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Desert Plains #3
An Unreliable Truth
11 hours, 9 minutes
From the bestselling author of , Victor Methos’s acclaimed Desert Plains series continues with the saga of two brilliant defense attorneys and a client whose confession may not be what it seems.
Two couples cut to bits near a canyon close to the Nevada border. The police pull over blood-soaked Arlo Ward not far from the site of the grisly murders; he fully cooperates with the officers, grinning through a remorseless confession dripping with gory detail. Investigators find no murder weapon, but young, awkward Arlo’s confession is signed, taped, and delivered.
Defense attorney Dylan Aster and his partner, Lily Ricci, are two rising legal stars. They’re hesitant about pursuing the Arlo Ward case, as it seems like a slam dunk for the prosecution—Arlo was covered in the victims’ DNA and admitted to everything. But the state psychiatrist shares the impossible with Dylan: Arlo Ward is likely innocent. The man is racked with delusional schizophrenia, seizing on these murders as an opportunity for macabre attention.
Dylan can’t resist. He and Lily take on Arlo as their client, but once the trial commences, it’s clear that the real secrets and lies are just beginning.
From the bestselling author of , Victor Methos’s acclaimed Desert Plains series continues with the saga of two brilliant defense attorneys and a client whose confession may not be what it seems.
Two couples cut to bits near a canyon close to the Nevada border. The police pull over blood-soaked Arlo Ward not far from the site of the grisly murders; he fully cooperates with the officers, grinning through a remorseless confession dripping with gory detail. Investigators find no murder weapon, but young, awkward Arlo’s confession is signed, taped, and delivered.
Defense attorney Dylan Aster and his partner, Lily Ricci, are two rising legal stars. They’re hesitant about pursuing the Arlo Ward case, as it seems like a slam dunk for the prosecution—Arlo was covered in the victims’ DNA and admitted to everything. But the state psychiatrist shares the impossible with Dylan: Arlo Ward is likely innocent. The man is racked with delusional schizophrenia, seizing on these murders as an opportunity for macabre attention.
Dylan can’t resist. He and Lily take on Arlo as their client, but once the trial commences, it’s clear that the real secrets and lies are just beginning.
11 pages, Audible Audio
First published August 17, 2021
1957 people are currently reading
3418 people want to read
About the author
Victor Methos
75 books2,088 followersVictor Methos is the Edgar Award nominated bestselling author of over forty novels. He has been a criminal and civil rights lawyer in the Mountain West, conducting over 100 trials, and produces two books a year with his dog Fraiser by his side.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 610 reviews
February 9, 2023
Seriously speaking......
An Unreliable Truth caused a giant gasp as I made my way through the final chapters. And truth be told, I've not read the preceding two books in this series yet. (Oh, this is a mighty standalone.) Needless to say, I will be swimming back to shore to grab the first two.
Victor Methos introduces us to Defense attorney Dylan Aster and his partner, Lily Ricci. They've established their law practice near the Las Vegas strip. It's more or less in its start-up phase, but Dylon has amassed 44 straight wins. But every nickel and dime seems to work its way back into the practice and into the care of his younger mentally challenged sister and ill mother.
But a highly successful firm in L.A. has offered Dylan a seat at the table with a sweet-spot of a salary and perks. Dylan's not sure if he can talk his family into making the big move. And then he gets a call from a young public defender in Jackson County urging him to look over the case that she's been handed. It's a brutal one with three murders and the fourth victim viciously injured before she managed to get away.
Dylan gears himself up to not getting involved in this case. He has too many cases of his own stacking up and that L.A. offer to ponder. But something about this case doesn't sit right with Dylan. They've arrested someone and Dylan feels that the accused is being railroaded. It doesn't help that the district attorney, Kelly Whitewolf, has had past run-ins with Dylan. She's also looking to make a name for herself. The heavy fist of the Death Penalty is smacked onto the table as well.
Victor Methos creates characters through a thumping pulse point. Each one is jaggedly carved and sitting on the edge of real. We view their intentions......some straight up and forward and some living on the underbelly of life. The storyline is gripping and fast-paced while ripping into a zigzag of wild activity. Even though I caught the #3 bus in this series, I had absolutely no problem diving right in.
An Unreliable Truth will break you out of any reading slump.......Guaranteed.
An Unreliable Truth caused a giant gasp as I made my way through the final chapters. And truth be told, I've not read the preceding two books in this series yet. (Oh, this is a mighty standalone.) Needless to say, I will be swimming back to shore to grab the first two.
Victor Methos introduces us to Defense attorney Dylan Aster and his partner, Lily Ricci. They've established their law practice near the Las Vegas strip. It's more or less in its start-up phase, but Dylon has amassed 44 straight wins. But every nickel and dime seems to work its way back into the practice and into the care of his younger mentally challenged sister and ill mother.
But a highly successful firm in L.A. has offered Dylan a seat at the table with a sweet-spot of a salary and perks. Dylan's not sure if he can talk his family into making the big move. And then he gets a call from a young public defender in Jackson County urging him to look over the case that she's been handed. It's a brutal one with three murders and the fourth victim viciously injured before she managed to get away.
Dylan gears himself up to not getting involved in this case. He has too many cases of his own stacking up and that L.A. offer to ponder. But something about this case doesn't sit right with Dylan. They've arrested someone and Dylan feels that the accused is being railroaded. It doesn't help that the district attorney, Kelly Whitewolf, has had past run-ins with Dylan. She's also looking to make a name for herself. The heavy fist of the Death Penalty is smacked onto the table as well.
Victor Methos creates characters through a thumping pulse point. Each one is jaggedly carved and sitting on the edge of real. We view their intentions......some straight up and forward and some living on the underbelly of life. The storyline is gripping and fast-paced while ripping into a zigzag of wild activity. Even though I caught the #3 bus in this series, I had absolutely no problem diving right in.
An Unreliable Truth will break you out of any reading slump.......Guaranteed.
August 22, 2025
Wow! I’m blown away. What a whirlwind! Couldn’t stop listening, and loved the lawyers and their different dilemmas. Then there was the last chapters where everything was turned upside down, it got me fooled for sure.
October 19, 2021
An Unreliable Truth by Victor Methos is third in the Desert Plains series, after A Killer’s Wife and Crimson Lake Road. However, it reads well as a stand-alone novel. Two young couples are camping in an out-of-the-way forest when they are brutally attacked and three of them are murdered. A few miles down the road, Arlo Ward is stopped by police and he is covered in what proves to be the victims’ blood. He admits his guilt and confesses to the brutal murders. He tells police that he is suffering from schizophrenia. The sentence for these crimes could be the death penalty. Dylan Aster and his law partner Lily Ricci believe him to be innocent and feel that, because of his illness, he has confessed to crimes he did not commit in order to be famous and attract attention. The trial is the focus of An Unreliable Truth and it is so well-orchestrated that the readers will find themselves in the jury’s shoes. And you will be shocked! This is a tense thriller and legal drama. This is the second book by Victor Methos that I have had the pleasure to read and I hope there will be many more to come. Highly recommended. Thank you to Thomas & Mercer, NetGalley and the author for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 2, 2021
Victor Methos continues with another great legal thriller, shifting the focus towards two defence attorneys who are trying to protect a man who won’t deny the crime his is accused of committing. Methos uses his great style to construct a powerful legal case and provides impediments on both sides of the aisle, as a man with diagnosed mental disease is set to be locked away for a long time. Chilling and reflective, Methos provides a stellar novel once again.
After the discovery of three bodies and a woman clinging to life in rural Nevada, the police are on the lookout for a suspect along the highways. After stopping Arlo Ward, they may have found their man; dripping in blood and fully cooperative with authorities. Ward admits to the killings, citing that he was encouraged by a demon. After signing a confession and detailed account of the crime, it appears to be a slam-dunk case.
When two defence attorneys, Dylan Aster and Lily Ricci, receive a call from an overwhelmed public defender, they agree to take a look at the case. Ward continues to speak openly about the murders and cooperates with whatever authorities want, something that does not bode well for any defence. However, the factor that Ward has been diagnosed with severe schizophrenia may help soften the blow, keeping him out of jail, per se, but still in a confined facility. Against their better judgment, Aster and Ricci agree to the case, hoping that it will help their fledging firm gain notoriety.
As Aster prepares his case, he’s given a key piece of information about Ward; he is likely innocent of any crimes. This type of schizophrenia manifests not only with intense delusions, but also a desire to seek the limelight. Arlo Ward likely wants fame and attention and could have stumbled upon the scene, only to create his guilt to get others to take notice. It’s a jarring admission, but will take more than simple testimony to sway a jury.
Paired against a strong prosecutor, Aster and Ricci will have to do all they can for their client. The evidence is stacked against him and Ward does not seem to want to back down from his claims of being guilty. As theories abound, there are also many secrets that come to light and additional lies that could damage both sides. It’s all or nothing in trying to convince a jury that a man who espouses his guilt is actually innocent of these crimes.
Whenever I take the time to read any of Victor Methos’ work, I am pulled into the middle of a sensational legal drama that keeps me thinking. The characters are realistic, the plot plausible, and the legal hurdles seem close to insurmountable. Still, I cannot help but lose myself in the intricacies and want even more. This is truly the sign of a great writer who has much to say.
While Dylan Aster and Lily Ricci were secondary characters in the previous novel within the series, they come out of the shadows to offer themselves up to the reader. Both are sharp legal minds, but have their own backstories that impede them throughout. Methos makes sure to touch on this, as well as how their thinking when it comes to a defence strategy differs greatly. Both bring much to the story and I found myself wanting to learn more, as the maze of legal representation got more difficult throughout the novel.
Methos does a masterful job of representing the story through the eyes of many strong characters and uses some intriguing plot twists to advance the narrative effectively. This is no ‘cookie cutter’ legal thriller, but rather one with many layers that keeps the reader on edge as things progress. Legal matters receive a great deal of attention, but it is the nuances of the individual characters that make the story even better. While I have read a number of Methos’ novels, this may be my favourite because of how it made me think about everything placed before me. That’s got to be worth something!
Kudos, Mr. Methos, for another great novel. I cannot say enough about your work and hope others discover it before too long.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
After the discovery of three bodies and a woman clinging to life in rural Nevada, the police are on the lookout for a suspect along the highways. After stopping Arlo Ward, they may have found their man; dripping in blood and fully cooperative with authorities. Ward admits to the killings, citing that he was encouraged by a demon. After signing a confession and detailed account of the crime, it appears to be a slam-dunk case.
When two defence attorneys, Dylan Aster and Lily Ricci, receive a call from an overwhelmed public defender, they agree to take a look at the case. Ward continues to speak openly about the murders and cooperates with whatever authorities want, something that does not bode well for any defence. However, the factor that Ward has been diagnosed with severe schizophrenia may help soften the blow, keeping him out of jail, per se, but still in a confined facility. Against their better judgment, Aster and Ricci agree to the case, hoping that it will help their fledging firm gain notoriety.
As Aster prepares his case, he’s given a key piece of information about Ward; he is likely innocent of any crimes. This type of schizophrenia manifests not only with intense delusions, but also a desire to seek the limelight. Arlo Ward likely wants fame and attention and could have stumbled upon the scene, only to create his guilt to get others to take notice. It’s a jarring admission, but will take more than simple testimony to sway a jury.
Paired against a strong prosecutor, Aster and Ricci will have to do all they can for their client. The evidence is stacked against him and Ward does not seem to want to back down from his claims of being guilty. As theories abound, there are also many secrets that come to light and additional lies that could damage both sides. It’s all or nothing in trying to convince a jury that a man who espouses his guilt is actually innocent of these crimes.
Whenever I take the time to read any of Victor Methos’ work, I am pulled into the middle of a sensational legal drama that keeps me thinking. The characters are realistic, the plot plausible, and the legal hurdles seem close to insurmountable. Still, I cannot help but lose myself in the intricacies and want even more. This is truly the sign of a great writer who has much to say.
While Dylan Aster and Lily Ricci were secondary characters in the previous novel within the series, they come out of the shadows to offer themselves up to the reader. Both are sharp legal minds, but have their own backstories that impede them throughout. Methos makes sure to touch on this, as well as how their thinking when it comes to a defence strategy differs greatly. Both bring much to the story and I found myself wanting to learn more, as the maze of legal representation got more difficult throughout the novel.
Methos does a masterful job of representing the story through the eyes of many strong characters and uses some intriguing plot twists to advance the narrative effectively. This is no ‘cookie cutter’ legal thriller, but rather one with many layers that keeps the reader on edge as things progress. Legal matters receive a great deal of attention, but it is the nuances of the individual characters that make the story even better. While I have read a number of Methos’ novels, this may be my favourite because of how it made me think about everything placed before me. That’s got to be worth something!
Kudos, Mr. Methos, for another great novel. I cannot say enough about your work and hope others discover it before too long.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
August 8, 2023
3 😔🤔🤔⭐️s
My issue with this part was that it was very slow.
Jessica was not the main character in this, she just made a couple of appearances.
Also, the ending was not that difficult to predict.
Regardless, I enjoyed the courtroom drama.
My issue with this part was that it was very slow.
Jessica was not the main character in this, she just made a couple of appearances.
Also, the ending was not that difficult to predict.
Regardless, I enjoyed the courtroom drama.
July 31, 2022
Best-selling author, Victor Methos’ third book in the Desert Plains series, "An Unreliable Truth" is a rather unique court-room thriller in which two young but ambitious lawyers, Dylan Aster and his partner, Lily Ricci take on a case which, at first blush, no self-respecting defence attorney would touch with a barge pole – one in which the accused was found at the scene covered in blood and the victims’ DNA and who has confessed, with no allegation of coercion or false promises. The murders are grisly, the victims not only slashed to bits but their corpses cut into pieces as well. For those professionals having to attend the scene, it is blood-soaked and vomit-inducing. The accused is Arlo Ward, a delusional schizophrenic, who gives all the outward signs of suffering from serious mental disorders. But Dylan and Lily are convinced that Ward is innocent, a fact that is confirmed by the Nevada state psychiatrist – some people just love to be famous, whatever the consequences. The trial gets under way, with the county DA, Kelly Whitewolf, who considers the case a slam-dunk for the prosecution, determined to secure, not only a finding of guilty, but the death penalty for Ward who, she believes, needs to be removed from society. As the trial twists and turns its way to the truth, secrets are revealed that have the howling press pack racing for the phones at every break.
Victor Methos is a story in himself. He was born in Kabul, Afghanistan and lived in various parts of the world before settling in the US. At the age of 13, when his best friend was interrogated by the police for over eight hours and confessed to a crime he didn’t commit, he knew that one day he would become a lawyer. After completing his undergraduate education at the University of Utah, he abandoned the pursuit of a doctorate in philosophy for law school. A partner at a law firm of which he was co-founder, he has conducted over 100 criminal trials and was voted one of the most respected criminal lawyers in the West (of the US) by Utah Business Magazine. This background will help the reader appreciate why his court-room thrillers are so realistic -- "An Unreliable Truth" is no exception. His characters are three-dimensional, his dialogue script-like and believable. The story itself is gripping, especially once the trial gets underway. This is a real page-turner, one which will keep the reader guessing right to the end.
Victor Methos is a story in himself. He was born in Kabul, Afghanistan and lived in various parts of the world before settling in the US. At the age of 13, when his best friend was interrogated by the police for over eight hours and confessed to a crime he didn’t commit, he knew that one day he would become a lawyer. After completing his undergraduate education at the University of Utah, he abandoned the pursuit of a doctorate in philosophy for law school. A partner at a law firm of which he was co-founder, he has conducted over 100 criminal trials and was voted one of the most respected criminal lawyers in the West (of the US) by Utah Business Magazine. This background will help the reader appreciate why his court-room thrillers are so realistic -- "An Unreliable Truth" is no exception. His characters are three-dimensional, his dialogue script-like and believable. The story itself is gripping, especially once the trial gets underway. This is a real page-turner, one which will keep the reader guessing right to the end.
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July 3, 2023
A Very Solid 4.0-Stars - "I Really Liked It!"
I enjoyed this legal procedural; I think it faded somewhat around the middle; I was uplifted mightily by an excellent finale.
Review will follow ... eventually! Being horizontally indisposed means I am listening to more books which is a good thing(!), but gives me little opportunity or inclination to write a proper review.
I enjoyed this legal procedural; I think it faded somewhat around the middle; I was uplifted mightily by an excellent finale.
Review will follow ... eventually! Being horizontally indisposed means I am listening to more books which is a good thing(!), but gives me little opportunity or inclination to write a proper review.
October 16, 2022
The satisfaction at the end was enormous. I didn’t expect the plot twist but if i’m being honest, the killer’s wife was something else. No other victor’s book can top that.
August 16, 2021
An Unreliable Truth is the third instalment in the Desert Plains series and the most riveting legal thriller instalment to date. Defence attorney Dylan Aster is approached by a colleague, Jessica Yardley, at Nevada’s Clark County DA’s office who has been asked by a rookie public defender for Jackson County, Oregon, Madeline Ismera, to request Dylan’s assistance in one of her current cases. She had heard about his brilliant trial record - standing at 44 not-guilty verdicts - and believes he can provide her with valuable input in the capital murder case she has been assigned. Arlo Ward, the defendant, is a diagnosed schizophrenic who suffers from crippling delusions and often cannot tell reality from fantasy. He stands accused of the brutal slaying, dismemberment and sexualised posing of the bodies of three young people who had been camping in Coyote Canyon. A fourth victim, Holly Fallows, managed to escape with her life by hurling herself off a cliff as Ward chased her and closed in on her with a knife. She is then taken to the ER for treatment and miraculously survives her injuries. Soon after Ward is pulled over by police for speeding. When accosted he's covered head to toe in blood and immediately confesses to the murders claiming that the devil was using him as a conduit and made him carry out the heinous crimes.
Bizarrely, the murders seem to have been pre-planned as a strategy to drum up media attention for the expose he plans to write detailing everything and leaving the profit he makes to his wife and daughter. But as Dylan and legal partner Lily Ricci meet with Arlo they realise he does not intend on pleading guilty despite his confession and the mountain of evidence stacked against him, and Dylan starts to become concerned he may have bitten off more than he can chew. Can he maintain his stellar trial record? This is a compulsive and enthralling legal thriller from start to finish, and I must admit, I am always glad to see a new premise set in the legal sphere as they seem to be waning and rather scarce these days. It's well written with plenty of sharp twists and red herrings scattered throughout the pages and is peopled by an engaging cast of characters. The courtroom scenes are thrilling to the core as you never know what is going to happen, so it is reflective of the real justice system in many instances, and just as you think you have it all figured out Methos pulls a cunning 360 and knocks you off your perch. A scintillating legal thriller with a decent mystery at its centre and a truly explosive concluding scene that will leave you intensely satisfied, shocked but begging for more. Highly recommended.
Bizarrely, the murders seem to have been pre-planned as a strategy to drum up media attention for the expose he plans to write detailing everything and leaving the profit he makes to his wife and daughter. But as Dylan and legal partner Lily Ricci meet with Arlo they realise he does not intend on pleading guilty despite his confession and the mountain of evidence stacked against him, and Dylan starts to become concerned he may have bitten off more than he can chew. Can he maintain his stellar trial record? This is a compulsive and enthralling legal thriller from start to finish, and I must admit, I am always glad to see a new premise set in the legal sphere as they seem to be waning and rather scarce these days. It's well written with plenty of sharp twists and red herrings scattered throughout the pages and is peopled by an engaging cast of characters. The courtroom scenes are thrilling to the core as you never know what is going to happen, so it is reflective of the real justice system in many instances, and just as you think you have it all figured out Methos pulls a cunning 360 and knocks you off your perch. A scintillating legal thriller with a decent mystery at its centre and a truly explosive concluding scene that will leave you intensely satisfied, shocked but begging for more. Highly recommended.
September 3, 2021
You can always count on Victor Methos to keep the pages turning at a fast-paced clip. The third installment in the Desert Plains series is no exception. For me, this one is my favorite so far, and I was completely hooked at the end of the first book. This one could be read as a standalone legal thriller, but I would highly recommend stepping back and grabbing the first two books as well – the entire series is well-worth reading.
Jessica Yardley, who played major roles in the first two books, has stepped back as she’s moves from the crime infested lights of Las Vegas to a small town and opened her own law practice. I don’t think we’ve seen the last of her though. She has already contacted Dylan Aster and Lily Ricci, two brilliant young defense attorneys, to help in the defense of Arlo Ward, a young man suffering from a mental health disability in a death penalty case overloaded with secrets and lies. All the while, their client keeps proclaiming that he is guilty of killing the three young campers.
The killings are appalling -- and the chaos that follows jolting. There are plenty of twists and turns. And the courtroom drama is top rate. Victor Methos never fails to grab the attention of his readers with chilling, unsettling and utterly brilliant page-turners.
I was blindsided by the ending, but an elated recipient of the author's limitless ability to surprise. Methos certainly packed a walloping shocker that delivers a powerful reminder to always expect the unexpected. And he certainly did just that with a last-page twist that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. From start to finish, this one crackles with intensity.
I’m keeping my fingers crossed that there are plans to keep the razor-sharp suspense flowing with additional books. Each puzzling case is exceptionally well-plotted and laid out by an exceptional author who continues to outdo himself with each new release.
September 3, 2025
Holy shit, this was to the point and doesn't lose a moment riff raffing around. Not one dull second in this courtroom thriller. Victor Methos knows how to churn a page turning binder of a book. Not a single page is wasted in delving into things that don't sum up or take the story further.
Dylan Aster, Lily Ricci and Kelly Whitewolf as attorneys at law have such a pivotal and well-built part that you can almost feel the rush of the entire episode in all its legality.
Dylan Aster, Lily Ricci and Kelly Whitewolf as attorneys at law have such a pivotal and well-built part that you can almost feel the rush of the entire episode in all its legality.
December 9, 2023
Although An Unreliable Truth is #3 in the series, I feel it can definitely be read as a stand-alone.
"The police pull over blood-soaked Arlo Ward not far from the site of grisly murders; he fully cooperates with the officers, grinning through a remorseless confession dripping with gory detail."
Defense attorneys Dylan Aster and Lily Ricci are hired to defend Arlo and before long start believing he may actually be innocent. He has schizophrenia and it seems as though he may have discovered the murder site and is pretending to be the murderer in a bid for fame and a book deal.
The descriptions of the murders were rather gruesome and I'll confess to having skimmed the details on a couple of them. I very much liked Dylan and Lily. I LOVED their courtroom scenes and found myself flipping back and forth as to whether Arlo was guilty or not, all the way to the end of the book!
My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC!!
"The police pull over blood-soaked Arlo Ward not far from the site of grisly murders; he fully cooperates with the officers, grinning through a remorseless confession dripping with gory detail."
Defense attorneys Dylan Aster and Lily Ricci are hired to defend Arlo and before long start believing he may actually be innocent. He has schizophrenia and it seems as though he may have discovered the murder site and is pretending to be the murderer in a bid for fame and a book deal.
The descriptions of the murders were rather gruesome and I'll confess to having skimmed the details on a couple of them. I very much liked Dylan and Lily. I LOVED their courtroom scenes and found myself flipping back and forth as to whether Arlo was guilty or not, all the way to the end of the book!
My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC!!
November 20, 2024
Взагалі не зрозуміла навіщо ця книжка була написана і чим вона повʼязана з попередніми історіями.
1,75/5
1,75/5
October 29, 2025
Absolutely brilliant crime thriller with a shocking ending I didn’t see coming. As the third and final book in the Desert Plains series, this one hit all the right notes for me. I’ve followed Victor Methos through each installment, and he just keeps getting better. He’s easily one of the best in the genre, and this finale was the perfect send-off. Arnell Powell wasn’t who I expected for the narration, but he did a standout job and really pulled me into the story.
May 21, 2025
This author has not disappointed me with his previous two books in this Desert Plains series plus his first in the Vegas Shadows series. I opted to listen and while the narrator sounded familiar I do not see any past listens from him in the Audible library. As normal for me with most books: sans synopsis.
This is book 3 in the Desert Plains series but it was a question to find why it was part of the series but it finally got to that subtle piece. I felt this book was equally as good as all previously read books with a suspenseful building story mixed with legal thrills. As the book was unraveling, I definitely picked up on some tidbits that helped me know where it was heading. The narrator clicked in for me after about the first hour and provided good, engaging entertainment till the end.
This author is steadily becoming a favorite for me. I have other books in my TBR queue and will definitely keep trying to work another one into my lineup sooner than later.
This is book 3 in the Desert Plains series but it was a question to find why it was part of the series but it finally got to that subtle piece. I felt this book was equally as good as all previously read books with a suspenseful building story mixed with legal thrills. As the book was unraveling, I definitely picked up on some tidbits that helped me know where it was heading. The narrator clicked in for me after about the first hour and provided good, engaging entertainment till the end.
This author is steadily becoming a favorite for me. I have other books in my TBR queue and will definitely keep trying to work another one into my lineup sooner than later.
August 18, 2021
5 riveting stars!!! Warning, once you start this book it's extremely difficult to stop. A page turner from beginning to end. With an ending that's one shocker after another. Outstandingly clever. Fabulous installment to this series and I certainly hope there's a book 4.
Thought I'd be disappointed that Jessica Yardley from the first two books wasn't the focus here but that wasn't the case at all. Defense attorneys Dylan Aster and Lily Ricci featured in the last book are the stars of this story. Their case will have you on the edge of your seat from beginning to a satisfying end.
Thought I'd be disappointed that Jessica Yardley from the first two books wasn't the focus here but that wasn't the case at all. Defense attorneys Dylan Aster and Lily Ricci featured in the last book are the stars of this story. Their case will have you on the edge of your seat from beginning to a satisfying end.
August 18, 2021
Not my favorite book of the series, but I loved that the main characters were Dylan and Lily (characters we were introduced to in the 2nd book). While a little slow at times, the mystery of “who actually did it?” keeps you turning the page. And the satisfying ending makes it worth it! All in all, a solid legal thriller. Look forward to more books from Methos!
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 29, 2025
Виктор Метос е изключителен автор и удивително много му личи, че е бил прокурор и адвокат по наказателни дела 😊
“ Кървава луна” е динамичен съдебен трилър. Арло Уорд е заловен в близост до местопрестъпление и признава за убийствата ,и нападението на четирима души. Но дали е виновен или търси обществено внимание …, прокуратурата трябва да реши.
“ Кървава луна” е динамичен съдебен трилър. Арло Уорд е заловен в близост до местопрестъпление и признава за убийствата ,и нападението на четирима души. Но дали е виновен или търси обществено внимание …, прокуратурата трябва да реши.
December 20, 2024
The way this book just flipped me every which way is crazy. This was a ride. I’m a little annoyed I got played lmfao this was good 🔥🔥🔥
August 7, 2024
The last third of this book took it from a 4✨to a 5✨ with a whole twist I didn’t see coming and an ending that closed the book off perfectly!
I really hope there is a fourth book in the pipeline for this series as I’ve really enjoyed it!
I really hope there is a fourth book in the pipeline for this series as I’ve really enjoyed it!
January 29, 2022
An Unreliable Truth is technically the third book in a series, but it stars a pair of defense attorneys who were minor characters in the second book, and barely mentions the characters from the first two books.
This is another book about horrific killings where the author tries to keep the reader guessing while trotting the characters through a courtroom procedural.
This one starts off with three teenagers being gruesomely murdered out in the woods, slasher-flick style. The Final Girl survives by jumping off a cliff.
The Jason Vorhees of the story turns out to be a mild-mannered, possibly autistic fellow named Arlo Ward. The cops find him covered in the victims' blood, and he cheerfully admits to killing them, even giving an uncoerced confession full of gory, sadistic details.
The public defender handed this shitsack of a case asks for help from a more experienced defense attorney, and against his better judgment, Dylan Aster is pulled in and becomes invested in defending Arlo. Arlo is awkward and has no history of violence, and more and more details emerge that cast doubt on whether he actually did, or could have, committed the murders. Dylan becomes convinced Arlo is taking credit for something he didn't do.
There is some personal and family drama involving both attorneys. Dylan has just been offered a BigLaw job in Los Angeles and spends part of the book debating whether he wants to Do Important Work or Actually Make Money. Dylan actually cares about his client's innocence, while his partner cares about upholding the Constitution and civil rights, regardless of the facts of any particular case.
The Assistant DA in the case is a minor character who mostly serves as a foil to the main characters.
If you like legal thrillers, then like all of Victor Methos's books, this one is full of legal details and trial maneuvers. The twist and the ending were a bit contrived, so I wonder if there will be another book in the series with some of these characters reappearing.
This is another book about horrific killings where the author tries to keep the reader guessing while trotting the characters through a courtroom procedural.
This one starts off with three teenagers being gruesomely murdered out in the woods, slasher-flick style. The Final Girl survives by jumping off a cliff.
The Jason Vorhees of the story turns out to be a mild-mannered, possibly autistic fellow named Arlo Ward. The cops find him covered in the victims' blood, and he cheerfully admits to killing them, even giving an uncoerced confession full of gory, sadistic details.
The public defender handed this shitsack of a case asks for help from a more experienced defense attorney, and against his better judgment, Dylan Aster is pulled in and becomes invested in defending Arlo. Arlo is awkward and has no history of violence, and more and more details emerge that cast doubt on whether he actually did, or could have, committed the murders. Dylan becomes convinced Arlo is taking credit for something he didn't do.
There is some personal and family drama involving both attorneys. Dylan has just been offered a BigLaw job in Los Angeles and spends part of the book debating whether he wants to Do Important Work or Actually Make Money. Dylan actually cares about his client's innocence, while his partner cares about upholding the Constitution and civil rights, regardless of the facts of any particular case.
The Assistant DA in the case is a minor character who mostly serves as a foil to the main characters.
If you like legal thrillers, then like all of Victor Methos's books, this one is full of legal details and trial maneuvers. The twist and the ending were a bit contrived, so I wonder if there will be another book in the series with some of these characters reappearing.
March 20, 2021
An Unreliable Truth by Victor Methos. Tense legal thriller/courtroom drama involving a triple murder and severely injured survivor. Defense attorneys Dylan Aster and Lily Ricci are featured in the third book in the Desert Plains Series. Arlo Ward has confessed to the crimes however there is the likelihood that Arlo is suffering for delusional schizophrenia and is using his confession to the crimes as an means to gain attention and possible financial gain. There are several twists with surprises, secrets and revelations. Somewhat graphic descriptions of the crimes. Mr Methos ended the book with a more than satisfying conclusion.
Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.
Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.
August 22, 2025
Another good one. I love legal thrillers. My only real complaint is that Jessica (other than very briefly mentioned in the very beginning) and her daughter Tara were not in this book. Listened to audiobook.
Original review and rating posted 8/30/2024
Shelved under audiobook and it changed my review to being posted 8/22/25🙄
Original review and rating posted 8/30/2024
Shelved under audiobook and it changed my review to being posted 8/22/25🙄
August 24, 2021
Legal thrillers are not my favorite genre, but I was enjoying this one. The twist is fantastic but one of my favorite movies had already done it so I saw it coming. The ending though, made me smile so hard it pushed this read up to 5 stars.
December 7, 2023
This was another crazy courtroom drama by Victor Methos.
A guy gets caught covered in blood; driving away from a crime scene. He admits he killed everybody.
As the case unfolds, you begin to question his guilt, his mental health, his family, previous cases, etc.
The book ends also ends with a bang. This is definitely a must read for those who like lawyer/courtroom stories.
A guy gets caught covered in blood; driving away from a crime scene. He admits he killed everybody.
As the case unfolds, you begin to question his guilt, his mental health, his family, previous cases, etc.
The book ends also ends with a bang. This is definitely a must read for those who like lawyer/courtroom stories.
January 11, 2025
This author is a great writer with intense plots that are grammatically correct. He obviously draws from his lawyer background with fascinating stories. I have read several of his books. So, why the stars instead of my usual 5? Because he draws way too heavily on the plot of Primal Fear by William Diehl, a great book. With all of the possible scenarios one can write, especially by an experienced lawyer, I felt he shouldn’t have drawn from the well-written (and great movie with a young Ed Norton). That book truly shocked me.
May 11, 2024
Wow, this book's no ordinary legal thriller and there's so many layers to it. This maybe my favourite from the series and one of the best legal thrillers I have read. The twist and the ending also floored me. I don't want to spoil the story, but if you are looking for a legal thriller book that can take you on an emotional rollercoaster, then look no further and just read this book! It can be read as a stand-alone as the main characters in this book are two of the lesser developed characters from previous book. I hope there will be future books and we get to see more of Dylan and Lily.
May 1, 2024
The final book in this thrilling trilogy wraps up the series spectacularly, delivering on all the high expectations set by its predecessors. This book excels with its smart, suspenseful narrative, maintaining high tension and delivering surprising twists throughout. The character development is sharp and compelling, and the pacing ensures that you're hooked until the very last page.
September 4, 2021
Another amazing fast-paced thriller
July 27, 2022
Best book in the series! I loved them all but this was an incredible read!
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