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Hiding Lies
"I still remember standing outside the blazing house. I wasn't sorry."
Lydia Walker is a forensic photographer, trudging through life in the shadow of her traumatic past, when she is assigned a case centered around the gruesome murder of a camping couple. Her personal life begins to improve after a chance encounter that makes her feel like she's finally connected with someone, a fellow tortured soul named Adam.
As more victims are unearthed she discovers she has a personal connection to the case, her commitment to the case grows deeper, but her motives remain opaque to her colleagues. Will she sacrifice her reputation and her morality to explore her darker urges? Or will she uphold the justice system that failed her, and never held space for her.
Lydia Walker is a forensic photographer, trudging through life in the shadow of her traumatic past, when she is assigned a case centered around the gruesome murder of a camping couple. Her personal life begins to improve after a chance encounter that makes her feel like she's finally connected with someone, a fellow tortured soul named Adam.
As more victims are unearthed she discovers she has a personal connection to the case, her commitment to the case grows deeper, but her motives remain opaque to her colleagues. Will she sacrifice her reputation and her morality to explore her darker urges? Or will she uphold the justice system that failed her, and never held space for her.
252 pages, Paperback
Published September 9, 2025
8 people are currently reading
14644 people want to read
About the author
Stephanie Rose
4 books149 followersStephanie Rose is a disabled, neurodivergent, and queer horror writer and editor who finds
comfort in the dark corners of storytelling. She is the author of Hiding Lies, Small Town Slasher, and Plastic Fangs: Essays, and serves as editor of the Twisted Tales to Tell in the Night anthology series.
A lifelong Halloween devotee and unapologetic house goblin, she thrives on horror, true crime, and the delicious unease of the macabre. Music, especially dance and karaoke, keeps her heart beating just long enough to write another story. She lives in Washington with her partner and four cats.
comfort in the dark corners of storytelling. She is the author of Hiding Lies, Small Town Slasher, and Plastic Fangs: Essays, and serves as editor of the Twisted Tales to Tell in the Night anthology series.
A lifelong Halloween devotee and unapologetic house goblin, she thrives on horror, true crime, and the delicious unease of the macabre. Music, especially dance and karaoke, keeps her heart beating just long enough to write another story. She lives in Washington with her partner and four cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 217 reviews
May 20, 2024
A bloody good book!
Lydia is a forensic photographer with a traumatic past. While working on a current case involving the murders of a couple who were camping, she meets Adam. She feels a connection with him and enjoys the time they spend together. This is new for her, it's new for Adam as well.
As more bodies are found, it is obvious that a serial killer is at work. Lydia is there to take the pictures and Adam will be there for Lydia when she needs him.
Coming in at 240 pages, Hiding Lies was an enjoyable, dark, and thrilling read. I was fully immersed in the plot, the hunt, the romance, and the characters. This proved to be a very fast read as I did not want to put the book down. I enjoyed getting into the head of the killer as well as in Lydia's head as well.
Take a stab out of this book if you dare! Fans of Dexter will enjoy this book.
*Just know that this book touches on some dark issues. I'll list them in the comment section under this review if you are interested in knowing what they are.
Gripping, dark, and hard to put down!
Thank you to Mad Axe Media 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 📖
Lydia is a forensic photographer with a traumatic past. While working on a current case involving the murders of a couple who were camping, she meets Adam. She feels a connection with him and enjoys the time they spend together. This is new for her, it's new for Adam as well.
As more bodies are found, it is obvious that a serial killer is at work. Lydia is there to take the pictures and Adam will be there for Lydia when she needs him.
Coming in at 240 pages, Hiding Lies was an enjoyable, dark, and thrilling read. I was fully immersed in the plot, the hunt, the romance, and the characters. This proved to be a very fast read as I did not want to put the book down. I enjoyed getting into the head of the killer as well as in Lydia's head as well.
Take a stab out of this book if you dare! Fans of Dexter will enjoy this book.
*Just know that this book touches on some dark issues. I'll list them in the comment section under this review if you are interested in knowing what they are.
Gripping, dark, and hard to put down!
Thank you to Mad Axe Media 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 📖
June 4, 2024
In Hiding Lies, we follow Lydia, a forensic pathologist, as she's tasked with investigating the killings of a couple in a remote camping spot. A possible serial killer is at large, leaving a chilling message. Lydia resonates with this message deeply, and as the murders escalate, her suppressed dark childhood thoughts resurface. Amidst her probe, she crosses paths with Adam, a kindred spirit and avid reader grappling with his own inner turmoil.
This was a super fast-paced read. I was intrigued by the perspectives of a forensic photographer and a serial killer. I felt like there was potential for more depth in the story, so I gave it 3 stars. Nonetheless, what I did read was pretty engaging at the time!
This was a super fast-paced read. I was intrigued by the perspectives of a forensic photographer and a serial killer. I felt like there was potential for more depth in the story, so I gave it 3 stars. Nonetheless, what I did read was pretty engaging at the time!
July 12, 2025
Whew, what a twisted story this is! It's a love story, deep down. But it's a love story between a forensic photographer and a serial killer. One is working a string of brutal murders that the other has committed.
Throughout this twisty turny novel, we get to hear from both perspectives. And being inside the mind of a serial killer is terrifying. He's friendly, charming, helpful... right up until he decides you're not worthy to be alive.
Our protagonist has a dark vicious background as well. There's something within her that makes her sympathize with killers and murderers. She's not completely innocent herself despite working for the police.
Through a series of events, these two will meet, unaware of what secrets the other holds, and when those secrets are revealed... well, you'll have to read to find out!
This novel has a nice brisk pacing that keeps the narrative moving along while also giving readers the chance to know the characters. And who doesn't like a good book about a terrifying serial killer? 😁
I highly recommend it and want to thank Joey Powell for the ARC. But this review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
Throughout this twisty turny novel, we get to hear from both perspectives. And being inside the mind of a serial killer is terrifying. He's friendly, charming, helpful... right up until he decides you're not worthy to be alive.
Our protagonist has a dark vicious background as well. There's something within her that makes her sympathize with killers and murderers. She's not completely innocent herself despite working for the police.
Through a series of events, these two will meet, unaware of what secrets the other holds, and when those secrets are revealed... well, you'll have to read to find out!
This novel has a nice brisk pacing that keeps the narrative moving along while also giving readers the chance to know the characters. And who doesn't like a good book about a terrifying serial killer? 😁
I highly recommend it and want to thank Joey Powell for the ARC. But this review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
October 13, 2024
What a great dark love story! We read this from the POV’s of Lydia and Adam. They both have the same favourite book, Silence of the Lambs. It’s not necessarily to have read that one to understand the attraction Lydia and Adam feel for each other.
It’s a rather short book but it is very well written and crammed full of everything we need to know: Lydia and Adam both suffered during their childhood and both have found a nice, interesting job that fits with their character.
One day Lydia gets a call regarding a rather gruesome murder at a campsite. Lydia is a forensic photographer but she’s more – she’s very observant and besides taking pictures she really thinks about what could have happened. And luckily her boss listens to her and asks her to become part of the team that’s tasked with finding the killer.
Adam is a rare book dealer and works parttime in a bookstore (o, I’m jealous) and when he and Lydia meet their fate is sealed…
The end is a bit abrupt but thinking about it I don’t think it could have ended any other satisfying way.
Thanks to Mad Axe Media and Netgalley for this review copy.
It’s a rather short book but it is very well written and crammed full of everything we need to know: Lydia and Adam both suffered during their childhood and both have found a nice, interesting job that fits with their character.
One day Lydia gets a call regarding a rather gruesome murder at a campsite. Lydia is a forensic photographer but she’s more – she’s very observant and besides taking pictures she really thinks about what could have happened. And luckily her boss listens to her and asks her to become part of the team that’s tasked with finding the killer.
Adam is a rare book dealer and works parttime in a bookstore (o, I’m jealous) and when he and Lydia meet their fate is sealed…
The end is a bit abrupt but thinking about it I don’t think it could have ended any other satisfying way.
Thanks to Mad Axe Media and Netgalley for this review copy.
June 11, 2025
Hiding Lies is a brilliant, beautifully crafted psychological thriller read that you will be incapable of putting down. Told from the POV of two very dark and haunted minds, this book captured my attention from the very first line to the very last.
The author gives readers a detailed look into the background of our MCs, allowing readers to have a better understanding of the complexity of their minds and lives, along with the inner mental and emotional turmoil they face each day, being haunted by their past.
This book was fast-paced and never held a dull moment. I really liked how the author always made sure that there was something happening on these pages. I am a firm believer that books under 300 pages should have suspense all throughout this book delivered in that regard.
Another thing I really appreciated was how the author didn't make things overly gruesome or gory. As a reader, I was able to read and digest everything without feeling overwhelmed. There was no reliance on shock value to carry the story, and it really made it even more enjoyable for me.
I really liked both these MCs in this book and thoroughly enjoyed both their POVs; even the romance was a welcome surprise and didn't distract from the plot.
Overall, this was a really enthralling read, and I would probably re-read again in the future.
4.75 rounded up for Goodreads!
Thank you to Netgalley, Mad Axe Media, and Stephanie Rose for my eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
Pub date: October 29th, 2024.
The author gives readers a detailed look into the background of our MCs, allowing readers to have a better understanding of the complexity of their minds and lives, along with the inner mental and emotional turmoil they face each day, being haunted by their past.
This book was fast-paced and never held a dull moment. I really liked how the author always made sure that there was something happening on these pages. I am a firm believer that books under 300 pages should have suspense all throughout this book delivered in that regard.
Another thing I really appreciated was how the author didn't make things overly gruesome or gory. As a reader, I was able to read and digest everything without feeling overwhelmed. There was no reliance on shock value to carry the story, and it really made it even more enjoyable for me.
I really liked both these MCs in this book and thoroughly enjoyed both their POVs; even the romance was a welcome surprise and didn't distract from the plot.
Overall, this was a really enthralling read, and I would probably re-read again in the future.
4.75 rounded up for Goodreads!
Thank you to Netgalley, Mad Axe Media, and Stephanie Rose for my eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
Pub date: October 29th, 2024.
August 15, 2025
In Hiding Lies, we follow Lydia, a forensic photographer tasked with documenting a gruesome crime scene at a remote campsite. A possible serial killer may be lurking, ready to strike again, leaving behind a sinister message in photographs. Lydia feels an unsettling connection to the killer through this message, and as more of her own dark and tragic past is revealed, her obsession deepens. Then she meets Adam, someone she finally feels a genuine connection with.
From the very first page, this story grabbed my attention. It’s fast-paced, high-tension, and told from the dual POVs of Lydia, the crime scene photographer, and the killer. While the plot kept me engaged, I found myself wanting more depth from both the story and its characters. Please check content warnings before reading.
Thank you NetGalley and Death by TBR Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Publication date : Sep 9, 2025
From the very first page, this story grabbed my attention. It’s fast-paced, high-tension, and told from the dual POVs of Lydia, the crime scene photographer, and the killer. While the plot kept me engaged, I found myself wanting more depth from both the story and its characters. Please check content warnings before reading.
Thank you NetGalley and Death by TBR Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Publication date : Sep 9, 2025
July 28, 2025
1/5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and Death by TBR Books for an ARC! Comes out September 9!
I feel really awful about this because I hate being negative about ARCs but I just DID NOT vibe with this book at all. It made me angry and was honestly misleading. I need writers to stop hiding their dark serial killer romance stories behind the guise of a psychological horror. PLEASE.
The book follows crime scene photographer Lydia, who becomes obsessed with the ‘artistry’ of a new serial killer in town. She’s a sociopath, he’s a sociopath, they both love photography and have tragic pasts so boom, they’re a match made in hell. But there is so little complexity in their characters or thoughts. I see people comparing this to Dexter, which is a much more compelling portrait of a serial killer, where is he plagued by his past and his clashing objectives. There is no complexity to Adam or Lydia, and there is certainly no complexity in the way law enforcement is treated: a system that fails kids and is full of bureaucratic idiots. These things may be true, but we never get any more insight into this or even a glimmer of nuance. It’s cut-and-dry.
Ultimately, Hiding Lies is full of plenty of gore, but the real horror is in Lydia getting turned on over the dead bodies of some kids.
Thank you to NetGalley and Death by TBR Books for an ARC! Comes out September 9!
I feel really awful about this because I hate being negative about ARCs but I just DID NOT vibe with this book at all. It made me angry and was honestly misleading. I need writers to stop hiding their dark serial killer romance stories behind the guise of a psychological horror. PLEASE.
The book follows crime scene photographer Lydia, who becomes obsessed with the ‘artistry’ of a new serial killer in town. She’s a sociopath, he’s a sociopath, they both love photography and have tragic pasts so boom, they’re a match made in hell. But there is so little complexity in their characters or thoughts. I see people comparing this to Dexter, which is a much more compelling portrait of a serial killer, where is he plagued by his past and his clashing objectives. There is no complexity to Adam or Lydia, and there is certainly no complexity in the way law enforcement is treated: a system that fails kids and is full of bureaucratic idiots. These things may be true, but we never get any more insight into this or even a glimmer of nuance. It’s cut-and-dry.
Ultimately, Hiding Lies is full of plenty of gore, but the real horror is in Lydia getting turned on over the dead bodies of some kids.
April 1, 2024
The spawn of Caroline Kepnes's You and an episode of Criminal Minds has been birthed in Stephanie Rose's gruesome new thriller, Hiding Lies, I think this stabs its knife into a few genres, thriller, horror and dark romance, it has it all, this book needs to be on your radar, a twisty thriller depicting the relationship between a forensic photographer and a serial killer, oof gimme, it's clear the author has a penchant for detail and the plot is intricate without being over complex, dual POVs allow us an insight into our two protagonists that have exceptional depth, far from a run of the mill forensic detective the character of Lydia is complex as we learn of her past, and then there's Adam, our serial killer, terrifying yes, TERRIFYINGLY CHARMING, untill well, he isn't, theres lots of graphic violence in this which extreme horror lovers will appreciate, this has a good pace, think walking just fast enough that you can still hold a converstion but you're out of breath, this was a unique mesh of a few genres that Rose deftly pulled off, I will definitely be reading more by this author!
September 26, 2024
Lydia likes to read “The Silence of the Lambs”, is obsessed with books, hates liars and enjoys taking pictures. She was an abused foster child who became a forensic photographer, documenting crimes all over Portland. She admires the killers, decorating her apartment’s walls with gruesome crime scenes. She has a dark side, and doesn’t know what to do with it.
Adam likes to read “The Silence of the Lambs”, is obsessed with books, hates liars and enjoys taking pictures. He and his girlfriend have recently split up, and he has immersed himself with work, and other activities, like kayaking and camping. He has a dark side, and doesn’t know what to do with it.
When the two meet, sparks immediately fly. Lydia is in the middle of crazy things at work, as a potential serial killer seems to be getting started. They stab multiple people to death, then arrange their bodies in tender positions for the police to find. Lydia is getting stressed, especially when one of the cases hits home, but she can’t tell Adam about it, for multiple reasons. There are some things he can’t tell her, either. But maybe he’d like to try…
It’s rare to find good extreme horror on NetGalley, so I’m glad I was able to get this advanced reader copy! The writing was decent, and while the ending felt too abrupt, this story was a horrifying yet touching tale of two people finding each other…just with a lot of murder sprinkled in! 3.5 stars, rounded up for being a debut.
(Thank you to Mad Axe Media, Stephanie Rose
And NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on October 29, 2024.)
Adam likes to read “The Silence of the Lambs”, is obsessed with books, hates liars and enjoys taking pictures. He and his girlfriend have recently split up, and he has immersed himself with work, and other activities, like kayaking and camping. He has a dark side, and doesn’t know what to do with it.
When the two meet, sparks immediately fly. Lydia is in the middle of crazy things at work, as a potential serial killer seems to be getting started. They stab multiple people to death, then arrange their bodies in tender positions for the police to find. Lydia is getting stressed, especially when one of the cases hits home, but she can’t tell Adam about it, for multiple reasons. There are some things he can’t tell her, either. But maybe he’d like to try…
It’s rare to find good extreme horror on NetGalley, so I’m glad I was able to get this advanced reader copy! The writing was decent, and while the ending felt too abrupt, this story was a horrifying yet touching tale of two people finding each other…just with a lot of murder sprinkled in! 3.5 stars, rounded up for being a debut.
(Thank you to Mad Axe Media, Stephanie Rose
And NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on October 29, 2024.)
April 13, 2025
An intriguing story centered on two deeply messed-up characters. While I could empathize with them at times, I never really agreed with their actions. In terms of the story, it felt somewhat repetitive, as it kept revisiting the same details about the murders from both Lydia’s perspective and the serial killer’s. I needed more variation from the POVs to keep the story’s momentum going.
One of the murders genuinely shocked me, I was surprised the author went that far, but it also made me realize that these characters aren’t necessarily meant to be redeemable. The romance was insta-love, which was a surprising choice and didn’t quite work for me. The characters don’t even meet until about halfway through the book and I felt their relationship would have benefited from an earlier introduction. One of the characters also lacked depth, with motivations that came across as surface-level. Overall, the justification for the murders felt weak and I struggled to enjoy this book.
One of the murders genuinely shocked me, I was surprised the author went that far, but it also made me realize that these characters aren’t necessarily meant to be redeemable. The romance was insta-love, which was a surprising choice and didn’t quite work for me. The characters don’t even meet until about halfway through the book and I felt their relationship would have benefited from an earlier introduction. One of the characters also lacked depth, with motivations that came across as surface-level. Overall, the justification for the murders felt weak and I struggled to enjoy this book.
August 30, 2025
I had to see it through but this was just not for me. There is no reason to depict children’s murder in my opinion and then the added romance aspect is sooo not for me
December 19, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
3.5
This was an interesting ride between a forensic photographer Lydia and Adam a man who she meets and develops a deep connection with. While working on a new case of a potential serial killer, things start to look a little too familiar to Lydia and she finds out some interesting details about Adam who in turn uncovers a secret of Lydia's.
The story is very fast paced, gorey, and engaging. I wish that the plot could have had a little more depth to it as I feel the back story of Lydia and Adam could have been flushed out more. Definitely consider the content warnings for the book as some scenes are a little intense.
3.5
This was an interesting ride between a forensic photographer Lydia and Adam a man who she meets and develops a deep connection with. While working on a new case of a potential serial killer, things start to look a little too familiar to Lydia and she finds out some interesting details about Adam who in turn uncovers a secret of Lydia's.
The story is very fast paced, gorey, and engaging. I wish that the plot could have had a little more depth to it as I feel the back story of Lydia and Adam could have been flushed out more. Definitely consider the content warnings for the book as some scenes are a little intense.
April 8, 2024
This was phenomenal — mind-blowing, unique, and enthralling from start to finish. Usually when a story is fast paced, character building takes a hit. That was definitely not the case with this one. We got very unique and deeply flawed and human characters while also keeping the story moving forward at a nice speed that had me binging this book in one sitting.
The love story element was a pleasant surprise as well, and it was reminiscent of YOU by Caroline Kepnes in a more entrancing way. Would love to see a sequel or at least more of these characters in the future!
If you're a horror fan or want a unique thriller read, preorder this one for its October pub day release!! Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this one.
The love story element was a pleasant surprise as well, and it was reminiscent of YOU by Caroline Kepnes in a more entrancing way. Would love to see a sequel or at least more of these characters in the future!
If you're a horror fan or want a unique thriller read, preorder this one for its October pub day release!! Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this one.
August 22, 2024
2 stars for this debut.
Lydia is a forensic photographer with the Portland Police and loves her job. So much so that crime scene photos hang in her house and she feels like she understands killers. Having had an incredibly rough childhood growing up in the foster care system, she can stomach quite a lot. When Lydia is called to the scene of a gruesome crime in the woods of the PNW she is excited to get to work and track down the person who did it.
I really thought that I would love this book. People have been comparing it to Dexter and I love Dexter!! I liked that Hiding Lies was told in dual timelines; books with two POV’s are the bees knees because it leaves readers with more information. It’s also a story that is incredibly fast paced.
I, unfortunately, am struggling to come up with anything else that I actually liked about this book. Some plot points were quite underdeveloped and others were way too conveniently written. This story lacked depth which made it a quick and easy read—regardless of the subject matter—but it left me feeling unsatisfied. There are so many sub-genres within the horror genre… Some horror is so incredible at world-building and builds tension and dread and some horror is there for shock factor and this story was the latter. If that’s your jam, you may just love this book but I prefer the former type of horror so, for that reason and the reasons listed above, this book didn’t do it for me.
Regardless, I want to show my gratitude to Mad Axe Media and NetGalley for the digital copy. Out 10/29/2024.
Lydia is a forensic photographer with the Portland Police and loves her job. So much so that crime scene photos hang in her house and she feels like she understands killers. Having had an incredibly rough childhood growing up in the foster care system, she can stomach quite a lot. When Lydia is called to the scene of a gruesome crime in the woods of the PNW she is excited to get to work and track down the person who did it.
I really thought that I would love this book. People have been comparing it to Dexter and I love Dexter!! I liked that Hiding Lies was told in dual timelines; books with two POV’s are the bees knees because it leaves readers with more information. It’s also a story that is incredibly fast paced.
I, unfortunately, am struggling to come up with anything else that I actually liked about this book. Some plot points were quite underdeveloped and others were way too conveniently written. This story lacked depth which made it a quick and easy read—regardless of the subject matter—but it left me feeling unsatisfied. There are so many sub-genres within the horror genre… Some horror is so incredible at world-building and builds tension and dread and some horror is there for shock factor and this story was the latter. If that’s your jam, you may just love this book but I prefer the former type of horror so, for that reason and the reasons listed above, this book didn’t do it for me.
Regardless, I want to show my gratitude to Mad Axe Media and NetGalley for the digital copy. Out 10/29/2024.
April 19, 2024
I have a hard time with alternating POV stories, but this one worked really well.
I initially thought this was going to be a generic thriller but was much more psychological horror, with a sprinkle of slasher. Some scenes were particularly gruesome. Oh, and it’s also a romance but, creepily, it works.
While it was easy to see where the story was going, I stilled enjoyed the ride.
I think many people who are fans of true crime will love it for the psychological aspect, and the extreme horror freaks (me) will love it for the blood.
I initially thought this was going to be a generic thriller but was much more psychological horror, with a sprinkle of slasher. Some scenes were particularly gruesome. Oh, and it’s also a romance but, creepily, it works.
While it was easy to see where the story was going, I stilled enjoyed the ride.
I think many people who are fans of true crime will love it for the psychological aspect, and the extreme horror freaks (me) will love it for the blood.
August 19, 2024
2.75⭐️
Thank you Netgalley, Stephanie Rose, and Mad Axe Media for an ARC in return for an honest review!
Lydia is a forensics photographer who is obsessed with true crime who most don’t get. She enjoys her job and the work she does. I loved the aspect of her job! This is dark and graphic at times. CHECK TRIGGER WARNINGS. I think the overall idea was done decently well. It was entertaining and quick.
What was not my favorite it? I feel like there wasn’t much character development and the romance in this was insta love. Where was the substance? Why were things rushed? And the ending… well that could be hit or miss!
Read if you like:
• Books like: Butcher and Blackbird, You
• dark and twisted
• alternating POVs
• quick paced read
• TV shows like: Dexter, CSI, Forensic Files
Thank you Netgalley, Stephanie Rose, and Mad Axe Media for an ARC in return for an honest review!
Lydia is a forensics photographer who is obsessed with true crime who most don’t get. She enjoys her job and the work she does. I loved the aspect of her job! This is dark and graphic at times. CHECK TRIGGER WARNINGS. I think the overall idea was done decently well. It was entertaining and quick.
What was not my favorite it? I feel like there wasn’t much character development and the romance in this was insta love. Where was the substance? Why were things rushed? And the ending… well that could be hit or miss!
Read if you like:
• Books like: Butcher and Blackbird, You
• dark and twisted
• alternating POVs
• quick paced read
• TV shows like: Dexter, CSI, Forensic Files
August 30, 2024
2.5 stars.
Forensic photographer Lydia has spent years trying to leave her traumatic past behind and when a camping couple is found slain, her role on the forensics team gives her life purpose again. As the murders continue, Lydia gets more wrapped up with the victims and a mysterious man who seems to be as tortured as she is.
HIDING LIES by Stephanie Rose is definitely a bingeable thriller.
This book clocks in at ~246 pages, featuring short chapters and two points of view, making it a very quick read - almost two quick. I found the story and character arcs to be lacking and felt an overall rushed quality to the writing.
It was hard to feel sympathy for either of our main characters and I honestly felt grimey reading from their POVs and trying to understand their reasoning for why they think and behave the way they do (this maybe could have been resolved if they were sculpted as characters better). I have read and enjoyed reading from sociopathic characters’ POVs before, so I know I’m not fully averse to those qualities!
The dialogue was extremely cringe at time, and there was a decent amount of repetition throughout the story as well.
I also think the story would have been more suspenseful if we didn’t know who the killer was from the jump!
I’m glad to see some readers really enjoying this one, but it ultimately missed the mark for me.
Thanks to Mad Axe Media and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Forensic photographer Lydia has spent years trying to leave her traumatic past behind and when a camping couple is found slain, her role on the forensics team gives her life purpose again. As the murders continue, Lydia gets more wrapped up with the victims and a mysterious man who seems to be as tortured as she is.
HIDING LIES by Stephanie Rose is definitely a bingeable thriller.
This book clocks in at ~246 pages, featuring short chapters and two points of view, making it a very quick read - almost two quick. I found the story and character arcs to be lacking and felt an overall rushed quality to the writing.
It was hard to feel sympathy for either of our main characters and I honestly felt grimey reading from their POVs and trying to understand their reasoning for why they think and behave the way they do (this maybe could have been resolved if they were sculpted as characters better). I have read and enjoyed reading from sociopathic characters’ POVs before, so I know I’m not fully averse to those qualities!
The dialogue was extremely cringe at time, and there was a decent amount of repetition throughout the story as well.
I also think the story would have been more suspenseful if we didn’t know who the killer was from the jump!
I’m glad to see some readers really enjoying this one, but it ultimately missed the mark for me.
Thanks to Mad Axe Media and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
June 21, 2025
2.5 rounded up!
While this was an entertaining read, I found the entire story to be entirely predictable. The story being told from two POV's had me figuring out where this was going within the first few chapters, and while I had a good time with it, I was kind of bored BECAUSE it was predictable. Also I had MAJOR beef with a lot of the plot points....specifically bodies being recovered in the Pacific Northwest woods untouched by any animals at all for up to days on end. A lot of the plot points just felt a bit too convenient. I had a good enough time with it and it made for a quick and easy read, I just wished there was a bit more of a struggle overall.
While this was an entertaining read, I found the entire story to be entirely predictable. The story being told from two POV's had me figuring out where this was going within the first few chapters, and while I had a good time with it, I was kind of bored BECAUSE it was predictable. Also I had MAJOR beef with a lot of the plot points....specifically bodies being recovered in the Pacific Northwest woods untouched by any animals at all for up to days on end. A lot of the plot points just felt a bit too convenient. I had a good enough time with it and it made for a quick and easy read, I just wished there was a bit more of a struggle overall.
May 3, 2024
*****I received this ARC free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
What the….?!!! This book was CRAZY GOOD! It was a serial killer story like no other I have ever read! If you like this type of story this book is definitely going to be a must read for you! I was sucked in from the start and held on for the wild ride. I only wish the book could have continued. I would love to see what would take place even more in the future.
What the….?!!! This book was CRAZY GOOD! It was a serial killer story like no other I have ever read! If you like this type of story this book is definitely going to be a must read for you! I was sucked in from the start and held on for the wild ride. I only wish the book could have continued. I would love to see what would take place even more in the future.
July 13, 2025
I wanted to love this so badly, but I don’t think I’m its target audience. It hits quite a few of my personal pet peeves—some of which come from my background in criminology and my aversion to true crime—but beyond that, I still struggled with several core aspects of the novel.
The biggest issue for me was the over-reliance on telling rather than showing. The two leads felt underdeveloped, and their arcs lacked the depth I was hoping for. It didn’t help that their motivations and backstories were infodumped early on, making it hard to stay invested.
Dialogues often came off as stilted and perfunctory, and side characters had no point besides driving the story further. I was looking forward to the romance, but it felt rushed and stretched my suspension of disbelief too far for it to land.
Lastly, the book approaches certain sensitive topics with a heavy hand, and though there is an attempt at challenging some disturbing ideas, it feels too weak to truly confront earlier implications.
That said, the internal monologues were surprisingly strong, and I believe some characters had real potential. Plus, it did entertain me from beginning to end, which is a feat in and of itself.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!
The biggest issue for me was the over-reliance on telling rather than showing. The two leads felt underdeveloped, and their arcs lacked the depth I was hoping for. It didn’t help that their motivations and backstories were infodumped early on, making it hard to stay invested.
Dialogues often came off as stilted and perfunctory, and side characters had no point besides driving the story further. I was looking forward to the romance, but it felt rushed and stretched my suspension of disbelief too far for it to land.
Lastly, the book approaches certain sensitive topics with a heavy hand, and though there is an attempt at challenging some disturbing ideas, it feels too weak to truly confront earlier implications.
That said, the internal monologues were surprisingly strong, and I believe some characters had real potential. Plus, it did entertain me from beginning to end, which is a feat in and of itself.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!
August 10, 2025
You can find this review and all my others over at Read Book. Repeat
Actual rating of 3.75
Lydia Walker is a forensic photographer who has just been making her way through life overshadowed by the trauma she experienced as a child. When a new case comes in it reignites her spark for life, and when she meets someone who she feels might finally understand her darkness, her life feels like it's been lit up like a supernova. As the murders keep ramping up Lydia will be forced to make a decision, give in to her darkness or uphold the justice system that once let her down.
I had originally requested this when it was first released, I was knocked back, and I'm okay with that as I was accepted for this version of the story, the author preferred version. I really loved the way that this story went, so I'm kinda glad that I got knocked back for the previous version, though I'll admit, I am curious to see how the two differ from each other. I do have an old copy of the book in my house I'm pretty sure, so I'll have to check it out.
I'll admit, I didn't like Lydia for a good portion of this story, though as the story progressed, I feel like I understood her a bit more and why she was the way that she was. I ended up really rooting for her in the end. I feel like that shows the ability of a writer, when they can take a character that comes across as so unlikeable and make you end up liking them. I'm curious to know whether I'd have felt the same with the original iteration of the story. This was told through alternating POVs of Lydia and Adam, the killer. We get to see Adam go from his first murder through to the rest, I loved that we got to see him from the beginning and get an inside look into his motives and thought patterns. The relationship between these two characters was unique and it really did raise some valid questions of what you would do. There were different situations that arose that really made Lydie look at herself and what she should do. I thought I had it all picked, but then the story went in a direction that I wasn't expecting which was great.
All in all, this turned out to be more enjoyable than I thought it would be when I first started. It was darker than what I thought it would be which was a pleasant surprise, and even though I went into this not knowing how I felt, I left it feeling super satisfied with what happened and liking a character that I initially didn't. A true testament to Rose's craft as a writer. If you want a dark serial killer story that has a unique feel to it, give this one a go.
Actual rating of 3.75
Lydia Walker is a forensic photographer who has just been making her way through life overshadowed by the trauma she experienced as a child. When a new case comes in it reignites her spark for life, and when she meets someone who she feels might finally understand her darkness, her life feels like it's been lit up like a supernova. As the murders keep ramping up Lydia will be forced to make a decision, give in to her darkness or uphold the justice system that once let her down.
I had originally requested this when it was first released, I was knocked back, and I'm okay with that as I was accepted for this version of the story, the author preferred version. I really loved the way that this story went, so I'm kinda glad that I got knocked back for the previous version, though I'll admit, I am curious to see how the two differ from each other. I do have an old copy of the book in my house I'm pretty sure, so I'll have to check it out.
I'll admit, I didn't like Lydia for a good portion of this story, though as the story progressed, I feel like I understood her a bit more and why she was the way that she was. I ended up really rooting for her in the end. I feel like that shows the ability of a writer, when they can take a character that comes across as so unlikeable and make you end up liking them. I'm curious to know whether I'd have felt the same with the original iteration of the story. This was told through alternating POVs of Lydia and Adam, the killer. We get to see Adam go from his first murder through to the rest, I loved that we got to see him from the beginning and get an inside look into his motives and thought patterns. The relationship between these two characters was unique and it really did raise some valid questions of what you would do. There were different situations that arose that really made Lydie look at herself and what she should do. I thought I had it all picked, but then the story went in a direction that I wasn't expecting which was great.
All in all, this turned out to be more enjoyable than I thought it would be when I first started. It was darker than what I thought it would be which was a pleasant surprise, and even though I went into this not knowing how I felt, I left it feeling super satisfied with what happened and liking a character that I initially didn't. A true testament to Rose's craft as a writer. If you want a dark serial killer story that has a unique feel to it, give this one a go.
May 19, 2024
This book reads like a Criminal Minds episode. If you’re into the crime genre of tv, Hiding Lies is absolutely for you.
I should have read the synopsis for this book a bit better because I was absolutely not expecting a full blown romance. While I liked that aspect somewhat, it was very insta-love.
The book was very well written overall. The ending felt very rushed & can be hit or miss depending on the reader. Unfortunately for me it was a miss.
Ultimately, this book was a good one which is why I gave it 4 stars! Even though I would have liked a different ending, I do think a lot of people will like it.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC copy!
I should have read the synopsis for this book a bit better because I was absolutely not expecting a full blown romance. While I liked that aspect somewhat, it was very insta-love.
The book was very well written overall. The ending felt very rushed & can be hit or miss depending on the reader. Unfortunately for me it was a miss.
Ultimately, this book was a good one which is why I gave it 4 stars! Even though I would have liked a different ending, I do think a lot of people will like it.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC copy!
May 16, 2024
This was an enjoyable and fast read. It had a good thrill to the storyline and was well written. There was a good backstory to the characters that helped explain who they are as adults. Criminal vs the law! Towards the end, it was a little predictable on where the story was heading, but still exciting to read.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC copy of this great book!
October 20, 2024
I could not put this book down. The first chapter is literally perfect—sets us up with backstory, and tone, and then drops us headfirst into the story. Lydia is a forensic photographer for the Portland Police Bureau with a dark history full of abuse in foster homes.
Most of the story is told between this cat-and-mouse POV swap which is reminiscent of a contemporary romance. It works!
I wasn’t expecting to ugly face cry but the scene sneaks up on you—even though you know it’s coming—and bam! emotions! Definitely don’t want to spoil anything, just know youll be questioning your own morals before finishing.
Most of the story is told between this cat-and-mouse POV swap which is reminiscent of a contemporary romance. It works!
I wasn’t expecting to ugly face cry but the scene sneaks up on you—even though you know it’s coming—and bam! emotions! Definitely don’t want to spoil anything, just know youll be questioning your own morals before finishing.
December 5, 2024
This one was good and dark! I'm a sucker for a creepy serial killer story, and this one grabbed me right away. I liked that it felt like a mix between horror and psychological thriller, and at 240 pages, it's a super quick read. I liked that we got POVs from both Adam and Lydia and thought things got pretty interesting after they crossed paths.
The ending was pretty abrupt, which makes me wonder if there will be a second book or if it was just left open to interpretation.
This is the author's debut novel, and I think she did a great job! I'll be looking forward to reading more from her in the future!
The ending was pretty abrupt, which makes me wonder if there will be a second book or if it was just left open to interpretation.
This is the author's debut novel, and I think she did a great job! I'll be looking forward to reading more from her in the future!
May 20, 2024
𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝗚𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗔𝗥𝗖. 𝗜 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝗶𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗹𝘆.
Camping has become unsafe for tourists as a murderer is on the loose. The police and the FBI are on the hunt for the killer, but the search is proving difficult as they have yet to identify a clear pattern and his signature to catch him.
Lydia is a forensic photographer who loves all things true crime, Adam is a book dealer and lover. Both live in Portland and their paths are about to cross in a unique way.
Is Lydia ready for this encounter? Can Adam finally be free and act as he desires?
⛺ 🔪 🩸 ⛺ 🔪 🩸 ⛺ 🔪 🩸 🔪 ⛺ 🩸 🔪 ⛺ 🩸 🔪 ⛺
This was an extraordinary reading experience. The book is written from two perspectives. We have the female main character, Lydia Walker, and on the other side, the male main character, Adam Collins.
As different as the two are, they are connected by much more than one might initially suspect.
For me, the book was a celebration of being weird and/or different. At some points, the two main characters' behaviours felt as if the author wanted to show us, that every form of existence and ‘behaviour’ is essentially ‘right’… even if it results in deaths.
After all, strictly speaking… aren’t these killings just collateral damage to balance out the world?
And regardless of whether one is morally right or not… isn’t morality sometimes a matter of perspective? Aren’t there gray areas in how one can interpret ‘morally right’?
A note on the side characters like Detective Frank Morris, FBI Agents Michael Harshaw and Jonathan Yates, as well as Heather Carlson and her son Jacob… they fell a bit flat for me personally, but it wasn’t too bad while reading the book.
Also the depth of both Lydia and Adam made up for that!
This book was a mix of thriller and love story, and this blend worked quite well for me, to be honest.
3.9 out of 5 for this quick read.
Publishing Date will be the 29'th of October 2024!
𝑰 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆, 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒅𝒐 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒂 𝒕𝒘𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒆 𝒂 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝒌𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒓 𝒎𝒖𝒓𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌𝒈𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅.
My Review on Instagram, if you'd want to drop a Like…
Camping has become unsafe for tourists as a murderer is on the loose. The police and the FBI are on the hunt for the killer, but the search is proving difficult as they have yet to identify a clear pattern and his signature to catch him.
Lydia is a forensic photographer who loves all things true crime, Adam is a book dealer and lover. Both live in Portland and their paths are about to cross in a unique way.
Is Lydia ready for this encounter? Can Adam finally be free and act as he desires?
⛺ 🔪 🩸 ⛺ 🔪 🩸 ⛺ 🔪 🩸 🔪 ⛺ 🩸 🔪 ⛺ 🩸 🔪 ⛺
This was an extraordinary reading experience. The book is written from two perspectives. We have the female main character, Lydia Walker, and on the other side, the male main character, Adam Collins.
As different as the two are, they are connected by much more than one might initially suspect.
For me, the book was a celebration of being weird and/or different. At some points, the two main characters' behaviours felt as if the author wanted to show us, that every form of existence and ‘behaviour’ is essentially ‘right’… even if it results in deaths.
After all, strictly speaking… aren’t these killings just collateral damage to balance out the world?
And regardless of whether one is morally right or not… isn’t morality sometimes a matter of perspective? Aren’t there gray areas in how one can interpret ‘morally right’?
A note on the side characters like Detective Frank Morris, FBI Agents Michael Harshaw and Jonathan Yates, as well as Heather Carlson and her son Jacob… they fell a bit flat for me personally, but it wasn’t too bad while reading the book.
Also the depth of both Lydia and Adam made up for that!
This book was a mix of thriller and love story, and this blend worked quite well for me, to be honest.
3.9 out of 5 for this quick read.
Publishing Date will be the 29'th of October 2024!
𝑰 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆, 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒅𝒐 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒂 𝒕𝒘𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒆 𝒂 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝒌𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒓 𝒎𝒖𝒓𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌𝒈𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅.
My Review on Instagram, if you'd want to drop a Like…
November 2, 2024
This book is good, really good but had the potential to deliver so much more. It is a tense, twisted read with trigger warnings - child and animal death. (Not graphic description)
Lydia is a forensic photographer and Adam is a serial killer, this is the story of their relationship from strangers to much more, the killings are gruesome but Lydia cannot help admiring Adam’s work whilst she works the case. We delve into the minds of both the main characters, whilst learning about both of their pasts.
This was a fast paced read, thrilling and tense, but had so much more it could have offered. However definitely worth a read if you like serial killer books.
Many thanks to NetGalley, author and publisher for my eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Lydia is a forensic photographer and Adam is a serial killer, this is the story of their relationship from strangers to much more, the killings are gruesome but Lydia cannot help admiring Adam’s work whilst she works the case. We delve into the minds of both the main characters, whilst learning about both of their pasts.
This was a fast paced read, thrilling and tense, but had so much more it could have offered. However definitely worth a read if you like serial killer books.
Many thanks to NetGalley, author and publisher for my eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
October 17, 2024
This book was incredibly dark. The love the concept of such dark people finding each other, but I found Adam’s reasons for killing liars to completely lack depth. I need much more than the rationale that I was given. On top of that, the book ended really abruptly, and not in the way that left me dying for more. I ended up feeling more frustrated than anything.
April 17, 2024
Lydia Walker is a forensic photographer with a traumatic past. While Lydia is working on a homicide case she crosses paths with Adam, a kindred spirit of sorts, also scarred by life.
As the case progresses, Lydia finds herself personally connected to it and realizes she has a choice to make regarding her morality.
The story is well written, fast read. I finished it in one sitting. I thoroughly enjoyed the story being told through the alternating view points of Lydia and Adam, almost in a good vs evil way. But Lydia isn't that good, is she? I did find some scenes and plot points to be a bit rushed and under developed. And let's not forget that while this is a twisty and dark story, there is a dash of romance sprinkled in. I look forward to the growth to come from future novels by Stephanie Rose.
As the case progresses, Lydia finds herself personally connected to it and realizes she has a choice to make regarding her morality.
The story is well written, fast read. I finished it in one sitting. I thoroughly enjoyed the story being told through the alternating view points of Lydia and Adam, almost in a good vs evil way. But Lydia isn't that good, is she? I did find some scenes and plot points to be a bit rushed and under developed. And let's not forget that while this is a twisty and dark story, there is a dash of romance sprinkled in. I look forward to the growth to come from future novels by Stephanie Rose.
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