Liar Thief

by May Rinaldi

Two childhood one ‘killer’, one cop.

Ginnie says she is a serial killer who kills people who have wronged her. No one believes her.

Author Fiona Taylor is writing Ginnie’s memoir, The Killer Inside, trying to understand why Ginnie should still insist that she’s a killer. She recruits ex-DI, Tom O’Brien, to examine the evidence. As Ginnie’s oldest friend, Tom has his own insights into her story.

As her memoir unfolds will the decisions taken by Fiona and Tom put them and their families at risk?

Is it safe to release a self-confessed serial killer back out into society, even if there is no evidence against her?

426 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 18, 2025

Reviews

[AtomicBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great read from start to end. It is a fast paced read that switches between past and present. Fiona is writing a biography about Ginny’s life and isn’t quite sure how to pitch Ginny’s crimes to the waiting public when she is released from jail. And I’m still not sure whether to feel sorry for her or not! Ginny is definitely an unreliable narrator from the beginning. I love the dark humour, I love the uncertainty of knowing which narrative is true, and I love all the main characters.

[Alisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

My name is Ginnie...I am a serial killer'
This is exactly what I want in a psychological thriller: it’s dark, gory, and absolutely twisted. I had a good feeling about this book from the moment I read the synopsis, and it didn't disappoint.
We follow three main characters: Ginnie, the self-proclaimed serial killer; Tom, her childhood best friend and a detective; and Fiona, who is writing a book about Ginnie's life.
​As Fiona interviews Ginnie, we get a direct look into gruesome murders that stand in stark contrast to the childhood diaries where Tom and Ginnie were just friends.
The central question of the book remains: is Ginnie truly the killer she claims to be, or is she just a broken person seeking attention? Because as the plot unfolds, some of her stories simply don't line up.
I definitely loved this book—it kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time, and the ending was just unbelievable.
10 out of 10 ,would recommend to a friend.

[Lynsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first heard about ‘Liar Thief’ at the Moffat Crime festival last year, when the author did a reading. I instantly knew that I would be reading it when it was published, and it certainly did not disappoint!

‘My name is Ginnie…I am a serial killer’ - but no one believes her! Author Fiona Taylor is writing her memoir and is really trying to drill down into the psychological reasons as to why Ginnie believes this, as there is no evidence to back up her claims. Fiona also asks Ginnie’s best friend, Tom, for his insights into their childhood together. He is now retired from the police and has access to their files. The thing is, Ginnie is to be released from prison soon, and can you really trust her…is she a killer or a liar?!

Gosh, I was obsessed by this book. It is such an interesting and novel concept for a story, and it instantly grabbed my attention! All the way through, you really are flipping back and forth between believing Ginnie’s story or thinking she is the most accomplished liar in history. The story is told from three perspectives, and the extracts from Tom’s diary as he grew up were the only bits of the narrative you could hold onto. It is a dark and unsettling read, and even now I can’t make my mind up about the historical cases! It is an intelligent and provocative narrative that asks difficult questions. The short, snappy chapters keep the reader’s attention, and the tension renders you unable to look away from the page! It was engrossing and beguiling, and I can see this being one of my books of the year.

Let me know if you pick this one up!

[Veronika Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is so much I could say about this brilliant novel, but spoilers prevent me. I would have enjoyed it as a ‘buddy’ read so I could discuss it with others. It was so different, so unique, and I loved it although there were times I was almost too afraid to turn the page. Some of Ginnie’s actions are unimaginable. As the book progresses, they just get worse. But are they real?

My first thought was why ex-DI Tom O’Brien remained friends with Ginnie, especially after he married his childhood sweetheart and they had a child, Joe. Ginnie is supposedly a narcissist and a sociopath, and she is dangerous. She claims that anyone who dies that she was close to, died because of her. She alleges that she played a part in all their deaths, even though in some cases it wasn’t physically possible. And no-one believes her. Would you?

I’m not convinced that she is a narcissist and a sociopath. Sociopath maybe, but I don’t believe that her selfish behaviour stems from narcissism. I think she is more likely neurodivergent, in other words her brain is wired differently, and she has never had the support she needed as a child. It wasn’t recognised back then. Or perhaps she’s just a manipulative cow and I’m being too kind, but then so is Tom. She owes him.

In 2015, after Ginnie has been in prison for 30 years, True Crime author Fiona Taylor is writing a book about her called The Killer Inside. Ginnie claims that Fiona bullied her at school – they were in the same class – but once again do we believe her.

Fiona interviews Ginnie and also Tom, who had to retire to a desk job after Ginnie shot him and shattered his leg. That is what she is in prison for, amongst other things, but not for the murders of the nine people she claims to have killed, as there is no evidence.

I’ve never read anything quite like Liar Thief, so titled because those are the two things Ginnie finds unforgivable. Anyone who lies to her or steals from her is a justifiable target for her revenge.

So far Liar Thief could be one of my favourite books of the whole year.

Many thanks to @annecater for inviting me to be part of #RandomThingsTours

[Zelda FeatzReviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Random Things Tours for inviting me to participate in this blog tour.
I am new to May Rinaldi. This book is a clever, unsettling psychological thriller that kept me questioning everything right up until the end. The premise alone is wonderfully provocative: what if someone insists they’re a serial killer… and there’s no proof to support it?
Ginnie is a fascinating character. She claims to have killed people who wronged her, yet no evidence exists, and no one truly believes her. That tension—between confession and disbelief—sits at the heart of the story and is handled really well. I found myself constantly weighing whether Ginnie was manipulative, delusional, or far more dangerous than anyone realised.
The structure, told through the lens of a memoir being written by author Fiona Taylor, adds an extra layer of intrigue. Fiona’s determination to uncover the truth felt both compelling and reckless, especially as she brings in ex-detective Tom O’Brien, who also happens to be Ginnie’s childhood friend. Tom’s dual role as investigator and emotionally invested insider adds depth and moral complexity, and I enjoyed how his past with Ginnie blurred the line between objectivity and loyalty.
The pacing is mostly tight, with a slow-burn sense of dread that steadily builds as secrets unravel. While there were moments where I wanted the tension to escalate a little faster, the payoff is worth it. Rinaldi does an excellent job exploring themes of truth, identity, guilt, and the risks of believing—or disbelieving—the wrong person.
Liar Thief is a smart, thought-provoking thriller that asks uncomfortable questions and keeps you guessing. A solid four-star read that fans of psychological suspense will definitely enjoy.
https://featzreviews.com/liar-thief-b...

[Davinia Hinde · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved, loved this book, In fact I couldn't put it down. Short snappy chapters, well outlined multiple POV and timelines and a superb plot make this book a must read.

I'm always slightly nervous when it comes to debut novels but this one is excellent. It's fast paced and honestly Ginnie (the serial killer) is perhaps unintentionally hilarious. There's a fantastic dark (very in places) humour that runs through the book and just leaves you wanting more.

I can't wait to read more books from May and this one is an absolute must read. Highly recommended

[Lisa reads alot Hamer · Rating 4 out of 5]

MY NAME IS GINNIE... I AM A SERIAL KILLER. - this is such a great first line and I knew from that line alone that I was going to enjoy it.
Told from different perspectives it was really interesting how Ginnie explained her crimes and how others saw her and the events she was describing.
A compelling read, short chapters and definitely one of those books that kept me reading ‘one more chapter’ well into the night.
A dark tale but with humour written in Ginnie was written in a way that made me feel uneasy was she really guilty of the crimes she was confessing, was she really that cold and unfeeling and could I trust was she was saying.
A great read I throughly enjoyed

[Zoe Forever Reading 16 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me hooked and was an easy 5🌟+ for me. It’s a fast paced read and i loved the lay out. You follow Ginnie in her current day transcript form, Fiona who is doing the interviews and also Tom in past tense diary entries and also current day. It was done very well.
The short chapters made it easy to fly through and keeps the variety throughout.
This book gets the brain thinking and you start to question Ginnie working out what to trust and believe.
It’s extremely dark at times but also has some humour in there to.
I wish more people knew about this book as needs to get more attention.

[Nadine-Sue Sargent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ginnie is certainly interesting, you have to give her that much. Complicated, mad, bad, sad and maybe a liar.

Her sense of justice is skewed and a little extreme to put it lightly! She seemed to tell Fiona an honest tale so why the woman persisted with meeting with her and collecting her story we'll never know. I guess she didn't quite believe Ginnie fully and that was silly of her.

Some of Ginnie's story does seem you side with her and you could understand why she'd be angry. However, other things would elicit the same level of anger showing her responses as disproportionate. Hard to say whether it was nature or nurture that led her to harm others. Made for an interesting read though.

[Claire Henderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love novels that span over years, and the pacing here was excellent. Ginnie is an unreliable narrator, with sociopathic tendencies, while Tom is painfully gullible, determined to believe the best in her no matter what. I really didn’t like the older character of Tom. When he was young I could understand his naïvety but I got so mad he wouldn’t listen to his wife.
Is Ginnie a serial killer, as she claims? I think she is. Despite the inconsistency in her narrative, this feels like a classic story of a woman not being believed.

[Elsbookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ginnie may just be the most psychotic main character I’ve ever come across…..but is she what she says she is???

Ginnie says she is a serial killer who kills people who have wronged her. No one believes her.

Her story is told through three POVs and starts from her childhood. The POVs are Ginnie herself, her childhood best friend Tom and an author called Fiona.

This book grabbed my attention from chapter one and after that it was hard to put down. I basically devoured it.

If you love the unreliable narrator trope, I think you’ll really enjoy this one!

[Carrie McMillan]

Bloody Scotland Review - Review to follow

[Angi Plant · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has been in my top be read pile for a couple of months. It was well worth the wait.
This is the first novel from May Rinaldi and it really was well worth the wait.
All the way through the book you are in the dance of did she, didn’t she? You wonder what she is planning and if there’s anyone she really cares about. It’s so well paced and the air of quiet menace never lets up.
The story is deliberately misleading and at odds with itself as we read a chapter from Fiona and a chapter by Ginnie.
It had me hooked from the off and didn’t let me go. It’s so clever, dark, slick and accomplished it doesn’t read like a debut novel at all. I can only say I look forward to reading more from May Rinaldi in the future.
With thanks to May Rinaldi for sending me a copy of this brilliant book.

[andshe.reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story that we'll & truly packs a punch.

FMC Ginnie isn't your average character, she's unreliable even from a young age, indecipherable, & she has a completely unrelatable yet suspenseful persona. May Rinaldi has perfected the art of layering her character full of flaws but still gave her a history that attempts to seek empathy from the reader.

The story is told from multiple perspectives within multiple timelines in various formats which builds the tension from more than one angle.

I also found the storyline rather thought provoking as Ginnie battles the lines of right & wrong, it's okay for her to do it to someone else but it's absolutely not okay for someone to do it to her. The blurry lines of self identity, who we are, how far would one go to right a wrong etc.

Needless to say this is one to be added to your tbr list. A thriller that will consume your time & your thoughts long after you've closed the book.

Thank you to Randomthingstours, May Rinaldi & the publisher for a copy of the book.

[Audrey Alsop · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book, couldn’t put it down. Can’t wait for what you release next May Rinaldi.

[Tula Mayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liar Thief by May Rinaldi had me completely hooked me from the first page and it never let go. The pacing is relentless, the push-and-pull between trust, deception, and desire is addictive, with some twists that really packed a punch.
There are some darker themes that are handled with care and intensity rather than the usual shock value.
This book balances suspense and emotion beautifully, making it hard to put down and even harder to forget once it’s over. Liar Thief is an absolute must-read. I’ll be thinking about this one for a long time.
This book didn’t just entertain me—it consumed me.

[Mary Picken · Rating 4 out of 5]

May Rinaldi’s Liar Thief is about who gets to decide the truth.

Ginnie insists she is a serial killer—and has been since childhood. She claims her victims all ‘deserved it.’ They were people who wronged her, and she was not prepared to let them get away with it. The only problem is that there’s no evidence. No bodies. No charges. Yet Ginnie is sticking to her story.

Ginnie is a fascinating character. Rinaldi doesn’t paint her as a manipulator. She is no hardened criminal, but comes across as normal, rational even, and that makes her insistence all the more chilling. As an unreliable narrator, she’s fascinating: not because she occasionally contradicts herself, but because she both withholds and sometimes drip feeds information. She is a woman shaped by her strong need for loyalty, by resentment, and a strong need to be in control of her own story.

Ginnie’s story is being written by Fiona Taylor, a true crime author tasked with bringing Ginnie’s life to the public through the publication of The Killer Inside. Her interviews with Ginnie take place in prison. Fiona’s chapters are down to earth. She’s trying to be objective, but the closer she gets to Ginnie, the more personal the project becomes as she tries to work out how much of what Ginnie is telling her is true. I loved how Fiona’s viewpoint highlights the danger of turning true crime into content: after all, Fiona’s career and bank balance rely on Ginnie’s version of events being true. Is giving someone a platform a way of understanding criminal activity, or does it pander to a killer’s ego, particularly when the storyteller stands to benefit financially?

This book presents three perspectives. Ginnie’s, Fiona’s and the third comes from Ginnie’s childhood friend, Tom. Tom O’Brien is a cop – an ex-DI and Ginnie’s oldest friend. Tom still sees Ginnie as the young girl she once was. Tom’s chapters, as he looks back on his old diaries, are full of self-doubt. He questions his career and past decisions, but is his loyalty blinding him to the truth about Ginnie? May Rinaldi does a lovely job in showing how Tom’s instinct to protect Ginnie clashes with his cop’s need for evidence.

Each of these three has a different viewpoint of the same events and that means we have to question Ginnie’s claims. The question becomes not whether it is safe to release Ginnie, but how much evidence we really need before we believe someone.

Liar Thief suggests that memory can be misleading and is sometimes emotionally led. Tom’s memories often clash with Ginnie’s, and it’s impossible to tell whose version is correct, or even if either is. You question Ginnie’s claims, but also wonder how much of Tom’s viewpoint is really accurate, seemingly bathed in a nostalgic glow. His loyalty to Ginnie skews every decision he takes. Is he protecting his innocent friend, or enabling Ginnie’s vindictiveness?

Verdict: Liar Thief is a psychological thriller based on uncertainty. I found the idea that someone could be truly dangerous without their crimes ever being proven really quite unsettling. You end with a sense that you’ve been lied to, but that’s what makes it an enjoyable read.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I heard the author read from this novel at Moffat Crime Fest in October and was instantly intrigued by the premise of the story, and was so eager to read it.
There is something deliciously unsettling about a book that plants a seed of doubt in your mind and then quietly nurtures it until you’re questioning everything. Liar Thief by May Rinaldi is exactly that kind of read, it is clever, chilling and utterly compelling from the very first page.

At the heart of the story is Ginnie: a woman who calmly insists she is a serial killer. She claims that every victim deserved their fate. One huge problem though; there are no bodies, no evidence, and she's never been charged. There is no proof that any crime was ever committed. And yet she refuses to retract her confession.

What follows is a brilliantly constructed psychological thriller told through three perspectives. Ginnie’s voice is measured and controlled as she recounts her past for true crime author Fiona Taylor, who is writing her memoir, The Killer Inside. Fiona’s chapters offer a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the world of true crime publishing, there's the the fine line between truth and storytelling, between justice and profit. As Fiona digs deeper, what begins as a professional project slowly edges into something far more personal and potentially dangerous.

Then there is Tom O’Brien, ex-DI and Ginnie’s childhood friend. Through his reflections and old diaries, we see a man torn between loyalty and logic. He wants to believe in the girl he once knew, but instinct and experience tell him to look harder. His internal conflict adds a layer of emotional depth that elevates this beyond a straightforward thriller.

What I loved most about Liar Thief is the ambiguity. Ginnie is not painted as a caricature villain. She is intelligent, composed and strangely persuasive. The tension doesn't come from graphic detail or dramatic scenes, but from uncertainty. Memory clashes with memory. Motive is murky. Loyalty blurs judgement. You are left constantly reassessing what you think you know.

The author handles the themes of truth, perception and the marketing of crime with confidence. The pacing is sharp, the structure cleverly created, and the sense of unease lingers long after you’ve turned the final page.

A gripping, intelligent psychological thriller that keeps you guessing, and doubting right to the end. Highly recommended.

[Ruth Setton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liar Thief blindsided me in the best way possible. May Rinaldi has crafted something genuinely original here—a psychological thriller that masquerades as a serial killer portrait before pulling the rug out from under you entirely. The atmospheric writing is stunning; rural Scotland's brooding landscapes and Gozo's sun-bleached beauty aren't just backdrops but active participants in the mounting tension. And then there's Ginnie-- enigmatic, unreliable, utterly compelling. Did she commit the murders she claims she did? The novel keeps you guessing from multiple angles, each perspective adding another layer of doubt. But what elevates this beyond a clever whodunit is Rinaldi's exploration of identity itself: the stories we tell about ourselves, the gap between who we believe we are and what we're capable of. It's gritty, propulsive, and genuinely unsettling in ways I didn't see coming. I read it on a cross-country flight--New York to Los Angeles-- and immediately wanted to discuss it with someone.

[Ruth Matheson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a good debut novel and although it has its dark parts, there is plenty of humour in it as well especially those of us of a certain age who were brought up in Lanarkshire. What you are never too sure about is whether Ginnie is lying and if she is, then why after all this time? It has a great pace throughout and I was page turning constantly to find out what was going to happen next. Definitely well worth a read.

[Emina Sehic · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the very first chapter I was pleasantly engaged to the book! However, I’m giving four stars because I found the ending fell short for me. I wanted to know if it was true, or not, and I just don’t have the closure. Perhaps this was the intent? Either way.. I wish it was longer so I could have found out more towards the end and finally understood Ginnie!!!!

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

an interesting exploration of the mind of a female killer - a promising debut id be interested to see what the author writes next 4* from me