Why She Lied: Martina Monroe Crime Thriller, Book 4

Martina Monroe #4

by H.K. Christie

A missing mother and child. A secret past revealed. Will Martina and Hirsch discover the truth before they meet their end?

In the thick of the current cold case investigation, PI Martina Monroe receives a hand-written letter from a desperate mother pleading for Martina and Hirsch to reopen the cold case of the woman’s missing daughter and five-year-old grandson. Feeling a deep connection to the request, Martina knows that Hirsch and she have found their next case.

As the two investigators dig into the life of Ana and her son, Ryder, they quickly find Ana has the life many would be envious of. With a loving group of family and friends, a devoted husband, and a successful career, Ana’s perfect life seems a bit too perfect for Martina and Hirsch.

Searching even further into Ana’s past, they find a startling secret that leads Martina and Hirsch into the dark world of organized crime. Hot on the trail, the two investigators head to New York City, hoping to find the answer to what happened to Ana and Ryder. However, soon after they touch down, they learn they aren’t the only ones on the hunt.

Will Martina and Hirsch discover the truth before they become victims themselves?

Why She Lied is the fourth installment in the Martina Monroe thriller series.

Genres: Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Fiction, Audiobook, Thriller, Murder Mystery

Audible Audio

First published March 27, 2022

About the author

H. K. Christie watched horror films far too early in life. Inspired by the likes of Stephen King, Jodi Picoult, true crime podcasts, and a vivid imagination she now writes suspenseful thrillers. When not working on her latest novel, she can be found eating & drinking with friends, walking around the lakes, or playing with her favorite furry pal. 
She is a native and current resident of the San Francisco Bay Area. 


The MARTINA MONROE series featuring Private Investigator Martina Monroe and her unofficial partner, Detective August Hirsch of the Cold Case Squad, is a nail-bing crime thriller series full of suspense. If you like high-stakes games, jaw-dropping twists, and embattled seekers struggling to do right, then you’ll love the thrilling Martina Monroe series.

The SELENA BAILEY series is a collection of suspenseful stories detailing one young woman's turbulent path to becoming a top-notch, kick-ass private investigator. If you like thrilling twists, dark tension, and smart and driven women, then you’ll love this new dark thriller series. A Permanent Mark is a suspenseful murder mystery featuring a grown-up Selena Bailey.

www.authorhkchristie.com

Reviews

[Emmyreads444]

okay I need to read the rest of this series now… I’m obsessed

[angelpompom]

Missing Person cases are definitely my favorite. The writing and character development improvement skyrocketed in this one. It was easy to like everyone.

[karin whitehead]

A woman contacts Martina Monroe imploring her to find her daughter Anastasia and her young son that have been missing for ten years after seeing her and Hirsch on the news after they had found another lost soul's case. Down the rabbit hole trying to solve the impossible cold cases, the worst kind. Martina is working the case as she always does with determination, heart and soul. In the mean time, her personal life is falling apart, and she is finding her partner is becoming more than a partner at work more attractive to her heart.
I received this novel as an ARC for an honest review. I've quickly become a fan of Christie's books Write with knowledge and a firm style, Always plenty of twist and plots within the plots. A fun, good read!

[Anne G. Kasaba]

I love this series and this book just proves why. Dynamic characters that you wish you could meet and chat with are just one of the things that keep the reader coming back for more. The storyline was engaging and the mystery so well plotted that it kept me guessing until the end of this story. If you like page turners and books that are hard to put down don't miss reading this latest Martina McBride story!

I received an arc of this book and voluntarily provided a review.

[Marie Wikle]

Another excellent book in the Martina Monroe series! Absolutely in love

[tei hurst]

main takeaways from this book:

- hirsch is delicious but SUCH A GODDAMN IDIOT
- martina might FINALLY be coming to her senses but it feels like it’s too late ffs
- betty is at the top of my “i’m tired of this grandpa!” “well that’s too damn bad!” list
- zoe can do no wrong

- second favourite case so far

[Tayler Bell]

august hirsch you may be on my last nerve but i can’t not give this five stars

[Julia]

Idk what to rate it. I'm closer to 2 than 3 but only because I've read the previous books and I'm not realising that the series gets a bit repetitive.

[Raegan Reid]

I just felt the story line was not as compelling as her first two, which made it really hard to get through. It was also extremely predictable.

[Melissa Brown]

Why She Lied by H.K. Christie sets up a promising missing-persons mystery, but predictable plotting and weak dialogue hold it back from delivering real suspense. While the premise has all the ingredients of a high-stakes crime thriller, the execution falls short of its potential.


Where It Works

Engaging Setup: The initial concept of a mother and child vanishing out of thin air provides a strong emotional hook right out of the gate.

Where It Stumbles

Predictable Ending: The story suffers from a lack of true surprise. Key twists and the ultimate resolution become obvious within the first third of the book, turning what should have been a tense countdown into a routine exercise in waiting for the characters to catch up to the reader.

Elementary Dialogue: The conversation between characters relies heavily on stiff, simplistic phrasing and heavy-handed exposition. Rather than feeling like authentic interactions, the dialogue frequently exists just to relay plot details, taking away from character depth and realism.

Far-Fetched Turns: The jump from a quiet cold-case investigation into full-blown mob territory requires a few too many suspensions of disbelief to fully stay invested.

Verdict

Rating: 2.5 / 5 Stars

Why She Lied has an intriguing core premise and a solid main detective pair, but elementary dialogue and a plot that gives away its destination far too early make it a average, middle-of-the-road procedural read.

[Toni H]

Book#4 - Martina Monroe receives a mysterious letter from a woman asking for help with finding her daughter and grandson who disappeared 10 years ago. She accepts the task and this becomes the new case for her and her partner, Detective Hirsch. They talk to the family and realize they have to dig deeper into the missing daughter’s past. They talk to her old college roommate and discover that she was engaged when she lived in New York. The engaged couple broke up and the missing daughter moved back to California. But they did uncover information about her former fiancé and his connection to organized crime. This bit of information leads them to believe that someone killed the missing woman and the son. However, to find out the reason why and uncover the person responsible, they will put their lives in jeopardy. But they refuse to give up because they need to bring closure and justice to the family.

[Stacy]

This is the fourth book in the series. It was a good read, although I pieced together the mystery easily enough. I look forward to the next book.

Martina Monroe is a private investigator and recovering alcoholic, just over a year sober. She recently teamed up with Detective Hirsch from the CoCo County Sheriffs Dept. to help solve cold cases.

Martina just received a letter at the station from a woman who is desperate to find her missing daughter, Anastasia and grandson, Ryder. They have been gone for 10 years with no leads. Will the team have any luck finding out what happened to them?

The investigation leads to some shocking discoveries. It seems that Anastasia kept some secrets from her loved ones. Martina and Hirsch will head to New York to piece together the her past. Will it lead them to the truth?

[Wanda Siesicki]

An unputdownable book full of thrills and suspense. Martina Monroe and Detective August Hirsh work the Cold Case Files. The Cold Case Files are cases that were never solved by previous law enforcement officials. In this case, 10 years ago a young woman, Ana Hall and her 5 year old son, Ryder, mysteriously disappeared from the park. This story grabs you by the heart knowing that not only is the mother but a child could be dead. If you like nail biting, edge of your seat, a story that could be true, then pick up this book and start reading when you have plenty of time to read because once you start, your not going to want to put the book down until you finish.

I volunteered a honest review in exchange for an ARC copy of this book.

[Lisa VK]

I’ve been reading this series and had been quite enjoying it…the plots, characters, etc. Then I read the 4th in the series, Why She Lied.

First, I didn’t find this story as compelling as the previous ones. The mystery was easy to predict. Most importantly, however, I was distracted by the poor editing. Occasional typos or misspellings I can overlook, but using exacerbated instead of exasperated? TWICE?! The first time this occurred I thought it was strange, and annoying. But when the author used the wrong word AGAIN a few chapters later I was, well, exasperated.

I will probably try one more in the series but if the lack of basic understanding of vocabulary and grammar continues- I’m out.

[Jessica Wilczynski]

Cold case investigators Martina and Hirsch just finish up with a case when a letter is left for them at the office. A mother is requesting their help in locating her daughter and grandson who went missing a decade ago. They decide to take the case and they keep running into dead ends until they find out she was engaged before she moved home but her family never knew. They head to New York to investigate and find out they are dealing with a very powerful family who does not want this dug up again but they know they are onto something and will not stop until they get answers.

This is the fourth book in the series and I really have become invested in these characters. I loved the story and it instantly grabbed my attention! I cannot wait to continue this series!

[Claudete Takahashi]

Martina is back at the Cold Cases Unit and receives a pleading letter from a mother requesting that she investigates what happened to her daughter Anastasia and her son Ryder, who disappeared while visiting a park ten years ago. Why She Lied has a strong plot that involves the mob, crimes, love, deceit, and as the story progressed I felt like the mystery was deepening and it was becoming more and more difficult for the truth to come to light. This book is one of those you must read if you like mystery thrillers!
I received a free copy of this book from the author, and this is my honest opinion.

[kay adey]

She's done it again.

H.K. has yet again produced a book full of twists and turns that just keeps you turning the pages.
I really like the way We get different perspectives, as Martina and Hirsch tell their own parts,as does Ana,in this book, adding extra depth.
As usual the characters are well drawn and we get to see more of the life/personalities of some of the team.
The plotlines are strong and solid and,although it might be easy to see where they are going, there are still surprises to be sprung.
I love the series so much I am off to start the next book, keep them coming H. K.

[Teresa]

This was an enjoyable book, but only worthy of 3 stars, maybe less.
The story was a good idea, the thugs were cliched and “yous guys” was horrid. I figured out what had happened long before flashbacks started telling you what happened.
I found the romances ( all of them) to be silly. Meet fall in love immediately, next person, does the same, and the same. Meet someone fall-in love, leave, meet the next person, fall in love and forget all about the guy you were in love with last month.

Plus the mafia thing was ludicrous, bugs everywhere, but they dont know. Im sure they an do sweeps just like the FBI.

[MGB]

The author writes a very compelling story of Martina and Hirsch. These partners would go to the end of the earth for each other and for the families that they try to unite with their loved ones. Cold Cases are a tough investigation but they pull the team together and inspire them to greater efforts.

Through this story the author reveals the heart and soul of these two. Life is ordinary but it isn't. This is a mystery which is wrapped around some incredible events. But for the two of them it is dig in and follow the clues.

If you love and good mystery and plenty of good detective action you will certainly enjoy this read.

[Sofe]

Ebook Review: WHY SHE LIED by H. K. Christie

(W) ondering
(H) ow
(Y) ielded

(S) hadows
(H) aunt
(E) veryone

(L) iving
( I ) s
(E ) scaping
(D) eath

WHY SHE LIED.
Is not the only question.

Time has passed.
Cold case has been re-opened.

What a journey.
Following clues old and new.

I keep guessing.
Where's it going to lead?

No dull moments.
Time to see for yourself!

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I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily left a review.
*************************************************

[Linda]

Martina and Hirsch are trying to solve another cold case of a mother and son who disappeared ten years ago. Each Book in this series tugs at the heart strings. The story is so realistic and could happen to anyone. Martina and Hirsch handle each case with sensitivity and determination to find answers for the families. The characters are realistic and and the story is gripping. Christie has done it again. I would highly recommend it. I received an advance copy of this book and this is my honest review.

[Suzanne]

I enjoy these books although in "Why She Lied" things were transparent almost from the beginning. I enjoy the way the characters of Hirsch and Martina work together as well as the way the author develops secondary characters (like Vincent, Sarge, and Martina's mother). I was glad to see they reduced the role of Zoey. She was not very likable in Book 1. Perhaps we were to make exceptions for her behavior because she had lost her father at a young. But the author just painted her as a bit too precocious. It's nice to see her behaving more like a child.

[Don]

What an excellent book, boy can Christie write. I can not grasped how writers figure out how to put the twists and turns into writing a story, but Ms. Christie does a masterful job at it! I am now hooked on her as an author I’d love to read. Martina & Hirsch we’re some great characters in this book, well developed and believable. I also enjoyed how she allowed Hirsch to find some joy in his life, bravo Christie. 5

[mary arnold]

A heart grabbing story. A mom and son disappeared 10 years ago. Martina, Hirsch and the team manage to find clues to unravel the case that takes them from California to New York and back again.
I love to see the team maturing as a group and individually. I could not put it down until I knew the outcome!

[Samantha herbert]

Great book

Another fast moving crime story with plenty of twists and turns to keep me glued. I couldn't put this book down. I loved tagging along with Monroe and Hirsch. Well thought out and equally well executed, I would recommend these books to all crime thriller geeks. I love them.

[Cody]

Not what you expect! Bring the tissues!

I highly suspenseful heart wrenching book that will leave you in tears in such a good way. I have every intent on reading the entire series. Book 4 was definitely a selling point for me in this series. You must read from book one all the way through. I plan on continuing all of the books through this series. Love Hirsh and Martina.

[Patricia Anne Davis]

Wow

This one is a wow factor , one minute your reading it with no emotion then its like time stand still while yoh try figure out is she dead or alive. One minute am smiling then I'm crying so you wan to have tissues near you with this book. Its really good and I recommend it with q 5stars review

[Victoria]

I really have been enjoying the Martina books but, this one was a bit predictable and bit preachy about being thankful & appreciating your time & life. I’m glad Hirsh finds a girlfriend and I’m happy it wasn’t Martina because that definitely would have been a story killer for me. I’m going to keep reading this series and learning more about the characters as the develop & change.

[Laura Poppenwimer]

Interesting characters, a private investigator pairing with a police officer to solve cold cases. The plots are complex and keep you interest high. It is hard to put this book down once you start. The endings of this series are always complete, but not in any way what you expect, although hints are given close to the end.

[Sheri Corriero]

Martina Munroe and Detective Hirsch are off on another case. As with the other Martina Munroe books, the story is well written. The author takes us through the case with twists and turns, keeping you hooked until the end. Lots of suspense!

I received an ARC in exchange of an honest review.