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Dr. Laura Fleming #2
Black Lies
A shocking crime
A killer telling lies ...
The most dangerous man is the one with nothing to lose.
Only a handful of inmates in Westmead Prison have committed crimes so atrocious that they've been locked away for life, and for fifteen years, convicted murderer Tomas Kovak has refused to disclose where he hid the body of his victim, a vulnerable young woman.
When Kovak is diagnosed with terminal cancer, intense pressure is put on Dr Laura Fleming, criminal psychologist, to find the location of Kovak's victim so her grieving family can find some sort of closure.
Laura has to use all of her training, skills and instinct to form a connection with the cold, remorseless killer, a man who has refused any psychological assessment since the day he confessed to the murder.
With every session, Laura becomes more and more convinced that something about Kovak's story doesn't ring true, and as his health rapidly deteriorates, the pressure on Laura ramps up. She becomes increasingly desperate, resorting to unconventional methods to find out what she can from the secretive man.
As she inches closer to the truth, she discovers some people will stop at nothing to keep the past hidden ... and the people Laura cares most about are fair game.
Love can make you do terrible things.
A killer telling lies ...
The most dangerous man is the one with nothing to lose.
Only a handful of inmates in Westmead Prison have committed crimes so atrocious that they've been locked away for life, and for fifteen years, convicted murderer Tomas Kovak has refused to disclose where he hid the body of his victim, a vulnerable young woman.
When Kovak is diagnosed with terminal cancer, intense pressure is put on Dr Laura Fleming, criminal psychologist, to find the location of Kovak's victim so her grieving family can find some sort of closure.
Laura has to use all of her training, skills and instinct to form a connection with the cold, remorseless killer, a man who has refused any psychological assessment since the day he confessed to the murder.
With every session, Laura becomes more and more convinced that something about Kovak's story doesn't ring true, and as his health rapidly deteriorates, the pressure on Laura ramps up. She becomes increasingly desperate, resorting to unconventional methods to find out what she can from the secretive man.
As she inches closer to the truth, she discovers some people will stop at nothing to keep the past hidden ... and the people Laura cares most about are fair game.
Love can make you do terrible things.
319 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 7, 2023
10 people are currently reading
358 people want to read
About the author
Mercedes Mercier
3 books82 followersMercedes Mercier writes 'just-one-more-page' crime with twisting plots and relatable characters. As well as writing books, Mercedes works in the criminal justice system, providing her unique insight into the world of prisons, crime and offenders.
After a brush with death, Mercedes decided to throw herself into life. She lived overseas, become a black belt in Karate, skydived, and volunteered with animals.
When she doesn't have her nose in her laptop and her mind in a story, she loves to read, travel, try new restaurants, and listen to podcasts (true crime of course).
After a brush with death, Mercedes decided to throw herself into life. She lived overseas, become a black belt in Karate, skydived, and volunteered with animals.
When she doesn't have her nose in her laptop and her mind in a story, she loves to read, travel, try new restaurants, and listen to podcasts (true crime of course).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews
August 22, 2023
Dr Laura Flemming, criminal psychologist working in a prison setting, is never afraid to go rogue, break the rules and go things alone. Having her case load cleared by her superiors, she must concentrate on an inmate who is on his deathbed to locate the body of his victim. A heavily pregnant woman, whom he was inprisoned for her strangling.
There are the usual petty workplace scenarios, a colleague jealous of this, a boss pushing for results given it has now turned political.
Laura figures things out that noone else has gotten close to, and now doubts the guilt of this dying man. She got him to talk - he'd never spoken to anyone in his years of imprisonment.
A few things did not ring true. Laura's daughter had been taken hostage in the prior book, and here we had her being followed by a dangerous person, her daughter telling her only the day after. The reason was Laura was busy running around searching for who she thought was the real killer she'd missed the calls from her ex husband. The ex would have found her somehow.
There were some obviously placed red herrings which I thought were there for effect only which was disappointing, and the placement of real Sydney suburbs mixed with other made up locations also left me feeling a little off.
This was a well written follow up that I did not enjoy as much as its predecessor, I also didn't feel as much as a connection with Laura this time around. The pace was great, it was an interesting plot with lots happening.
I listened to the audio version of this via the BorrowBox platform and my public library. Unfortunately by my least favourite narrator, Caroline Lee, noticing it straight away.
There are the usual petty workplace scenarios, a colleague jealous of this, a boss pushing for results given it has now turned political.
Laura figures things out that noone else has gotten close to, and now doubts the guilt of this dying man. She got him to talk - he'd never spoken to anyone in his years of imprisonment.
A few things did not ring true. Laura's daughter had been taken hostage in the prior book, and here we had her being followed by a dangerous person, her daughter telling her only the day after. The reason was Laura was busy running around searching for who she thought was the real killer she'd missed the calls from her ex husband. The ex would have found her somehow.
There were some obviously placed red herrings which I thought were there for effect only which was disappointing, and the placement of real Sydney suburbs mixed with other made up locations also left me feeling a little off.
This was a well written follow up that I did not enjoy as much as its predecessor, I also didn't feel as much as a connection with Laura this time around. The pace was great, it was an interesting plot with lots happening.
I listened to the audio version of this via the BorrowBox platform and my public library. Unfortunately by my least favourite narrator, Caroline Lee, noticing it straight away.
July 9, 2023
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Black Lies by Mercedes Mercier. (2023).
(Dr. Laura Fleming; #2)
**Thank you to HarperCollins Australia for sending me a free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review; published 7 June 2023**
Only a handful of inmates commit crimes so atrocious they get life sentences - convicted murderer Tomas is one, and he refused to reveal where the body of the young pregnant woman is. When he gets terminal cancer, despite always refusing psychological assessment, Dr Laura Fleming is assigned to connect with him to find out the body location. She becomes convinced that his story doesn't ring true, and becomes desperate and resorts to unconventional methods to learn the truth. But some people will stop at nothing to keep the past hidden...
I highly enjoyed the previous novel from this author, 'White Noise' - the author's debut novel which was excellent. This novel is the sequel and is equally as good, and you could read it as a standalone with no issues. Dr Laura is a great lead to follow as she's realistic with her flaws, and chooses to go outside the lines to get to the full truth despite the danger it puts her in. The storyline is interesting and full of tension, with well-written red herrings adding to the drama.
Overall: don't go past this one if you are a fan of Australian crime thrillers which are absolute page-turners.
*www.facebook.com/onewomansbbr
Black Lies by Mercedes Mercier. (2023).
(Dr. Laura Fleming; #2)
**Thank you to HarperCollins Australia for sending me a free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review; published 7 June 2023**
Only a handful of inmates commit crimes so atrocious they get life sentences - convicted murderer Tomas is one, and he refused to reveal where the body of the young pregnant woman is. When he gets terminal cancer, despite always refusing psychological assessment, Dr Laura Fleming is assigned to connect with him to find out the body location. She becomes convinced that his story doesn't ring true, and becomes desperate and resorts to unconventional methods to learn the truth. But some people will stop at nothing to keep the past hidden...
I highly enjoyed the previous novel from this author, 'White Noise' - the author's debut novel which was excellent. This novel is the sequel and is equally as good, and you could read it as a standalone with no issues. Dr Laura is a great lead to follow as she's realistic with her flaws, and chooses to go outside the lines to get to the full truth despite the danger it puts her in. The storyline is interesting and full of tension, with well-written red herrings adding to the drama.
Overall: don't go past this one if you are a fan of Australian crime thrillers which are absolute page-turners.
June 9, 2023
Black Lies is another absolutely thrilling and addictive crime novel that I struggled to put down. Oh how I loved the many twists and turns that had me audibly gasping. Each chapter left me wanting more and more, desperately wondering what would happen next.
Laura Fleming is back as a criminal psychologist at Westmead prison. Her boss has given her the opportunity to work with Tomas Kovak, a man who has been inside for 15 years and has refused therapy the entire time. But now he has been diagnosed with terminal cancer and doesn’t have long to live. The higher ups want him to give up where his victims body is, to give her family some closure. Straight away, Laura has her doubts. Tomas is not your typical killer and something is just not adding up. Although she is told to leave it alone, she just can’t let it go. She starts asking questions and soon realises that there are people out there who will do anything to stop her talking, putting herself and those that she loves in danger. The conclusion will blow your mind!!
I love that the story is told from the perspective of a psychologist. She is a normal woman, with her own issues, and yet she goes above and beyond for her patients. Set in Sydney, I could picture her little flat near Bondi Beach and her travels around the city. She is a pretty gutsy woman and I would want her on my side. Her insights into the human mind are fascinating and a great twist on the usual crime thriller.
So what I am trying to say is that Black Lies is brilliant. It is fast paced and highly entertaining. I am so honoured to have read such an early reading copy of this wonderful book and I will read anything that this talented lady writes
Black Lies is published in Australia on June 7th. Get it your pre orders in now, you don’t want to miss this slick and clever thriller.
Laura Fleming is back as a criminal psychologist at Westmead prison. Her boss has given her the opportunity to work with Tomas Kovak, a man who has been inside for 15 years and has refused therapy the entire time. But now he has been diagnosed with terminal cancer and doesn’t have long to live. The higher ups want him to give up where his victims body is, to give her family some closure. Straight away, Laura has her doubts. Tomas is not your typical killer and something is just not adding up. Although she is told to leave it alone, she just can’t let it go. She starts asking questions and soon realises that there are people out there who will do anything to stop her talking, putting herself and those that she loves in danger. The conclusion will blow your mind!!
I love that the story is told from the perspective of a psychologist. She is a normal woman, with her own issues, and yet she goes above and beyond for her patients. Set in Sydney, I could picture her little flat near Bondi Beach and her travels around the city. She is a pretty gutsy woman and I would want her on my side. Her insights into the human mind are fascinating and a great twist on the usual crime thriller.
So what I am trying to say is that Black Lies is brilliant. It is fast paced and highly entertaining. I am so honoured to have read such an early reading copy of this wonderful book and I will read anything that this talented lady writes
Black Lies is published in Australia on June 7th. Get it your pre orders in now, you don’t want to miss this slick and clever thriller.
May 3, 2024
It’s been fifteen years since Tomas Kovak was convicted of an appalling murder and was sent away to Westmead Prison, never to be released. He had walked into a police station to confess his crime but has always to reveal the location of the body of his victim. Now he’s dying with only weeks to live and the family wants the location before he dies. Criminal psychologist Dr Laura Fleming has been assigned the task of getting this man to talk.
Laura Fleming takes the command from her boss to get the information from Kovak by doing whatever it takes. She has no problem bending the rules to breaking point, she’s done it before and has always been able to get results. Even though Kovak has never spoken to a psych before, she seems to be able to have the knack for gaining the trust of even the toughest nuts.
But the more Kovak reveals to her, the less inclined she is to believe that he’s actually the killer. This is far from the brief she’s given and pressure is placed on her to concentrate on finding out the location of the body. But when she pushes, Kovak retreats from her, refusing any more contact.
Is he the killer? Will Laura be able to speak to him again? Is the real killer out there somewhere roaming free?
There’s a strange dichotomy going on when it comes to the personality of Laura Fleming. She’s touted as being one of the best criminal psychologists available, able to get into the mind of the criminal. Yet she has all sorts of trouble speaking to her colleagues and her daughter in any meaningful way. She’s virtually paralysed by any kind of confrontation and can’t provide coherent arguments to her boss when it comes time to back up her theories as a professional practitioner. It felt like this, more than anything else, hampered the smooth flow of the story and created unnecessary obstacles to finding the truth.
The jeopardy built into the story comes from the dying man, Tomas Kovac and the question of whether Laura will get the truth from him before he’s gone. She grows increasingly desperate as time diminishes and pushes a little harder than she ordinarily might. There’s real drama created with the real possibility that there may be a real killer running around concerned that his identity may be revealed.
I enjoyed the many levels of uncertainty built into the story which ensured that there was never a time when I knew how the story was going to end. There were as many as three possible killers within Laura’s orbit and, still, I was way off when they were unmasked, so kudos for that.
My main problem came from the speed with which Laura switches from organised professional to reckless renegade and back again. Her disregard for the safety of herself and her daughter didn’t make sense and felt as though it was fabricated to artificially build the tension. A more consistent temperament would have been far more believable.
That being said, I enjoyed being taken into the prison system by an author who has clearly experienced the process firsthand. The authentic exchanges between inmate and psych professional was compelling and wholly believable.
Black Lies is a strong follow up to White Noise and benefitted from a strong plot complete with a number of well-concealed red herrings and an exciting conclusion.
Laura Fleming takes the command from her boss to get the information from Kovak by doing whatever it takes. She has no problem bending the rules to breaking point, she’s done it before and has always been able to get results. Even though Kovak has never spoken to a psych before, she seems to be able to have the knack for gaining the trust of even the toughest nuts.
But the more Kovak reveals to her, the less inclined she is to believe that he’s actually the killer. This is far from the brief she’s given and pressure is placed on her to concentrate on finding out the location of the body. But when she pushes, Kovak retreats from her, refusing any more contact.
Is he the killer? Will Laura be able to speak to him again? Is the real killer out there somewhere roaming free?
There’s a strange dichotomy going on when it comes to the personality of Laura Fleming. She’s touted as being one of the best criminal psychologists available, able to get into the mind of the criminal. Yet she has all sorts of trouble speaking to her colleagues and her daughter in any meaningful way. She’s virtually paralysed by any kind of confrontation and can’t provide coherent arguments to her boss when it comes time to back up her theories as a professional practitioner. It felt like this, more than anything else, hampered the smooth flow of the story and created unnecessary obstacles to finding the truth.
The jeopardy built into the story comes from the dying man, Tomas Kovac and the question of whether Laura will get the truth from him before he’s gone. She grows increasingly desperate as time diminishes and pushes a little harder than she ordinarily might. There’s real drama created with the real possibility that there may be a real killer running around concerned that his identity may be revealed.
I enjoyed the many levels of uncertainty built into the story which ensured that there was never a time when I knew how the story was going to end. There were as many as three possible killers within Laura’s orbit and, still, I was way off when they were unmasked, so kudos for that.
My main problem came from the speed with which Laura switches from organised professional to reckless renegade and back again. Her disregard for the safety of herself and her daughter didn’t make sense and felt as though it was fabricated to artificially build the tension. A more consistent temperament would have been far more believable.
That being said, I enjoyed being taken into the prison system by an author who has clearly experienced the process firsthand. The authentic exchanges between inmate and psych professional was compelling and wholly believable.
Black Lies is a strong follow up to White Noise and benefitted from a strong plot complete with a number of well-concealed red herrings and an exciting conclusion.
June 30, 2023
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As a big fan of Mercedes Mercier’s debut White Noise, I was elated to see Black Lies in my mailbox. Black Lies is a standalone novel that is full of danger, conjecture, false information, shocking disclosures, protection, regret, desperation and murderous deeds. It’s one hell of a ride from the opening paragraph to the final word.
Step into Westmead, a maximum-security prison that houses some of the most dangerous criminals in the nation. Black Lies follows an inmate named Tomas Kovak, who has been locked away for over a decade for the murder of a young woman. But Kovak is nearing the end of his life following a cancer diagnosis. Criminal psychologist Dr Laura Fleming is charged with the task of extracting the exact location of the body of Kovak’s victim from this dying inmate. But Kovak isn’t an easy patient, which Laura discovers very quickly. As Laura chips away at this terminally ill man, she begins to see his case in a very different light. Laura is convinced something isn’t right about Kovak’s confession, so what secrets is this dangerous prisoner keeping? Will Laura be able to find out what really happened to Kovak’s victim before time ticks away?
Candice Fox, Hayley Scrivenor, Ali Lowe, Meredith Jaffe and Nina D. Campell have each provided an endorsement of Mercedes Mercier’s newest release. Black Lies again features Dr Laura Fleming from Mercedes Mercier’s debut, but Black Lies is an independent release. After thoroughly enjoying and rating Mercier’s debut White Noise five stars, I was pumped to read Mercier’s follow up novel.
I am thinking it is incredibly hard to situate and write authentically about a maximum-security prison unless you work in the system, or you have been an inmate. I was impressed by the level of authenticity and credibility that followed the prison-based sequences of Black Lies. Minus the danger of stepping inside an establishment like Westmead, the maximum-security prison featured in this book, I was able to experience prisoner life firsthand. It was a pretty uneasy and creepy feeling to walk in the shoes of the inmates featured in this novel. It was also very unnerving to follow criminal psychologist Dr Laura Fleming, a woman who works very closely with prisoners in one-on-one situations. Laura was a brave and determined soul, but also quite flawed. I enjoyed my time with Laura immensely. Likewise, my eyes were opened to a different side of the inmate way of life thanks to the main storyline crux of Black Lies. I appreciated the fact that my thinking was challenged, especially in the areas of the law, incarceration, crime, guilt, suppression, blame, justice, prisoner mental health and rehabilitation.
Plot and tone wise, Mercier fills her book with some jolts, shocks, zaps, twists and red herrings. The pace is hasty and brisk, making it impossible to put Black Lies to one side. I was fortunate enough to have a good block of time to read Mercier’s second novel uninterrupted, but I was still shocked that I managed to get through it in just a few hours. This is a testament to my enjoyment of Black Lies, it was well crafted, compulsive and perplexing. I also didn’t have a clue as to how this one would conclude, which was a great feeling as a seasoned mystery reader. If you are keen to read a crime novel with some fantastic psychological interludes into the mind of a prisoner, I can recommend Black Lies by Mercedes Mercier.
*Thanks extended to HarperCollins Books Australia for providing a free copy of this book for review purposes.
As a big fan of Mercedes Mercier’s debut White Noise, I was elated to see Black Lies in my mailbox. Black Lies is a standalone novel that is full of danger, conjecture, false information, shocking disclosures, protection, regret, desperation and murderous deeds. It’s one hell of a ride from the opening paragraph to the final word.
Step into Westmead, a maximum-security prison that houses some of the most dangerous criminals in the nation. Black Lies follows an inmate named Tomas Kovak, who has been locked away for over a decade for the murder of a young woman. But Kovak is nearing the end of his life following a cancer diagnosis. Criminal psychologist Dr Laura Fleming is charged with the task of extracting the exact location of the body of Kovak’s victim from this dying inmate. But Kovak isn’t an easy patient, which Laura discovers very quickly. As Laura chips away at this terminally ill man, she begins to see his case in a very different light. Laura is convinced something isn’t right about Kovak’s confession, so what secrets is this dangerous prisoner keeping? Will Laura be able to find out what really happened to Kovak’s victim before time ticks away?
Candice Fox, Hayley Scrivenor, Ali Lowe, Meredith Jaffe and Nina D. Campell have each provided an endorsement of Mercedes Mercier’s newest release. Black Lies again features Dr Laura Fleming from Mercedes Mercier’s debut, but Black Lies is an independent release. After thoroughly enjoying and rating Mercier’s debut White Noise five stars, I was pumped to read Mercier’s follow up novel.
I am thinking it is incredibly hard to situate and write authentically about a maximum-security prison unless you work in the system, or you have been an inmate. I was impressed by the level of authenticity and credibility that followed the prison-based sequences of Black Lies. Minus the danger of stepping inside an establishment like Westmead, the maximum-security prison featured in this book, I was able to experience prisoner life firsthand. It was a pretty uneasy and creepy feeling to walk in the shoes of the inmates featured in this novel. It was also very unnerving to follow criminal psychologist Dr Laura Fleming, a woman who works very closely with prisoners in one-on-one situations. Laura was a brave and determined soul, but also quite flawed. I enjoyed my time with Laura immensely. Likewise, my eyes were opened to a different side of the inmate way of life thanks to the main storyline crux of Black Lies. I appreciated the fact that my thinking was challenged, especially in the areas of the law, incarceration, crime, guilt, suppression, blame, justice, prisoner mental health and rehabilitation.
Plot and tone wise, Mercier fills her book with some jolts, shocks, zaps, twists and red herrings. The pace is hasty and brisk, making it impossible to put Black Lies to one side. I was fortunate enough to have a good block of time to read Mercier’s second novel uninterrupted, but I was still shocked that I managed to get through it in just a few hours. This is a testament to my enjoyment of Black Lies, it was well crafted, compulsive and perplexing. I also didn’t have a clue as to how this one would conclude, which was a great feeling as a seasoned mystery reader. If you are keen to read a crime novel with some fantastic psychological interludes into the mind of a prisoner, I can recommend Black Lies by Mercedes Mercier.
*Thanks extended to HarperCollins Books Australia for providing a free copy of this book for review purposes.
July 2, 2023
Black Lies (Dr. Laura Fleming, #2) by Mercedes Mercier
Synopsis /
Only a handful of inmates in Westmead Prison have committed crimes so atrocious that they've been locked away for life, and for fifteen years, convicted murderer Tomas Kovak has refused to disclose where he hid the body of his victim, a vulnerable young woman.
When Kovak is diagnosed with terminal cancer, intense pressure is put on Dr Laura Fleming, criminal psychologist, to find the location of Kovak's victim so her grieving family can find some sort of closure.
Laura has to use all of her training, skills and instinct to form a connection with the cold, remorseless killer, a man who has refused any psychological assessment since the day he confessed to the murder.
With every session, Laura becomes more and more convinced that something about Kovak's story doesn't ring true, and as his health rapidly deteriorates, the pressure on Laura ramps up. She becomes increasingly desperate, resorting to unconventional methods to find out what she can from the secretive man.
My Thoughts /
At the beginning of 2023 I read Mercedes Mercier's debut novel, White Noise, and if you haven't picked it up yet, I can highly recommend that you do. With just one or two minor criticisms from this reviewer, it was otherwise an excellent debut novel. Black Lies is its sequel.
Now although Black Lies can be read comfortably as a standalone novel, I would recommend you start with book 1, to get the full and complete picture of the protagonist in this series, prison psychologist, Dr Laura Fleming.
The story opens two years after the events that occurred in White Noise. Laura is still working as a criminal psychologist at Westmead prison and her life, generally, seems to have settled into something resembling normalcy. Until.
Only a handful of inmates in Westmead Prison have committed crimes so atrocious that they've been locked away for life, and for fifteen years, convicted murderer Tomas Kovak has refused to disclose where he hid the body of his victim, a vulnerable young woman.
Restaurant worker, Cassie Walker, was murdered on her way home from work fifteen years ago - she was just twenty-seven years old. If her murder wasn't heartbreaking enough, Cassie was also eight months pregnant at the time of her death. For weeks, Cassie's photograph and story was on the front page of every newspaper and television newsreel in the country. And then one morning, walking into his local police station and turning himself in, Thomas Kovak came forward and confessed to her murder.
Since his subsequent conviction, Kovak has been a guest of Westmead Prison, where he will remain for the remainder of his natural life. During the last fifteen years, he has, for the most part, been a model prisoner. But the one thing Kovak has not confessed to, is where he hid the body of Cassie Walker.
When Laura's boss, director, Michael Davidson calls her into his office one morning and informs her he's assigning her a new case, she's curious. The patient is, Thomas Kovak. A lifetime of smoking has left Kovak with Stage four lung cancer, and now the inmate has only days left to live. Although Kovak has refused all previous attempts by psychologists for an interview, Davidson is hoping Laura will be able to connect with him. Her brief? To have Kovak open up and tell her the location of Cassie Walker's remains.
With time running out, Laura needs to tread purposefully, yet carefully in her sessions with Kovak. The situation is basically a time bomb, he's got nothing to lose or gain from providing her this information. But the more time Laura spends with this inmate the more she's convinced that he's innocent of murder. But how to prove it?
In this novel, Laura seems to be more 'investigator' than 'psychologist'; however, putting aside her sometimes dodgy ethics in her pursuit for the truth, it's still a believable scenario (for the most part). I did enjoy Mercier's portrayal of prison life, its culture and the operational workings of a maximum security prison was very realistic. Mercier has her characters developing well and you can see their growth from her debut novel. The novel's pace is brisk and the storyline morish, which adds up to something you will find hard to put down. Mercier is honing her craft well and I am excited to see where she will take Laura Fleming next.
On an unrelated and different note, I cannot finish this review without mentioning -
If there was ever an award for the best book dedication, you, Mercedes Mercier would win it hands down.
To my grandparents, who always supported me with nothing but love.
Grandpa, I wish you'd seen me get published. I hope you're proud.
I love you endlessly, Grandma (And I hope this writing isn't too small for you to read!)
Synopsis /
Only a handful of inmates in Westmead Prison have committed crimes so atrocious that they've been locked away for life, and for fifteen years, convicted murderer Tomas Kovak has refused to disclose where he hid the body of his victim, a vulnerable young woman.
When Kovak is diagnosed with terminal cancer, intense pressure is put on Dr Laura Fleming, criminal psychologist, to find the location of Kovak's victim so her grieving family can find some sort of closure.
Laura has to use all of her training, skills and instinct to form a connection with the cold, remorseless killer, a man who has refused any psychological assessment since the day he confessed to the murder.
With every session, Laura becomes more and more convinced that something about Kovak's story doesn't ring true, and as his health rapidly deteriorates, the pressure on Laura ramps up. She becomes increasingly desperate, resorting to unconventional methods to find out what she can from the secretive man.
My Thoughts /
At the beginning of 2023 I read Mercedes Mercier's debut novel, White Noise, and if you haven't picked it up yet, I can highly recommend that you do. With just one or two minor criticisms from this reviewer, it was otherwise an excellent debut novel. Black Lies is its sequel.
Now although Black Lies can be read comfortably as a standalone novel, I would recommend you start with book 1, to get the full and complete picture of the protagonist in this series, prison psychologist, Dr Laura Fleming.
The story opens two years after the events that occurred in White Noise. Laura is still working as a criminal psychologist at Westmead prison and her life, generally, seems to have settled into something resembling normalcy. Until.
Only a handful of inmates in Westmead Prison have committed crimes so atrocious that they've been locked away for life, and for fifteen years, convicted murderer Tomas Kovak has refused to disclose where he hid the body of his victim, a vulnerable young woman.
Restaurant worker, Cassie Walker, was murdered on her way home from work fifteen years ago - she was just twenty-seven years old. If her murder wasn't heartbreaking enough, Cassie was also eight months pregnant at the time of her death. For weeks, Cassie's photograph and story was on the front page of every newspaper and television newsreel in the country. And then one morning, walking into his local police station and turning himself in, Thomas Kovak came forward and confessed to her murder.
Since his subsequent conviction, Kovak has been a guest of Westmead Prison, where he will remain for the remainder of his natural life. During the last fifteen years, he has, for the most part, been a model prisoner. But the one thing Kovak has not confessed to, is where he hid the body of Cassie Walker.
When Laura's boss, director, Michael Davidson calls her into his office one morning and informs her he's assigning her a new case, she's curious. The patient is, Thomas Kovak. A lifetime of smoking has left Kovak with Stage four lung cancer, and now the inmate has only days left to live. Although Kovak has refused all previous attempts by psychologists for an interview, Davidson is hoping Laura will be able to connect with him. Her brief? To have Kovak open up and tell her the location of Cassie Walker's remains.
With time running out, Laura needs to tread purposefully, yet carefully in her sessions with Kovak. The situation is basically a time bomb, he's got nothing to lose or gain from providing her this information. But the more time Laura spends with this inmate the more she's convinced that he's innocent of murder. But how to prove it?
In this novel, Laura seems to be more 'investigator' than 'psychologist'; however, putting aside her sometimes dodgy ethics in her pursuit for the truth, it's still a believable scenario (for the most part). I did enjoy Mercier's portrayal of prison life, its culture and the operational workings of a maximum security prison was very realistic. Mercier has her characters developing well and you can see their growth from her debut novel. The novel's pace is brisk and the storyline morish, which adds up to something you will find hard to put down. Mercier is honing her craft well and I am excited to see where she will take Laura Fleming next.
On an unrelated and different note, I cannot finish this review without mentioning -
If there was ever an award for the best book dedication, you, Mercedes Mercier would win it hands down.
To my grandparents, who always supported me with nothing but love.
Grandpa, I wish you'd seen me get published. I hope you're proud.
I love you endlessly, Grandma (And I hope this writing isn't too small for you to read!)
October 28, 2023
4.5 ★
Black Lies by Aussie author Mercedes Mercier is the second book in the Dr Laura Fleming series. This book centres around the Westmead Prison. Inmate Tomas Kovak has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. For the last fifteen years, Tomas has refused to tell anyone where he hid the bony of his last victim. Dr Fleming, a criminal psychologist is desperate to try and get Tomas to tell her the location of the body before he dies so that the victim's family can finally get some closure. But with time against her Dr Fleming is finding this to be more difficult than she first thought.
A fast past thriller that had me engrossed to the last page. I can’t wait to see what this author writes next. Highly recommended.
Black Lies by Aussie author Mercedes Mercier is the second book in the Dr Laura Fleming series. This book centres around the Westmead Prison. Inmate Tomas Kovak has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. For the last fifteen years, Tomas has refused to tell anyone where he hid the bony of his last victim. Dr Fleming, a criminal psychologist is desperate to try and get Tomas to tell her the location of the body before he dies so that the victim's family can finally get some closure. But with time against her Dr Fleming is finding this to be more difficult than she first thought.
A fast past thriller that had me engrossed to the last page. I can’t wait to see what this author writes next. Highly recommended.
June 22, 2023
Thank you Harper Collins for sending me a copy of this book for review.
This book was fantastic . Ive heard such great things about this author. I loved this book.
It was an addictive read that I couldnt stop thinking about. I havent read White Noise and I certainly will be after reading this one.
I found this book to be more character driven rather than the crime itself. I loved the psychology side of it. The who and why they did the crime. I love Criminal Minds so this book was right up my alley. This was such a refreshing change from the books I read. I felt like Laura really cared for her clients and went above and beyond for them. I enjoyed reading about her teenage daughter and their relationship. I have two myself and totally relatable. This book is told by Lauras POV . Once again I love an unpredictable ending and this had me on the edge of my seat. Mercedes writing style is engaging and to be commended.
This book was fantastic . Ive heard such great things about this author. I loved this book.
It was an addictive read that I couldnt stop thinking about. I havent read White Noise and I certainly will be after reading this one.
I found this book to be more character driven rather than the crime itself. I loved the psychology side of it. The who and why they did the crime. I love Criminal Minds so this book was right up my alley. This was such a refreshing change from the books I read. I felt like Laura really cared for her clients and went above and beyond for them. I enjoyed reading about her teenage daughter and their relationship. I have two myself and totally relatable. This book is told by Lauras POV . Once again I love an unpredictable ending and this had me on the edge of my seat. Mercedes writing style is engaging and to be commended.
July 6, 2023
⭐️5 Stars⭐️
Black Lies by Mercedes Mercier is an exceptional and utterly gripping thriller that had me up reading till 2 am in the morning, it’s a book you will devour, let me tell you! This is the second book the author has published.
Dr. Laura Fleming is a cracking character, she’s a kick-ass criminal psychologist who’s learnt to lean into her gut instincts. Laura works at Westmead Prison in Sydney.
Tomas Kovak has been sentenced to life for the horrific murder of a vulnerable young woman. He’s never revealed where her body is, and of course he’s never had an incentive to given that he’s lost any possibility for parole for such a heinous crime.
He’s been tight lipped for fifteen years and Laura’s been given the tough assignment to find out where Cassie is buried so her grieving family can get closure, but time is ticking and Kovak is terminally ill, he has weeks left to live.
As Laura works against the clock to find out the truth there’s someone who will do anything to stop her.
I loved being transported to this dark world of crime, psychology and the prison system. The plot was clever, tense and the characters completely engrossing. Another fast paced winner and I highly recommend!
Publication Date 07 June 2023
Publisher Harper Collins Australia
A huge thanks to @harpercollinsaustralia for a copy of the book! 🙏
Black Lies by Mercedes Mercier is an exceptional and utterly gripping thriller that had me up reading till 2 am in the morning, it’s a book you will devour, let me tell you! This is the second book the author has published.
Dr. Laura Fleming is a cracking character, she’s a kick-ass criminal psychologist who’s learnt to lean into her gut instincts. Laura works at Westmead Prison in Sydney.
Tomas Kovak has been sentenced to life for the horrific murder of a vulnerable young woman. He’s never revealed where her body is, and of course he’s never had an incentive to given that he’s lost any possibility for parole for such a heinous crime.
He’s been tight lipped for fifteen years and Laura’s been given the tough assignment to find out where Cassie is buried so her grieving family can get closure, but time is ticking and Kovak is terminally ill, he has weeks left to live.
As Laura works against the clock to find out the truth there’s someone who will do anything to stop her.
I loved being transported to this dark world of crime, psychology and the prison system. The plot was clever, tense and the characters completely engrossing. Another fast paced winner and I highly recommend!
Publication Date 07 June 2023
Publisher Harper Collins Australia
A huge thanks to @harpercollinsaustralia for a copy of the book! 🙏
February 28, 2023
A huge thank you to Mercedes and Harper Collins for sending us an early copy to read and review.
Get ready to be entertained, Black Lies has the wow factor, it will give you goosebumps, keep you awake at night and explode your reading mind.
There’s no doubt that Mercedes is the future of the psychological thriller genre.
The return of protagonist Dr Laura Fleming, criminal psychologist is back in her next assignment.
At Westmead Prison, the inmates are notorious and infamous.
For fifteen years prisoner, Tomas Kovak has never told anyone where he hid the body of his victim.
When he is diagnosed with terminal cancer, Dr Fleming is set a task.
Before he dies find out where the body is, so the family can have peace and closure.
As the sessions begin, Laura believes there’s more to this and sets out to find the truth.
But danger is not far away and the past is best left buried.
An explosive, tightly executed and scintillating narrative against the backdrop of a maximum security prison.
It’s a ‘just one more page’ read that will consume you, take over your life and become the book that you can’t put down.
A gritty, raw, edgy and authentic tale, with heart stopping moments, a twist here and there, complex characters and a plot that’s bright, bold and interesting.
Strongly creative, tension filled, unpredictable and very stimulating.
Black Lies will seduce your reading mind and then some.
Get ready to be entertained, Black Lies has the wow factor, it will give you goosebumps, keep you awake at night and explode your reading mind.
There’s no doubt that Mercedes is the future of the psychological thriller genre.
The return of protagonist Dr Laura Fleming, criminal psychologist is back in her next assignment.
At Westmead Prison, the inmates are notorious and infamous.
For fifteen years prisoner, Tomas Kovak has never told anyone where he hid the body of his victim.
When he is diagnosed with terminal cancer, Dr Fleming is set a task.
Before he dies find out where the body is, so the family can have peace and closure.
As the sessions begin, Laura believes there’s more to this and sets out to find the truth.
But danger is not far away and the past is best left buried.
An explosive, tightly executed and scintillating narrative against the backdrop of a maximum security prison.
It’s a ‘just one more page’ read that will consume you, take over your life and become the book that you can’t put down.
A gritty, raw, edgy and authentic tale, with heart stopping moments, a twist here and there, complex characters and a plot that’s bright, bold and interesting.
Strongly creative, tension filled, unpredictable and very stimulating.
Black Lies will seduce your reading mind and then some.
December 10, 2024
Good characters and story
June 14, 2023
Criminal psychologist Dr Laura Fleming has been given a tough job - speak to inmate Tomas Kovak, recently diagnosed with terminal cancer and find out where he hid the body of his victim so the family can finally get some peace. But what Laura finds out is more than she expected and ultimately puts herself into the danger zone.
Holy moly - you guys, this book was SO GOOD! I could have easily read it in one sitting but when the clock hit midnight, I knew I needed to hit the sack. As soon as the kids were off to school the next morning, I was back to it with chores set aside as I devoured the last bits of this stellar novel. I loved White Noise but I believe Black Lies is even better. Highly entertaining, I was kept on the edge of my seat throughout. I can't rave about this book enough - it's worth all the stars.
Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins Australia for a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Holy moly - you guys, this book was SO GOOD! I could have easily read it in one sitting but when the clock hit midnight, I knew I needed to hit the sack. As soon as the kids were off to school the next morning, I was back to it with chores set aside as I devoured the last bits of this stellar novel. I loved White Noise but I believe Black Lies is even better. Highly entertaining, I was kept on the edge of my seat throughout. I can't rave about this book enough - it's worth all the stars.
Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins Australia for a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
January 28, 2024
Tomas Kovak, one of Westmead's most dangerous inmates, is serving a life sentence after killing a vulnerable young woman. To this day, he's remained silent on the matter of where the victims' remains are located. But now, as he succumbs to lung cancer, the pressure is on for him to speak up before his impending death.
Psychologist Laura Fleming is tasked to take Novak on as a patient. With her workload passed on to other team members, she's free to commit full time to ease out the confession. However, as sessions continue, Laura begins to suspect that her patient is, in fact, innocent.
Despite being found guilty in a court of law, Novak doesn't display any form of psychological mannerisms typical of a murderer. His testimony doesn't add up either. So, what exactly was his true role in this violent act, leaving a family without answers nor a body to bury.
Still, Laura's suspicions could mean her downfall. Someone is watching her every move, and before long, they'll have her walking into a deadly trap....
Laura remains a complex character - on one hand, she's a trusting and intuitive psychologist plus a fierce Mama Bear. On the other hand, she's a bit flighty in her mannerisms and actions, those that often lead to deep trouble. But we wouldn't have her any other way, right?
This was a great follow-up to White Noise, one that kept me reading well into the night. It's creepy in all the right places, has terrific character development, loads of gasp worthy moments, and in a move that oddly works, a bit of romance as well. Yummy copper Paul is back, and there's a heap of UST going on between him and the Doc!! 🤭
I really hope we see more of this universe in the future!
4.75 🌟
Psychologist Laura Fleming is tasked to take Novak on as a patient. With her workload passed on to other team members, she's free to commit full time to ease out the confession. However, as sessions continue, Laura begins to suspect that her patient is, in fact, innocent.
Despite being found guilty in a court of law, Novak doesn't display any form of psychological mannerisms typical of a murderer. His testimony doesn't add up either. So, what exactly was his true role in this violent act, leaving a family without answers nor a body to bury.
Still, Laura's suspicions could mean her downfall. Someone is watching her every move, and before long, they'll have her walking into a deadly trap....
Laura remains a complex character - on one hand, she's a trusting and intuitive psychologist plus a fierce Mama Bear. On the other hand, she's a bit flighty in her mannerisms and actions, those that often lead to deep trouble. But we wouldn't have her any other way, right?
This was a great follow-up to White Noise, one that kept me reading well into the night. It's creepy in all the right places, has terrific character development, loads of gasp worthy moments, and in a move that oddly works, a bit of romance as well. Yummy copper Paul is back, and there's a heap of UST going on between him and the Doc!! 🤭
I really hope we see more of this universe in the future!
4.75 🌟
October 28, 2023
Really enjoyed this book! 4 to 4 and a half stars. Easy to read and follow. Great plot and suspense.
June 30, 2024
Black Lies is advertised as a page turner; this couldn’t be more accurate! I devoured this book, and was gasping as the truth was revealed. As brilliant as its pilot novel, White Noise, Black Lies is worth a read.
July 17, 2023
Black Lies is the sequel to Mercedes’ debut novel, White Noise (I read that one back in June). We again follow Dr Laura Flemming in this story set a few years after the events of the first novel. I like that Black Lies gives some small nods to White Noise and the back story of some characters without rehashing their entire history. It allowed the focus to be on the current events and not stuck in the past
The story is intriguing with twists that give the side characters more context. I found it easy to read through quickly and it kept me engaged in yet another time when work was going a bit mental
Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins for my advanced reader copy.
The story is intriguing with twists that give the side characters more context. I found it easy to read through quickly and it kept me engaged in yet another time when work was going a bit mental
Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins for my advanced reader copy.
June 30, 2023
Laura works with some of the most dangerous people, as a psychologist at Westmead Prison and she is tasked with one of her most difficult assignments yet - speaking with a convicted murderer, Tomas Kovak, in an attempt to find out the location of his victim. He never told and the family need closure. The clock is ticking, as Tomas has terminal cancer and Laura has just two weeks.
This was such a suspenseful and gripping read. Not only is Laura tasked with the impossible assignment, she is also dealing with her own personal issues and her teenage daughter. This one really kept me turning the pages.
This was such a suspenseful and gripping read. Not only is Laura tasked with the impossible assignment, she is also dealing with her own personal issues and her teenage daughter. This one really kept me turning the pages.
October 27, 2023
Having really enjoyed Mercedes Mercier's debut novel White Noise, I knew I had to read her next book in the Dr Laura Fleming series. Black Lies did not disappoint. Thrilling and addictive with short chapters and a twisty plotline, I raced through the first half in a day and I finished the second half on another day. If I had to describe this book in one word it would be "unputdownable".
Thank you to Harper Collins Australia and NetGalley for this ARC to read and review.
Thank you to Harper Collins Australia and NetGalley for this ARC to read and review.
June 29, 2023
I was meant to read this as part of a buddy read, but picked it up for a quick browse and ended up finishing it in one day. I physically couldn’t put this down until I had some answers.
It’s addictive, binge worthy, dramatic and suspenseful. Everything you need in a crime mystery novel.
Mercedes you have done it again. I love Laura the main character who is strong, independent and intelligent.
This book can be read as a standalone but I recommend reading White Noise first.
It’s addictive, binge worthy, dramatic and suspenseful. Everything you need in a crime mystery novel.
Mercedes you have done it again. I love Laura the main character who is strong, independent and intelligent.
This book can be read as a standalone but I recommend reading White Noise first.
January 23, 2026
Wow once again we are put into prison with Dr Laura Fleming who we met in White Noise. This time she is tasked with trying to find out where a convicted murderer put the body of a young pregnant woman he murdered years ago, he now is dying of cancer and they want to give the grieving family closure so they can bury their daughter. Laura is an excellent protagonist and leaves no stone unturned in her quest to try and find out where the body is hidden. She has her doubts and goes the extra mile to find out as much as she can about what happened, again she finds herself in danger and the author did a great job of placing so many red herrings in this book that I had no idea who was the bad guy several times. When the perpetrator was eventually revealed it was definitely not who I thought it was!
This is an excellently written novel which had me glued to the pages. If you love crime novels then this is the book for you. Her next novel releases in a couple of months and I can’t wait to read it. Another brilliant female Australian crime writer joins the ranks!
This is an excellently written novel which had me glued to the pages. If you love crime novels then this is the book for you. Her next novel releases in a couple of months and I can’t wait to read it. Another brilliant female Australian crime writer joins the ranks!
July 2, 2023
Well, another page turner I couldn't put down.
Loved following Dr Laura Fleming in another psychological thriller with twists you don't see till the end.
We get to follow an inmate who has terminal cancer by the name of Kovak, who years ago admitted to killing a young pregnant woman.
Laura is given his case to find out where the young woman is buried before he dies.
As Laura investigates, his story has gaps. Did he really do the crime? What does Laura find out?
Loved following Dr Laura Fleming in another psychological thriller with twists you don't see till the end.
We get to follow an inmate who has terminal cancer by the name of Kovak, who years ago admitted to killing a young pregnant woman.
Laura is given his case to find out where the young woman is buried before he dies.
As Laura investigates, his story has gaps. Did he really do the crime? What does Laura find out?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 7, 2023
Excellent can’t wait until the next one
December 19, 2023
Totally readable tale.
Not too bland, but not exceptional either.
Not too bland, but not exceptional either.
August 13, 2023
Easy read, fast paced crime mystery. Highly recommend. This one kept me guessing until the end.
July 30, 2023
Unputdownable. I really loved this one, the second book by Mercedes Mercier. It pulled me in from the start. An excellent read, thoroughly recommend.
February 26, 2023
This was a fantastic aussie murder mystery and thriller. The second book in a series about psychologist Laura Fleming, she is assigned to find out where a dying inmate hid the body of a pregnant woman he killed 15 years ago. This was exciting and well written, I found it hard to put it down. Will definitely be checking out future books by this author!
Thank you to netgalley for the ARC!
Thank you to netgalley for the ARC!
October 12, 2023
Dr Laura Fleming is a Psychologist at Westmead Prison tasked with delving into the minds of some of the most dangerous and damaged criminals. I seriously love books told from the POV of a mental health professional. When written well, they almost feel like you are a fly on the wall during someone's private sessions, listening to all their dark and salacious secrets mwahahahaha. 😈
BLACK LIES picks up 2 years after WHITE NOISE, with one of Westmead's most high profile inmates, Tomas Kovak on his deathbed. After 15 years in Prison, Tomas still hasn't given up the location of the body of the young woman he 🔪. Laura must use what little time she has to convince Tomas to trust her so she can give his victim's family some peace. But something about Kovak's story isn't adding up, and as time runs thin, Laura resorts to desperate and unconventional methods to get to the truth. Leading to a shocking conclusion.
Mercedes' writing draws you in with flawed characters and the sprinkle of clues to follow and uncover the mystery. To really understand Laura, her family dynamic and the traumatic event in her past which ties both storylines together, you definitely need to read the books in order.
*Thank you to @harpercollinsaustralia for sending me a copy of BLACK LIES. I really enjoyed this Aussie crime thriller series and look forward to the next one.
BLACK LIES picks up 2 years after WHITE NOISE, with one of Westmead's most high profile inmates, Tomas Kovak on his deathbed. After 15 years in Prison, Tomas still hasn't given up the location of the body of the young woman he 🔪. Laura must use what little time she has to convince Tomas to trust her so she can give his victim's family some peace. But something about Kovak's story isn't adding up, and as time runs thin, Laura resorts to desperate and unconventional methods to get to the truth. Leading to a shocking conclusion.
Mercedes' writing draws you in with flawed characters and the sprinkle of clues to follow and uncover the mystery. To really understand Laura, her family dynamic and the traumatic event in her past which ties both storylines together, you definitely need to read the books in order.
*Thank you to @harpercollinsaustralia for sending me a copy of BLACK LIES. I really enjoyed this Aussie crime thriller series and look forward to the next one.
February 4, 2024
I surprised myself when I finished reading White Noise in two days. Then I read Black Lies, in ONE day!
Dr Laura Fleming was tasked to find the location of where Thomas Kovak hid his last victim’s body. Kovak was a convicted murderer who had just been diagnosed with terminal cancer, putting intense pressure on Laura as she raced against time. The truth wasn’t as simple as what everyone made to believe.
By this time, all the recurring characters had become dear to me, even the ones who became the objects of my suspicions in the previous book!
I didn’t know a psychological thriller set in a prison could be this captivating. I couldn’t stop reading, because I just had to know more. I was so captivated that I stopped looking for suspects and just enjoyed the reading experience.
I was definitely glad to be sucked in to Mercier’s world of Westmead Prison and I can’t wait to read her next book!
(Thanks to Mercedes Mercier and HarperCollins for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review)
See my bookstagram review.
Dr Laura Fleming was tasked to find the location of where Thomas Kovak hid his last victim’s body. Kovak was a convicted murderer who had just been diagnosed with terminal cancer, putting intense pressure on Laura as she raced against time. The truth wasn’t as simple as what everyone made to believe.
By this time, all the recurring characters had become dear to me, even the ones who became the objects of my suspicions in the previous book!
I didn’t know a psychological thriller set in a prison could be this captivating. I couldn’t stop reading, because I just had to know more. I was so captivated that I stopped looking for suspects and just enjoyed the reading experience.
I was definitely glad to be sucked in to Mercier’s world of Westmead Prison and I can’t wait to read her next book!
(Thanks to Mercedes Mercier and HarperCollins for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review)
See my bookstagram review.
August 14, 2023
We're back in the hot seat with our favorite prison psychologist, Dr. Laura Fleming, in Mercedes Mercier's follow-up to the earlier book in the series: White Noise. While Black Lies acts as a stand-alone story that can be read independently of the first novel, I highly recommend checking out White Noise first to gain a true appreciation for the journey that some of the characters involved have been on to get to where they're at here. It'll definitely enhance the story for you!
Black Lies takes place a couple of years after the events of the early book. As Dr. Fleming settles back into her role as prison psychologist at the notorious Westmead Prison after those events, she's assigned a much different case than her previous one. This time she's tasked with getting an inmate, Tomas Kovak, to talk about a murder he committed fifteen years previously in which he killed a pregnant young woman seemingly for the small slight of refusing his help at a bus stop. During the entire time in prison, he's refused to interact at all with any form of psychologist or discuss much of the details surrounding his crime past his initial confession.
The murdered woman's family still mourns, but sadly this entire time they've lacked full closure as Kovak never disclosed where he hid her body. Fifteen years later, suffering from the advanced stages of cancer and very close to the end of his life, Dr. Laura Fleming has been tasked with trying to reach out to him with the goal of getting him to finally open up about his crime and reveal where he hid the body to provide the much-needed closure her family needs.
Laura, being her usual sharp and perceptive self, quickly realizes that not everything is as straightforward as it seems and gets the impression there's a lot more to unravel here than initially meets the eye. We join her as she goes down the rabbit hole and learns just what some will do in the name of love, using her trademark intuition and slightly unconventional methods to uncover a story that quickly starts hitting a little close to home...
The first book in this series was excellent, but this second novel may have been even better. Mercedes Mercier quickly picked up where she left off, expanding upon the recurring characters' journeys from the first book and building upon their existing experiences and approaches. This story was full of twists and turns that'll keep you reading deep into the night as you long to just get a few extra pieces of the puzzle as the plot begins to reveal itself. You'll find yourself thinking hard about the motivations behind why certain characters have followed the paths they have and experience quite an emotional roller-coaster along the way. Be prepared to quickly shift your perceptions and opinions of characters as things begin to unravel!
If you're into thrillers/mysteries, you're in for a treat with this book and this series. It will not disappoint. This is fast-paced, thriller writing done right, with a strong and passionate female lead juggling her professional life, personal life and being a mom, and own demons from her past. Mercier does an excellent job of writing believable, relatable characters whose journeys you'll quickly become invested in.
I just hope that one day her boss Michael finally learns to perhaps listen to Laura a little more when she thinks a little outside of the box. She tends to be not far wrong!
Black Lies takes place a couple of years after the events of the early book. As Dr. Fleming settles back into her role as prison psychologist at the notorious Westmead Prison after those events, she's assigned a much different case than her previous one. This time she's tasked with getting an inmate, Tomas Kovak, to talk about a murder he committed fifteen years previously in which he killed a pregnant young woman seemingly for the small slight of refusing his help at a bus stop. During the entire time in prison, he's refused to interact at all with any form of psychologist or discuss much of the details surrounding his crime past his initial confession.
The murdered woman's family still mourns, but sadly this entire time they've lacked full closure as Kovak never disclosed where he hid her body. Fifteen years later, suffering from the advanced stages of cancer and very close to the end of his life, Dr. Laura Fleming has been tasked with trying to reach out to him with the goal of getting him to finally open up about his crime and reveal where he hid the body to provide the much-needed closure her family needs.
Laura, being her usual sharp and perceptive self, quickly realizes that not everything is as straightforward as it seems and gets the impression there's a lot more to unravel here than initially meets the eye. We join her as she goes down the rabbit hole and learns just what some will do in the name of love, using her trademark intuition and slightly unconventional methods to uncover a story that quickly starts hitting a little close to home...
The first book in this series was excellent, but this second novel may have been even better. Mercedes Mercier quickly picked up where she left off, expanding upon the recurring characters' journeys from the first book and building upon their existing experiences and approaches. This story was full of twists and turns that'll keep you reading deep into the night as you long to just get a few extra pieces of the puzzle as the plot begins to reveal itself. You'll find yourself thinking hard about the motivations behind why certain characters have followed the paths they have and experience quite an emotional roller-coaster along the way. Be prepared to quickly shift your perceptions and opinions of characters as things begin to unravel!
If you're into thrillers/mysteries, you're in for a treat with this book and this series. It will not disappoint. This is fast-paced, thriller writing done right, with a strong and passionate female lead juggling her professional life, personal life and being a mom, and own demons from her past. Mercier does an excellent job of writing believable, relatable characters whose journeys you'll quickly become invested in.
I just hope that one day her boss Michael finally learns to perhaps listen to Laura a little more when she thinks a little outside of the box. She tends to be not far wrong!
May 23, 2023
I finished an ARC of Mercedes Mercier’s second novel Black Lies over the weekend and I absolutely LOVED IT!!! I thought her debut White Lies was excellent, but Mercedes hits it out of the park with this cleverly plotted fast-paced thriller.
It is her second novel featuring the fabulous Dr Laura Fleming - a prison psychologist juggling single parenthood with a highly stressful job while overcoming a past addiction to pain medication. Laura is completely relatable as the kind and dedicated ‘Doc’ who has a habit of getting too involved in her cases, placing herself and her loved ones in danger.
Laura is assigned a high-profile case where the prisoner is dying of terminal cancer. As she tries to discover the whereabouts of his victim’s body, Laura finds more questions than answers, sending her headlong into danger (again) as she tries to discover the truth. You’ll be kept guessing throughout all the many twists and turns as the story speeds toward its heart-stopping finale. Complex characters (her sidekick Sam is a standout), a compelling story, and addictive, short chapters make this a novel you will not be able to put down!
With Black Lies, Mercedes cements her place as a leading psychological thriller author and I expect nothing but great things from her in the future! She has quickly become one of my favourite thriller writers.
Note: You do not need to read White Noise to enjoy Black Lies, but it is such an incredible debut why wouldn’t you read both? I re-read White Noise before diving into Black Lies and feel that it enhanced the experience, but Black Lies is still a brilliant book as a stand-alone, so the choice is yours, dear reader!
With thanks to Harper Collins and Mercedes for providing me with an ARC of this book for an honest review.
It is her second novel featuring the fabulous Dr Laura Fleming - a prison psychologist juggling single parenthood with a highly stressful job while overcoming a past addiction to pain medication. Laura is completely relatable as the kind and dedicated ‘Doc’ who has a habit of getting too involved in her cases, placing herself and her loved ones in danger.
Laura is assigned a high-profile case where the prisoner is dying of terminal cancer. As she tries to discover the whereabouts of his victim’s body, Laura finds more questions than answers, sending her headlong into danger (again) as she tries to discover the truth. You’ll be kept guessing throughout all the many twists and turns as the story speeds toward its heart-stopping finale. Complex characters (her sidekick Sam is a standout), a compelling story, and addictive, short chapters make this a novel you will not be able to put down!
With Black Lies, Mercedes cements her place as a leading psychological thriller author and I expect nothing but great things from her in the future! She has quickly become one of my favourite thriller writers.
Note: You do not need to read White Noise to enjoy Black Lies, but it is such an incredible debut why wouldn’t you read both? I re-read White Noise before diving into Black Lies and feel that it enhanced the experience, but Black Lies is still a brilliant book as a stand-alone, so the choice is yours, dear reader!
With thanks to Harper Collins and Mercedes for providing me with an ARC of this book for an honest review.
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