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Let Her Lie: A Novel
A dejected filmmaker lets his curiosity get the best of him and plunges into a web of depravity and danger from which there might be no escape.
Theo Snyder is at the end of his rope. One minute he was on top of the world, his documentary film The Basement a massive critical and commercial hit, the next crestfallen when his latest film was canceled after an embarrassingly public misstep. As his desperation grows, he makes a bold decision: to pursue the story of the notorious "Halo Killer," Jasper Ross-Johnson. But delving into the life and mind of a serial killer could prove more deadly than Theo ever could have imagined.
At first, things are looking up. Jasper is willing to talk, the footage of the jailhouse meetings is spectacular, and famed investigator Zora Neale Monroe joins him on the project. Theo is sure he's getting close to something no one else has discovered: the truth about why Jasper was captured before he could kill his final victim. Someone else was on the beach that day, someone who knows a lot more than they're telling and just might know how it all happened. The truth could lead to more killing--unless Theo can uncover the real ending to the story of the Halo Killer first.
Theo Snyder is at the end of his rope. One minute he was on top of the world, his documentary film The Basement a massive critical and commercial hit, the next crestfallen when his latest film was canceled after an embarrassingly public misstep. As his desperation grows, he makes a bold decision: to pursue the story of the notorious "Halo Killer," Jasper Ross-Johnson. But delving into the life and mind of a serial killer could prove more deadly than Theo ever could have imagined.
At first, things are looking up. Jasper is willing to talk, the footage of the jailhouse meetings is spectacular, and famed investigator Zora Neale Monroe joins him on the project. Theo is sure he's getting close to something no one else has discovered: the truth about why Jasper was captured before he could kill his final victim. Someone else was on the beach that day, someone who knows a lot more than they're telling and just might know how it all happened. The truth could lead to more killing--unless Theo can uncover the real ending to the story of the Halo Killer first.
276 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 9, 2021
92 people are currently reading
5668 people want to read
About the author
Bryan Reardon
7 books441 followersI write psychological thrillers. The stories tend to surprise me. Taking a left when I signaled a right. Life when I felt death nearby. The characters are not alive. They do not exist. Yet I try to slip into their skins as I write. Mining for the emotions that flood during times of stress and tragedy and adventure. When the journey ends, a hole opens. A sense of deep mourning. And from those ashes the first line of the next story rises. And I feel better, then.
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January 11, 2021
As a moviemaker and a big fan of true crime documentaries, it was obvious for me after reading only two sentences of blurb, going blind to explore the story and eventually being hooked from the first pages!
Theo Snyder is flawed, broken hero, a documentary maker whose career already fell apart after involving in a scandal and manipulated by his documentary subject’s sister. As a result his last movie has been canceled because of his biased perspective to the true events.
Once upon a time he had it all when he directed “The Basement” and achieved critical and commercial success, but after the public humiliation of his next project and turning into persona non grata of La La Land’s business circle, he left LA and moved back to his classic shoe box Hell’s Kitchen apartment.
Now he has his comeback chance by making a true crime documentary about the notorious Halo Killer Jasper Ross-Johnson.
His investor friend Kent accepts to finance him and helps him to connect with one of the toughest kickass investigators, Zora Monroe. And guess what? The one of the most dangerous, cold blooded serial killer of the history is already on board to corporate with him. This was like a second chance.
The passionate, adrenaline junkie movie maker inside of him already got too much involved into the story. As soon as he starts to interview with Jasper in the prison and try to find out the truth about his getting caught up, ( because he was one of the most methodical criminal who never leaves any trace, clue or evidence that may connect him with the murders) he starts to realize, it may be connected with “Miracle Baby” who is left at the sink of an empty building, malnourished, all alone for days after her birth. She is the daughter of Jasper’s first victim. You may guess why they named her “ Miracle” after her tremendous survival skills.
Now 2 decades later, Jasper learned the baby’s existence who is a young woman now. What is connection between them? Does Jasper see her as his unfinished business?
We just witness Theo’s dedication to his project till it starts to destroy him mentally and physically but it already captivated him and no matter what the people around warn him to stop, he gets already obsessed. He doesn’t do it for fame, money or clear his name after his last biggest mistake which nearly killed his career. The adrenaline rush of finding the truth and bringing out some meaning to his miserable life push him harder.
But now Jasper escaped from the prison and he keeps calling him. His life is in danger but he feels he’s so close to solve the mystery. He cannot stop even though this can be his final job and it can also end his life!
It’s a fast paced, intriguing, unputdownable journey. I empathize Theo a lot. His character is well developed and realistically reflected a person’s true obsession and passion to his profession. I didn’t like Zora and her indecisive, precarious, untrustworthy manners.
At the end all the illogical plot lines are explained and especially the final twist was smartly played, beat my spidey spider senses!
So I’m giving my four Oscar worthy, binge watch true crime documentary stars! I’m so happy this book put this author on my radar and I cannot wait to read more works of him.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for sharing this unputdownable ARC with me in exchange my honest opinions.
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Theo Snyder is flawed, broken hero, a documentary maker whose career already fell apart after involving in a scandal and manipulated by his documentary subject’s sister. As a result his last movie has been canceled because of his biased perspective to the true events.
Once upon a time he had it all when he directed “The Basement” and achieved critical and commercial success, but after the public humiliation of his next project and turning into persona non grata of La La Land’s business circle, he left LA and moved back to his classic shoe box Hell’s Kitchen apartment.
Now he has his comeback chance by making a true crime documentary about the notorious Halo Killer Jasper Ross-Johnson.
His investor friend Kent accepts to finance him and helps him to connect with one of the toughest kickass investigators, Zora Monroe. And guess what? The one of the most dangerous, cold blooded serial killer of the history is already on board to corporate with him. This was like a second chance.
The passionate, adrenaline junkie movie maker inside of him already got too much involved into the story. As soon as he starts to interview with Jasper in the prison and try to find out the truth about his getting caught up, ( because he was one of the most methodical criminal who never leaves any trace, clue or evidence that may connect him with the murders) he starts to realize, it may be connected with “Miracle Baby” who is left at the sink of an empty building, malnourished, all alone for days after her birth. She is the daughter of Jasper’s first victim. You may guess why they named her “ Miracle” after her tremendous survival skills.
Now 2 decades later, Jasper learned the baby’s existence who is a young woman now. What is connection between them? Does Jasper see her as his unfinished business?
We just witness Theo’s dedication to his project till it starts to destroy him mentally and physically but it already captivated him and no matter what the people around warn him to stop, he gets already obsessed. He doesn’t do it for fame, money or clear his name after his last biggest mistake which nearly killed his career. The adrenaline rush of finding the truth and bringing out some meaning to his miserable life push him harder.
But now Jasper escaped from the prison and he keeps calling him. His life is in danger but he feels he’s so close to solve the mystery. He cannot stop even though this can be his final job and it can also end his life!
It’s a fast paced, intriguing, unputdownable journey. I empathize Theo a lot. His character is well developed and realistically reflected a person’s true obsession and passion to his profession. I didn’t like Zora and her indecisive, precarious, untrustworthy manners.
At the end all the illogical plot lines are explained and especially the final twist was smartly played, beat my spidey spider senses!
So I’m giving my four Oscar worthy, binge watch true crime documentary stars! I’m so happy this book put this author on my radar and I cannot wait to read more works of him.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for sharing this unputdownable ARC with me in exchange my honest opinions.
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October 4, 2020
A thriller without thrills does not a thriller make.
Theo Snyder is a documentary filmmaker, whose first film was a massive hit. After a public blunder while making his next film takes him off the hot list, he decides to refocus...and sets his sights on filming a documentary on The Halo Killer.
Jasper Ross-Johnson is the serial killer in question, and he’s currently serving a life sentence in jail. Things are looking up when he agrees to participate in the documentary. As Theo, along with investigator Zora Monroe, delves deeper into the story, he finds that there is someone with more information out there....Someone who might be able to explain how Jasper got caught before killing his next victim.
I was really looking forward to this one, and thought it had all of the makings of a fantastic serial killer thriller. Unfortunately, it was not a page turner for me. The moments I found interesting ended up having little or nothing to do with the main plot. I didn’t really enjoy any of the characters, and I thought it was easy to spot one of them who was hiding things. As the story ramped up (you can also read that as: As things became more convoluted), my interest waned. The final twists seemed really implausible, and I’m pretty sure there were some plot holes.
There are some strong reviews out there, so I definitely recommend reading those too when deciding if this book is for you.
This was a buddy read with Catherine. Although neither of us loved the book, we had fun guessing our theories and plot points, and discussing our struggles as things went downhill.
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books, Bryan Reardon, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Theo Snyder is a documentary filmmaker, whose first film was a massive hit. After a public blunder while making his next film takes him off the hot list, he decides to refocus...and sets his sights on filming a documentary on The Halo Killer.
Jasper Ross-Johnson is the serial killer in question, and he’s currently serving a life sentence in jail. Things are looking up when he agrees to participate in the documentary. As Theo, along with investigator Zora Monroe, delves deeper into the story, he finds that there is someone with more information out there....Someone who might be able to explain how Jasper got caught before killing his next victim.
I was really looking forward to this one, and thought it had all of the makings of a fantastic serial killer thriller. Unfortunately, it was not a page turner for me. The moments I found interesting ended up having little or nothing to do with the main plot. I didn’t really enjoy any of the characters, and I thought it was easy to spot one of them who was hiding things. As the story ramped up (you can also read that as: As things became more convoluted), my interest waned. The final twists seemed really implausible, and I’m pretty sure there were some plot holes.
There are some strong reviews out there, so I definitely recommend reading those too when deciding if this book is for you.
This was a buddy read with Catherine. Although neither of us loved the book, we had fun guessing our theories and plot points, and discussing our struggles as things went downhill.
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books, Bryan Reardon, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 16, 2021
4 stars for the first half + 2 stars for the second half = 3 stars overall.
While this story does share some similar elements to the thriller genre, I definitely wouldn't label it as such. Maybe more of a slow burning mystery? Initially I was drawn in by the idea of a documentary filmmaker teaming up with a serial killer to produce a fresh take on the story, and the first 40% really drew me in via the mystery surrounding the goings on. However, as the story progressed, I found a few twists to be a bit obvious (mainly who in the group is hiding things from others), and the ending felt like there was too much going on, when a simpler thread would have felt more meaningful. If you are looking for an atmospheric novel that brims with suspense, I recommend you giving this one a try for yourself.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
While this story does share some similar elements to the thriller genre, I definitely wouldn't label it as such. Maybe more of a slow burning mystery? Initially I was drawn in by the idea of a documentary filmmaker teaming up with a serial killer to produce a fresh take on the story, and the first 40% really drew me in via the mystery surrounding the goings on. However, as the story progressed, I found a few twists to be a bit obvious (mainly who in the group is hiding things from others), and the ending felt like there was too much going on, when a simpler thread would have felt more meaningful. If you are looking for an atmospheric novel that brims with suspense, I recommend you giving this one a try for yourself.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
December 1, 2020
The book started off strong and I was definitely intrigued, but by the second half it started going downhill. I guess you could say I liked some of the journey, but wasn't all that impressed by the final destination.
Theo Snyder became famous after his documentary film, The Basement, was a critical and commercial success. Unfortanely, his star fizzled after a public blunder. He's hoping his next project featuring the notorious serial killer nicknamed "Halo Killer" will put him back on top. The more research Theo does including interviewing the killer at the prison, the more he questions the circumstances that led to the apprehension.
The story has some mystery to it as well as some thriller elements. The premise was enough to hook me in right away as I was curious about the Halo Killer and wanted to know the backstory. The first half of the story has good pacing and the writing has focus. The second half is where I felt the train left the tracks.
A huge problem was the lack of fully developed characters. Some characters might get a brief mention early on in the book and then way down the line they are part of the story and it's like, "who is this person?". The four main characters also remain somewhat of a mystery to me as it I can't say I truly understood each one. Some of the writing started to get sloppy with weak transitions and over the top dialogue. And for me the story pretty much ended after the big climatic scene as everything after that just felt lackluster and pointless. I think this is a book in which it would help me tremendously to learn more about the author's writing process and what he was going for with this story.
The potential was here but it needed more work to get to awesome level.
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books for sending me an advance copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
Theo Snyder became famous after his documentary film, The Basement, was a critical and commercial success. Unfortanely, his star fizzled after a public blunder. He's hoping his next project featuring the notorious serial killer nicknamed "Halo Killer" will put him back on top. The more research Theo does including interviewing the killer at the prison, the more he questions the circumstances that led to the apprehension.
The story has some mystery to it as well as some thriller elements. The premise was enough to hook me in right away as I was curious about the Halo Killer and wanted to know the backstory. The first half of the story has good pacing and the writing has focus. The second half is where I felt the train left the tracks.
A huge problem was the lack of fully developed characters. Some characters might get a brief mention early on in the book and then way down the line they are part of the story and it's like, "who is this person?". The four main characters also remain somewhat of a mystery to me as it I can't say I truly understood each one. Some of the writing started to get sloppy with weak transitions and over the top dialogue. And for me the story pretty much ended after the big climatic scene as everything after that just felt lackluster and pointless. I think this is a book in which it would help me tremendously to learn more about the author's writing process and what he was going for with this story.
The potential was here but it needed more work to get to awesome level.
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books for sending me an advance copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
August 21, 2021
I have the book and noticed that my library has the audiobook version. I decided to read and listen on this story. It was a good experience. I started listening the first few chapters and then go back to reading what I have missed. Then I read and listened at the same time and later I listened to the book the rest of the way. The story started out interesting and I was hooked. Jasper was definitely mysterious. It’s a cat and mouse chase for Theo. I liked it that way. Jasper sprinkled a little info to Theo and Theo filled in the blanks. I haven’t read a story that is parallel to making a documentary before so the organization of this book caught my attention.
This book started with Jasper. An invisible thread pulled him out to the beach to harvest a flower. He hadn’t been out to harvest it in 20 years. It was just as well because he caught sight of a woman alone down by the beach and despite being unprepared for anything but he went to her anyway. Then the story began following Theo, filmmaker. Theo was famous for his documentary 2 years ago but with money and power came a scandal and Theo no longer had it all. One day, he received news that Jasper now in jail for the woman’s attempted murder, added Theo’s name as his contact. Theo decided to connect with Jasper to make a documentary on The Halo killer, a crime Jasper was accused of. He hired Zora to help him investigate into Jasper and the murders. Part two was about the miracle Jasper mentioned. This story ran parallel to documentary scenes. There were 4 parts to this story.
Let Her Lie was twisty and suspenseful, at first. The start of the story made me think that Jasper was not the killer because Theo mentioned that police found no evidence. But as the story went on, there’s no proof whether Jasper or anyone else was the killer. Because Theo’s in the documentary business, people he worked with and his competitors were mixed up in the story. That part confused me. I think the narrator did very well narrating this story. He was passionate at the swearing and screaming parts as well as other parts too. I enjoyed the first half of the book more than the second half. When I say twisty, I meant the story changed course a lot and though it was unexpected where the story was going, I got as confused as the main character Theo. I guess the story would have been clearer if there was another view.
xoxo, Jasmine at www.howusefulitis.wordpress.com for more details
Thank you Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read and review. Please be assured that my opinions are honest.
This book started with Jasper. An invisible thread pulled him out to the beach to harvest a flower. He hadn’t been out to harvest it in 20 years. It was just as well because he caught sight of a woman alone down by the beach and despite being unprepared for anything but he went to her anyway. Then the story began following Theo, filmmaker. Theo was famous for his documentary 2 years ago but with money and power came a scandal and Theo no longer had it all. One day, he received news that Jasper now in jail for the woman’s attempted murder, added Theo’s name as his contact. Theo decided to connect with Jasper to make a documentary on The Halo killer, a crime Jasper was accused of. He hired Zora to help him investigate into Jasper and the murders. Part two was about the miracle Jasper mentioned. This story ran parallel to documentary scenes. There were 4 parts to this story.
Let Her Lie was twisty and suspenseful, at first. The start of the story made me think that Jasper was not the killer because Theo mentioned that police found no evidence. But as the story went on, there’s no proof whether Jasper or anyone else was the killer. Because Theo’s in the documentary business, people he worked with and his competitors were mixed up in the story. That part confused me. I think the narrator did very well narrating this story. He was passionate at the swearing and screaming parts as well as other parts too. I enjoyed the first half of the book more than the second half. When I say twisty, I meant the story changed course a lot and though it was unexpected where the story was going, I got as confused as the main character Theo. I guess the story would have been clearer if there was another view.
xoxo, Jasmine at www.howusefulitis.wordpress.com for more details
Thank you Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read and review. Please be assured that my opinions are honest.
February 12, 2021
This was a surprisingly addictive thriller with my favourite kind of narrator- yes, the unreliable one- who managed to confuse me to the point of not being able to predict what was going to happen next page, chapter or at the end of the book. Theo Snyder took me on a wild ride and I mostly enjoyed it.
So, what was the book about? Theo Snyder, a documentary filmmaker who had his five minutes of fame once his film was uploaded on Netflix. He was LA's golden boy and it seemed he couldn't have put his foot down wrong. He did. When we meet Theo at the beginning of the book, he is on a hunt for his next project and it might be his last chance to salvage whatever remains of his once illustrous carreer. When a convicted serial killer contacts him and asks to tell his story, Theo isn't sure at first. The topic isn't new, so unless Theo comes up with a new fascinating angle, nobody's going to be interested. If Theo is good at anything, it is getting stories out of people, andhis gut instinct is telling him he just needs to dig deeper and discover not what Jasper Ross-Johnson did or why he did it, but what stopped him in the end, what was his undoing, his cryptonite. With the support of one of his rich and well-connected producer friends, Theo hires the best investigator in LA, Zora Monroe, and off he goes in search of the perfect story with the perfect ending. He discovers (or he thinks he discovers) the events are connected to a new-born baby girl being abandoned in an outhouse on the beach where coincidentally one of Jasper's victims was found. The baby was adopted and given name of Miracle Jones.
It becomes very clear that Theo isn't just passionate about his work, he is obsessed, even driven. His exhaustion and sleep deprivation mean he begins to lose bits of his own narrative, however hard he tries to put it all together into a coherent whole. The pace and rhythm of the book make you feel as if you are watching unedited footage of a new film. Theo isn't exactly blessed with excessive modesty, so he even thinks a fellow filmmaker has started making a documentary on him. If you like following unreliable narrators and trying to piece together what is real and what is 'fed in' and who is playing who at any point of this thriller, Let Her Lie might be a book for you.
This isn't a character-driven story, despite Theo looming large and overshadowing everybody else. The character who potentially could develop the most is Miracle, but we do not interact much with her, we see her through the lens of other people's anecdotes or opinions, and we never feel we finally see what 'really' happened. Past is always remembered and re-created in a subjective way, which is easier to accept when we are talking about fiction, but is nevertheless true for all films and books, whether the writer had a lot of information to work with or had to rely on 'the internal logic of events'.
The ending delivered a few final twists and it was almost too much for me. I felt like poor Theo who kept seeng clues which needed to be interpreted and re-interpreted time after time. But the last page was kind of satisfying and brought it all in focus once again.
Overal, I did enjoy this fast-paced, twisty story with its pervasive subtle irony. This is a story that never takes itself seriously and doesn't work too hard to make you like its characters. Of course, this is just my subjective take!
Thank you to Edelweiss and Crooked Lane Books for the review copy provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
So, what was the book about? Theo Snyder, a documentary filmmaker who had his five minutes of fame once his film was uploaded on Netflix. He was LA's golden boy and it seemed he couldn't have put his foot down wrong. He did. When we meet Theo at the beginning of the book, he is on a hunt for his next project and it might be his last chance to salvage whatever remains of his once illustrous carreer. When a convicted serial killer contacts him and asks to tell his story, Theo isn't sure at first. The topic isn't new, so unless Theo comes up with a new fascinating angle, nobody's going to be interested. If Theo is good at anything, it is getting stories out of people, andhis gut instinct is telling him he just needs to dig deeper and discover not what Jasper Ross-Johnson did or why he did it, but what stopped him in the end, what was his undoing, his cryptonite. With the support of one of his rich and well-connected producer friends, Theo hires the best investigator in LA, Zora Monroe, and off he goes in search of the perfect story with the perfect ending. He discovers (or he thinks he discovers) the events are connected to a new-born baby girl being abandoned in an outhouse on the beach where coincidentally one of Jasper's victims was found. The baby was adopted and given name of Miracle Jones.
It becomes very clear that Theo isn't just passionate about his work, he is obsessed, even driven. His exhaustion and sleep deprivation mean he begins to lose bits of his own narrative, however hard he tries to put it all together into a coherent whole. The pace and rhythm of the book make you feel as if you are watching unedited footage of a new film. Theo isn't exactly blessed with excessive modesty, so he even thinks a fellow filmmaker has started making a documentary on him. If you like following unreliable narrators and trying to piece together what is real and what is 'fed in' and who is playing who at any point of this thriller, Let Her Lie might be a book for you.
This isn't a character-driven story, despite Theo looming large and overshadowing everybody else. The character who potentially could develop the most is Miracle, but we do not interact much with her, we see her through the lens of other people's anecdotes or opinions, and we never feel we finally see what 'really' happened. Past is always remembered and re-created in a subjective way, which is easier to accept when we are talking about fiction, but is nevertheless true for all films and books, whether the writer had a lot of information to work with or had to rely on 'the internal logic of events'.
The ending delivered a few final twists and it was almost too much for me. I felt like poor Theo who kept seeng clues which needed to be interpreted and re-interpreted time after time. But the last page was kind of satisfying and brought it all in focus once again.
Overal, I did enjoy this fast-paced, twisty story with its pervasive subtle irony. This is a story that never takes itself seriously and doesn't work too hard to make you like its characters. Of course, this is just my subjective take!
Thank you to Edelweiss and Crooked Lane Books for the review copy provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
June 21, 2024
This book is a confusing, jumpy mess and way too long. The author doesn't build the suspense in a sustainable way, and so it was a slog for me to make myself read it between about 30 and 60%.
The overall premise is good, a documentary filmmaker is making a film about a serial killer. It starts off all right, but then as the book progresses it just gets more and more convoluted and strange. The main character Theo is himself confused/dehydrated/sleep deprived much of the time, and so with this in the narrative it just serves to lose the reader. I didn't know whether he was delusional or whether things were actually happening to him or not for the longest time.
There is just overall no straightforward narrative and no focus. The storyline jumps all over the place and characters drop in and out at a strange rate. The ending does tie things up somewhat, and there's one scene towards the end that would have made an excellent "reveal" scene in a movie, but in a book it loses the impact.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
The overall premise is good, a documentary filmmaker is making a film about a serial killer. It starts off all right, but then as the book progresses it just gets more and more convoluted and strange. The main character Theo is himself confused/dehydrated/sleep deprived much of the time, and so with this in the narrative it just serves to lose the reader. I didn't know whether he was delusional or whether things were actually happening to him or not for the longest time.
There is just overall no straightforward narrative and no focus. The storyline jumps all over the place and characters drop in and out at a strange rate. The ending does tie things up somewhat, and there's one scene towards the end that would have made an excellent "reveal" scene in a movie, but in a book it loses the impact.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
November 7, 2020
I was drawn to this book because of the interesting blurb. It didn’t take long to see that the book itself is not nearly as interesting. I truly believe there is a good story there… but the author did his best to try and keep it hidden. This book could have been, in my humble opinion, much better if there was not so much ‘telling’ instead of ‘show’ and not so much jumping from viewpoint to viewpoint.
Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and Edelweiss for this digital review copy.
Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and Edelweiss for this digital review copy.
October 4, 2020
*Many thanks to Edelweiss, Crooked Lane, and Bryan Reardon for an DRC of this book in exchange for an honest review!*
This cover? Dramatic. The title? Intriguing.
This book? Not anywhere near as thrilling as it should be.
Filmmaker Theo is looking for the hit that will save his career after handling the scandal surrounding his previous hit documentary, The Basement. He finds a likely candidate in the mystery surrounding the Halo Killer, Jasper Ross-Johnson. Although the killer is trapped in prison, there is a fair amount of source material here for Theo to sink his teeth into, and when investigator Zora joins the team, Theo can see nothing but chyrons in his mind (no, seriously.) When he discovers one of the killer's victims may have had someone in her life with more to say, his filmmaker's mind goes into overdrive, and becomes completely enveloped in Jasper's world (and allows himself to be led into one dangerous situation after another). As secrets are uncovered, can Theo maintain his sanity...and stay alive long enough for the final credits to roll?
I was drawn to this book from the blurb, because as a passionate fan of horror films and creepy documentaries, this seemed right up my alley. However, this book is split into four sections, and as each section went on, my interest progressively waned. Jasper went from seeming like a mysterious and deadly threat to more of an annoyance, and there was so much time spent throughout the book on what turned out to be unnecessary plot points. In another context, they might have come off as brilliant red herrings, but here it just seemed unfinished. Since Theo is a filmmaker, there is a LOT of this book written 'as a screenplay' in parts, including the aforementioned chyrons with the date, etc. Fun at first, but it just got monotonous over time. If anything, this story had all of its bang in the opening bit and just tapered off after that. I didn't really see the serial killer as a threat after a certain amount of time, and if you aren't at least nervous about a serial killer, that's probably an indication that the character didn't really work. There are also a multitude of plot holes and the ending requires a SUPREME suspension of disbelief.
Frankly, the best aspects about this book for me were that it was a quick read and that it was a really fun buddy read with Michael! Fans of a twisty thriller who expect a plot to come together neatly should probably steer clear of this one. 2.5 ⭐️, rounded up
This cover? Dramatic. The title? Intriguing.
This book? Not anywhere near as thrilling as it should be.
Filmmaker Theo is looking for the hit that will save his career after handling the scandal surrounding his previous hit documentary, The Basement. He finds a likely candidate in the mystery surrounding the Halo Killer, Jasper Ross-Johnson. Although the killer is trapped in prison, there is a fair amount of source material here for Theo to sink his teeth into, and when investigator Zora joins the team, Theo can see nothing but chyrons in his mind (no, seriously.) When he discovers one of the killer's victims may have had someone in her life with more to say, his filmmaker's mind goes into overdrive, and becomes completely enveloped in Jasper's world (and allows himself to be led into one dangerous situation after another). As secrets are uncovered, can Theo maintain his sanity...and stay alive long enough for the final credits to roll?
I was drawn to this book from the blurb, because as a passionate fan of horror films and creepy documentaries, this seemed right up my alley. However, this book is split into four sections, and as each section went on, my interest progressively waned. Jasper went from seeming like a mysterious and deadly threat to more of an annoyance, and there was so much time spent throughout the book on what turned out to be unnecessary plot points. In another context, they might have come off as brilliant red herrings, but here it just seemed unfinished. Since Theo is a filmmaker, there is a LOT of this book written 'as a screenplay' in parts, including the aforementioned chyrons with the date, etc. Fun at first, but it just got monotonous over time. If anything, this story had all of its bang in the opening bit and just tapered off after that. I didn't really see the serial killer as a threat after a certain amount of time, and if you aren't at least nervous about a serial killer, that's probably an indication that the character didn't really work. There are also a multitude of plot holes and the ending requires a SUPREME suspension of disbelief.
Frankly, the best aspects about this book for me were that it was a quick read and that it was a really fun buddy read with Michael! Fans of a twisty thriller who expect a plot to come together neatly should probably steer clear of this one. 2.5 ⭐️, rounded up
March 19, 2021
Theo Snyder had a huge hit documentary called The Basement but his next effort was a disaster. Serial killer dubbed the "Halo Killer" Jasper Ross-Johnson sends Theo a letter from prison stating that he wants to talk. Theo thinks an investigation and new documentary on this serial killer who left no clues for 2 decades would be his next award winner.
The book is narrated by Theo who is operating on adrenaline and zero sleep. I kept wondering if sleep deprivation was his problem or was he simply off his rocker. I got a sinister vibe from Jasper right off the bat. I liked the way the book started out but the second half lost me. I felt the story became too convoluted and too hard to follow.
The book is narrated by Theo who is operating on adrenaline and zero sleep. I kept wondering if sleep deprivation was his problem or was he simply off his rocker. I got a sinister vibe from Jasper right off the bat. I liked the way the book started out but the second half lost me. I felt the story became too convoluted and too hard to follow.
May 1, 2021
Documentary writer Theo Snyder had established a name for himself after a successful film, only to have his reputation plummet after being caught in a scandalous situation. Then he takes interest in an old case of a serial killer known as the "Halo Killer", who has now been in prison for the last couple years. Jasper's first murder was of a young woman who had just given birth in an outhouse near the beach and had left the newborn in the sink. I know--sounds weird. That baby miraculously survived, was adopted and named--get ready for this--Miracle. Miracle is a young adult now and pregnant herself. Theo becomes involved in a wild series of events over a short time, just trying to piece together the facts behind that first killing and the murderer's interest in Miracle now 20 years later. Theo is being threatened by the Halo Killer, and his life is in danger. But his desire to create a stellar documentary prevents him from backing away. There's a top-notch investigator (Zora) and a camera assistant (Jessica) helping Theo with the story, but the more possessed and sleep-deprived Theo becomes, the more he realizes he can't trust anyone and that he's being played. Some of the events didn't seem plausible: How did Martino know Jasper so well if Jasper had never met his own father, with whom Martino was supposedly in a homosexual relationship? What triggered Jasper's dark side and desire to kill if his mother was not the abusive parent Jasper had claimed her to be? What was the significance of the yellow day lily specifically, beyond symbolizing the yellow Walkman headphones his first victim was wearing? How did a member of Malcolm's theatre troupe manage to get a seat beside Theo for his flight to LA when it was booked last minute? Why was Miracle so jaded since she'd been adopted by loving parents and grew up in a secure home? I could keep going. This book just didn't leave me with a favorable impression.
April 13, 2021
Total waste of $ for a hardcover. I have read all of this author's books- I loved Finding Jake and liked the others. It is hard to believe the same person wrote this. It was completely disjointed, confusing, unrealistic and poorly written. None of the characters were credible nor was the story. Too many distractions delving into his Hollywood history without enough detail- all that could have been addressed in a few pages. Book read the Reardon was in a hurry to just publish something.
February 24, 2021
The book premise was interesting and I did enjoy the beginning but things quickly unraveled. The plot became so convoluted and it became a chore to read. Plot holes were plentiful and the ending just didn’t make any sense. Overall, this was a big disappointment and I can not recommend this book.
July 24, 2023
This book is going to be a 3.5 star read. For me 3.5 star reads are really not that bad, since a 4 star for me is really high 😅. I liked how for most of it I didn’t get bored. And in general it was a pretty good book. However, there were a few things that made this book not a 5 star. I was just waiting and waiting to see if there was a plot twist development, unfortunately, it didn’t quite satisfy me. To be fair, I mostly binged it, so I don’t really know if I missed something. Even though I wasn’t gasping at the book (which is really what I need in a thriller) I have to give it to the author, it really was entertaining. Adding to that, the writing was a bit complicated to read. So even though there were some flaws, I liked the book and would recommend it, for just a chill and interesting read!
October 29, 2020
I did not really care for this book to start off with. The story seemed a bit disjointed and I found it hard to concentrate on what was happening. The narrator becomes obsessed with the Halo killer, who is in jail forthe murder of young women. As the book moved on, I was in the grip of the story and enjoyed the suspense and the action and could not put it down.
Theo gets swept along by making a film about the killer, the people he is working withurge him to let it go, that he is being played but the writing means that, as a reader, you are taken on his journey and understand his need to find out what happened and to tell the story. Emotions, both of the narrator and other characters are well described and you come to understand why he drewsome conclusions. There were some unexpected twists in the story which added another dimension.
Thankyou to Net galley for the ARC in exchange foran honest review . Not always an easy read, but worth the effort
Theo gets swept along by making a film about the killer, the people he is working withurge him to let it go, that he is being played but the writing means that, as a reader, you are taken on his journey and understand his need to find out what happened and to tell the story. Emotions, both of the narrator and other characters are well described and you come to understand why he drewsome conclusions. There were some unexpected twists in the story which added another dimension.
Thankyou to Net galley for the ARC in exchange foran honest review . Not always an easy read, but worth the effort
October 26, 2020
My Review of
LET HER LIE
By Bryan Reardon
Published by Crooked Lane Books
Releasing 2/9/21
******
This Author is new to me but I’ve set my sights on him now that I’ve read this thriller. Basically what it all comes down to when reading a book is, is it a hit or is it a miss? Well let me tell you this thriller, LET HER LIE, was a definite hit. Any thriller fans out there will get a satisfying thrill, scare, suspense and mystery rolled into one when they meet the colorful characters that are well explored but dysfunctional. I found myself closing my blinds and checking the locks with this one.
******
Theo Snyder was riding high on his coattails of success after his documentary THE BASEMENT was a hit. Taken in by fame he loses it all to an egotistical moment in all of his glory and his film gets canceled. On the down and out, he comes across his next big film that will repair all his mistakes of the past and he will once again become a renown filmmaker. But it involves a methodical serial killer named Jasper that has killed many women including a woman that had just delivered a baby, later named “Miracle” after surviving for days in a bathroom sink.
He meets with this notorious killer in prison and gets him to talk. Jasper sets up as if he’s helping Theo with the film. Then comes on famed Investigator Zora Monroe who agrees to help him find people and missing pieces to bring the story of how Jasper was caught all together. Little does Theo know the secrets and set ups he may be in for and that he may just be part of a serial killers game. Theo is so deep in that it’s no longer about the money nor fame; it’s about doing something right in his life, even if it means laying his life on the line.
LET HER LIE
By Bryan Reardon
Published by Crooked Lane Books
Releasing 2/9/21
******
This Author is new to me but I’ve set my sights on him now that I’ve read this thriller. Basically what it all comes down to when reading a book is, is it a hit or is it a miss? Well let me tell you this thriller, LET HER LIE, was a definite hit. Any thriller fans out there will get a satisfying thrill, scare, suspense and mystery rolled into one when they meet the colorful characters that are well explored but dysfunctional. I found myself closing my blinds and checking the locks with this one.
******
Theo Snyder was riding high on his coattails of success after his documentary THE BASEMENT was a hit. Taken in by fame he loses it all to an egotistical moment in all of his glory and his film gets canceled. On the down and out, he comes across his next big film that will repair all his mistakes of the past and he will once again become a renown filmmaker. But it involves a methodical serial killer named Jasper that has killed many women including a woman that had just delivered a baby, later named “Miracle” after surviving for days in a bathroom sink.
He meets with this notorious killer in prison and gets him to talk. Jasper sets up as if he’s helping Theo with the film. Then comes on famed Investigator Zora Monroe who agrees to help him find people and missing pieces to bring the story of how Jasper was caught all together. Little does Theo know the secrets and set ups he may be in for and that he may just be part of a serial killers game. Theo is so deep in that it’s no longer about the money nor fame; it’s about doing something right in his life, even if it means laying his life on the line.
January 9, 2021
I am struggling a bit to find the right rating for this book. While it was not bad, I am so disappointed with the second half of the story.
This started off so strong! We have Theo, a disgraced documentary filmmaker who rose to fame for the film The Basement, but was brought back down to earth with a crash after a scandal with a person close to his investigations goes public... Now, he is working on another potential film about the notorious Halo Killer, Jasper Ross-Johnson, with an investigator with her own troubled past.
The imprisoned Jasper has agreed to work with Theo and along with Zora's help, things are on the up and up. Theo can literally see the imagery for this next film in his head.
But somewhere just before the halfway point of this book, I completely lost interest due to different events that take place. I wanted so much to continue loving this story, but I was stuck in the second half feeling confused and like there were just so many things going on- and not in a fast-paced progression that leaves you on the edge of your seat...
I loved the idea of this book. I thought Jasper's back story was interesting and conceivable. And I loved the character Miracle's origin story and how she was involved in this story, but that simply was not enough to keep me interested in the way the story goes.
Please understand that these opinions are my own and so many others will love this story. I hope they do! I am extremely critical when it comes to the thrillers I read and this one just didn't work for me.
This started off so strong! We have Theo, a disgraced documentary filmmaker who rose to fame for the film The Basement, but was brought back down to earth with a crash after a scandal with a person close to his investigations goes public... Now, he is working on another potential film about the notorious Halo Killer, Jasper Ross-Johnson, with an investigator with her own troubled past.
The imprisoned Jasper has agreed to work with Theo and along with Zora's help, things are on the up and up. Theo can literally see the imagery for this next film in his head.
But somewhere just before the halfway point of this book, I completely lost interest due to different events that take place. I wanted so much to continue loving this story, but I was stuck in the second half feeling confused and like there were just so many things going on- and not in a fast-paced progression that leaves you on the edge of your seat...
I loved the idea of this book. I thought Jasper's back story was interesting and conceivable. And I loved the character Miracle's origin story and how she was involved in this story, but that simply was not enough to keep me interested in the way the story goes.
Please understand that these opinions are my own and so many others will love this story. I hope they do! I am extremely critical when it comes to the thrillers I read and this one just didn't work for me.
September 7, 2020
I felt like this was a strange read- extremely fast-paced but at the same time, the main character's thoughts and actions were hard to understand and sometimes hard to follow. The story centers on Theo, a disgraced filmmaker looking for a story that will get him back on top. He decides to focus on a serial killer dubbed "the Halo Killer", who killed a score of women over a couple of decades and was recently caught. The Halo Killer, Jasper, agrees to talk to Theo, who tries to figure out who he really is and what the slip-up is that eventually gets him arrested.
Theo pretty quickly becomes obsessed with the story, to the point where he barely sleeps and becomes paranoid that one of his peers, or Jasper, is out to get him. While I love an unreliable narrator story, I often couldn't tell if Theo was really unreliable or whether he really was losing his mind and/or had a good reason to be paranoid. Also, all of the tertiary characters in the book seemed really beholden to Theo and I couldn't figure out why- he didn't seem like the type of person that so many people would be drawn to. Maybe it was a lack of character development, but I just had trouble figuring out what was so endearing about him other than his drive to solve the mystery, which really isn't that uncommon for people in his industry.
There was some definite creepiness to the story from the way Jasper interacted with Theo to the backstory of the miracle baby who was abandoned in an outhouse moments before her mother was murdered-- and the end contained a really clever and unique twist-- but overall I feel like I didn't really "get" the story, overall. It's a fast-paced, quick read but I think the issues I mentioned earlier about not fully connecting with Theo inhibited me from enjoying it as much as I could have. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Theo pretty quickly becomes obsessed with the story, to the point where he barely sleeps and becomes paranoid that one of his peers, or Jasper, is out to get him. While I love an unreliable narrator story, I often couldn't tell if Theo was really unreliable or whether he really was losing his mind and/or had a good reason to be paranoid. Also, all of the tertiary characters in the book seemed really beholden to Theo and I couldn't figure out why- he didn't seem like the type of person that so many people would be drawn to. Maybe it was a lack of character development, but I just had trouble figuring out what was so endearing about him other than his drive to solve the mystery, which really isn't that uncommon for people in his industry.
There was some definite creepiness to the story from the way Jasper interacted with Theo to the backstory of the miracle baby who was abandoned in an outhouse moments before her mother was murdered-- and the end contained a really clever and unique twist-- but overall I feel like I didn't really "get" the story, overall. It's a fast-paced, quick read but I think the issues I mentioned earlier about not fully connecting with Theo inhibited me from enjoying it as much as I could have. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 21, 2020
This was a good one - it moves at an almost frenetic pace just like the narrator, Theo Snyder. He is a documentary filmmaker who fell from grace after a scandal involving a follow-up to his masterpiece, The Basement. Now he's trying to get himself back into the limelight by delving into the case of The Halo Killer, looking into a new angle of how he was caught. after easily evading authorities for years.
He joins with an investigator named Zora, one of the best and toughest in the business. We follow as he chases lead after lead, sometimes not even keeping Zora up to date on his latest whims. He quickly becomes obsessed, not sleeping, not eating, driven only by his addiction of The Halo Killer. Not only is the future of his movie career at stake, but perhaps his life, as well.
It's a fast paced read with plenty of action, though I didn't empathize with any of the characters. Theo is just obsessed and hasn't learned anything from his previous scandal, getting too involved in the story and the lives of people involved. Zora isn't particularly likable, a typical 'badass' female character who acts however she wants, and pries however much she wants, but don't you dare ask anything personal. One of those types. I did enjoy the scenes set on the Delaware coast near Rehoboth because I've been there and know the area well. Local readers will probably get a kick out of that. So, it's an entertaining read and once you start you might not stop until the very end, just like Theo.
He joins with an investigator named Zora, one of the best and toughest in the business. We follow as he chases lead after lead, sometimes not even keeping Zora up to date on his latest whims. He quickly becomes obsessed, not sleeping, not eating, driven only by his addiction of The Halo Killer. Not only is the future of his movie career at stake, but perhaps his life, as well.
It's a fast paced read with plenty of action, though I didn't empathize with any of the characters. Theo is just obsessed and hasn't learned anything from his previous scandal, getting too involved in the story and the lives of people involved. Zora isn't particularly likable, a typical 'badass' female character who acts however she wants, and pries however much she wants, but don't you dare ask anything personal. One of those types. I did enjoy the scenes set on the Delaware coast near Rehoboth because I've been there and know the area well. Local readers will probably get a kick out of that. So, it's an entertaining read and once you start you might not stop until the very end, just like Theo.
November 29, 2020
Review of eBook
Documentary filmmaker Theo Snyder learned the hard way that success is fleeting, especially in Hollywood. His first film, “The Basement,” earned him critical raves and commercial success, but a humiliating public blunder not only knocked him from his pedestal of fame and adulation but also caused the cancellation of his latest film.
Determined to reclaim his standing and prove his talent, Theo sets out to make a documentary on the infamous “Halo Killer,” Jasper Ross-Johnson. But as Theo’s investigation provides him with new source material about the depraved serial killer, he becomes more and more obsessed with the truth of his film. Is his obsession pushing him into dangerous recklessness or will he finally find the truth about the night of Jasper’s capture?
The narrative, divided into four main sections [The Halo Killer, Miracle Jones, The Question, and The Hero], focuses on Theo as the central character in the telling of this sometimes-convoluted tale. As the story progresses, Theo develops a continually-escalating phobia as he attempts to put together the serial killer documentary that he believes will return him to his previous glory. Several chapters are presented as portions of the screenplay for the film, bringing a strong focus on the legitimacy of Theo’s ambitious documentary.
Although all the characters are reasonably well-defined, none are particularly empathetic; as the story unfolds, several unexpected revelations change what the reader has come to understand concerning certain people who play an integral part in the telling of the tale. Unfortunately, these revelations tend to seem a bit contrived, as if created solely to force the story in an unexpected direction.
This is a relatively quick-read, a story with a decided creepiness woven into the narrative’s suspense. However, despite the story being both captivating and mesmerizing, readers may find it difficult to accept that the depth of Theo’s passion for documentary filmmaking would allow him to fall into such a crushing paranoia.
I received a free copy of this eBook from Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley
#LetHerLie #NetGalley
Documentary filmmaker Theo Snyder learned the hard way that success is fleeting, especially in Hollywood. His first film, “The Basement,” earned him critical raves and commercial success, but a humiliating public blunder not only knocked him from his pedestal of fame and adulation but also caused the cancellation of his latest film.
Determined to reclaim his standing and prove his talent, Theo sets out to make a documentary on the infamous “Halo Killer,” Jasper Ross-Johnson. But as Theo’s investigation provides him with new source material about the depraved serial killer, he becomes more and more obsessed with the truth of his film. Is his obsession pushing him into dangerous recklessness or will he finally find the truth about the night of Jasper’s capture?
The narrative, divided into four main sections [The Halo Killer, Miracle Jones, The Question, and The Hero], focuses on Theo as the central character in the telling of this sometimes-convoluted tale. As the story progresses, Theo develops a continually-escalating phobia as he attempts to put together the serial killer documentary that he believes will return him to his previous glory. Several chapters are presented as portions of the screenplay for the film, bringing a strong focus on the legitimacy of Theo’s ambitious documentary.
Although all the characters are reasonably well-defined, none are particularly empathetic; as the story unfolds, several unexpected revelations change what the reader has come to understand concerning certain people who play an integral part in the telling of the tale. Unfortunately, these revelations tend to seem a bit contrived, as if created solely to force the story in an unexpected direction.
This is a relatively quick-read, a story with a decided creepiness woven into the narrative’s suspense. However, despite the story being both captivating and mesmerizing, readers may find it difficult to accept that the depth of Theo’s passion for documentary filmmaking would allow him to fall into such a crushing paranoia.
I received a free copy of this eBook from Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley
#LetHerLie #NetGalley
February 22, 2021
Thank you Crooked Lane Books for the gifted copy!
4.5/ 5 ⭐️ is my official rating.
Theo is very ballsy and quite like myself tbh 😂
He wouldn’t stop until he had what he needed to make the Halo Killer documentary he was working on. The lengths he went through for footage and the truth went beyond any lengths a person should go. His mental health was being questioned by his friends and even the people he was working with.
It was a very interesting concept of Theo being a documentary film maker to a nobody to back to bing somebody. Theo truly went through crazy obstacles to regain his stardom while using The Halo Killer to gain that it back. In the midst of that Theo become legendary and heroic.
Let Her Lie gave us this sense of thrill while Theo ran around ragged and endlessly to find these clues.
It was a very fascinating story between killer and filmmaker and would love to see this as a movie!
I recommend this one if you enjoy documentaries, and true killer stories (although this wasn’t a true story, it still felt very like one)!
4.5/ 5 ⭐️ is my official rating.
Theo is very ballsy and quite like myself tbh 😂
He wouldn’t stop until he had what he needed to make the Halo Killer documentary he was working on. The lengths he went through for footage and the truth went beyond any lengths a person should go. His mental health was being questioned by his friends and even the people he was working with.
It was a very interesting concept of Theo being a documentary film maker to a nobody to back to bing somebody. Theo truly went through crazy obstacles to regain his stardom while using The Halo Killer to gain that it back. In the midst of that Theo become legendary and heroic.
Let Her Lie gave us this sense of thrill while Theo ran around ragged and endlessly to find these clues.
It was a very fascinating story between killer and filmmaker and would love to see this as a movie!
I recommend this one if you enjoy documentaries, and true killer stories (although this wasn’t a true story, it still felt very like one)!
January 27, 2021
This book was fabulous! I was drawn into it immediately and was angry when life got on the way of my reading. It was a perfect mix of things I love: murder shows, documentaries, suspense, intrigue, mystery, mania and characters who have true depth. It was a book broken up into four parts and each part added substantial layers to the story. I never could determine the end and was hanging on until the last line. I adored it so much! A must read for thriller/suspense lovers!!!
February 14, 2021
I received this book as a gift and am looking forward to reading it.
September 10, 2023
2.5 stars. Enjoyed the beginning but at the 100 page mark I was over it. This book mad me very upset. Trying to do too much at once.
December 17, 2023
This just wasn't for me. I don't even know why I bothered to finish it. Maybe I thought it was going to get better?
January 4, 2026
This was loopy and confusing. I liked it but I don’t know if I have any idea about what actually happened..
January 9, 2026
This book was so convoluted and full of plot holes and contradictions. I was very disappointed, and I doubt I will read anything else by this author.
January 27, 2021
Couldn’t put this one down. Read it in 2 days. Fast paced thriller with so many twists I’m going to be thinking about it for days... and I live with the author! He never tells me how it ends - keeping the suspense alive in real life! Love that he again chose his home state of Delaware to set this book. Love the characters and that he even wrote himself into the ending as the shady sound cancelling headphone wearing author in the coffee shop. And love that he hit another big modern philosophical dilemma in society dead on: is fame really worth it?? Hope you all enjoy it too!
February 9, 2021
*View my reviews at www.drinkreadrepeat.com*
*I was provided a gifted copy of this title by the publisher*
I went through a phase where I was incredibly obsessed with Mamma Mia*.
*Not the movie, it's just okay. I’m talking about the stage musical. Also, honestly, it’s probably inaccurate to call it a phase, as I am still pretty fucking obsessed.
Though I had always been a fan of theater, I latched on to this musical in particular for a number of reasons.
I found the music catchy.
I loved the characters.
And certainly, the platform shoes, spandex, and bell-bottoms didn't hurt.
But what really captured me was the overall premise. The idea of this girl, who'd never met her father, now searching for him on the veritable eve of her wedding. I felt personally connected to this plot, as I have never met my father. So, logically, any story with this underlying premise has always had a bit of a draw for me, whether the tale included bell-bottoms and platform shoes or not.
That said, though, I do have a hard time agreeing with a notion that is oft-repeated in stories like these. The idea that, if you don't know who your parent is, you don't really know who you are.
My reluctance to agree with this idea is probably largely personal. I feel like, despite only knowing one of the people responsible for my coming into existence, I have a pretty good handle on who I am.
I wonder, though, if things would be different if I didn’t feel like I was raised by the better half of the duo that made up my parents. Admittedly, my sentiments would almost certainly be different if there had been some trauma associated with my coming into existence
It is this type of world-upending drama that we see at the root of the existence of one of the central characters in the newest Bryan Reardon thriller, Let Her Lie.
Miracle Jones is aptly named because she truly is a miracle.
Abandoned by her mother only moments after birth and left in a dirty sink in an oceanside public restroom, Miracle shouldn't have survived the night, let alone the four days it took for her to be discovered. But live she did, and now she's an adult.
Though her own childhood was largely happy, Miracle is still haunted by the salaciousness of her origins.
And as if being abandoned wasn't sufficiently upsetting, she comes to learn that the woman who gave birth to her lost her life at the hands of the Halo Killer, a notorious murder responsible for a spate of deaths.
It is the Halo Killer, Jasper Ross-Johnson, who recently disgraced director, Theo Snyder, is intending to be the focus of his next documentary. But, as Theo digs for truths to reveal in this documentary, he finds himself drawn closer to Miracle as a result of her tangential connection to Ross-Johnson.
Even though truths prove harder to unearth than he would like, Theo is nothing if not persistent. After all, he needs this documentary to be a success.
Because this is his chance.
His chance to prove himself worthy.
His chance to get back into the public’s good graces following a very public scandal.
With so much riding on this effort, Theo is willing to risk everything, even his own life, to uncover the truth, no matter how dark that truth may be.
When I first dove into this novel, I was immediately engaged. This was due in no small part to the strength of Reardon’s writing. Somehow flowery yet, at the same time concise, the writing had a soothing, lulling quality that just made you just generally feel good as you read.
There were also some strengths pertaining to the overall premise.
First of all, serial killers are pretty much always very engaging — which is paradoxical, considering how horrifying the concept of repeated, ritualistic murder is. And, secondly, the choice of protagonist — a once-break-out documentary director trying to mount a comeback — allows readers to feel as if they were getting a glimpse into the creation of the next hyper-bingeable Netflix drama.
Unfortunately, as I read on, my enthusiasm for the novel waned.
As engaging as the plot was, as a whole the book just felt a little bit skeletal. It needed some meat on its bones. It felt like there was much left to be fleshed out.
Also troublesome, when elements of the mystery were fleshed out, the results weren’t satisfying. Ultimately, the plot proved very convoluted, which robbed readers of the satisfying, “Aha!” moments they were seeking.
Throughout the novel, things were constantly changing. Details you believed to be true, repeatedly proven false. And while this might sound exciting — might seem like it would keep you on the edge of your seat — what it really resulted in was a novel that lacked a foundation. Throughout my reading, it felt like there was no solid ground on which to rely. And as I moved through the novel — at an admittedly rapid pace — this lack of reliability started to wear on me.
Reading this — surprisingly short — novel really was a journey, though. Just when I had almost given up on trying to find any reason, the ending came. And, here, Reardon did a pretty exceptional job of piecing things together.
He elaborated, in the way that thriller authors so seldom do, on exactly what the point of this all was, highlighting the central message: that some things in life cannot be understood.
This central message resonated with me, because it’s true.
No matter how many episodes of Dateline I watch, I will never understand how some husbands kill their wives.
No matter how many online news stories I read, I will never understand why mass shootings take place.
And no matter how many musicals I sit through, I will never understand why some parent's bow out of their children's lives.
Even though understanding these things would be comforting — even though understanding them would give you the illusion of more solid footing on inarguably shaky ground — they simply are beyond reason and comprehension. The simple beauty and truth of this overarching message made up for much of what I perceived as weaknesses of this novel.
When all was said and done, this novel earned a solid 4 out of 5 cocktails.
*I was provided a gifted copy of this title by the publisher*
I went through a phase where I was incredibly obsessed with Mamma Mia*.
*Not the movie, it's just okay. I’m talking about the stage musical. Also, honestly, it’s probably inaccurate to call it a phase, as I am still pretty fucking obsessed.
Though I had always been a fan of theater, I latched on to this musical in particular for a number of reasons.
I found the music catchy.
I loved the characters.
And certainly, the platform shoes, spandex, and bell-bottoms didn't hurt.
But what really captured me was the overall premise. The idea of this girl, who'd never met her father, now searching for him on the veritable eve of her wedding. I felt personally connected to this plot, as I have never met my father. So, logically, any story with this underlying premise has always had a bit of a draw for me, whether the tale included bell-bottoms and platform shoes or not.
That said, though, I do have a hard time agreeing with a notion that is oft-repeated in stories like these. The idea that, if you don't know who your parent is, you don't really know who you are.
My reluctance to agree with this idea is probably largely personal. I feel like, despite only knowing one of the people responsible for my coming into existence, I have a pretty good handle on who I am.
I wonder, though, if things would be different if I didn’t feel like I was raised by the better half of the duo that made up my parents. Admittedly, my sentiments would almost certainly be different if there had been some trauma associated with my coming into existence
It is this type of world-upending drama that we see at the root of the existence of one of the central characters in the newest Bryan Reardon thriller, Let Her Lie.
Miracle Jones is aptly named because she truly is a miracle.
Abandoned by her mother only moments after birth and left in a dirty sink in an oceanside public restroom, Miracle shouldn't have survived the night, let alone the four days it took for her to be discovered. But live she did, and now she's an adult.
Though her own childhood was largely happy, Miracle is still haunted by the salaciousness of her origins.
And as if being abandoned wasn't sufficiently upsetting, she comes to learn that the woman who gave birth to her lost her life at the hands of the Halo Killer, a notorious murder responsible for a spate of deaths.
It is the Halo Killer, Jasper Ross-Johnson, who recently disgraced director, Theo Snyder, is intending to be the focus of his next documentary. But, as Theo digs for truths to reveal in this documentary, he finds himself drawn closer to Miracle as a result of her tangential connection to Ross-Johnson.
Even though truths prove harder to unearth than he would like, Theo is nothing if not persistent. After all, he needs this documentary to be a success.
Because this is his chance.
His chance to prove himself worthy.
His chance to get back into the public’s good graces following a very public scandal.
With so much riding on this effort, Theo is willing to risk everything, even his own life, to uncover the truth, no matter how dark that truth may be.
When I first dove into this novel, I was immediately engaged. This was due in no small part to the strength of Reardon’s writing. Somehow flowery yet, at the same time concise, the writing had a soothing, lulling quality that just made you just generally feel good as you read.
There were also some strengths pertaining to the overall premise.
First of all, serial killers are pretty much always very engaging — which is paradoxical, considering how horrifying the concept of repeated, ritualistic murder is. And, secondly, the choice of protagonist — a once-break-out documentary director trying to mount a comeback — allows readers to feel as if they were getting a glimpse into the creation of the next hyper-bingeable Netflix drama.
Unfortunately, as I read on, my enthusiasm for the novel waned.
As engaging as the plot was, as a whole the book just felt a little bit skeletal. It needed some meat on its bones. It felt like there was much left to be fleshed out.
Also troublesome, when elements of the mystery were fleshed out, the results weren’t satisfying. Ultimately, the plot proved very convoluted, which robbed readers of the satisfying, “Aha!” moments they were seeking.
Throughout the novel, things were constantly changing. Details you believed to be true, repeatedly proven false. And while this might sound exciting — might seem like it would keep you on the edge of your seat — what it really resulted in was a novel that lacked a foundation. Throughout my reading, it felt like there was no solid ground on which to rely. And as I moved through the novel — at an admittedly rapid pace — this lack of reliability started to wear on me.
Reading this — surprisingly short — novel really was a journey, though. Just when I had almost given up on trying to find any reason, the ending came. And, here, Reardon did a pretty exceptional job of piecing things together.
He elaborated, in the way that thriller authors so seldom do, on exactly what the point of this all was, highlighting the central message: that some things in life cannot be understood.
This central message resonated with me, because it’s true.
No matter how many episodes of Dateline I watch, I will never understand how some husbands kill their wives.
No matter how many online news stories I read, I will never understand why mass shootings take place.
And no matter how many musicals I sit through, I will never understand why some parent's bow out of their children's lives.
Even though understanding these things would be comforting — even though understanding them would give you the illusion of more solid footing on inarguably shaky ground — they simply are beyond reason and comprehension. The simple beauty and truth of this overarching message made up for much of what I perceived as weaknesses of this novel.
When all was said and done, this novel earned a solid 4 out of 5 cocktails.
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