setback, though; recalling the dastardly acts of years-ago local serial killer Owen Riley (who's no longer in jail and hasn't been seen in years), Tobias and Millicent decide to walk in his bloody footsteps in the hope he will get the blame.

And get the blame he does. The local community, egged on by a persistent and competent journalist (and a little help from Tobias),  is all a-titter (and a little bit scared), over the probability that Riley is back and on the prowl. Things couldn't be going better, until they don't; Tobias and Millicent failed to foresee the effect their clandestine activities would have on the lives of some of their friends and, worse, their beloved son and daughter.

So now they face yet another dilemma: What to do, what to do? It's back to the drawing board for a new plan, and the only thing they know for sure is that it won't include giving up the extracurricular fun that's brought them closer together.

Or not.

My conclusion? Whew! It's a thrilling ride - and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review it. 

My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing (Berkley, March 2019); 384 pp.

BEFORE SHE WAS FOUND

5 stars out of 5

Oh my. With close to 30% of the book left to finish, nothing stopped me -  not even the nail-biting finish of a March Madness basketball game that determined which team would head for the Final Four. Filled with more than a few characters I really didn't much like (and trusted even less), it was simply impossible for me to turn off my Kindle without learning who did what and why.

The story centers on the lives of three middle-school girls - Cora, Violet and Jordyn - all of whom exhibit the best, and more often worst, behaviors that constantly reminded me of what a saint our daughter is (she's a middle-school teacher who absolutely loves working with kids that age, bless her her heart). Readers also get to know the girls' extended families - brothers, sisters, moms and dads - all of whom are, shall we say, less than perfect.

Early on, the girls sneak out of their small town to an abandoned railroad yard late at night, but the situation turns sour when Cora is found on the tracks. Her arm is damaged and she's been stabbed multiple times, even on her face. Violet turns up nearby in a state of shock, and Jordyn is nowhere to be found. Immediately, questions arise: What were the girls doing out there at such a late hour? Why did they lie to their parents about where they'd be that evening? And of course, who hurt Cora? No one wants to believe that anyone from the town - and certainly not a family member - could have done such an awful thing. And then there's that frightening urban legend thing; but nobody (well, almost nobody) believes that one either.

Chapters shift from perspectives of the girls and their families and time periods, gradually revealing events and emotions and leading up to that late-night foray that ended so disastrously. In a very real sense, it's a sad commentary on how stressful middle-school years can be, but mostly it's a riveting story you won't want to put down. My thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy. Highly recommended!

Before She Was Found by Heather Gudenkauf (Park Row, April 2019); 368 pp.

THE PERFECT LIAR

4.5 stars out of 5

What happens when every single character in the pot is unsavory? Things get stirred up in a hurry, with nasty flavors like paranoia, deceit and sociopathic tendencies fighting for dominance. Nothing is certain except that it probably won't turn out as one might expect.

For readers, that makes for an exciting - dare I say thrilling - experience. For reviewers, less so; it's nearly impossible to describe what happens without giving away too much. But what the heck - I'll give it a go. Susannah, the widowed youngish mother of a teenage boy, is now married to Max. He once gave a TED talk on art that went viral, propelling him to the top of the lecture circuit. From the outset, it's clear that both are carrying around heavy-duty secrets from their pasts (which, of course, I dare not reveal). Son Freddy seems to be a typical adult-hating teen, although he does take a liking to his stepdad.

The relatively new family now lives in Burlington, Vermont, where Max has landed a short-term position at a local college. While they miss the hubbub of New York City, they've pretty much settled in and are enjoying the more laid-back setting. That is, until Susannah finds a note tacked on their front door: I Know Who You Are, it read. Susannah nearly panics, but Max doesn't seem worried - or if he is, he refuses to admit it to Susannah. But in truth, both think there's cause for concern. Problem is, neither knows which one is the note intended for (don't feel bad; readers are left guessing for quite some time as well).

Told from alternating perspectives of Susannah and Max - during which the layers of their earlier-life secrets are peeled back - the story moves forward as the couple try to figure out what's going on that threatens their future. There are "mysterious" deaths, both past and present, all leading up to a grand finale. Whether or not it leaves you satisfied, I suppose, depends on which of the characters you think is the best liar (or perhaps is lying the least). For my part, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found it hard to put down, so extra thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.

The Perfect Liar by Thomas Christopher Greene (St. Martin's Press, January 2019); 288 pp.