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A Boa Mentira
Seis adolescentes assassinados. Um suspeito preso. Uma psiquiatra com uma questão ética. Um pai desesperado. Todos buscam a verdade, mas também a ocultam.
A psiquiatra Gwen Moore, especialista em assassinos e pessoas com instintos perversos, passou uma década tratando e desvendando as motivações dos predadores mais depravados da Califórnia. Entre seus pacientes, estão pessoas de personalidade muito parecida com a do serial killer Bloody Heart Killer, ou BHK, o Assassino do Coração Sangrento, procurado pela morte cruel de seis garotos adolescentes.
Após semanas desaparecido, Scott Harden, a última vítima do BHK, consegue escapar de maneira misteriosa de seu cativeiro, e identifica Randall Thompson, professor do ensino médio local, como seu captor. O caso contra Thompson é contundente e já está encerrado, até onde sabem Gwen e a mídia. Se não fosse por uma reviravolta na história…
Com uma premissa intrigante, A Boa Mentira é um thriller repleto de reviravoltas da premiada A. R. Torre, escritora com mais de vinte romances no currículo, entre eles vários best-sellers do New York Times. O romance faz parte do projeto especial E.L.A.S. — Especialistas Literárias na Anatomia do Suspense, coleção que integra a marca Crime Scene® Fiction, da DarkSide® Books e apresenta uma seleção criteriosa das mais criativas e inovadoras autoras contemporâneas do suspense mundial, como Jess Lourey, Kate Alice Marshall e Alice Feeney, entre outras.
Em vez de seguir pistas tradicionais ou focar na ação policial da busca pelo criminoso, A Boa Mentira se concentra nos detalhes de como são criados os perfis psicológicos de pessoas violentas. A narrativa explora em profundidade os processos mentais desses indivíduos, mesmo aqueles que se abstêm de cometer crimes. A. R. Torre analisa as nuances da natureza humana, mostrando que poucos podem ser classificados como totalmente bons ou maus, revelando assim as complexas áreas cinzentas do comportamento e da moralidade.
À medida que Gwen e Robert ficam mais próximos e ela se aprofunda na investigação, surgem questões delicadas, que podem impedir o avanço do trabalho. Além disso, Gwen suspeita que Robert está escondendo algo, mas ele não é o único a guardar um segredo…
A. R. Torre é um pseudônimo da autora best-seller do New York Times Alessandra Torre. Escritora premiada, com mais de vinte romances no currículo, ela também já colaborou para publicações como Elle e Elle UK e escreveu como convidada nos blogs do Huffington Post. Além de escrever, Torre é criadora do Alessandra Torre Ink, que é um site, uma comunidade e escola on-line para aspirantes a autores e escritores já publicados.
A psiquiatra Gwen Moore, especialista em assassinos e pessoas com instintos perversos, passou uma década tratando e desvendando as motivações dos predadores mais depravados da Califórnia. Entre seus pacientes, estão pessoas de personalidade muito parecida com a do serial killer Bloody Heart Killer, ou BHK, o Assassino do Coração Sangrento, procurado pela morte cruel de seis garotos adolescentes.
Após semanas desaparecido, Scott Harden, a última vítima do BHK, consegue escapar de maneira misteriosa de seu cativeiro, e identifica Randall Thompson, professor do ensino médio local, como seu captor. O caso contra Thompson é contundente e já está encerrado, até onde sabem Gwen e a mídia. Se não fosse por uma reviravolta na história…
Com uma premissa intrigante, A Boa Mentira é um thriller repleto de reviravoltas da premiada A. R. Torre, escritora com mais de vinte romances no currículo, entre eles vários best-sellers do New York Times. O romance faz parte do projeto especial E.L.A.S. — Especialistas Literárias na Anatomia do Suspense, coleção que integra a marca Crime Scene® Fiction, da DarkSide® Books e apresenta uma seleção criteriosa das mais criativas e inovadoras autoras contemporâneas do suspense mundial, como Jess Lourey, Kate Alice Marshall e Alice Feeney, entre outras.
Em vez de seguir pistas tradicionais ou focar na ação policial da busca pelo criminoso, A Boa Mentira se concentra nos detalhes de como são criados os perfis psicológicos de pessoas violentas. A narrativa explora em profundidade os processos mentais desses indivíduos, mesmo aqueles que se abstêm de cometer crimes. A. R. Torre analisa as nuances da natureza humana, mostrando que poucos podem ser classificados como totalmente bons ou maus, revelando assim as complexas áreas cinzentas do comportamento e da moralidade.
À medida que Gwen e Robert ficam mais próximos e ela se aprofunda na investigação, surgem questões delicadas, que podem impedir o avanço do trabalho. Além disso, Gwen suspeita que Robert está escondendo algo, mas ele não é o único a guardar um segredo…
A. R. Torre é um pseudônimo da autora best-seller do New York Times Alessandra Torre. Escritora premiada, com mais de vinte romances no currículo, ela também já colaborou para publicações como Elle e Elle UK e escreveu como convidada nos blogs do Huffington Post. Além de escrever, Torre é criadora do Alessandra Torre Ink, que é um site, uma comunidade e escola on-line para aspirantes a autores e escritores já publicados.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published July 20, 2021
About the author
A.R. Torre
12 books12.3k followersHi there—welcome to my little corner of Goodreads! I'm AR Torre, and I write dark, twisty fiction that digs into the messiest parts of human nature. Whether it's psychological thrillers, domestic suspense, or stories about love gone dangerously wrong, my books tend to explore the line between good and evil—and what happens when people cross it.
You might know me from The Girl in 6E series, which follows a reclusive cam girl with violent urges, or my standalone domestic suspense novels that blend complex female leads with secrets, drama, and a few dead bodies. I’m drawn to morally gray characters, layered relationships, and plots that keep you flipping pages late into the night.
Outside of writing, I live in Key West, Florida, where I spend my days plotting murders (on paper), drinking (and roasting) coffee, and soaking up the sunshine. I’m also Alessandra Torre in my other author life, where I write romance.
Thanks for visiting—please follow me here on Goodreads where I read every single review. Thank you in advance for sharing your thoughts (good or bad!) on my books. I sincerely appreciate the feedback and support.
You might know me from The Girl in 6E series, which follows a reclusive cam girl with violent urges, or my standalone domestic suspense novels that blend complex female leads with secrets, drama, and a few dead bodies. I’m drawn to morally gray characters, layered relationships, and plots that keep you flipping pages late into the night.
Outside of writing, I live in Key West, Florida, where I spend my days plotting murders (on paper), drinking (and roasting) coffee, and soaking up the sunshine. I’m also Alessandra Torre in my other author life, where I write romance.
Thanks for visiting—please follow me here on Goodreads where I read every single review. Thank you in advance for sharing your thoughts (good or bad!) on my books. I sincerely appreciate the feedback and support.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 16,308 reviews
February 9, 2026
Alessandra Torre, I applaud you ma'am for coming up with this crazy and twisty story.
The Bloody Heart Killer has taken six victims already. When his seventh victim escapes and points the finger at a local teacher as the serial killer, the police are satisfied. But Robert Kavin, the father of a deceased victim, doesn't believe it. So he asks Dr. Gwen Moore, a psychiatrist who specializes in treating killers, to step in and help. But the more she digs, the more questions she has. Because it seems everyone involved is hiding secrets. So what is the real truth?
What a compulsive read this turned out to be! At first, I was slightly confused by the book blurb. There seemed to be a lot of people and things going on, and I was worried it wouldn't grab me. But I didn't need to worry at all because I was hooked from the first page. And once I started, I couldn't put it down.
This is one of those stories that starts out with many threads, but they all slowly converge into a cohesive tale. I particularly enjoyed that this thriller is a little different from others I've read. The plot is unique and fresh, with interesting elements combining in ways I haven't seen before. And of course, the twists in the end felt surprising and thoroughly satisfying.
This is the second book I've read by Torre, and I've found both to be fun and unputdownable. At this point, there is no need to be coy anymore. I'm just going to go ahead and dump the rest of Torre's books onto my TBR stack posthaste.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
See also, my thoughts on:
Every Last Secret
A Familiar Stranger
~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧
The Bloody Heart Killer has taken six victims already. When his seventh victim escapes and points the finger at a local teacher as the serial killer, the police are satisfied. But Robert Kavin, the father of a deceased victim, doesn't believe it. So he asks Dr. Gwen Moore, a psychiatrist who specializes in treating killers, to step in and help. But the more she digs, the more questions she has. Because it seems everyone involved is hiding secrets. So what is the real truth?
What a compulsive read this turned out to be! At first, I was slightly confused by the book blurb. There seemed to be a lot of people and things going on, and I was worried it wouldn't grab me. But I didn't need to worry at all because I was hooked from the first page. And once I started, I couldn't put it down.
This is one of those stories that starts out with many threads, but they all slowly converge into a cohesive tale. I particularly enjoyed that this thriller is a little different from others I've read. The plot is unique and fresh, with interesting elements combining in ways I haven't seen before. And of course, the twists in the end felt surprising and thoroughly satisfying.
This is the second book I've read by Torre, and I've found both to be fun and unputdownable. At this point, there is no need to be coy anymore. I'm just going to go ahead and dump the rest of Torre's books onto my TBR stack posthaste.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
See also, my thoughts on:
Every Last Secret
A Familiar Stranger
~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧
June 16, 2023
The Good Lie by A.R. Torre
Psychiatrist Dr. Gwen Moore's specialty is killers. Killers who have killed, killers who want to kill, killers who love talking about fictional kills, killers who might kill in the future but just need some talking time where Gwen mostly listens, doodling flowers on her note pad. Gwen thinks she is really good at her job, that she fills a niche in the world of psychiatry, but she's going to find out just how incompetent she really is at the important stuff.
Defense attorney Robert Kavin's son was victim number six of a serial killer who preys on seventeen year old, white, rich, popular, athletic young men. Each teenager was kidnapped, tortured over a six-eight week period, abused in all ways, and then killed, their bodies dumped where they can be found. As the story starts, victim number seven, about the time that his body should be found, stumbles home to his family mansion, the only boy to live through his kidnapping. After the boy identifies teacher, Randall Thompson, as his kidnapper, Kavin jumps in to defend Thompson, pro bono.
Kavin wants Moore's expertise in creating a psych profile of the killer and his victims. It's all Gwen can do to hide her excitement at getting to study all the data first hand and getting to interview Thompson. I pray I never meet a Gwen Moore...she's got some scary inner workings for her to enjoy her job so much. But then Kavin has his own secrets, things he's done and will never tell.
I read 20% of this book the first night and then finished it the next day. This story grabbed me and wouldn't let go. I managed to figure out some things but I was so wrong on a lot of them. It's a clever story with smart characters who don't always get it right.
This is a cat friendly story. :-)
Pub: July 20, 2021
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for this ARC.
Psychiatrist Dr. Gwen Moore's specialty is killers. Killers who have killed, killers who want to kill, killers who love talking about fictional kills, killers who might kill in the future but just need some talking time where Gwen mostly listens, doodling flowers on her note pad. Gwen thinks she is really good at her job, that she fills a niche in the world of psychiatry, but she's going to find out just how incompetent she really is at the important stuff.
Defense attorney Robert Kavin's son was victim number six of a serial killer who preys on seventeen year old, white, rich, popular, athletic young men. Each teenager was kidnapped, tortured over a six-eight week period, abused in all ways, and then killed, their bodies dumped where they can be found. As the story starts, victim number seven, about the time that his body should be found, stumbles home to his family mansion, the only boy to live through his kidnapping. After the boy identifies teacher, Randall Thompson, as his kidnapper, Kavin jumps in to defend Thompson, pro bono.
Kavin wants Moore's expertise in creating a psych profile of the killer and his victims. It's all Gwen can do to hide her excitement at getting to study all the data first hand and getting to interview Thompson. I pray I never meet a Gwen Moore...she's got some scary inner workings for her to enjoy her job so much. But then Kavin has his own secrets, things he's done and will never tell.
I read 20% of this book the first night and then finished it the next day. This story grabbed me and wouldn't let go. I managed to figure out some things but I was so wrong on a lot of them. It's a clever story with smart characters who don't always get it right.
This is a cat friendly story. :-)
Pub: July 20, 2021
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for this ARC.
July 24, 2026
I’m game when Alessandra Torre decides to turn dark side, bringing out A. R. Torre identity to blow my mind with twisty, brain cell destroyer, nail chopper, heart pounder stories! Bring it out girl! I love to devour them at one sit!
I’m still missing her Deanne Madden character from Girl in 6E! I’m crossing my fingers and wishing she can decide to write a new book of hers in near future!
And let’s talk about this book: the story starts with a young 17 years old Scott Harden’s escape from his captivity. He reaches to his home, injured, but he was the first boy who got away from BH Killer who has already kidnapped, tortured, killed brutally six young boys! Scott tells the authorities the killer is Randall Thompson, a high school science teacher.
And the interesting fact: one of the victim’s father, defense attorney Robert Kavin accepts to take Randall’s case because he thinks the guy is innocent.
The same Robert Kavin who has one steamy stand with our heroine Gwen Moore, an aspiring, successful, smart psychiatrist specialized on patients who have extremely violent tendencies.
And now Robert wants to work with her professionally to create a profile for BH killer case.
Gwen was so intrigued because as a clever puzzler she wants to learn more about the dysfunctional working of criminal minds. But she realizes both Randall and Robert keep secrets from her and Scott’s mother Nita stalks her son’s each move, getting worried about incompetencies about his testimony. Could he lie about the identity of his kidnapper? What is it he’s not sharing with his family?
It seems like the story looks complex: there are too many backstories including the investigation of Gwen’s patient John Abbott and his wife’s Brooke’s death!
But don’t worry, all those storylines complete the whole picture with a smart signature of dark Torre style!
I was always ready to expect unexpected when I read her books and the final twist was good not breathtakingly I didn’t see it coming good but it was still satisfying and the semi open end made me think we will see Gwen and Robert again near future because of their unfinished business!
Overall: the psychoanalysis parts of the book was interesting and detailed which picked my interest! I guessed one of the twists but I didn’t foresee the biggest one!
The pacing was remarkably keeping you focused and excited. I love the dark sense of humor of the author.
There are still some hmmm okay it was way too much coincidental facts about the entire revelation which made me cut some points but I still enjoy my wild ride and I love both white side of Alessandra who writes pant melting, emotional, smart romances and dark side of A. R. Torre who tricks us with her manipulative thrilling skills.
I’m giving 3.5 stars to 4 puzzling, tempting, exciting, sexy, smart, mind games stars!
Special thanks to Netgalley and Thomas&Mercer for sharing this intriguing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
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I’m still missing her Deanne Madden character from Girl in 6E! I’m crossing my fingers and wishing she can decide to write a new book of hers in near future!
And let’s talk about this book: the story starts with a young 17 years old Scott Harden’s escape from his captivity. He reaches to his home, injured, but he was the first boy who got away from BH Killer who has already kidnapped, tortured, killed brutally six young boys! Scott tells the authorities the killer is Randall Thompson, a high school science teacher.
And the interesting fact: one of the victim’s father, defense attorney Robert Kavin accepts to take Randall’s case because he thinks the guy is innocent.
The same Robert Kavin who has one steamy stand with our heroine Gwen Moore, an aspiring, successful, smart psychiatrist specialized on patients who have extremely violent tendencies.
And now Robert wants to work with her professionally to create a profile for BH killer case.
Gwen was so intrigued because as a clever puzzler she wants to learn more about the dysfunctional working of criminal minds. But she realizes both Randall and Robert keep secrets from her and Scott’s mother Nita stalks her son’s each move, getting worried about incompetencies about his testimony. Could he lie about the identity of his kidnapper? What is it he’s not sharing with his family?
It seems like the story looks complex: there are too many backstories including the investigation of Gwen’s patient John Abbott and his wife’s Brooke’s death!
But don’t worry, all those storylines complete the whole picture with a smart signature of dark Torre style!
I was always ready to expect unexpected when I read her books and the final twist was good not breathtakingly I didn’t see it coming good but it was still satisfying and the semi open end made me think we will see Gwen and Robert again near future because of their unfinished business!
Overall: the psychoanalysis parts of the book was interesting and detailed which picked my interest! I guessed one of the twists but I didn’t foresee the biggest one!
The pacing was remarkably keeping you focused and excited. I love the dark sense of humor of the author.
There are still some hmmm okay it was way too much coincidental facts about the entire revelation which made me cut some points but I still enjoy my wild ride and I love both white side of Alessandra who writes pant melting, emotional, smart romances and dark side of A. R. Torre who tricks us with her manipulative thrilling skills.
I’m giving 3.5 stars to 4 puzzling, tempting, exciting, sexy, smart, mind games stars!
Special thanks to Netgalley and Thomas&Mercer for sharing this intriguing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
March 30, 2021
the verdict is in - this is a dangerously riveting story.
i honestly was not expecting this to be so good. i havent read anything by AT before, but im pretty sure she was predominately a romance author, so i was intrigued to see how she would handle mystery/crime. and she does it well - its a good look for her.
this story is exactly my cup of tea. i would kill for a good crime fiction story, especially ones that deal with serial killers, so this ticked all the boxes for me. the characters are complex, all woven together in covert ways, within good pacing and information unfolding at perfect moments.
i rarely give 5 stars to mystery/thrillers because it takes so much to impress me with this genre, but it honestly doesnt get any better than this book.
a massive thank you to thomas & mercer for the ARC!
↠ 4.5 stars
i honestly was not expecting this to be so good. i havent read anything by AT before, but im pretty sure she was predominately a romance author, so i was intrigued to see how she would handle mystery/crime. and she does it well - its a good look for her.
this story is exactly my cup of tea. i would kill for a good crime fiction story, especially ones that deal with serial killers, so this ticked all the boxes for me. the characters are complex, all woven together in covert ways, within good pacing and information unfolding at perfect moments.
i rarely give 5 stars to mystery/thrillers because it takes so much to impress me with this genre, but it honestly doesnt get any better than this book.
a massive thank you to thomas & mercer for the ARC!
↠ 4.5 stars
August 21, 2021
Thanks for the buddy read Jen! I had so much fun discussing theories and ranting! :). Check out Jen's great review here!
What I LOVED
• Up until the twist this book is a 4 star. It was a quick and easy read that was hard to put down, I was hooked from the first chapter. It was an interesting case and I wanted to know more!
• I enjoyed the cat and mouse game between Robert and Gwen, attorney vs psychiatrist! And the way they analysed and tried to figure each other out.
• The part of the twist I did enjoy was
What I did not enjoy. Immensely. (Sorry to be a negative nancy)
• The twist and ending. It essentially made me question the point of the whole book
• Robert. Where do I begin. His actions were in no way justified or plausible. I've got many points in the spoilers below!
• Gwen’s relationship to Rob. Despite being a psychiatrist, she was definitely not the sharpest when it came to Rob, how could she have possibly overlooked and accepted his actions?!
• This was such a short book and in hindsight I feel like there were some wasted pages.
Specific eyebrow raising moments, there’s a lot. Did you have any?
My Recommendation
Overall this is a decent, quick and easy read. If you can suspend belief then easily a 4-5 star read.
I can suspend belief on crazy plots, but not so much on people’s actions.
Review Website | Bookstagram
What I LOVED
• Up until the twist this book is a 4 star. It was a quick and easy read that was hard to put down, I was hooked from the first chapter. It was an interesting case and I wanted to know more!
• I enjoyed the cat and mouse game between Robert and Gwen, attorney vs psychiatrist! And the way they analysed and tried to figure each other out.
• The part of the twist I did enjoy was
What I did not enjoy. Immensely. (Sorry to be a negative nancy)
• The twist and ending. It essentially made me question the point of the whole book
• Robert. Where do I begin. His actions were in no way justified or plausible. I've got many points in the spoilers below!
• Gwen’s relationship to Rob. Despite being a psychiatrist, she was definitely not the sharpest when it came to Rob, how could she have possibly overlooked and accepted his actions?!
• This was such a short book and in hindsight I feel like there were some wasted pages.
Specific eyebrow raising moments, there’s a lot. Did you have any?
My Recommendation
Overall this is a decent, quick and easy read. If you can suspend belief then easily a 4-5 star read.
I can suspend belief on crazy plots, but not so much on people’s actions.
Review Website | Bookstagram
July 20, 2021
THIS is how you write a thriller!
Unputdownable from the first page to the last.
The Bloody Heart Killer is reliable.
He kidnapped handsome, popular boys, held them prisoner for a month or two, and then strangled them, leaving mutilated naked bodies with a heart carved into their chest.
Six teens murdered.
And, then the seventh escapes., and identifies his captor...a teacher from his high school, Randall Thompson.
So why is Robert Kavin, the still traumatized father of one of the Victims, representing the accused.?
Why is he SO sure that Randall Thompson is innocent?
He hires Psychiatrist Dr. Gwen Moore to profile the killer.
Both are smart and observant and used to reading their clients, who are often depraved predators.
And, although they are working together, it often felt like they were two boxers in a ring, pivoting around each other, throwing out a jab on occasion to see where it might land; sizing each other up with intelligent dialogue, trying to figure out what the other was holding back. 🥊
They were reading each other too.
A.R. Torre writes with an attention to detail like few others. Her characters feel like “real people” who you could meet on the street the next day. Everything they say and do feels so authentic. It’s definitely one of her strengths.
Fooling me, with her masterful stories of suspense, is another!
5 glowing stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Now AVAILABLE!!!
Another fun discussion with DeAnn-check out her review!
Thank You to Thomas & Mercer for my gifted copy through NetGalley!
It was my pleasure to provide a candid review!
Unputdownable from the first page to the last.
The Bloody Heart Killer is reliable.
He kidnapped handsome, popular boys, held them prisoner for a month or two, and then strangled them, leaving mutilated naked bodies with a heart carved into their chest.
Six teens murdered.
And, then the seventh escapes., and identifies his captor...a teacher from his high school, Randall Thompson.
So why is Robert Kavin, the still traumatized father of one of the Victims, representing the accused.?
Why is he SO sure that Randall Thompson is innocent?
He hires Psychiatrist Dr. Gwen Moore to profile the killer.
Both are smart and observant and used to reading their clients, who are often depraved predators.
And, although they are working together, it often felt like they were two boxers in a ring, pivoting around each other, throwing out a jab on occasion to see where it might land; sizing each other up with intelligent dialogue, trying to figure out what the other was holding back. 🥊
They were reading each other too.
A.R. Torre writes with an attention to detail like few others. Her characters feel like “real people” who you could meet on the street the next day. Everything they say and do feels so authentic. It’s definitely one of her strengths.
Fooling me, with her masterful stories of suspense, is another!
5 glowing stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Now AVAILABLE!!!
Another fun discussion with DeAnn-check out her review!
Thank You to Thomas & Mercer for my gifted copy through NetGalley!
It was my pleasure to provide a candid review!
March 21, 2021
A defense attorney decides to represent a man accused of killing six teenagers. One of them was that attorney's son... Why is he so convinced of his innocence?
The story begins with the latest victim of the Bloody Heart killer coming home after escaping. We also meet Gwen Moore, a psychiatrist who specializes in killers. I have to say I really liked this character and she's the reason why my rating is rounded up instead or down. She often has to face moral dilemmas because of her work and that was very interesting.
I'm totally satisfied with this book, the first I read by A. R. Torre (I know, I'm late to the party!). The writing flowed easily, the story was fast paced and the plot mixed mystery with a bit of romance. Don't expect an unpredictable final twist, but you shouldn't be disappointed either. Let's just say I was thoroughly enthralled from the start and that I highly recommend to read it as soon as you can!
4.5 rounded up
Many thanks to Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley for the digital ARC in exchange of an honest review.
Publication date: July 20, 2021
The story begins with the latest victim of the Bloody Heart killer coming home after escaping. We also meet Gwen Moore, a psychiatrist who specializes in killers. I have to say I really liked this character and she's the reason why my rating is rounded up instead or down. She often has to face moral dilemmas because of her work and that was very interesting.
I'm totally satisfied with this book, the first I read by A. R. Torre (I know, I'm late to the party!). The writing flowed easily, the story was fast paced and the plot mixed mystery with a bit of romance. Don't expect an unpredictable final twist, but you shouldn't be disappointed either. Let's just say I was thoroughly enthralled from the start and that I highly recommend to read it as soon as you can!
4.5 rounded up
Many thanks to Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley for the digital ARC in exchange of an honest review.
Publication date: July 20, 2021
August 8, 2024
˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗ 4.5 Stars!˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗
╰┈➤ 𝓠𝓾𝓲𝓬𝓴 𝓢𝓾𝓶𝓶𝓪𝓻𝔂
Six boys have been kidnapped, tortured, and murdered by the Bleeding Heart Killer, a nightmare that only comes to an end when the seventh boy is able to escape and names a local teacher as the murderer.
But hotshot defense attorney Robert Kavin, whose son Gabe was a victim, doesn’t believe that Randall Thompson is guilty. He hires Dr. Gwen Moore, a psychiatrist specializing in violent urges to help him prove Thompson’s innocence – or does he have some other motive?
╰┈➤ 𝓜𝔂 𝓣𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼
I've really managed to burn myself out on contemporary romances this year and was in desperate need of something different that would pull me in right away and picked this book up on a whim after skimming the synopsis - freaking loved it.
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ Highly addictive from the first page, I couldn't seem to flip through my kindle's pages fast enough.
We're experiencing tropical storm force winds and rains here this weekend and while I was reading last night the power went out - my reaction? Oh, I'll just sit here and continue reading in the dark then. Thankfully, my kindle had enough charge and the power was only out for a few mins lol.
This story was a breath of fresh air for me - I enjoyed the different POV's offered. Gwen's in first person and the others in third person. You get a bird's eye view from several different angles of the murders and I ate it all up- constantly trying to piece together the puzzle and ultimately who done it.
ˋ°•*⁀➷ I thoroughly enjoyed Gwen's character- the author did an exceptional job of bringing her to life. From her area of study, down to the decor in her home. It all fit together perfectly. I could see myself being friends with her - fleshed out, flawed and completely relatable.
This is my first A.R. Torre book and I've just found out that romance is often a sub-plot used. I loved that it was added in there as another layer to the story but without being too much. It provides angst to the story and builds excitement while reading. Just like any other mystery novel, it wasn’t the healthiest. The characters also make some questionable decisions, but it works in the book’s favor.
I honestly didn't expect the ending - I was too heavily focused on other suspects. So I was caught a bit off guard and surprised but love the way everything tied together.
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ Definitely recommend if you're looking for something short, quick, entertaining and thrilling.
꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶ ๋ ࣭ ⭑꒷꒦
╰┈➤ 𝓠𝓾𝓲𝓬𝓴 𝓢𝓾𝓶𝓶𝓪𝓻𝔂
Six boys have been kidnapped, tortured, and murdered by the Bleeding Heart Killer, a nightmare that only comes to an end when the seventh boy is able to escape and names a local teacher as the murderer.
But hotshot defense attorney Robert Kavin, whose son Gabe was a victim, doesn’t believe that Randall Thompson is guilty. He hires Dr. Gwen Moore, a psychiatrist specializing in violent urges to help him prove Thompson’s innocence – or does he have some other motive?
╰┈➤ 𝓜𝔂 𝓣𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼
I've really managed to burn myself out on contemporary romances this year and was in desperate need of something different that would pull me in right away and picked this book up on a whim after skimming the synopsis - freaking loved it.
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ Highly addictive from the first page, I couldn't seem to flip through my kindle's pages fast enough.
We're experiencing tropical storm force winds and rains here this weekend and while I was reading last night the power went out - my reaction? Oh, I'll just sit here and continue reading in the dark then. Thankfully, my kindle had enough charge and the power was only out for a few mins lol.
This story was a breath of fresh air for me - I enjoyed the different POV's offered. Gwen's in first person and the others in third person. You get a bird's eye view from several different angles of the murders and I ate it all up- constantly trying to piece together the puzzle and ultimately who done it.
ˋ°•*⁀➷ I thoroughly enjoyed Gwen's character- the author did an exceptional job of bringing her to life. From her area of study, down to the decor in her home. It all fit together perfectly. I could see myself being friends with her - fleshed out, flawed and completely relatable.
This is my first A.R. Torre book and I've just found out that romance is often a sub-plot used. I loved that it was added in there as another layer to the story but without being too much. It provides angst to the story and builds excitement while reading. Just like any other mystery novel, it wasn’t the healthiest. The characters also make some questionable decisions, but it works in the book’s favor.
I honestly didn't expect the ending - I was too heavily focused on other suspects. So I was caught a bit off guard and surprised but love the way everything tied together.
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ Definitely recommend if you're looking for something short, quick, entertaining and thrilling.
꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶ ๋ ࣭ ⭑꒷꒦
July 20, 2021
HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!
I cannot tell you how excited I was when I received an ARC for A.R. (Alessandra) Torre’s latest thriller. I became a HUGE fan of her writing in 2020, having read 5 of her books. She’s still got it in 2021!
Gwen Moore is a psychiatrist who specializes in treating those with violent fantasies, some of which come to fruition. While dealing with a particularly stressful situation regarding a client, the state of California is unrest due to a serial killer. The Bloody Heart Killer targets male teenagers, tortures them, and leaves them for dead in a very gruesome fashion.
The latest victim is able to escape, and identifies the killer as Randall Thompson, a teacher at his high school. With Randall in prison, all should be good...except Defense attorney Robert Kavin doesn’t believe Randall is guilty. Robert decides to represent him pro bono, but what makes things more complex is that Robert’s son, Gabe, was a victim of the Bloody Heart Killer.
Robert hires Gwen to create a profile of the killer, in the hopes that it will help clear Randall’s name...but it soon becomes apparent that more than one person is keeping dangerous secrets.
I was hooked onto this one from the get-go. It’s compelling and riveting, with fully fleshed-out characters who have intriguing secrets. I’ve said this before, but Torre has got to be one of the most versatile authors I’ve ever read. Her books range from steamy erotic thrillers (The Deanna Madden series...which I need more of!!),heartbreaking dramas (The Ghostwriter), juicy and devious thrillers (Every Last Secret), to this one...which is more of a straight up thriller (with a dollop of steam 🔥).
Despite my attempts to predict the ending, I was left bamboozled! I definitely didn’t see THAT coming. Everything, including the multiple POVs, comes together successfully. I was left feeling satisfied and thrilled, with the exception of a few minor aspects in the conclusion that seemed a little too far fetched to me.
4.5 stars.
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book will be published on 7/20/21.
Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com
I cannot tell you how excited I was when I received an ARC for A.R. (Alessandra) Torre’s latest thriller. I became a HUGE fan of her writing in 2020, having read 5 of her books. She’s still got it in 2021!
Gwen Moore is a psychiatrist who specializes in treating those with violent fantasies, some of which come to fruition. While dealing with a particularly stressful situation regarding a client, the state of California is unrest due to a serial killer. The Bloody Heart Killer targets male teenagers, tortures them, and leaves them for dead in a very gruesome fashion.
The latest victim is able to escape, and identifies the killer as Randall Thompson, a teacher at his high school. With Randall in prison, all should be good...except Defense attorney Robert Kavin doesn’t believe Randall is guilty. Robert decides to represent him pro bono, but what makes things more complex is that Robert’s son, Gabe, was a victim of the Bloody Heart Killer.
Robert hires Gwen to create a profile of the killer, in the hopes that it will help clear Randall’s name...but it soon becomes apparent that more than one person is keeping dangerous secrets.
I was hooked onto this one from the get-go. It’s compelling and riveting, with fully fleshed-out characters who have intriguing secrets. I’ve said this before, but Torre has got to be one of the most versatile authors I’ve ever read. Her books range from steamy erotic thrillers (The Deanna Madden series...which I need more of!!),heartbreaking dramas (The Ghostwriter), juicy and devious thrillers (Every Last Secret), to this one...which is more of a straight up thriller (with a dollop of steam 🔥).
Despite my attempts to predict the ending, I was left bamboozled! I definitely didn’t see THAT coming. Everything, including the multiple POVs, comes together successfully. I was left feeling satisfied and thrilled, with the exception of a few minor aspects in the conclusion that seemed a little too far fetched to me.
4.5 stars.
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book will be published on 7/20/21.
Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com
August 18, 2021
A web of lies.
Psychiatrist Dr. Gwen Moore and defense attorney, Robert Gavin work together to find the real BH Killer. These two have some palpable chemistry that could become a distraction. This case hits close to home for both of them.
The writing flows as fingers point in different directions. The twists and tension filled scenes had me on edge and wondering who was the guilty one.
Enjoyed the story telling, the flawed/flamboyant characters with their secrets, and the mystery. Some implausible stuff involved, but it is fiction after all.
Recommend for a fast read that will keep you guessing.
Read in August 2021
Psychiatrist Dr. Gwen Moore and defense attorney, Robert Gavin work together to find the real BH Killer. These two have some palpable chemistry that could become a distraction. This case hits close to home for both of them.
The writing flows as fingers point in different directions. The twists and tension filled scenes had me on edge and wondering who was the guilty one.
Enjoyed the story telling, the flawed/flamboyant characters with their secrets, and the mystery. Some implausible stuff involved, but it is fiction after all.
Recommend for a fast read that will keep you guessing.
Read in August 2021
January 4, 2023
What a book!!! What an author!!! I've been on an A.R. Torre train for 3 books now and looking for the next one. Outstanding writing while there are many great authors this one also paints a picture helping me to visualize every scene. While the book is built around a disturbing, dysfunctional act against boys, the mystery and lies surrounding it will keep you reading. When 17 year old, Scott, escapes from captivity where he says he was tortured and raped repetitively, his story is holding something back. Even his mother, Nita, catches that hesitance in him to reveal too much. She says "he's lying". He accuses one of the teachers, Randall Thompson, of the kidnapping. He is arrested and the whole town seems satisfied. Before Scott was captured, six teenagers, popular and athletic boys, were found murdered with a heart carved into their chest. The angry mob had found their Bloody Heart Killer....
One of the fathers of the boys, Attorney Robert Kavin, surprises everyone that he will represent the BH killer because he knows they have the wrong killer. He hires a well-known psychiatrist, Dr. Gwen Moore, to help him create a portfolio of the killer with her experience treating predators and studying their motives. Although the story is covered in lies, Gwen sees through them and tries to understand why even Robert and Randall have something to hide.
This is a brilliant look at the darkest corners of minds and how we can allow ourselves to see what we want to see and not see right in front of us. Don't pass this one up for its darkness because it has several twists and turns you are going to want to ride out. An incredible ending you won't see coming!
One of the fathers of the boys, Attorney Robert Kavin, surprises everyone that he will represent the BH killer because he knows they have the wrong killer. He hires a well-known psychiatrist, Dr. Gwen Moore, to help him create a portfolio of the killer with her experience treating predators and studying their motives. Although the story is covered in lies, Gwen sees through them and tries to understand why even Robert and Randall have something to hide.
This is a brilliant look at the darkest corners of minds and how we can allow ourselves to see what we want to see and not see right in front of us. Don't pass this one up for its darkness because it has several twists and turns you are going to want to ride out. An incredible ending you won't see coming!
July 28, 2021
A.R. Torre has done it again. This woman can write!
When 17-year-old Scott Harden shows up at his home after being missing for almost 7 weeks, he becomes the first victim of serial killer, The Bloody Heart Killer, to escape. To everyone’s surprise he fingers Randall Thomspson, a long-time science teacher at his high school as the perpetrator. So why is attorney Robert Kavin, the father of the BH Killer’s 6th victim, Gabe, stepping forward to defend this man - pro bono, no less?
That’s a premise! How could I not want to get to the bottom of this?
Enter Gwen Moore, a well-known psychiatrist to the most depraved and violent minds. Her job is to get inside the minds of these potential killers and help them steer clear of their impulse to harm and kill. When Robert Kavin hires her to do a psychological profile of the BH Killer, based on the case files of all the victims, she begins to draw conclusions about who this person might be, but she also wrestles with Robert’s motivations. Are they personal or professional? It doesn’t help that the line between personal and professional is getting blurred between her and this handsome attorney.
The story twists and turns from here, leaving you guessing what everyone’s motivations are and what “facts” can be trusted. I had my ideas about who might be guilty and what was going on, but kudos to Torre for shooting down pretty much all of them like ducks in a barrel! (For those who’ve never heard this saying - it’s a carnival game with plastic ducks. No real ducks were harmed in the writing of this review. 😉)
Torre will be a go-to author for me after loving this and Every Last Secret. She writes characters you may not always like, but you feel invested in nonetheless. As an aside, I adore Gwen’s fellow psychiatrist, Meredith. She’s a bottle of saucy fun! The strength of this book is the characters, and the mind games that each of them are playing. If you like action - this isn’t that book, but if you like to get inside characters’ heads for a bit - try this one. I think you’ll like it!
★★★★ ½ (rounded to 5)
I listened to this on Audible, while reading along on my Kindle, and the narration by Susan Dallian was fantastic. Thanks to Kindle Unlimited for this one.
When 17-year-old Scott Harden shows up at his home after being missing for almost 7 weeks, he becomes the first victim of serial killer, The Bloody Heart Killer, to escape. To everyone’s surprise he fingers Randall Thomspson, a long-time science teacher at his high school as the perpetrator. So why is attorney Robert Kavin, the father of the BH Killer’s 6th victim, Gabe, stepping forward to defend this man - pro bono, no less?
That’s a premise! How could I not want to get to the bottom of this?
Enter Gwen Moore, a well-known psychiatrist to the most depraved and violent minds. Her job is to get inside the minds of these potential killers and help them steer clear of their impulse to harm and kill. When Robert Kavin hires her to do a psychological profile of the BH Killer, based on the case files of all the victims, she begins to draw conclusions about who this person might be, but she also wrestles with Robert’s motivations. Are they personal or professional? It doesn’t help that the line between personal and professional is getting blurred between her and this handsome attorney.
The story twists and turns from here, leaving you guessing what everyone’s motivations are and what “facts” can be trusted. I had my ideas about who might be guilty and what was going on, but kudos to Torre for shooting down pretty much all of them like ducks in a barrel! (For those who’ve never heard this saying - it’s a carnival game with plastic ducks. No real ducks were harmed in the writing of this review. 😉)
Torre will be a go-to author for me after loving this and Every Last Secret. She writes characters you may not always like, but you feel invested in nonetheless. As an aside, I adore Gwen’s fellow psychiatrist, Meredith. She’s a bottle of saucy fun! The strength of this book is the characters, and the mind games that each of them are playing. If you like action - this isn’t that book, but if you like to get inside characters’ heads for a bit - try this one. I think you’ll like it!
★★★★ ½ (rounded to 5)
I listened to this on Audible, while reading along on my Kindle, and the narration by Susan Dallian was fantastic. Thanks to Kindle Unlimited for this one.
July 30, 2021
Another fabulous thriller from one of my favorite authors.
Dr. Gwen Moore is a psychiatrist that specializes in killers. She helps tame their thoughts to hopefully prevent them from killing anyone. And it has worked… for the most part.
Robert Kavin is a defense attorney whose son was killed by one of the most sought after serial killers known as the Bloody Heart Killer.
But when an arrest is made Robert is quick to defend the man behind bars and hires Dr. Moore to make psychological profile of this killer. Huh?!
A.R. Torre knows how to write a tense gripping thriller that is unputdownable. And since she is also known for her romance novels, you know there will be some heat within the pages!
I ❤️ all her books – under both her pen names. I cannot wait to what she has in store for us next!
Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer.
Dr. Gwen Moore is a psychiatrist that specializes in killers. She helps tame their thoughts to hopefully prevent them from killing anyone. And it has worked… for the most part.
Robert Kavin is a defense attorney whose son was killed by one of the most sought after serial killers known as the Bloody Heart Killer.
But when an arrest is made Robert is quick to defend the man behind bars and hires Dr. Moore to make psychological profile of this killer. Huh?!
A.R. Torre knows how to write a tense gripping thriller that is unputdownable. And since she is also known for her romance novels, you know there will be some heat within the pages!
I ❤️ all her books – under both her pen names. I cannot wait to what she has in store for us next!
Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer.
March 26, 2021
5 stars for this new psychological thriller by Alessandra Torre.
Six teenagers have been murdered. They have been sexually assaulted and their sexual organs have been removed and discarded like trash. So it's shocking when the seventh victim returns to his home, hurt but alive, after weeks of his absence. He was able to escape and is pointing the finger at his high school teacher, Randall Thompson!
Dr. Gwen Moore is a psychiatrist. She treats the worse kind of patient. She treats the ones who have urges to harm others. Gwen tries to guide them into a place where they can self-control these fantasies. However, a recent client and his wife are dead and now the police want to talk to her about it. At the same time, Robert Kavin, a defense attorney, wants her to come up with a profile for the Bloody Heart Killer and Randall. There is one caveat, Robert is the father of the sixth victim and he believes the man is innocent.
But how can he be sure?
I have to tell you as soon as I opened the first page I was pulled into the story. There is no way you can put this book down. I absolutely love everything about it. The dark setting, the intrigue, the twist, Gwen, her job, her psych friend, her pet.
Everything about it was perfect!
Cliffhanger: No
5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Thomas & Mercer via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Six teenagers have been murdered. They have been sexually assaulted and their sexual organs have been removed and discarded like trash. So it's shocking when the seventh victim returns to his home, hurt but alive, after weeks of his absence. He was able to escape and is pointing the finger at his high school teacher, Randall Thompson!
Dr. Gwen Moore is a psychiatrist. She treats the worse kind of patient. She treats the ones who have urges to harm others. Gwen tries to guide them into a place where they can self-control these fantasies. However, a recent client and his wife are dead and now the police want to talk to her about it. At the same time, Robert Kavin, a defense attorney, wants her to come up with a profile for the Bloody Heart Killer and Randall. There is one caveat, Robert is the father of the sixth victim and he believes the man is innocent.
But how can he be sure?
I have to tell you as soon as I opened the first page I was pulled into the story. There is no way you can put this book down. I absolutely love everything about it. The dark setting, the intrigue, the twist, Gwen, her job, her psych friend, her pet.
Everything about it was perfect!
Cliffhanger: No
5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Thomas & Mercer via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
July 14, 2021
One of the things I love most about Alessandra's books is their compulsive nature. No matter what genre she chooses to write under, you always get a page turning, can't-put-it-down experience. The Good Lie reads like a Lifetime Original Movie, and I mean that with the highest compliments possible, because some of the most enjoyable thrillers I've ever read have followed this formula. You have to suspend your disbelief, but it's worth it for the binge-worthy reading experience, in my humble opinion. If you enjoyed the author's previous novel, Every Last Secret, then you will devour this one as well.
TGL features multiple POVs that tell their own side of the story regarding the Bloody Heart Killer, or the BHK, and converge towards the end of the book. This type of story feels like we're on a train headed for a collision, and we're powerless to stop it, so we just sit back and wait for the epic explosion once all the pieces are revealed. I'll admit, I had a few concerns in the beginning, because it felt like none of these professionals acted like they would in real life, but this is somewhat addressed towards the end, which I appreciated. We get a little mystery, a little romance, and a whole lot of "hold your breath" type of moments here, which is a recipe for a read that will dominate your thoughts when you aren't actively consuming it. I really don't want to say too much, because it would be easy to spoil the entire book, so I recommend going in blind and enjoying when you need a one sitting story.
Trigger Warnings (including but not limited to): kidnapping, murder, graphic violence, child abuse (off page), sexual abuse, rape (off page).
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
TGL features multiple POVs that tell their own side of the story regarding the Bloody Heart Killer, or the BHK, and converge towards the end of the book. This type of story feels like we're on a train headed for a collision, and we're powerless to stop it, so we just sit back and wait for the epic explosion once all the pieces are revealed. I'll admit, I had a few concerns in the beginning, because it felt like none of these professionals acted like they would in real life, but this is somewhat addressed towards the end, which I appreciated. We get a little mystery, a little romance, and a whole lot of "hold your breath" type of moments here, which is a recipe for a read that will dominate your thoughts when you aren't actively consuming it. I really don't want to say too much, because it would be easy to spoil the entire book, so I recommend going in blind and enjoying when you need a one sitting story.
Trigger Warnings (including but not limited to): kidnapping, murder, graphic violence, child abuse (off page), sexual abuse, rape (off page).
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
July 15, 2021
"A lie may take care of the present, but it has no future." - Croft M. Pentz
The BH Killer is responsible for the gruesome deaths of six teenagers. When his last victim escapes and stumbles home the gig is up. Scott, the young man who escaped, identifies his captor as Randall Thompson, a local high school teacher. The community can now do a collective sigh of relief as their nightmare is finally over (or is it just beginning?)!
Psychiatrist Dr. Gwen Moore has made a career treating killers, predators and those who have impulses to kill. She is considered an expert in her field, but will that be enough?
Defense attorney Robert Kavin's son was the sixth victim of the BH killer. He shocks everyone when he decides to represent Randall Thompson, the man accused of being the BH killer. Why would a grieving father choose to represent the man who may have killed his son? Conflict of interest?
Kavin hires Gwen, who he met previously, to evaluate Thompson and provide him with a profile that can be used in court. As they become closer, questions are raised, by the characters plus, I had a few of my own as well. Is there a conflict of interest here?
This was a fast engaging and entertaining read. I love how Torre was able to pull the rug out from under me and shock me with one reveal. The multiple POV chapters help move the book along at a nice pace while simultaneously adding to the mounting unease and tension of the book. Torre is a master at springing thigs on the reader. Characters in this book are multifaced and flawed. They have secrets and hidden motivations. Six young men have been murdered, a seventh escaped, that provides enough tension but as the characters delve deeper into the case, it becomes clear that there is so much more at play here.
Another solid book by Torre. I devoured most of this book in one day. It was a captivating page turner - not in the non-stop action way but in the what-is-going-to-be-revealed way. Like her previous books, this one was well written, well thought out and jaw dropping. It has twists, turns and a shocking reveal! I love super sleuthing while I read and this one had me trying to figure out character motivations and agendas. I really felt for Scott's mother trying to help her son. I also enjoyed the interactions between Robert and Gwen.
A well thought out captivating mystery thriller!
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
The BH Killer is responsible for the gruesome deaths of six teenagers. When his last victim escapes and stumbles home the gig is up. Scott, the young man who escaped, identifies his captor as Randall Thompson, a local high school teacher. The community can now do a collective sigh of relief as their nightmare is finally over (or is it just beginning?)!
Psychiatrist Dr. Gwen Moore has made a career treating killers, predators and those who have impulses to kill. She is considered an expert in her field, but will that be enough?
Defense attorney Robert Kavin's son was the sixth victim of the BH killer. He shocks everyone when he decides to represent Randall Thompson, the man accused of being the BH killer. Why would a grieving father choose to represent the man who may have killed his son? Conflict of interest?
Kavin hires Gwen, who he met previously, to evaluate Thompson and provide him with a profile that can be used in court. As they become closer, questions are raised, by the characters plus, I had a few of my own as well. Is there a conflict of interest here?
This was a fast engaging and entertaining read. I love how Torre was able to pull the rug out from under me and shock me with one reveal. The multiple POV chapters help move the book along at a nice pace while simultaneously adding to the mounting unease and tension of the book. Torre is a master at springing thigs on the reader. Characters in this book are multifaced and flawed. They have secrets and hidden motivations. Six young men have been murdered, a seventh escaped, that provides enough tension but as the characters delve deeper into the case, it becomes clear that there is so much more at play here.
Another solid book by Torre. I devoured most of this book in one day. It was a captivating page turner - not in the non-stop action way but in the what-is-going-to-be-revealed way. Like her previous books, this one was well written, well thought out and jaw dropping. It has twists, turns and a shocking reveal! I love super sleuthing while I read and this one had me trying to figure out character motivations and agendas. I really felt for Scott's mother trying to help her son. I also enjoyed the interactions between Robert and Gwen.
A well thought out captivating mystery thriller!
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
August 18, 2021
An honest breakdown of A.R. (Allessandra) Torre’s latest thriller, The Good Lie:
Good:
- The story. The Bloody Heart Killer is terrorizing the teenage boys of Los Angeles. A suspect is caught, but (gasp!) the father of one of BHK’s victims steps in to be his defense attorney. Said attorney enlists the help of a psychiatrist (who he’s also currently boinking) to do a profile on the killer since he’s sure it’s not his client.
- The pacing. This is a lickety-split novel of suspense that has zero superfluous pages. All meat, no fat here.
- The ending. Sure didn’t see that coming!
- The author. By all accounts, Ms. Torre seems to be as friendly to readers and fellow authors as she is versatile in her craft.
Not so good:
- My memory. I finished this a few days ago and had to re-read the synopsis to refresh my recollection of the plot and characters. Don’t you hate when that happens? ;)
4.5 stars rounded up
https://www.confettibookshelf.com/
Good:
- The story. The Bloody Heart Killer is terrorizing the teenage boys of Los Angeles. A suspect is caught, but (gasp!) the father of one of BHK’s victims steps in to be his defense attorney. Said attorney enlists the help of a psychiatrist (who he’s also currently boinking) to do a profile on the killer since he’s sure it’s not his client.
- The pacing. This is a lickety-split novel of suspense that has zero superfluous pages. All meat, no fat here.
- The ending. Sure didn’t see that coming!
- The author. By all accounts, Ms. Torre seems to be as friendly to readers and fellow authors as she is versatile in her craft.
Not so good:
- My memory. I finished this a few days ago and had to re-read the synopsis to refresh my recollection of the plot and characters. Don’t you hate when that happens? ;)
4.5 stars rounded up
https://www.confettibookshelf.com/
July 20, 2021
A.R. Torre does it again!
The Bloody Heart Killer is on the loose in Los Angeles. Six 17 year old young men have been killed. Mutilated, really. Until one of them makes an escape. His finger pointed at his high school teacher Randall Thompson.
Defense Attorney Robert Kavin's son Gabe was the Bloody Heart Killers 6th victim and he doesn't believe that Randall Thompson is his sons murderer. He manages to become his defense attorney even though many are questioning his motive for doing this.
He requests that psychiatrist Dr. Gwen Moore put together a psychological profile of the killer. What they discover is shocking!
That's all the beans I am willing to spill. This is a short book, one that can be read in a day if one is so inclined to do so, which makes discussing this book difficult without giving away the goods. Just know that this is a proper page turner. Lies, secrets, and all the juicy stuff I have come to love in this genre. At this point I think it's safe to say I'll read whatever Torre writes. 4 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for my copy.
******AVAILABLE ON NETGALLEY RIGHT NOW!!!!******
New A.R. Torre? YES PLEASE!!!
I want this.
I need this.
I might even kill for it. 🔪 😉
The Bloody Heart Killer is on the loose in Los Angeles. Six 17 year old young men have been killed. Mutilated, really. Until one of them makes an escape. His finger pointed at his high school teacher Randall Thompson.
Defense Attorney Robert Kavin's son Gabe was the Bloody Heart Killers 6th victim and he doesn't believe that Randall Thompson is his sons murderer. He manages to become his defense attorney even though many are questioning his motive for doing this.
He requests that psychiatrist Dr. Gwen Moore put together a psychological profile of the killer. What they discover is shocking!
That's all the beans I am willing to spill. This is a short book, one that can be read in a day if one is so inclined to do so, which makes discussing this book difficult without giving away the goods. Just know that this is a proper page turner. Lies, secrets, and all the juicy stuff I have come to love in this genre. At this point I think it's safe to say I'll read whatever Torre writes. 4 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for my copy.
******AVAILABLE ON NETGALLEY RIGHT NOW!!!!******
New A.R. Torre? YES PLEASE!!!
I want this.
I need this.
I might even kill for it. 🔪 😉
July 29, 2021
This was so good! I’m surprised by how much I loved this! Here’s the reading vlog where I read it: https://youtu.be/EnQ8XQSzSxQ
July 17, 2021
Well hello you creeptastic thriller! Wow this was so good! You have heard the hype and in my opinion it is well deserved! If you like a thriller that makes your skin crawl...gives you goosebumps and makes you super jumpy...well here you go!
There's a serial killer in town and he has a type...all 6 of his victims have been high school boys..not just high school boys but ...popular, good looking and often with wealthy parents...hmmm
The Blood Heart Killer kidnaps the boys...keeps them for months...then murders them and carves his signature heart on their chest...OMG...7 boys...yet one lives to tell about it...or does he??
When one of the victims father decides to defend the accused killer...I kept wondering what does he know that we dont?!
I am not going to lie, this book freaked me out! It is seriously creepy but so darn good that I couldn't put it down. I thought I had it figured out but I was soooo wrong!
Huge shoutout to Thomas & Mercer for my gifted copy!
There's a serial killer in town and he has a type...all 6 of his victims have been high school boys..not just high school boys but ...popular, good looking and often with wealthy parents...hmmm
The Blood Heart Killer kidnaps the boys...keeps them for months...then murders them and carves his signature heart on their chest...OMG...7 boys...yet one lives to tell about it...or does he??
When one of the victims father decides to defend the accused killer...I kept wondering what does he know that we dont?!
I am not going to lie, this book freaked me out! It is seriously creepy but so darn good that I couldn't put it down. I thought I had it figured out but I was soooo wrong!
Huge shoutout to Thomas & Mercer for my gifted copy!
January 3, 2023
I Won't Lie to You...
I’ve read numerous superlative reviews of the author’s books and have been meaning to see what the excitement was about.
Unfortunately, I didn’t fall into the adoration camp and this’ll probably be it for me as far as her books. For the most part, I enjoyed the plot of The Good Lie and it was effortless reading with uncomplicated prose BUT it was off putting to me.
Unlikable characters don’t phase me (which this one is chock full of) and adult situations are fine too. Even explicit ones. I also love offbeat and weird when it’s supposed to be that way. That is, when the author writes it by design. However, I felt that wasn’t the case here.
In addition, the main characters are a police detective and a doctor of psychology and I was continually wondering how these professionals became so sleazy? There was an non washable dirt factor to the book which didn’t sit right.
Excuse me while I take a shower and attempt to wash this residue off.
I’ve read numerous superlative reviews of the author’s books and have been meaning to see what the excitement was about.
Unfortunately, I didn’t fall into the adoration camp and this’ll probably be it for me as far as her books. For the most part, I enjoyed the plot of The Good Lie and it was effortless reading with uncomplicated prose BUT it was off putting to me.
Unlikable characters don’t phase me (which this one is chock full of) and adult situations are fine too. Even explicit ones. I also love offbeat and weird when it’s supposed to be that way. That is, when the author writes it by design. However, I felt that wasn’t the case here.
In addition, the main characters are a police detective and a doctor of psychology and I was continually wondering how these professionals became so sleazy? There was an non washable dirt factor to the book which didn’t sit right.
Excuse me while I take a shower and attempt to wash this residue off.
March 15, 2022
After reading such stellar reviews about this book, I just KNEW I had to pick it up! This book delivered big time! 😍
Each and every chapter was thoroughly engrossing and I loved that there wasn’t any filler to add to the story. What you see is what you get and it’s all relevant and moves the story forward. I would so much rather have that in a more compact book (such as this) than a 400 page book full of 30% nonsense. This was the perfect book if you’re looking for a super quick read that packs all the punches.
Some of my favorite parts were when the main character, who is a psychiatrist, would internally diagnose her patients. It was a really neat way to differentiate between different disorders and what makes the disorder unique. Obviously it’s not a thorough examination, but enough to give you a general and overall understanding.
There were a couple discrepancies I had with the ending (without spoiling, I can’t say), but otherwise it was a fascinating and engrossing read! I would highly recommend this to anyone who loves a great thriller! 😄
4.5⭐️
Each and every chapter was thoroughly engrossing and I loved that there wasn’t any filler to add to the story. What you see is what you get and it’s all relevant and moves the story forward. I would so much rather have that in a more compact book (such as this) than a 400 page book full of 30% nonsense. This was the perfect book if you’re looking for a super quick read that packs all the punches.
Some of my favorite parts were when the main character, who is a psychiatrist, would internally diagnose her patients. It was a really neat way to differentiate between different disorders and what makes the disorder unique. Obviously it’s not a thorough examination, but enough to give you a general and overall understanding.
There were a couple discrepancies I had with the ending (without spoiling, I can’t say), but otherwise it was a fascinating and engrossing read! I would highly recommend this to anyone who loves a great thriller! 😄
4.5⭐️
July 20, 2021
Happy publishing day!
A dark, gripping and addictive crime thriller, which I couldn't put down!
Me sneaking off to read..
6 teenage boys murdered,
The 7th victim escapes and points the finger at his high school science teacher..
Dr. Gwen Moore is a psychiatrist who is an expert on killers, she treats dangerous predators every day, and she's hired to profile The Bloody Heart Killer, a serial killer who kidnaps, tortures, strangles and mutilates teenage boys.
Robert Kavin, a defence lawyer lost his only son to The Bloody Heart Killer, so why is he representing the man accused of the crimes?!
This was my second book by A.R. Torre/Alessandra Torre and I really enjoyed it! I almost gave it 5 stars because I devoured it, and felt on a high after finishing it, but I did unfortunately figure out one of the major plot points! I was a bit disappointed that one of the characters didn't even consider the thing which I figured out! However, I was intrigued enough by the other parts of the plot and the characters to keep reading, plus there was one twist which I definitely did not see coming!
Full of secrets, lies and a nagging feeling that something was just not right, The Good Lie had me glued to the pages! It had an excellent, fast pace, and engaging writing which pulled me in immediately. The tension and suspense was fantastic, it just built and built! There also were multiple POVs, and I enjoyed reading them all!
The characters were complex and multi-layered, and I did like both Gwen and Robert. They were both flawed, and made questionable judgements, but I felt for them, and rooted for them both.
There was an element of romance, which was an unexpected surprise!
I did have to suspend my belief about a certain thing, but I didn't mind, since I was enjoying myself so much! And the ending felt satisfying and shocking enough to make me smile! And did I mention that I couldn't put it down?! 🤣
A fun and addictive read, The Good Lie should definitely make your summer mystery list! I've already added two books from this author's binge worthy backlist!
🔪🔪🔪🔪
Many thanks to NetGalley UK and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC, in exchange for an honest review!
A dark, gripping and addictive crime thriller, which I couldn't put down!
Me sneaking off to read..
6 teenage boys murdered,
The 7th victim escapes and points the finger at his high school science teacher..
Dr. Gwen Moore is a psychiatrist who is an expert on killers, she treats dangerous predators every day, and she's hired to profile The Bloody Heart Killer, a serial killer who kidnaps, tortures, strangles and mutilates teenage boys.
Robert Kavin, a defence lawyer lost his only son to The Bloody Heart Killer, so why is he representing the man accused of the crimes?!
This was my second book by A.R. Torre/Alessandra Torre and I really enjoyed it! I almost gave it 5 stars because I devoured it, and felt on a high after finishing it, but I did unfortunately figure out one of the major plot points! I was a bit disappointed that one of the characters didn't even consider the thing which I figured out! However, I was intrigued enough by the other parts of the plot and the characters to keep reading, plus there was one twist which I definitely did not see coming!
Full of secrets, lies and a nagging feeling that something was just not right, The Good Lie had me glued to the pages! It had an excellent, fast pace, and engaging writing which pulled me in immediately. The tension and suspense was fantastic, it just built and built! There also were multiple POVs, and I enjoyed reading them all!
The characters were complex and multi-layered, and I did like both Gwen and Robert. They were both flawed, and made questionable judgements, but I felt for them, and rooted for them both.
There was an element of romance, which was an unexpected surprise!
I did have to suspend my belief about a certain thing, but I didn't mind, since I was enjoying myself so much! And the ending felt satisfying and shocking enough to make me smile! And did I mention that I couldn't put it down?! 🤣
A fun and addictive read, The Good Lie should definitely make your summer mystery list! I've already added two books from this author's binge worthy backlist!
🔪🔪🔪🔪
Many thanks to NetGalley UK and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC, in exchange for an honest review!
July 4, 2024
Nothing about this book stuck out to me. It’s was mediocre at best.
August 18, 2023
Quick thriller that’ll keep you interested! About a psychiatrist who specializes in individuals with violent tendencies and how she gets roped into a case about a serial killer. I thought I knew where it was going, but surprised me in the end!
March 26, 2023
4.5 stars
Hunting teenage-boys, holding them captive for a month while going through religious steps of torture, and by the end killing them meticulously by engraving hearts on their chests. This, was the soft discerption of the sick and twisted methods the Bloody Heart Serial Killer employed to terrorize L.A. citizens.
Seven kidnappings but six dead young boys. The story begins with Scott Harden returning safe to his home after being sequestrated by a man, high school teacher, Randall Thompson. The more the teenager recounted what had happened to him at the press conferences and the policemen, the more confident his mother was that he was withholding much of the truth. But what? And why?
While everyone was persuaded by the suspect inception in the murders; Robert Kavin, an attorney —father of one of the victims— was adamant about his innocence and acted as his advocate. What did he knew that wasn’t that transparent through the storytelling?
Gwen was the protagonist and a psychologist specializing on violent tendencies and obsessions, she had a meaningless encounter with Robert the same day two of her patients were buried. Gwen believed that she responsible for both of their deaths. Why was she so inclined to assume responsibility for their homicides?
There was four different perspectives, Gwen whose point of views were the more recurrent through the storyline. Robert with one chapter narrated on the third person as well for Scott. Meanwhile, Scott’s mother had a little bit of credit with her suspicious point of views that were recounted by the third person, too. But how and why everyone was related?
The story was sick and troubling and I began to question everybody's motives and level of implications, but as always I was a million years away from imaging what was really behind the murders. The relationship between Robert and Gwen was a pleasantat times aspect of the story. I wouldn't have dreamed of a better ending; so satisfying.
Favorite quote:
"I was reminded why I was single. Men were idiots. Frustrating, unreadable idiots. "jk
———•———•———•———•———•———
In need of a good thriller😌
"It was all so incredibly sad. Six smart and talented lives taken. Six families—parents, siblings, grandparents—whose lives were irrevocably destroyed. And all for what? One sick individual’s twisted pleasure"
Hunting teenage-boys, holding them captive for a month while going through religious steps of torture, and by the end killing them meticulously by engraving hearts on their chests. This, was the soft discerption of the sick and twisted methods the Bloody Heart Serial Killer employed to terrorize L.A. citizens.
"He was home and he was safe. She was looking for problems instead of counting her blessings.”
Seven kidnappings but six dead young boys. The story begins with Scott Harden returning safe to his home after being sequestrated by a man, high school teacher, Randall Thompson. The more the teenager recounted what had happened to him at the press conferences and the policemen, the more confident his mother was that he was withholding much of the truth. But what? And why?
"There was no logical reason for Robert to protect the man who’d killed his son”
While everyone was persuaded by the suspect inception in the murders; Robert Kavin, an attorney —father of one of the victims— was adamant about his innocence and acted as his advocate. What did he knew that wasn’t that transparent through the storytelling?
" A monster was responsible, and I shouldn’t be salivating at the thought of studying him."
Gwen was the protagonist and a psychologist specializing on violent tendencies and obsessions, she had a meaningless encounter with Robert the same day two of her patients were buried. Gwen believed that she responsible for both of their deaths. Why was she so inclined to assume responsibility for their homicides?
"Losing a child was like losing a limb. You were reminded of it every time you moved, until the consistent adjustments to life became a permanent part of you."
There was four different perspectives, Gwen whose point of views were the more recurrent through the storyline. Robert with one chapter narrated on the third person as well for Scott. Meanwhile, Scott’s mother had a little bit of credit with her suspicious point of views that were recounted by the third person, too. But how and why everyone was related?
" We had been strangers, our history linked without us knowing, our focus on distraction from our grief and problems. "
The story was sick and troubling and I began to question everybody's motives and level of implications, but as always I was a million years away from imaging what was really behind the murders. The relationship between Robert and Gwen was a pleasant
Favorite quote:
"I was reminded why I was single. Men were idiots. Frustrating, unreadable idiots. "
———•———•———•———•———•———
In need of a good thriller😌
January 30, 2022
3.5⭐
The tension builds...
....in a yo-yo fashion. Initially, I plan to finish this in a day. It was a quick listen and goood, but then I had to sleep. By morning, I continued where I left off and I was unsure what happened ~ the magic was sorta gone! Not to worry though, by 80% you won't want to put it down again because you'll want to know what the heck is going on.
Bloody Heart killer, a serial killer who abducted teen boys, carve a heart on their chests, and slashed their genitals. A monster. Six boys were murdered and the seventh escaped.
Overall, I enjoyed it. The mystery had me, I didn't know what to expect. All I know was it can't be that obvious. I wish the characters were developed more because I felt I didn't know them that well. Mystery 4⭐, Characters 3⭐.
The tension builds...
....in a yo-yo fashion. Initially, I plan to finish this in a day. It was a quick listen and goood, but then I had to sleep. By morning, I continued where I left off and I was unsure what happened ~ the magic was sorta gone! Not to worry though, by 80% you won't want to put it down again because you'll want to know what the heck is going on.
Bloody Heart killer, a serial killer who abducted teen boys, carve a heart on their chests, and slashed their genitals. A monster. Six boys were murdered and the seventh escaped.
Overall, I enjoyed it. The mystery had me, I didn't know what to expect. All I know was it can't be that obvious. I wish the characters were developed more because I felt I didn't know them that well. Mystery 4⭐, Characters 3⭐.
January 25, 2023
yessss this was GOOD 🙌🏼
February 13, 2021
Many thanks to the author, NetGalley, and Thomas & Mercer for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
1–2 stars, with the potential for more. Get ready, folks! This is gonna be a long review.
I feel weird about The Good Lie. It wasn’t horrible. The prose was actually quite readable and flowed quickly. But certain parts left a terrible taste in my mouth, and these moments completely ruined the rest of my (fairly decent) reading experience.
At the end of the day, this book and I just didn’t alchemize well together; hence my rating.
Mind you: I read an uncorrected advance proof generously provided to me by Thomas & Mercer via NetGalley. What I’m about to describe may very well be edited, changed, and maybe even removed by the time this book is published in July 2021. In fact, I would like for that to be the case. Barring one particularly callous and problematic part, this book could’ve easily been 3 stars.
◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️
✅ First, the good!
➟ I requested this ARC from NetGalley because I’d really enjoyed A.R. Torre’s The Girl in 6E, and I was excited to see what else she had up her sleeve. Like 6E, Torre’s writing in The Good Lie is very readable. It’s sleek and flows seamlessly from chapter to chapter. Sometimes it’s a little melodramatic for my tastes, but the prose is nonetheless easy and addictive to consume.
➟ There are lots of moving pieces in this mystery, different good lies and good liars, varying pieces of seemingly unconnected tragedies. That meant that even if certain parts of the story were fairly predictable, there would always be something that took me by surprise.
◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️
🤷🏻♀️Next, what didn’t work for me personally.
➟ Again, some parts of the mystery were really predictable. I guessed who the killer was () within the first few chapters. Then, At 65%, I had a hunch about the final plot twist—and was right about that one as well.
➟ Gwen and Robert weren’t particularly interesting characters.
Gwen is sexy rich brilliant. Robert is sexy rich brilliant. Sexy rich brilliant psychiatrist can’t help but fall in lust with sexy rich brilliant defence attorney is so unoriginal. So tired. I’m tired of reading stories about charismatic hot people. They’re unrealistic and idealized in so many ways. And if they aren’t unrealistic, then they’re definitely overrepresented in fiction. Worst of all, they are boring to me. As such, the sexual tension between Gwen and Robert didn’t feel taut and compelling; I found it lukewarm and trite.
➟ Gwen narrates with the confidence of a real psychiatrist who has extensive knowledge of mental disorders. One way that she makes it clear she’s knowledgeable is by correcting the reader/layperson’s assumptions:
Yet Gwen herself is a fictional character in a titillating novel that 1) requires a substantial amount of suspension of disbelief, and 2) contributes, whether intentionally or not, to the already immense stigmatization of a disorder—dissociative identity disorder (or as it’s sometimes known, multiple personality disorder).
().
How is that any different from a sensational Hollywood film, or an “exploitative” novelist? The irony was not lost on me.
✨✨✨ If you’d like to learn more about dissociative identity disorder from someone who has DID, PLEASE check out DissociaDID’s channel on YouTube. From their "About" section:
◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️
❌ Finally, the scene that really put me off this book. (Note that this quote was taken from pages 71-72 in the uncorrected advance proof.)
I don’t profess to know exactly what the author intended by this passage; let me be clear: I’m not reading into the author’s (or even Gwen’s) motivations. But I WILL talk about the implications and insinuations of such a statement.
Immediately—why does this make it sound like America disadvantages white men?
Next—this is a scarcity mindset that pushes the idea that there is only enough airtime for certain people—and if we’re representing people who are NOT white men, there is suddenly less space for white men.
This passage explicitly states that because resources and headlines were devoted to “school shootings, systemic racism, an economic crisis, and gender-bias protests,” these seven “privileged white males” ceased to matter. I hate the implication that the boys killed by the BH killer were cast aside because the rest of the world devoted time, effort, and media coverage to those other events named by Gwen.
ALL victims deserve justice. Instead of pointing fingers at limited media attention or resources being "taken away" by other groups, underscore the ways in which we need to do better by ALL victims. That would be both less harmful and more helpful than claiming that these boys did not receive justice because resources/media coverage were allocated to people of colour, victims of school shootings, poor people, and women and queer folk.
Moreover, saying that little attention was paid to seven missing rich white boys is unrealistic. I’m not saying it’s impossible. I’m just saying, statistically speaking, it’s unlikely.
A Canadian study published in 2020 found that certain characteristics make the victim more “newsworthy” and “sympathetic” than their poorer, non-white counterparts. These characteristics included: white, female, educated, high social status, homicide taking place in wealthier neighbourhood, and victim uninvolved in criminal activity. Barring “female,” the victims of the Broken Heart killer fit these characteristics to a T.
The insinuation, intended or not, is that media coverage and “public perception” somehow advantage and privilege the murders of Black, undocumented, gay, and trans (“girl”? lol oddly specific but ok) folk over the murders of rich, attractive, white men.
That is SO immensely harmful, because the opposite is true.
The murders of marginalized people are underreported. Efforts toward seeking justice for marginalized people are underfunded and understaffed. (See links I’ve provided below for citations and more information.)
Black murder victims are especially likely to be represented as “criminals” (or as individuals somehow more “deserving” of their fate). Trans victims are consistently misgendered and referred to by their deadnames. Trans folk of colour are severely underrepresented in media coverage. I can’t find any sort of statistics about undocumented murder victims—my Google search only turns up results about undocumented immigrants being accused of murder (please link me some articles if you know of any!). And members of the gay community have long called for better, more accurate, and straight up more media representation of gay victims, who are often the targets of lethal, abhorrent hate crimes.
This is not “an engrossing case in human behavior.” It would NOT be “fascinating” to see how people react to the murders of Black, undocumented, gay, and trans individuals. This is such callous language that does not honour the fact that we are talking about people’s lives.
Moreover, Gwen is discussing a serious issue with real-life outcomes. As I've already mentioned above, there exists a dangerous disparity in the 1) quality and quantity of marginalized victims’ representation in media, and 2) treatment of these victims’ killers (see, for example, the murder of Timothy Caughman—a Black man killed by a white supremacist, only to have media drag Caughman’s arrest record while touting the killer’s life accomplishments).
BOTTOM LINE: I am grateful to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC. At the same time, I can’t in good faith give this more than 1 star. It has the potential for at least 3, but the execution was sorely lacking in certain spots, to the point where they overshadowed, for me, the rest of the good.
◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️
Here are more resources regarding the underrepresentation of marginalized murder victims:
Information about the representation and treatment of Black victims:
1. Does Justice For Murder Victims Depend On Race, Geography?
2. Master’s thesis, “Are murders equal in the eyes of the media?: A study of race, gender, class and quality of coverage”
3. Article by The Marshall Project, titled “When Does Murder Make The News? It Depends On The Victim’s Race”
4. Report from The National Juvenile Justice Network called “Changing the Narrative: How to Push Back Against Harmful Narratives About Youth of Color”
Information about the representation and treatment of trans victims:
1. GLAAD’s 2018 open letter and report on media coverage of trans victims: “More Than a Number - Shifting the Media Narrative on Transgender Homicides”
2. 2019 paper by Wood, Carrillo, and Monk-Turner that explores media depictions of murdered transgender women of colour.
3. Why TV News Ignores Transgender Murders: “A journalist who's covered stories from Rock Hudson's AIDS diagnosis to the Boston Marathon bombing reveals why the media obsesses over the murders of rich Caucasians and largely ignores violence against trans women.”
1–2 stars, with the potential for more. Get ready, folks! This is gonna be a long review.
I feel weird about The Good Lie. It wasn’t horrible. The prose was actually quite readable and flowed quickly. But certain parts left a terrible taste in my mouth, and these moments completely ruined the rest of my (fairly decent) reading experience.
At the end of the day, this book and I just didn’t alchemize well together; hence my rating.
Mind you: I read an uncorrected advance proof generously provided to me by Thomas & Mercer via NetGalley. What I’m about to describe may very well be edited, changed, and maybe even removed by the time this book is published in July 2021. In fact, I would like for that to be the case. Barring one particularly callous and problematic part, this book could’ve easily been 3 stars.
◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️
✅ First, the good!
➟ I requested this ARC from NetGalley because I’d really enjoyed A.R. Torre’s The Girl in 6E, and I was excited to see what else she had up her sleeve. Like 6E, Torre’s writing in The Good Lie is very readable. It’s sleek and flows seamlessly from chapter to chapter. Sometimes it’s a little melodramatic for my tastes, but the prose is nonetheless easy and addictive to consume.
➟ There are lots of moving pieces in this mystery, different good lies and good liars, varying pieces of seemingly unconnected tragedies. That meant that even if certain parts of the story were fairly predictable, there would always be something that took me by surprise.
◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️
🤷🏻♀️Next, what didn’t work for me personally.
➟ Again, some parts of the mystery were really predictable. I guessed who the killer was () within the first few chapters. Then, At 65%, I had a hunch about the final plot twist—and was right about that one as well.
➟ Gwen and Robert weren’t particularly interesting characters.
Gwen is sexy rich brilliant. Robert is sexy rich brilliant. Sexy rich brilliant psychiatrist can’t help but fall in lust with sexy rich brilliant defence attorney is so unoriginal. So tired. I’m tired of reading stories about charismatic hot people. They’re unrealistic and idealized in so many ways. And if they aren’t unrealistic, then they’re definitely overrepresented in fiction. Worst of all, they are boring to me. As such, the sexual tension between Gwen and Robert didn’t feel taut and compelling; I found it lukewarm and trite.
➟ Gwen narrates with the confidence of a real psychiatrist who has extensive knowledge of mental disorders. One way that she makes it clear she’s knowledgeable is by correcting the reader/layperson’s assumptions:
[Stockholm] syndrome wasn’t an official diagnosis but a mental coping strategy, one exploited by Hollywood and novelists but still very real.
Yet Gwen herself is a fictional character in a titillating novel that 1) requires a substantial amount of suspension of disbelief, and 2) contributes, whether intentionally or not, to the already immense stigmatization of a disorder—dissociative identity disorder (or as it’s sometimes known, multiple personality disorder).
().
How is that any different from a sensational Hollywood film, or an “exploitative” novelist? The irony was not lost on me.
✨✨✨ If you’d like to learn more about dissociative identity disorder from someone who has DID, PLEASE check out DissociaDID’s channel on YouTube. From their "About" section:
DissociaDID is challenging the stigma surrounding Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) and trauma-based mental illness by creating scientifically supported and insightful educational content. Together, Nin and her Alters debunk the negative connotations surrounding DID, promote understanding and awareness of scientific, medical and psychological evidence, and explain the psychology behind this greatly misunderstood disorder.
◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️
❌ Finally, the scene that really put me off this book. (Note that this quote was taken from pages 71-72 in the uncorrected advance proof.)
Around the fifth victim, social media turned its back on the boys, fueled by the vicious and cruel bravado that came with internet anonymity. A ripple of discontent grew over the more important issues that these pretty rich boys were pulling attention away from. Over the last three years of BH victims, the world had experienced school shootings, systemic racism, an economic crisis, and gender-bias protests. In the face of all that, did seven missing boys really matter? Was anyone, other than their individual families, affected?
Seven privileged white males against all of America. They lost the battle before it ever turned into a war.
I sucked on a red gummy bear. The city and media may have grown bored, but I never had. Even the aftermath and the public reaction had been an engrossing case in human behavior. It would have been fascinating to see how much public perception would have changed if one of the victims had been Black. Or undocumented. Gay, or a transgender girl.
I don’t profess to know exactly what the author intended by this passage; let me be clear: I’m not reading into the author’s (or even Gwen’s) motivations. But I WILL talk about the implications and insinuations of such a statement.
❌ First: Seven privileged white males against all of America. They lost the battle before it ever turned into a war.
Immediately—why does this make it sound like America disadvantages white men?
Next—this is a scarcity mindset that pushes the idea that there is only enough airtime for certain people—and if we’re representing people who are NOT white men, there is suddenly less space for white men.
This passage explicitly states that because resources and headlines were devoted to “school shootings, systemic racism, an economic crisis, and gender-bias protests,” these seven “privileged white males” ceased to matter. I hate the implication that the boys killed by the BH killer were cast aside because the rest of the world devoted time, effort, and media coverage to those other events named by Gwen.
ALL victims deserve justice. Instead of pointing fingers at limited media attention or resources being "taken away" by other groups, underscore the ways in which we need to do better by ALL victims. That would be both less harmful and more helpful than claiming that these boys did not receive justice because resources/media coverage were allocated to people of colour, victims of school shootings, poor people, and women and queer folk.
Moreover, saying that little attention was paid to seven missing rich white boys is unrealistic. I’m not saying it’s impossible. I’m just saying, statistically speaking, it’s unlikely.
A Canadian study published in 2020 found that certain characteristics make the victim more “newsworthy” and “sympathetic” than their poorer, non-white counterparts. These characteristics included: white, female, educated, high social status, homicide taking place in wealthier neighbourhood, and victim uninvolved in criminal activity. Barring “female,” the victims of the Broken Heart killer fit these characteristics to a T.
❌ Second: It would have been fascinating to see how much public perception would have changed if one of the victims had been Black. Or undocumented. Gay, or a transgender girl.
The insinuation, intended or not, is that media coverage and “public perception” somehow advantage and privilege the murders of Black, undocumented, gay, and trans (“girl”? lol oddly specific but ok) folk over the murders of rich, attractive, white men.
That is SO immensely harmful, because the opposite is true.
The murders of marginalized people are underreported. Efforts toward seeking justice for marginalized people are underfunded and understaffed. (See links I’ve provided below for citations and more information.)
Black murder victims are especially likely to be represented as “criminals” (or as individuals somehow more “deserving” of their fate). Trans victims are consistently misgendered and referred to by their deadnames. Trans folk of colour are severely underrepresented in media coverage. I can’t find any sort of statistics about undocumented murder victims—my Google search only turns up results about undocumented immigrants being accused of murder (please link me some articles if you know of any!). And members of the gay community have long called for better, more accurate, and straight up more media representation of gay victims, who are often the targets of lethal, abhorrent hate crimes.
❌ Third and finally: This is not a thought experiment.
This is not “an engrossing case in human behavior.” It would NOT be “fascinating” to see how people react to the murders of Black, undocumented, gay, and trans individuals. This is such callous language that does not honour the fact that we are talking about people’s lives.
Moreover, Gwen is discussing a serious issue with real-life outcomes. As I've already mentioned above, there exists a dangerous disparity in the 1) quality and quantity of marginalized victims’ representation in media, and 2) treatment of these victims’ killers (see, for example, the murder of Timothy Caughman—a Black man killed by a white supremacist, only to have media drag Caughman’s arrest record while touting the killer’s life accomplishments).
BOTTOM LINE: I am grateful to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC. At the same time, I can’t in good faith give this more than 1 star. It has the potential for at least 3, but the execution was sorely lacking in certain spots, to the point where they overshadowed, for me, the rest of the good.
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Here are more resources regarding the underrepresentation of marginalized murder victims:
Information about the representation and treatment of Black victims:
1. Does Justice For Murder Victims Depend On Race, Geography?
2. Master’s thesis, “Are murders equal in the eyes of the media?: A study of race, gender, class and quality of coverage”
3. Article by The Marshall Project, titled “When Does Murder Make The News? It Depends On The Victim’s Race”
4. Report from The National Juvenile Justice Network called “Changing the Narrative: How to Push Back Against Harmful Narratives About Youth of Color”
Information about the representation and treatment of trans victims:
1. GLAAD’s 2018 open letter and report on media coverage of trans victims: “More Than a Number - Shifting the Media Narrative on Transgender Homicides”
2. 2019 paper by Wood, Carrillo, and Monk-Turner that explores media depictions of murdered transgender women of colour.
3. Why TV News Ignores Transgender Murders: “A journalist who's covered stories from Rock Hudson's AIDS diagnosis to the Boston Marathon bombing reveals why the media obsesses over the murders of rich Caucasians and largely ignores violence against trans women.”
October 3, 2021
My first time reading A.R. Torre and definitely not the last.
I was really hooked onto this one right from the first chapter because there is something very special about heinous and gruesome crimes which fascinates me a lot and I love reading about them.
I really enjoyed reading about the character of Gwen Moore who is a psychiatrist who specializes in treating those with violent fantasies. And there is this line which she said regarding one of her patient , "She just liked the idea of being interesting, and the thought that she had a secret and underlying homicidal inclination was a rainy-day fantasy she had embraced with maniacal vigor." TBH I read this line like 10 times before moving on and I don't think I need to specify why I did that. A little more individual character depth would have made this book a perfect one.
Multiple POVs played their role very well, building up the tension and then leaving the readers with more questions than answers by the end of every chapter.
A.R. Torre is a very intelligent writer, though it's my first time reading her but I can sense her talent of creating a strong plotline and intersting unlikeable characters. I really enjoyed her writing style as well.
There were several twists at the end which shocked me and some I saw coming like . At times I felt the ending was a little bit far-fetched which is a very common thing in thriller books.
Overall a very rivetting, compelling and suspenseful. I am satisfied...
I was really hooked onto this one right from the first chapter because there is something very special about heinous and gruesome crimes which fascinates me a lot and I love reading about them.
I really enjoyed reading about the character of Gwen Moore who is a psychiatrist who specializes in treating those with violent fantasies. And there is this line which she said regarding one of her patient , "She just liked the idea of being interesting, and the thought that she had a secret and underlying homicidal inclination was a rainy-day fantasy she had embraced with maniacal vigor." TBH I read this line like 10 times before moving on and I don't think I need to specify why I did that. A little more individual character depth would have made this book a perfect one.
Multiple POVs played their role very well, building up the tension and then leaving the readers with more questions than answers by the end of every chapter.
A.R. Torre is a very intelligent writer, though it's my first time reading her but I can sense her talent of creating a strong plotline and intersting unlikeable characters. I really enjoyed her writing style as well.
There were several twists at the end which shocked me and some I saw coming like . At times I felt the ending was a little bit far-fetched which is a very common thing in thriller books.
Overall a very rivetting, compelling and suspenseful. I am satisfied...
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