What do you think?
Rate this book
Raisa Susanto #1
The Lies You Wrote
For a brilliant forensic linguist, crimes of the past hold clues to new series of murders in a twisting novel of suspense by the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of A Familiar Sight.
The double murder of a married couple in a small Washington town draws FBI forensic linguist Raisa Susanto into an investigation that mirrors a decades-old crime. Twenty-five years ago—to the day—Alex Parker murdered his parents, then took his own life, leaving behind a note admitting everything.
Raisa, paired with forensic psychologist Callum Kilkenny, uses her skills to read between the lines. Especially now that paranoid postings on a conspiracy thread suggest that Alex was a victim himself—theories that have piqued the interest of a perceptive content moderator and a true-crime podcaster eager for a big break.
As old and new crimes converge, messages from the living and the confessions of the dead take on new meaning for Raisa. Something more sinister than a copycat crime is at play, and plundering the darkest corners of a killer’s mind leaves her vulnerable to a deadly twist even she never saw coming.
The double murder of a married couple in a small Washington town draws FBI forensic linguist Raisa Susanto into an investigation that mirrors a decades-old crime. Twenty-five years ago—to the day—Alex Parker murdered his parents, then took his own life, leaving behind a note admitting everything.
Raisa, paired with forensic psychologist Callum Kilkenny, uses her skills to read between the lines. Especially now that paranoid postings on a conspiracy thread suggest that Alex was a victim himself—theories that have piqued the interest of a perceptive content moderator and a true-crime podcaster eager for a big break.
As old and new crimes converge, messages from the living and the confessions of the dead take on new meaning for Raisa. Something more sinister than a copycat crime is at play, and plundering the darkest corners of a killer’s mind leaves her vulnerable to a deadly twist even she never saw coming.
350 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2024
7186 people are currently reading
17911 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,220 reviews
September 22, 2024
Holy cow! I knew going in that The Lies You Wrote was going to be amazing thanks to the fact that it was written by Brianna Labuskes. A long-standing favorite author of mine, she’s never—not once—let me down. This time around, the gripping case, dynamite characters, and jaw-dropping twists reconfirmed her masterful skill. And trust me when I say, but I’m already eagerly anticipating book number two in this wholly original series.
Centering around an eerie murder-suicide that has suddenly been reawakened, this plot was a brilliant slam dunk. Thoughtfully well-layered and with more *chef’s kiss* twists than I ever thought possible, the dual POVs were peppered with transcripts, diary entries, and various other formats that were simply sublime. A clever combo of crime fiction and suspense, it led me away from every guess that I had more than once, only to deliver one of the more shocking reveals that I’ve read. Bravo, Ms. Labuskes, on outdoing even yourself.
Based around the brilliant character of Raisa Susanto and her career as a forensic linguist, the book took me happily back to my college anthropology days and my much-loved classes on linguistics. The twist that it added to the storyline was truly fascinating. But then, the novel approach to a police procedural is nothing new for Labuskes. After all, she took Dr. Gretchen White and her sociopathic behavior and used them to her own advantage. In the same way, it was Raisa’s persona that drew me in deep. True-to-life and ringing with personality, she was just what this story needed.
She wasn’t, however, the only one. On top of the leading lady herself, this one was chock full of genuine individuals who resonated with authentic motivations and behaviors. Were they all likeable? Not exactly—but only in the best possible way. Add to that the multitudes of secrets and underhanded schemes, and it was nigh on close to perfection.
The only teeny, tiny flaw that I could even find was the slow burn start to the book. Largely feeling every bit of its police procedural element, the many hidden pieces led to my undeniable confusion initially. Don’t get me wrong, once it all fell into place, the revelations were quite literally gasp-inducing, but at first it took some definite patience.
All said and done, however, this book was just yet another example of why Labuskes has had a prominent place on my auto-buy author list. Take it from me, this is not one to be missed. Especially if you love a good crime fiction novel rife with plenty of thrills and chills. So if you’re looking for your next read, definitely give this one a look. Your brain will most definitely thank you. Rating of 4.5 stars (upgraded).
SYNOPSIS:
Twenty-five years ago in Everly, Washington, Tim and Becks Parker were killed by their teenage son, Alex, who then committed suicide. Proudly taking credit for the crimes in a note he left behind, the small town sheriff quickly closed the case, happy to let time forget. Two and a half decades later, however, a new double murder has brought the FBI to Everly. Joining their ranks is forensic linguist Raisa Susanto, who quickly sees the eerie resemblance to the Parker murders, which occurred on the anniversary of their murders—to the very day.
Often out of step with other FBI agents, Raisa partners up with fellow outsider, Callum Kilkenny. A forensic psychologist, he’s gifted at seeing what others can’t in behavior, just as Raisa can from mere words on a page. It is this talent that allows her to parse clues from some messages found on the dark web. Messages that have also drawn a true-crime podcaster to start sniffing around town. After all, within them are allegations that Alex was actually innocent twenty-five years ago despite the firmly closed case.
As Raisa and Kilkenny start digging into the recent murders, new facts rise to the surface about the Parkers’ deaths as well. In fact, the more they find, the more it appears that the new death may be the act of a cunning copycat. But the further down the rabbit hole they go, the less sense things seem to make. Could the message board and podcaster be right? Was Alex actually innocent all those years ago? And how does it connect to the present? Only Raisa seems to be able to put the pieces together. Will she, however, be able to figure it all out before the next deadly turn of events? After all, it might turn out to be one even she overlooked.
Thank you to Brianna Labuskes and Thomas and Mercer for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: January 1, 2024
Trigger warning: stalking, a shooting, mention of: suicide, sexual assault, foster care, getting drugged
Centering around an eerie murder-suicide that has suddenly been reawakened, this plot was a brilliant slam dunk. Thoughtfully well-layered and with more *chef’s kiss* twists than I ever thought possible, the dual POVs were peppered with transcripts, diary entries, and various other formats that were simply sublime. A clever combo of crime fiction and suspense, it led me away from every guess that I had more than once, only to deliver one of the more shocking reveals that I’ve read. Bravo, Ms. Labuskes, on outdoing even yourself.
Based around the brilliant character of Raisa Susanto and her career as a forensic linguist, the book took me happily back to my college anthropology days and my much-loved classes on linguistics. The twist that it added to the storyline was truly fascinating. But then, the novel approach to a police procedural is nothing new for Labuskes. After all, she took Dr. Gretchen White and her sociopathic behavior and used them to her own advantage. In the same way, it was Raisa’s persona that drew me in deep. True-to-life and ringing with personality, she was just what this story needed.
She wasn’t, however, the only one. On top of the leading lady herself, this one was chock full of genuine individuals who resonated with authentic motivations and behaviors. Were they all likeable? Not exactly—but only in the best possible way. Add to that the multitudes of secrets and underhanded schemes, and it was nigh on close to perfection.
The only teeny, tiny flaw that I could even find was the slow burn start to the book. Largely feeling every bit of its police procedural element, the many hidden pieces led to my undeniable confusion initially. Don’t get me wrong, once it all fell into place, the revelations were quite literally gasp-inducing, but at first it took some definite patience.
All said and done, however, this book was just yet another example of why Labuskes has had a prominent place on my auto-buy author list. Take it from me, this is not one to be missed. Especially if you love a good crime fiction novel rife with plenty of thrills and chills. So if you’re looking for your next read, definitely give this one a look. Your brain will most definitely thank you. Rating of 4.5 stars (upgraded).
SYNOPSIS:
Twenty-five years ago in Everly, Washington, Tim and Becks Parker were killed by their teenage son, Alex, who then committed suicide. Proudly taking credit for the crimes in a note he left behind, the small town sheriff quickly closed the case, happy to let time forget. Two and a half decades later, however, a new double murder has brought the FBI to Everly. Joining their ranks is forensic linguist Raisa Susanto, who quickly sees the eerie resemblance to the Parker murders, which occurred on the anniversary of their murders—to the very day.
Often out of step with other FBI agents, Raisa partners up with fellow outsider, Callum Kilkenny. A forensic psychologist, he’s gifted at seeing what others can’t in behavior, just as Raisa can from mere words on a page. It is this talent that allows her to parse clues from some messages found on the dark web. Messages that have also drawn a true-crime podcaster to start sniffing around town. After all, within them are allegations that Alex was actually innocent twenty-five years ago despite the firmly closed case.
As Raisa and Kilkenny start digging into the recent murders, new facts rise to the surface about the Parkers’ deaths as well. In fact, the more they find, the more it appears that the new death may be the act of a cunning copycat. But the further down the rabbit hole they go, the less sense things seem to make. Could the message board and podcaster be right? Was Alex actually innocent all those years ago? And how does it connect to the present? Only Raisa seems to be able to put the pieces together. Will she, however, be able to figure it all out before the next deadly turn of events? After all, it might turn out to be one even she overlooked.
Thank you to Brianna Labuskes and Thomas and Mercer for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: January 1, 2024
Trigger warning: stalking, a shooting, mention of: suicide, sexual assault, foster care, getting drugged
January 6, 2024
Raisa Susanto, a forensic linguist working for the FBI, is paired with forensic psychologist Callum Kilkenny to investigate the double murder of a married couple in a small Washington town, a murder which mirrors a decades-old crime. As old and new crimes converge, messages from the living and the confessions of the dead take on new meaning for Raisa.
This is the first book in a new series written by Brianna Labuskes and I really enjoyed it. I've read 2 of the 3 books in her Gretchen White series and I like Raisa as a protagonist much more than Gretchen. Raisa's career as a linguist is something out of the ordinary and an interesting field. I suspect the author did a lot of research and I applaud her perseverence. The characters in this story are well developed and the story itself is intriguing. Quite possibly there are too many characters because I had to backtrack a couple of times to remind myself who somebody was. The book contains snippets from a podcast and bits of interviews and articles from 25 years ago. I know podcasts feature in a lot of books these days but in this case it's not the main focus of the story. The ending was really well-done and quite a shock to me.
I came very close to giving this book 5 stars but there were a couple of things that annoyed me, one being the number of times Kilkenny's mouth "twitched" in an almost smile and the other relating to the sheriff - Samantha Mason ... where did she go? She just disappeared never to be seen again! 4.5 Stars, rounded down.
I'm looking forward to reading future books in this series. In fact the second book is currently Read Now on Netgalley!
My thanks to Thomas & Mercer via Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication: January 1, 2024
This is the first book in a new series written by Brianna Labuskes and I really enjoyed it. I've read 2 of the 3 books in her Gretchen White series and I like Raisa as a protagonist much more than Gretchen. Raisa's career as a linguist is something out of the ordinary and an interesting field. I suspect the author did a lot of research and I applaud her perseverence. The characters in this story are well developed and the story itself is intriguing. Quite possibly there are too many characters because I had to backtrack a couple of times to remind myself who somebody was. The book contains snippets from a podcast and bits of interviews and articles from 25 years ago. I know podcasts feature in a lot of books these days but in this case it's not the main focus of the story. The ending was really well-done and quite a shock to me.
I came very close to giving this book 5 stars but there were a couple of things that annoyed me, one being the number of times Kilkenny's mouth "twitched" in an almost smile and the other relating to the sheriff - Samantha Mason ... where did she go? She just disappeared never to be seen again! 4.5 Stars, rounded down.
I'm looking forward to reading future books in this series. In fact the second book is currently Read Now on Netgalley!
My thanks to Thomas & Mercer via Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication: January 1, 2024
September 21, 2024
#1 in the Raisa Susanto series on audio. I hope the others in the series are just as good. A double murder of a couple in a small town sets off a line of questions and suspicions. It is not easy to figure out and impressed if anyone does before the ending. This crime has a pod-caster making theories about a crime that took place 25 years ago with a family. Alex Parker murdered his parents then took his own life and left a confession.
Raisa, an FBI forensic linguist, becomes involved with the case alongside Callum, a forensic psychologist. The two of them work to solve and use their skills to read between the lines and maybe Alex is not the only suspect. So intriguing from the dialogue to the intense scenes. This is going to be an excellent choice for the crime solving readers. An awesome twist in the end!
An outstanding job from the narrator Caroline Hewitt for adding to the splendid audio.
Raisa, an FBI forensic linguist, becomes involved with the case alongside Callum, a forensic psychologist. The two of them work to solve and use their skills to read between the lines and maybe Alex is not the only suspect. So intriguing from the dialogue to the intense scenes. This is going to be an excellent choice for the crime solving readers. An awesome twist in the end!
An outstanding job from the narrator Caroline Hewitt for adding to the splendid audio.
May 29, 2023
My Rating: 3⭐️⭐️⭐️ fairly average, had more potential but I like the author and I powered through.
Raisa Susanto is an FBI Forensic Linguist who is called into a small town murder that mirrors that of one some decades ago. It appears there is a copy cat killer out to reenact the killings on the 25th Anniversary.
Everything is absolutely not as it seems. Alex Parker, 25 years earlier killed his parents and committed suicide leaving a damning confession, one that was never in question… perhaps until now.
Callum Kilkenny, brings Raisa into the investigation to use her specialist skills to decipher clues that are being left on message boards online. There is never any question of Alex’s guilt from the original murders… but something is just not quite right that will make you question everything you know.
Ok, so I will start off by letting you know I love this author and I love her Gretchen White series, I eat that up (and as my friend Pink would say NO CRUMBS). So I was PUMPED to say the least about a brand new series coming out from this author and I scooted over to NetGalley toot-sweet to get my copy.
I abandoned two books I had started reading to get stuck into this one expecting at least a 4 or 5 star beauty… BUT as you can see I have not had that luck. There are a few reasons for this and I will go into it below, but I will say that many many of you lovely GoodReaders will like this one and you will be like …. Giiiiiirl you are on crack this is fire!! But for me it fell flat.
Firstly, I did not like Raisa, that is normally ok, but you are supposed to like this one. She is supposed to quirky, and funny and tough but for me she was ANNOYING AF!! She came across childish and boring and not really that tough and funny… she seemed to need attention from everyone and from the first pages was playing cheap parlour type tricks to prove she is an expert… but the author explains this away as her trying to show “men” that she is worthy in her field. Pfft girl you have your PhD you are in the FBI F*ck those men and just be a Badass B*tch in your own right… I just found it really wimpy and whiny the way she was doing it.
Now I will throw in a bit of the good stuff that I did like, multi-POV, as you know I am a sucker for this… there was some timeline switches and there were also letter/suicide note/podcast excerpts and interviews which were mostly done well… perhaps except the podcast stuff that was a bit lame. But I did really enjoy hearing from other characters especially Delaney - not gonna lie if she wasn’t in it I may have DNFd it… I dont want to think about that cause like I said I am rooting for this author…Delaney did not make it so I could rate it higher though unfortunately.
Podcast excerpt
STEVENS: Hmm, I’m forgetting her name at the moment. Clara? Cara. Something like that She was a quiet, studious girl. Wanted to be a Marine Biologist.
SHAW: Don’t we all go through that phase?
STEVENS: Perhaps, perhaps. But she had a real gift for the field of study.
I’m sorry WHAT!!! We all go through the phase of wanting to be a marine biologist… I think not… I know I didn’t. Fish are ICK!!!
Back to the meh parts - Callum Kilkenny did not light me on fire… he was absolutely average and honest kind of pointless to the whole story. He has a trauma background that seemed to be thrown in for fun… it was a bit eh. There were also SOOOOOO many characters and it wasn’t that I got lost throughout it was that the main storyline of the original killed family was actually so boring that I had trouble remembering their names. I honestly thought the original murders had not much to do with the point of the story until perhaps the last 20% so it was a bit lacklustre.
Also the writing was nowhere in the ballpark of what Brianna Labuskes can do… she is awesome and this was basic. It was a bit childish and I have decided that it was because she put SOOOO much effort into researching being a Forensic Linguist (and my hat is off to you… I know nothing about it but you got the research done) that she forgot it wasn’t a book about how to decipher word codes. There was a lot of telling us what happened and why instead of leading us to our own conclusions. The research of the field really overpowered the whole novel and there was so much repetition to get the point across I really didnt have to think at all while reading this one which for me is always a bit of a shame.
Repetition… and DUHHHHH moments
Despite the fact that Raisa knew they were playing the killer’s game, she was as helpless as the rest of them. They had to figure out who the next victim was. To do that, Raisa needed a list of names. She couldn’t search for hidden messages without having something to compare the results to.
Raisa too one of the little cafe seats at the table on her cabin’s back porch and pulled out her tablet to access the Parker file. She could tell Kilkenny and Delaney were doing the same. Delaney had taken the other seat at the table, leaving Kilnenny trying to look professional in the Adirondack Chair.
Somehow the ridiculously flawless bastard still accomplished it.
The key to finding something fresh was to return to what she knew best. The Words.
OMG are you serious with that play by play!!! Come on!!
Finally I will finish with something good… the final 20% saved this book from being a total dud for me. I don’t need John Wick action all the time but if there ever was a book that needed a bit of bang bang it was this one. We did get some and we got some twists (some of them I did not guess after all that) and some of them were OTT MEGA but it was alright cause most of the rest of the book was a bit of a snooze fest… I know I am not selling it but honestly its an average book.. if this is your first Brianna Labuskes book then good… cause they get better as you go backwards.
Overall: would I recommend this… yeah if you have some time for a bit of repetition and basic writing… if you want something easy to read and you like the author.. but having said that her Gretchen White series is far more entertaining with better characters so just head over to those instead if I were you.
Thank you to Thomas and Mercer, NetGalley an the author for an advanced copy of this book for an honest review.
Raisa Susanto is an FBI Forensic Linguist who is called into a small town murder that mirrors that of one some decades ago. It appears there is a copy cat killer out to reenact the killings on the 25th Anniversary.
Everything is absolutely not as it seems. Alex Parker, 25 years earlier killed his parents and committed suicide leaving a damning confession, one that was never in question… perhaps until now.
Callum Kilkenny, brings Raisa into the investigation to use her specialist skills to decipher clues that are being left on message boards online. There is never any question of Alex’s guilt from the original murders… but something is just not quite right that will make you question everything you know.
Ok, so I will start off by letting you know I love this author and I love her Gretchen White series, I eat that up (and as my friend Pink would say NO CRUMBS). So I was PUMPED to say the least about a brand new series coming out from this author and I scooted over to NetGalley toot-sweet to get my copy.
I abandoned two books I had started reading to get stuck into this one expecting at least a 4 or 5 star beauty… BUT as you can see I have not had that luck. There are a few reasons for this and I will go into it below, but I will say that many many of you lovely GoodReaders will like this one and you will be like …. Giiiiiirl you are on crack this is fire!! But for me it fell flat.
Firstly, I did not like Raisa, that is normally ok, but you are supposed to like this one. She is supposed to quirky, and funny and tough but for me she was ANNOYING AF!! She came across childish and boring and not really that tough and funny… she seemed to need attention from everyone and from the first pages was playing cheap parlour type tricks to prove she is an expert… but the author explains this away as her trying to show “men” that she is worthy in her field. Pfft girl you have your PhD you are in the FBI F*ck those men and just be a Badass B*tch in your own right… I just found it really wimpy and whiny the way she was doing it.
Now I will throw in a bit of the good stuff that I did like, multi-POV, as you know I am a sucker for this… there was some timeline switches and there were also letter/suicide note/podcast excerpts and interviews which were mostly done well… perhaps except the podcast stuff that was a bit lame. But I did really enjoy hearing from other characters especially Delaney - not gonna lie if she wasn’t in it I may have DNFd it… I dont want to think about that cause like I said I am rooting for this author…Delaney did not make it so I could rate it higher though unfortunately.
Podcast excerpt
STEVENS: Hmm, I’m forgetting her name at the moment. Clara? Cara. Something like that She was a quiet, studious girl. Wanted to be a Marine Biologist.
SHAW: Don’t we all go through that phase?
STEVENS: Perhaps, perhaps. But she had a real gift for the field of study.
I’m sorry WHAT!!! We all go through the phase of wanting to be a marine biologist… I think not… I know I didn’t. Fish are ICK!!!
Back to the meh parts - Callum Kilkenny did not light me on fire… he was absolutely average and honest kind of pointless to the whole story. He has a trauma background that seemed to be thrown in for fun… it was a bit eh. There were also SOOOOOO many characters and it wasn’t that I got lost throughout it was that the main storyline of the original killed family was actually so boring that I had trouble remembering their names. I honestly thought the original murders had not much to do with the point of the story until perhaps the last 20% so it was a bit lacklustre.
Also the writing was nowhere in the ballpark of what Brianna Labuskes can do… she is awesome and this was basic. It was a bit childish and I have decided that it was because she put SOOOO much effort into researching being a Forensic Linguist (and my hat is off to you… I know nothing about it but you got the research done) that she forgot it wasn’t a book about how to decipher word codes. There was a lot of telling us what happened and why instead of leading us to our own conclusions. The research of the field really overpowered the whole novel and there was so much repetition to get the point across I really didnt have to think at all while reading this one which for me is always a bit of a shame.
Repetition… and DUHHHHH moments
Despite the fact that Raisa knew they were playing the killer’s game, she was as helpless as the rest of them. They had to figure out who the next victim was. To do that, Raisa needed a list of names. She couldn’t search for hidden messages without having something to compare the results to.
Raisa too one of the little cafe seats at the table on her cabin’s back porch and pulled out her tablet to access the Parker file. She could tell Kilkenny and Delaney were doing the same. Delaney had taken the other seat at the table, leaving Kilnenny trying to look professional in the Adirondack Chair.
Somehow the ridiculously flawless bastard still accomplished it.
The key to finding something fresh was to return to what she knew best. The Words.
OMG are you serious with that play by play!!! Come on!!
Finally I will finish with something good… the final 20% saved this book from being a total dud for me. I don’t need John Wick action all the time but if there ever was a book that needed a bit of bang bang it was this one. We did get some and we got some twists (some of them I did not guess after all that) and some of them were OTT MEGA but it was alright cause most of the rest of the book was a bit of a snooze fest… I know I am not selling it but honestly its an average book.. if this is your first Brianna Labuskes book then good… cause they get better as you go backwards.
Overall: would I recommend this… yeah if you have some time for a bit of repetition and basic writing… if you want something easy to read and you like the author.. but having said that her Gretchen White series is far more entertaining with better characters so just head over to those instead if I were you.
Thank you to Thomas and Mercer, NetGalley an the author for an advanced copy of this book for an honest review.
January 28, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
Do I really need to add another series to my TBR obsession? Of course, I do! I couldn't stay away from a new character like Raisa Susanto. Among the mysteries and thrillers I have read over the years, I have never met an FBI forensics linguist. It's only fitting that I add Raisa to my list of crime solving female protagonists chasing down serial killers and battling the demons of their past.
And Raisa Susanto? She has lots of skeletons in her closet. It's only that she hasn't met them all yet.
Initially it took a few chapters before I was hooked, but when Raisa and her partner Kilkenny investigate a series of murders returning them to the scene of horrific murders from years before, I felt myself becoming increasingly riveted to the page. Those last set of chapters when the plot comes together, oh my goodness!
I wasn't even finished book 1 and I requested book 2 The Truth You Told from NetGalley. Suffice it to say, I need to see what happens to this FBI duo next.
Publication Date 01/01/24
Goodreads Review 28/01/24
TheLiesYouWrote #NetGalley
Do I really need to add another series to my TBR obsession? Of course, I do! I couldn't stay away from a new character like Raisa Susanto. Among the mysteries and thrillers I have read over the years, I have never met an FBI forensics linguist. It's only fitting that I add Raisa to my list of crime solving female protagonists chasing down serial killers and battling the demons of their past.
And Raisa Susanto? She has lots of skeletons in her closet. It's only that she hasn't met them all yet.
Initially it took a few chapters before I was hooked, but when Raisa and her partner Kilkenny investigate a series of murders returning them to the scene of horrific murders from years before, I felt myself becoming increasingly riveted to the page. Those last set of chapters when the plot comes together, oh my goodness!
I wasn't even finished book 1 and I requested book 2 The Truth You Told from NetGalley. Suffice it to say, I need to see what happens to this FBI duo next.
Publication Date 01/01/24
Goodreads Review 28/01/24
TheLiesYouWrote #NetGalley
October 24, 2024
Simplistic writing; convoluted plot; numerous dead ends and unanswered questions.
The final few chapters were so unbelievably dumb, I was rolling my eyes (literally and figuratively).
I grabbed this one because forensic linguistics? Let's go! And the few bits about using idiolects to identify potential suspects were interesting, but the rest of the story was far-fetched with too many silly twists.
I also strongly disliked Raisa, the main narrator and FBI agent. I am SO damn tired of the badass "I'm not like other girls" persona. It's not appealing or relatable (to me, at least).
Needless to say, but I'm gonna say it anyway: this author is off my TBR list forever.
The final few chapters were so unbelievably dumb, I was rolling my eyes (literally and figuratively).
I grabbed this one because forensic linguistics? Let's go! And the few bits about using idiolects to identify potential suspects were interesting, but the rest of the story was far-fetched with too many silly twists.
I also strongly disliked Raisa, the main narrator and FBI agent. I am SO damn tired of the badass "I'm not like other girls" persona. It's not appealing or relatable (to me, at least).
Needless to say, but I'm gonna say it anyway: this author is off my TBR list forever.
March 22, 2024
stopped reading ... confusing ... disconnected ... definitely easy to put down
June 16, 2023
ARC review.
I’m going to preface this by saying that I have a degree in linguistics and my best grade by far was forensic linguistics. In the UK, at least, that type of job doesn’t really exist. So I came into this book with exceptionally high hopes for something incredible, witty, bright, and dastardly.
Big problem straight out the door. The reader is introduced to a lot of background characters (who are key to the central mystery plot) very quickly. It is hard to work out who is who and piece together the early trickle of information that will inform upon working out who is responsible. But, fine, I don’t read many mystery or crime thrillers so maybe I’m not up to scratch on how to parse such information (though I read ASOIAF without issue).
Next issue: the stylistic choices in this novel were, at best, making me want to crawl out of my skin.
“Delaney wasn’t made for love.
She was made for death.”
There is a seriously high amount of introspection in this book. Nothing happens without the POV character’s internal monologue lending it’s voice and talking about (often) the past. I felt myself flagging at these points and, you know what, Delaney? I wanted to pour bleach in my eyes too.
Raisa isn’t much better than Delaney though. Both have their quirks and I think the author is trying to portray them as cleverer than they come across. There’s nothing truly unique about either of their voices and to be brutally honest I wasn’t always clear which character had centre stage at any given moment in time. No, I lie, I could. But only because Delaney’s chapters subjectively (I didn’t count) contain more nominal sentence.
Now? Despite saying that I struggled to keep up with the key players, without spoiling the plot, I realised fairly early on one of the big reveals. The others I didn’t. Thing is, I very rarely realise these things. The author has laid out some of the groundwork early on, which gave too much away, but didn’t place enough paving stones to tie up all the loose ends. Especially considering something as contrived as how everyone ended up being interlinked and have the threads of their lives entwine so frequently in the past.
And honestly? This book doesn’t have enough linguistics, let alone forensic linguistics, for that to be a key selling point. Did I enjoy it? Somewhat. But I wanted more.
I’m going to preface this by saying that I have a degree in linguistics and my best grade by far was forensic linguistics. In the UK, at least, that type of job doesn’t really exist. So I came into this book with exceptionally high hopes for something incredible, witty, bright, and dastardly.
Big problem straight out the door. The reader is introduced to a lot of background characters (who are key to the central mystery plot) very quickly. It is hard to work out who is who and piece together the early trickle of information that will inform upon working out who is responsible. But, fine, I don’t read many mystery or crime thrillers so maybe I’m not up to scratch on how to parse such information (though I read ASOIAF without issue).
Next issue: the stylistic choices in this novel were, at best, making me want to crawl out of my skin.
“Delaney wasn’t made for love.
She was made for death.”
There is a seriously high amount of introspection in this book. Nothing happens without the POV character’s internal monologue lending it’s voice and talking about (often) the past. I felt myself flagging at these points and, you know what, Delaney? I wanted to pour bleach in my eyes too.
Raisa isn’t much better than Delaney though. Both have their quirks and I think the author is trying to portray them as cleverer than they come across. There’s nothing truly unique about either of their voices and to be brutally honest I wasn’t always clear which character had centre stage at any given moment in time. No, I lie, I could. But only because Delaney’s chapters subjectively (I didn’t count) contain more nominal sentence.
Now? Despite saying that I struggled to keep up with the key players, without spoiling the plot, I realised fairly early on one of the big reveals. The others I didn’t. Thing is, I very rarely realise these things. The author has laid out some of the groundwork early on, which gave too much away, but didn’t place enough paving stones to tie up all the loose ends. Especially considering something as contrived as how everyone ended up being interlinked and have the threads of their lives entwine so frequently in the past.
And honestly? This book doesn’t have enough linguistics, let alone forensic linguistics, for that to be a key selling point. Did I enjoy it? Somewhat. But I wanted more.
March 3, 2024
This book could have been so much more clever if it wanted to be. The interesting parts about language and how we all have our own language were let down by too many twists attempting to take the reader in the wrong direction. In the end it was long winded and although the premise was clever and intelligent the delivery was disappointing.
September 6, 2023
Loved the unique character of Raisa and the linguistic side. As a character, Raisa had a lot of depth that allows the reader to connect to her. I enjoyed the case and the many twists and turns. It got a bit too convoluted at the end for me but overall, a fun twisty read! 3.5⭐️
September 29, 2024
3.5⭐️ This was my first book by this author and now I want to read her other work. I’ll also be continuing this series. I did enjoy it even though some things fell flat. I feel like it started out really strong in the beginning but towards the middle to end I lost interest. I feel like this is more of a me problem than a book problem. I think I was just distracted at the time of reading but if I wasn’t I would’ve enjoyed it much more.
I enjoyed the Criminal Minds aspect and all of the information on FBI linguistics. I learned a lot and am definitely interested in learning more about FBI profiling and being out in the field. I liked the characters and want to see where else they’re headed.
I enjoyed the Criminal Minds aspect and all of the information on FBI linguistics. I learned a lot and am definitely interested in learning more about FBI profiling and being out in the field. I liked the characters and want to see where else they’re headed.
January 24, 2024
I don’t think that I’m a member of the target audience for THE LIES YOU WROTE. The plot is twisty enough that I probably would have given it a higher rating a few years ago. But now I like complex novels dealing with realistic problems (unless, of course, they are comedy fantasies). THE LIES YOU WROTE isn’t a comedy and supposedly deals with a realistic investigation, but I found everything about it to be unrealistic.
The main protagonist is Raisa Sustanto, a forensic linguist working for the FBI. The only parts I found interesting in the book were the “lectures” she gave (in conversations with other characters) about how intense scrutiny of speech and writing patterns can help identify the speaker/writer. When I read those sections, I was immediately reminded of how an amateur (a bookstore clerk) was easily able to spot “Richard Bachman” as the pseudonym used by Stephen King by recognizing writing style similarities of books published under the two names. Writing styles are unique and a good reflection of the complexity of an author’s thinking processes.
From the beginning, when I started reading this book, I noted that Brianna Labuskes, its author, used a very simple writing style, one that was no higher than Grade 10 level, and this annoyed me more than anything else. To me, her uncomplicated writing style reflected uncomplicated thinking. I continued reading, hoping that I was wrong, but it turned out that I wasn’t. By the 50% point, I had unraveled most of the secrets that were supposed to be surprise twists. Admittedly, there was one twist I didn’t predict before the ending, but by the time I reached it, I really didn’t care.
In a review of one of the author’s other books, “A Familiar Sight”, I wrote that she had ”mastered mindless storytelling”, and again I felt that she was writing a story that had no substance, one that relied on twists and turns, rather than one designed to provide the reader with greater insight into the human condition—the shared experiences, emotions, and challenges common to all.
The story revolves around a family—mother, father, son, and their daughters—that is so monstrous as to be completely unreal, and yet this family was revered in the small town where they lived, or at least revered until the son killed his mother and father, and then himself. I couldn’t relate to members of this family, nor to their actions, because they were fabricated to suit the plot rather than representative of psychologically real people. Furthermore, the actions of other members of the community were also unbelievable. For example, the husband and wife who justified defending a rapist because they wanted him to be able to remain on the football team, and the 17-year-old who covered up for a murderer because “he was a teenager”. The story has twists and turns only because most of the characters are psychologically artificial.
Still, if you feel like reading a book with no substance, want to enjoy a quick romp through psychological never-land, and are a plot-oriented rather than a character-oriented reader, you will probably will enjoy the twists and turns of the narrative. Plus the information about forensic linguistics is fascinating.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My review for “A Familiar Sight”:
A Familiar Sight
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The main protagonist is Raisa Sustanto, a forensic linguist working for the FBI. The only parts I found interesting in the book were the “lectures” she gave (in conversations with other characters) about how intense scrutiny of speech and writing patterns can help identify the speaker/writer. When I read those sections, I was immediately reminded of how an amateur (a bookstore clerk) was easily able to spot “Richard Bachman” as the pseudonym used by Stephen King by recognizing writing style similarities of books published under the two names. Writing styles are unique and a good reflection of the complexity of an author’s thinking processes.
From the beginning, when I started reading this book, I noted that Brianna Labuskes, its author, used a very simple writing style, one that was no higher than Grade 10 level, and this annoyed me more than anything else. To me, her uncomplicated writing style reflected uncomplicated thinking. I continued reading, hoping that I was wrong, but it turned out that I wasn’t. By the 50% point, I had unraveled most of the secrets that were supposed to be surprise twists. Admittedly, there was one twist I didn’t predict before the ending, but by the time I reached it, I really didn’t care.
In a review of one of the author’s other books, “A Familiar Sight”, I wrote that she had ”mastered mindless storytelling”, and again I felt that she was writing a story that had no substance, one that relied on twists and turns, rather than one designed to provide the reader with greater insight into the human condition—the shared experiences, emotions, and challenges common to all.
The story revolves around a family—mother, father, son, and their daughters—that is so monstrous as to be completely unreal, and yet this family was revered in the small town where they lived, or at least revered until the son killed his mother and father, and then himself. I couldn’t relate to members of this family, nor to their actions, because they were fabricated to suit the plot rather than representative of psychologically real people. Furthermore, the actions of other members of the community were also unbelievable. For example, the husband and wife who justified defending a rapist because they wanted him to be able to remain on the football team, and the 17-year-old who covered up for a murderer because “he was a teenager”. The story has twists and turns only because most of the characters are psychologically artificial.
Still, if you feel like reading a book with no substance, want to enjoy a quick romp through psychological never-land, and are a plot-oriented rather than a character-oriented reader, you will probably will enjoy the twists and turns of the narrative. Plus the information about forensic linguistics is fascinating.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My review for “A Familiar Sight”:
A Familiar Sight
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
January 5, 2024
3.5 STARS
Raisa, a linguistics expert for the FBI, is tasked with helping find a serial killer who’s mimicking a murder-suicide from twenty-five years ago when a teen killed his parents before slitting is own throat.
For as much crime drama I read and view, I’d never heard of a linguistics expert. As a word loved, I’m fascinated with the field.
I listened to the audiobook of THE LIES YOU WROTE. The narrator’s pleasant voice kept me engaged and wanting to know the outcome.
While I figured out a few of the twists, I didn’t others.
THE LIES YOU WROTE is tagged as book 1, and I’ll be in line for book 2.
Raisa, a linguistics expert for the FBI, is tasked with helping find a serial killer who’s mimicking a murder-suicide from twenty-five years ago when a teen killed his parents before slitting is own throat.
For as much crime drama I read and view, I’d never heard of a linguistics expert. As a word loved, I’m fascinated with the field.
I listened to the audiobook of THE LIES YOU WROTE. The narrator’s pleasant voice kept me engaged and wanting to know the outcome.
While I figured out a few of the twists, I didn’t others.
THE LIES YOU WROTE is tagged as book 1, and I’ll be in line for book 2.
December 23, 2024
There was a lull in the middle of this book which made me want to quit but I’m really glad I didn’t as I loved the beginning and the ending! Onto the second book!
July 4, 2024
Not often do I read a psychological thriller where I kinda side with a serial murderer, but there were so many sides to these well flushed out characters that it was hard not to empathize with everyone a bit.
Love learning about a new type of forensics I didn't know existed. Also, I appreciate when I'm not able to predict all the twists, but they still make sense in the story.
Would recommend this, though it should be noted that the narrator of the audiobook goes back and forth on the pronunciation of the main characters name and it was a bit distracting for me.
Love learning about a new type of forensics I didn't know existed. Also, I appreciate when I'm not able to predict all the twists, but they still make sense in the story.
Would recommend this, though it should be noted that the narrator of the audiobook goes back and forth on the pronunciation of the main characters name and it was a bit distracting for me.
June 26, 2023
I loved this. The linguistic forensic version of a crime story, said from multiple perspectives from multiple timelines.
There's a satisfactory click when the big picture is completely revealed. I couldn't put this down till the end.
I want the next book already !!
Thank you NetGalley for the arc !!
There's a satisfactory click when the big picture is completely revealed. I couldn't put this down till the end.
I want the next book already !!
Thank you NetGalley for the arc !!
September 22, 2025
The double murder of a married couple in a small Washington town draws FBI forensic linguist Raisa Susanto into an investigation that mirrors a decades-old crime. Twenty-five years ago―to the day―Alex Parker murdered his parents, then took his own life, leaving behind a note admitting everything.
The story is told from two viewpoints that alternate between chapters. Between these points of view parts of the story are revealed as extracts from diaries, letters, newspaper articles, lectures, message threads on a true crime web forum and a true crime podcast. The chapters move backwards and forward in time but while a bit hard to manage at first, soon begin to really enhance the tension of the investigation into a multiple homicide in this small town in rural Washington that appears to be a copycat of a family murder-suicide in the same town twenty-five years ago.
The story starts with Raisa Susanto, a young FBI agent with a strange specialty: she’s a forensic linguist who works a magic that her colleagues have difficulty trusting, but which she is passionate about. Her specialty is far from the most unusual thing about her. She’s a kid from the care system who has fought her way to both academic success and begrudged but real prominence in the FBI. She’s a loner with trust issues has guilty secrets. Just about everyone in this story has secrets of some type.
Then there is Delaney Moore, a content moderator with the website, "Flick". She draws the FBI’s attention to the video of the aftermath of the murder that the killer has posted. She too has an unusual set of talents and secrets from her past that she needs to keep hidden. She’s obsessive about hunting sexual predators online.
As Raisa struggles to solve the copycat killing, she starts to question whether the police who closed the original case, and determined it to be a murder-suicide, had made a big mistake and if that mistake provided the killer to commit the current murders on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the original ones?
There was a lot to like about this book. I became completely engaged in the story. It's a story that the reader needs to slow down and let yourself think things through instead of rushing to the end to find out who had done what to whom and why. One thing I found that may have had a big impact on the outcome of the story was that almost all the action is driven by women with very strong personalities and have had a poor experience with, and opinions of men.
If you are interested, and I was, you will learn some interesting things about forensic linguistics, especially the concept of idiolect. the unique way in which an individual uses language. This was my first novel by this author, and I have to say that Brianna Lubuskes is a very talented writer. I liked the plot development, the character construction, and the amount of action that was well balanced, with an insight into the personal life of the agents. I will certainly be looking for more like this one.
The story is told from two viewpoints that alternate between chapters. Between these points of view parts of the story are revealed as extracts from diaries, letters, newspaper articles, lectures, message threads on a true crime web forum and a true crime podcast. The chapters move backwards and forward in time but while a bit hard to manage at first, soon begin to really enhance the tension of the investigation into a multiple homicide in this small town in rural Washington that appears to be a copycat of a family murder-suicide in the same town twenty-five years ago.
The story starts with Raisa Susanto, a young FBI agent with a strange specialty: she’s a forensic linguist who works a magic that her colleagues have difficulty trusting, but which she is passionate about. Her specialty is far from the most unusual thing about her. She’s a kid from the care system who has fought her way to both academic success and begrudged but real prominence in the FBI. She’s a loner with trust issues has guilty secrets. Just about everyone in this story has secrets of some type.
Then there is Delaney Moore, a content moderator with the website, "Flick". She draws the FBI’s attention to the video of the aftermath of the murder that the killer has posted. She too has an unusual set of talents and secrets from her past that she needs to keep hidden. She’s obsessive about hunting sexual predators online.
As Raisa struggles to solve the copycat killing, she starts to question whether the police who closed the original case, and determined it to be a murder-suicide, had made a big mistake and if that mistake provided the killer to commit the current murders on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the original ones?
There was a lot to like about this book. I became completely engaged in the story. It's a story that the reader needs to slow down and let yourself think things through instead of rushing to the end to find out who had done what to whom and why. One thing I found that may have had a big impact on the outcome of the story was that almost all the action is driven by women with very strong personalities and have had a poor experience with, and opinions of men.
If you are interested, and I was, you will learn some interesting things about forensic linguistics, especially the concept of idiolect. the unique way in which an individual uses language. This was my first novel by this author, and I have to say that Brianna Lubuskes is a very talented writer. I liked the plot development, the character construction, and the amount of action that was well balanced, with an insight into the personal life of the agents. I will certainly be looking for more like this one.
January 15, 2024
This is an older ARC (publication date was 1/1/2024) that I am just getting around to. I recently received the ARC of book #2 (publication date July 2024), so I decided to bump it up on my TBR. Thank you to the publishers Thomas & Mercer for this ARC!!
I've read and enjoyed a book by the author before, so I knew this story would be enjoyable. Brianna Labuskes did not let me down!
This book centers around the eerie double murder of a married couple. FBI forensic linguist Raisa Susanto is called to investigate this case, which mirrors a decades-old crime from twenty-five years ago. Raisa works closely with forensic psychologist Callum Kilkenny and uses her linguistic skills to read between the lines. As the old and new crimes converge, readers will discover that something more sinister than a copycat crime is at play.
This story is well-layered, with over a handful of beautifully crafted twists. The dual POV was perfectly executed, and I loved the sprinkle of diary entries/transcripts between chapters. Each piece added another layer to the story and more depth to the characters. I was quickly drawn to the plot and engaged from start to finish. Some may find bits of this story predictable, and I will admit, some of it I had thought I figured out, but the author manages to one-up each twist. I am confident that there will be some layer of surprise while reading this gripping psychological thriller.
This book is clever and witty, with punch after punch. I rate this book somewhere between 3-4 stars. I enjoyed it, but there were some cons. The execution was excellent, but some fill-in backstory and repetition could have been easily eliminated. Cutting back on the redundancy would have improved the flow.
Overall, I recommend this series and look forward to seeing where book #2 takes us. If you enjoy crime fiction, thrillers, and suspense, add this series to your TBR.
I've read and enjoyed a book by the author before, so I knew this story would be enjoyable. Brianna Labuskes did not let me down!
This book centers around the eerie double murder of a married couple. FBI forensic linguist Raisa Susanto is called to investigate this case, which mirrors a decades-old crime from twenty-five years ago. Raisa works closely with forensic psychologist Callum Kilkenny and uses her linguistic skills to read between the lines. As the old and new crimes converge, readers will discover that something more sinister than a copycat crime is at play.
This story is well-layered, with over a handful of beautifully crafted twists. The dual POV was perfectly executed, and I loved the sprinkle of diary entries/transcripts between chapters. Each piece added another layer to the story and more depth to the characters. I was quickly drawn to the plot and engaged from start to finish. Some may find bits of this story predictable, and I will admit, some of it I had thought I figured out, but the author manages to one-up each twist. I am confident that there will be some layer of surprise while reading this gripping psychological thriller.
This book is clever and witty, with punch after punch. I rate this book somewhere between 3-4 stars. I enjoyed it, but there were some cons. The execution was excellent, but some fill-in backstory and repetition could have been easily eliminated. Cutting back on the redundancy would have improved the flow.
Overall, I recommend this series and look forward to seeing where book #2 takes us. If you enjoy crime fiction, thrillers, and suspense, add this series to your TBR.
dnf
October 19, 2024DNF at 6%
The writing feels really simple and in your face. I dislike almost everything about it.
The writing feels really simple and in your face. I dislike almost everything about it.
July 9, 2023
This is one of those books where you'll have to tread carefully over the suspension of disbelief bridge. By that, I mean, it ends up being a little too coincidental if you think too much about it. I'm a Hot Dummy, though, so I don't do that. If the story is good enough, as it is here, then I'm perfectly willing to accept a little coincidence. And I'm also looking forward to seeing where the story goes.
January 4, 2024
Four full stars for this one. I love a procedural with a twist and in this case the twist comes as a focus on forensic linguistics - a scientific way to match writing with people. It’s a fascinating perspective to crime solving and I enjoyed this element. The rest of it is pretty straightforward but the twists are excellent.
Raisa is a forensic linguist and works for the FBI. She’s called in to help with a copycat killer in a small town but there are so many secrets and connections that Raisa might be in over her head.
It’s a slow burn up until the last third and then the hits don’t stop coming. I wish the pacing was a little better but overall I didn’t see the ending coming and that’s always a win in my book.
Raisa is a forensic linguist and works for the FBI. She’s called in to help with a copycat killer in a small town but there are so many secrets and connections that Raisa might be in over her head.
It’s a slow burn up until the last third and then the hits don’t stop coming. I wish the pacing was a little better but overall I didn’t see the ending coming and that’s always a win in my book.
May 25, 2024
4.5 This book has it all: a gripping case, dynamite characters, and jaw-dropping twists! It's centered around an eerie murder-suicide that has suddenly been reawakened when another murder-suicide happens twenty-five years later to the very day. Thoughtfully well-layered and with more twists than I ever thought possible, the dual POVs were peppered with transcripts, diary entries, and various other formats that were simply brilliant! A clever combo of crime fiction and suspense, with one of the most shocking endings that I’ve ever read. Don't miss this one!!!
February 22, 2024
I found this to be a fascinating and tense novel led by two main characters, a FBI forensic linguist and a FBI forensic psychologist. The plot is encased between two family murders, 25 years apart. I found it to be a terrific book with terrific characters.
January 18, 2024
'The Lies You Wrote' is the fifth Brianna Labuskes book that I've read and I think it's one of her best.
By now, I know what to expect from one of her novels but that doesn't diminish their impact. It just gives me a reason to keep coming back. Her thrillers are a rollercoaster ride for the reader. They launch you into a bizarre situation, populated with larger-than-life characters and then toss you around curves in the plot that keep me off-balance but also keep me excited and curious.
'The LIes You Wrote' is an excellent example of what Brianna Lambuskes can do and I strongly recommend it.
The story is told from two points of view that mostly alternate between chapters. Still, between these points of view chapters, parts of the story are delivered as extracts from diaries, letters, newspaper articles, lectures, message threads on a true crime web forum and a true crime podcast. The chapters move backwards and forward in time but are anchored to and enhance the tension of an investigation into a multiple homicide in a small town in rural Washington that seems to be a copycat of a family murder-suicide in the same town twenty-five years earlier.
The story starts from the point of view of Raisa Susanto, a young FBI agent with a strange speciality: she's a forensic linguist who works a kind of magic that her colleagues have difficulty trusting but which she is passionate about. Her speciality is far from the most unusual thing about her. She's a street kid from the care system who has fought her way to both academic success and begrudged but real prominence in the FBI. She's a loner with trust issues and she also has guilty secrets. Just about everyone in this story does.
The other point of view comes from Delaney Moore, a content moderator with the website Flick. She's the one who draws the FBI's attention to the video of the aftermath of the murder that the killer posted. She too has an unusual set of analytical talents, secrets in her past that she needs to keep hidden. She's also obsessive about hunting sexual predators online.
As Susanto struggles to solve the copycat killing, she starts to question whether the police who closed the original case, determining it to be a murder-suicide, had made a mistake and whether that mistake provied the impetus for the copycat murders on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the original crime.
There was a lot to love about this book. First and foremost, I became completely engaged in the mystery and had to make an effort to slow my reading and let myself think things through rather than rushing to the end to find out who had done what to whom and why. I stayed up late to finish this one and when I did, I went: "Wow! That makes perfect sense but I didn't see it coming*.
I admired Brianna Lubuskes' storytelling skills. She switches points of view, moves backwards and forwards in time and changes media and yet I was never confused Instead I was just drawn in deeper. There was no clunky exposition here, just what seemed to me to be a cheeky challenge to the reader: "Pay attention and try to keep up."
I loved that almost all the action in this story is driven by women who have very strong personalities and, on the whole, a fairly poor experience with and opinion of men.
I liked that is was seldom clear who, if anyone, was one of the good guys and that my understanding of the situation and the people in it altered again and again as new information was revealed, yet I never felt as if I'd been tricked, I just hadn't put all the pieces together yet.
I also learned some interesting things about forensic linguistics, especially the concept of idiolect. the unique way in which an individual uses language. As I came to understand the concept, I realised that my ideolect manifests as all the words, phrases and sentence constructions that Grammerly keeps telling me I should edit out of my writing. Once I started to listen for ideolects, I found them everywhere and I was even more impressed when I realised that Brianna Lubuskes had created ideolects for each of her main characters.
'The Lies You Wrote' is the first book featuring Raisa Susanto. The second book 'The Truth You Told' will be released in September 2024. I already have it on pre-order.
By now, I know what to expect from one of her novels but that doesn't diminish their impact. It just gives me a reason to keep coming back. Her thrillers are a rollercoaster ride for the reader. They launch you into a bizarre situation, populated with larger-than-life characters and then toss you around curves in the plot that keep me off-balance but also keep me excited and curious.
'The LIes You Wrote' is an excellent example of what Brianna Lambuskes can do and I strongly recommend it.
The story is told from two points of view that mostly alternate between chapters. Still, between these points of view chapters, parts of the story are delivered as extracts from diaries, letters, newspaper articles, lectures, message threads on a true crime web forum and a true crime podcast. The chapters move backwards and forward in time but are anchored to and enhance the tension of an investigation into a multiple homicide in a small town in rural Washington that seems to be a copycat of a family murder-suicide in the same town twenty-five years earlier.
The story starts from the point of view of Raisa Susanto, a young FBI agent with a strange speciality: she's a forensic linguist who works a kind of magic that her colleagues have difficulty trusting but which she is passionate about. Her speciality is far from the most unusual thing about her. She's a street kid from the care system who has fought her way to both academic success and begrudged but real prominence in the FBI. She's a loner with trust issues and she also has guilty secrets. Just about everyone in this story does.
The other point of view comes from Delaney Moore, a content moderator with the website Flick. She's the one who draws the FBI's attention to the video of the aftermath of the murder that the killer posted. She too has an unusual set of analytical talents, secrets in her past that she needs to keep hidden. She's also obsessive about hunting sexual predators online.
As Susanto struggles to solve the copycat killing, she starts to question whether the police who closed the original case, determining it to be a murder-suicide, had made a mistake and whether that mistake provied the impetus for the copycat murders on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the original crime.
There was a lot to love about this book. First and foremost, I became completely engaged in the mystery and had to make an effort to slow my reading and let myself think things through rather than rushing to the end to find out who had done what to whom and why. I stayed up late to finish this one and when I did, I went: "Wow! That makes perfect sense but I didn't see it coming*.
I admired Brianna Lubuskes' storytelling skills. She switches points of view, moves backwards and forwards in time and changes media and yet I was never confused Instead I was just drawn in deeper. There was no clunky exposition here, just what seemed to me to be a cheeky challenge to the reader: "Pay attention and try to keep up."
I loved that almost all the action in this story is driven by women who have very strong personalities and, on the whole, a fairly poor experience with and opinion of men.
I liked that is was seldom clear who, if anyone, was one of the good guys and that my understanding of the situation and the people in it altered again and again as new information was revealed, yet I never felt as if I'd been tricked, I just hadn't put all the pieces together yet.
I also learned some interesting things about forensic linguistics, especially the concept of idiolect. the unique way in which an individual uses language. As I came to understand the concept, I realised that my ideolect manifests as all the words, phrases and sentence constructions that Grammerly keeps telling me I should edit out of my writing. Once I started to listen for ideolects, I found them everywhere and I was even more impressed when I realised that Brianna Lubuskes had created ideolects for each of her main characters.
'The Lies You Wrote' is the first book featuring Raisa Susanto. The second book 'The Truth You Told' will be released in September 2024. I already have it on pre-order.
December 28, 2023
Real Rating: 3.5 / 5 Stars
The Lies You Wrote is the first in a new crime procedural book series that has a similar feel as Kathy Reichs’ Temperance Brennan series, save the tone is more serious in nature and the female protagonist here is a FBI agent herself, who specializes in the field of forensic linguistics.
The last sentence there is what drew me to this title: A female FBI agent who specializes in forensic linguistics. That’s all I needed to know to request this title. I’m sorry to say that’s just about all I liked about this book. Any time The Lies You Wrote focused on forensic linguistics I was hooked right in and riveted to the page; but, whenever the book strayed away from Agent Raisa Susanto and her fervent passion and expertise, I either found the story lackluster or I was busy wondering why no one had cottoned onto the whodunit of it all like I had some time back.
Honestly, there were parts of this book that really stretched my ability to suspend disbelief. Near the end I started scoffing, but I was willing to see it through.
The book is a little too long and a little too arrogant in its cleverness, but it’s not entirely bad. The forensic linguistics parts are interesting, informative, and fun as all get out for a linguistics nerd like me. I’m hoping that in subsequent installments in the series the substance of the characters improves.
I was provided a copy of this title by NetGalley and the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. This review was written without compensation. Thank you.
File Under: Book Series/Crime Fiction/Serial Killer/Suspense Mystery/Suspense Thriller
The Lies You Wrote is the first in a new crime procedural book series that has a similar feel as Kathy Reichs’ Temperance Brennan series, save the tone is more serious in nature and the female protagonist here is a FBI agent herself, who specializes in the field of forensic linguistics.
The last sentence there is what drew me to this title: A female FBI agent who specializes in forensic linguistics. That’s all I needed to know to request this title. I’m sorry to say that’s just about all I liked about this book. Any time The Lies You Wrote focused on forensic linguistics I was hooked right in and riveted to the page; but, whenever the book strayed away from Agent Raisa Susanto and her fervent passion and expertise, I either found the story lackluster or I was busy wondering why no one had cottoned onto the whodunit of it all like I had some time back.
Honestly, there were parts of this book that really stretched my ability to suspend disbelief. Near the end I started scoffing, but I was willing to see it through.
The book is a little too long and a little too arrogant in its cleverness, but it’s not entirely bad. The forensic linguistics parts are interesting, informative, and fun as all get out for a linguistics nerd like me. I’m hoping that in subsequent installments in the series the substance of the characters improves.
I was provided a copy of this title by NetGalley and the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. This review was written without compensation. Thank you.
File Under: Book Series/Crime Fiction/Serial Killer/Suspense Mystery/Suspense Thriller
August 30, 2024
Forensic linguist Raisa Susanto, and forensic psychologist Callum Kilkenny, are sent by the FBI to the site of a copycat killing some 25 years after the original murder.
This was a really enjoyable read. The pacing was excellent. The use of a linguist was unusual and the author had extensively researched the processes which really showed in her handling of the character and the evidence generated. There were twists and turns. I look forward to book 2.
This was a really enjoyable read. The pacing was excellent. The use of a linguist was unusual and the author had extensively researched the processes which really showed in her handling of the character and the evidence generated. There were twists and turns. I look forward to book 2.
March 6, 2024
Alright my friends, this book was fantastic! Some of the plot was predictable, but I was engaged and interested the whole way through. I even finally did some laundry as an excuse to listen. The world of forensics through linguistics has always been interesting and the flavor it added to this plot? Amazing. Nothing was truly shocking and there is a definite suspense of disbelief that you'll have to engage in for the full effect, but definitely recommend.
February 8, 2024
Wow. FBI agent Raisa Susanto gets brought in to help solve a double murder by using her special skill set as a linguistic specialist. With the help of her sort of partner, Callum Kilkenny and the super smart civilian, Delaney Moore who found the video of the murders, the 3 of them figuring out things they shouldn’t definitely give you some seriously major twists & turns.
January 17, 2024
I loved this pacy and engaging psychological thriller. It centres around the abilities of Forensic Linguists to tease out the identity of someone by the words and structure of their sentences.
This is a new field of science that I have not read about before and found it totally fascinating.
The plot itself is good and how it plays out keeps you turning the pages. This is a must read author for me now. Straightforward writing with all the elements to keep me hooked.
This is a new field of science that I have not read about before and found it totally fascinating.
The plot itself is good and how it plays out keeps you turning the pages. This is a must read author for me now. Straightforward writing with all the elements to keep me hooked.
January 8, 2024
mind numbing confusion
I don’t think I’ve read a book with so many plot twists and I don’t mean that in a good way. Lead character is very one dimensional.
I don’t think I’ve read a book with so many plot twists and I don’t mean that in a good way. Lead character is very one dimensional.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,220 reviews