Having read and loved this author's previous two books - Summit Lake and The Girl Who Was Taken - I was very excited to get my hands on this, his latest offering. Knowing what I was letting myself in for, I made sure I started it on a day when my decks were already clear cos I knew I would soon be in its thrall and unable to put it down. Boy am I glad I did as I read start to finish in pretty much one sitting!
I do love a cold case where there is a question over the guilt of the person doing time for the crime. But, like all other books of this genre, things can get a bit samey whether the investigator be police, PI, journalist or just interested member of public. This book threw an interesting spin into the mix as the investigation into whether Grace Sebold really did murder boyfriend Julian Crist in St. Lucia was being broadcast as a serialised documentary pretty much in real time, sometimes only days after key information was unearthed and with no idea where the case was eventually going. Filmmaker Sidney Ryan, the brains behind it all, is thankfully no stranger to the injustice system having previously ripped apart other convictions and secured freedom for others wrongly imprisoned. So she has track record which gives her credence with the suits who govern the airwaves. It also doesn't hurt that she has a personal interest in the case, having known Grace personally. Things begin all too well for Sidney's investigation and, only just over half way through the documentary's run, Grace's case is reopened and things are looking good. But as we all know, looks can be deceiving as Sidney then receives word that throws a spanner into the works...
This book ticked every single box I need for it to be a great read. It had interesting and intriguing characters, all well described and portrayed in a way that they were easy to connect to / emote with. They played out a story that, even when I thought I knew where it was going, still had the ability to spin me around and send me off in a whole new direction seamlessly. Pacing was perfect and matched the narrative throughout the book. Description was also in keeping with the story. There was no unnecessary padding or waffle as all the description found within the book was pertinent to the story as told. In fact, the beautiful setting of St Lucia almost became a character in its own right being quite instrumental to the story as it played out there.
I've already mentioned that I loved the inclusion of an almost real-time documentary into the investigation. I found this to be a very good way of introducing characters - be them witnesses or alternative suspects - in the form of interviews for broadcast. It also gave some really great background to the characters as the initial scenes were set. I loved the way that it also gave Sidney the means to bring other specialists on board - all chasing their own piece of publicity or fame. I was especially fascinated by the description of the way the documentary was pitched, story-boarded, created and broadcast; all parties eager for the ratings to come in. And the way that truth had to battle those ratings. I mean, it's TV don't you know, that trumps most things in life, why let a little thing like the truth get in the way!
All in all, another great addition to this author's already impressive back catalogue. I really hope his next book comes soon. I for one can't wait.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Sadly, I found the blurb gave most of the story away and left me wanting more from the book than I got. While it is well written, the characters are a little flat and the storyline kind of drags a bit. It's easy to skim through this one and not miss anything.

Wow. The author kept you guessing all the way through. And what a surprise ending. I'm not usually too surprised by any book ending even if I hadn't figured out who dunnit. But this one made me reread the page to make sure I read it right!

I found this to be an enjoyable read. I went into it nearly blind and was really glad I did. As I sat down to write this review I read the synopsis in its entirety and was a bit disappointed by how much of the storyline is given away. I highly recommend that if you have not read the synopsis yet, don’t. Let the story unfold naturally, I believe it will be much more enjoyable going in blind.

Sidney Ryan has made a handful of documentaries that have led to the release of inmates serving time who did not belong behind bars. Now she continuously receives letters from inmates looking for help. Grace Sebold is serving time in St. Lucia for killing her boyfriend Julian Crist. She has been writing to Sidney for the past ten years hoping to convince Sidney to take a look at her case.

Grace’s wish has come true and Sidney has decided to travel to St. Lucia, on a shoestring budget, and film a pilot episode for the network executives. Sidney isn’t entirely sure she believes in Grace’s innocence, but she feels that it is worth looking into to see what she can uncover. The network executives love the pilot and give her the green light to film and produce a ten-week-long documentary.

I loved that the documentary is being filmed and aired in real time. Whatever Sidney discovers that week will be aired on Friday. The real time format is fantastic, without knowing the story, both the reader and the fictional TV audience share a similar experience.

Initially I found myself completely wrapped up in the drama of the workplace. Luke Barrington, “The Bear,” thinks he is hot stuff and the king of network television. I was cheering Sidney on to top him in his ratings and put him in his place. As the story progressed, my attention eventually redirected to Grace and whether she was guilty of the crime she has been convicted of. I was quite curious what would become of her situation and if Sidney would uncover any new evidence.

I thought it was interesting that the show Making a Murderer was often referenced. I always enjoy a non-fiction element being worked into a fictional story. If you have not seen Making a Murderer I highly recommend that you do. It is really well done and very interesting!

The story was a bit slow to develop for the first half of the book, but always held my interest. I found myself much more invested during the second half of the story as the pace picked up.

More of a mystery than a thriller - really enjoyable beginning to end, with likeable characters. Twisty, but not unbelievably so. Definitely recommend, and will continue to look forward to new titles from this author!!

Charlie Donlea just keeps getting better! Intricately plotted and meticulously developed, this rollercoaster ride of a novel is a suspense-lover's dream. Donlea weaves together the worlds of true crime TV journalism and forensic science with the touching and believable subplot of a retired police detective's renewed zeal for life. Readers of Donlea's first two offerings will appreciate the appearance of the gutsy, capable medical examiner Livia Cutty from The Girl Who Was Taken, and even the subtle nod to the setting and title of his debut thriller Summit Lake. This is highly recommended reading!

This is the second book I've read recently that has capitalized on a TV shows popularity as a theme.

This one takes on 'Making a Murderer' and true crime shows like 'Jinx' to give it the foundation for a well written mystery that offers a nice twist I didn't see coming.

The story starts with the murder of Julian Crist. You are in the head of the killer as the murder takes place, but only the execution is revealed. The killer remains an unknown, gender-less character up until the very end.

Next introduced is Sidney Ryan, a documentary film producer making a name for herself in the industry due to some recent successes getting wrongly convicted inmates their freedom.

Last, there is Grace Sebold, Julian Crist's girlfriend who was convicted of his murder. She has been writing letters to Sidney for years, begging her to take on her case.

With the 10 year anniversary of Julian's murder coming up, Sidney decides this is going to be her next big project, called 'The Girl From Sugar Beach'. As she starts digging into the evidence, things aren't adding up. The murder weapon doesn't match up with the autopsy report, Grace had an alibi but the witness wasn't allow to testify. These are just a few of the finds that tell Sidney she is on to something once again. *shout out to the author for integrating Livia Cutty (from [book:The Girl Who Was Taken|31409239])into the story line! She was a memorable and credible character.*

It wouldn't be a great mystery without having some twists and turns, which did throw me for a loop here and there. Is Sidney about to save another wrongly convicted person or does she have it wrong? If Grace didn't kill Julian, then who did? This is the mystery that propels the story forward.

A bit slow paced for my liking, but there are so many other areas that shine that I was able to overlook some of the dry spots.
Go grab a copy-I don't think you will be disappointed!

ARC provided by NetGalley

I had read both Summit Lake and The Girl Who Was Taken and gave both a five star rating so I was very excited to receive a copy of Don't Believe it. While I did enjoy the story, I felt it was far too wordy and found myself skimming through pages quite a bit. While the book started off with quite a few suspects the ending came as no surprise. All in all it was a good but not great read. .

I'm always a little hesitant to try a "new to me" author, but this book and author came through. The plot was well paced, never boring and I enjoyed all the characters. Not only was there multiple murder mysteries at the heart of the book, but it was also a look at the documentary trend, which I completely enjoy. This was as fun as a book with tragedy at the center of it can be and I'm glad I gave this author a try.

3.5
The premise sounds familiar-a documentary about someone accused of murder (and says she is innocent). I thought this one started off strong, with a high level of suspense, but quickly fades as the book progresses.
I was engaged for the first half of the book and wanted to know more- was Grace innocent? Sidney becomes convinced she is and starts producing a documentary (sound familiar)? The story becomes somewhat like a police procedural as she investigates and uncovers more clues and possible evidence. It is well-written, but the documentary aspect became tiresome and went on too long (in my opinion).
I was losing interest and then the twist brought the story back to life. In the end, I was left thinking it lacked plausibility.
I’m sure others will enjoy the documentary aspect more than I did and the mystery had me reading until the end.
Thank you to Netgalley/Publisher for my ARC

Wow! This book!!! I HATE it when there is so much I want to say in a review but can’t because it would spoil it. This is one of those.

Borrowing from the growing popularity of the True Crime programming among television and Podcasts, Don’t Believe It follows the story of a woman quickly convicted of her lover’s murder and the production of a television documentary about the event 10 years later.

What a nailbiter the story was. I thought I had it figured out early on, but then changed my mind several times. It was not the ending I expected, but it was thoroughly satisfying. And while the main mystery of this novel was wrapped up by the end, there was another one hinted at throughout the book that I want to know more about. Hopefully Charlie Donlea is on it!

If you are in the market for a fast-paced, current thriller, definitely put Don’t Believe It on your TBR list!

Thanks to Charlie Donlea, Kensington Books, and NetGalley for my advanced ecopy of this book. It was so fun!

3.5 stars A riveting mystery that keeps the reader turning pages from start to finish. Well written with suspense and a few twists along the way. The reader is introduced to Sydney Ryan, a true crime documentary film maker researching and producing her latest show on prime time tv involving the possible wrongful conviction of Grace Sebold. Grace, a medical student with a budding future, was convicted of murdering her boyfriend in St. Lucia in cold blood but has maintained her innocence. She's been in a St. Lucian prison for 10 years when Sydney decides to focus her investigative journalism skills on her case and produce a real time documentary to get to the truth. The story captures national attention as the documentary reveals historical pressures on St. Lucian authorities to quickly solve the murder and a botched investigation. Did Grace really kill her boyfriend on that fateful night?

The plot is well developed and the characters brought to life. There is a layer of investigative journalism weaved into the story that will appeal to readers who enjoy true crime. On the one hand, I thought the storyline progressed well and it kept me fully engaged, anticipating what was coming next. On the other hand, there were a few gaps and loose ends in the story. The ending in particular had a good twist but was also lacking in authenticity. I had a hard time believing it.

If you're looking for a fast and easy mystery read, this is a good fit. It will certainly make you think twice about being alone on top of a bluff!

Loved this book!!!! It was amazing and one of my favorite books that I read this year. After reading "Summit Lake" (which I LOVED), I became a huge fan of the author and get excited when there's a new book out.

This book definitely has twists and turns and I didn't want to put it down. I was hooked immediately. Grumpy retired Detective Gus Morelli became one of my favorite characters and I never suspected the important part he would play in Grace's story. I loved how he was still seeking to get the truth out about what really happened.

Sidney Ryan decides to film a real-time documentary on Grace Sebold. Grace has been sitting ten years in a prison in St. Lucia after being convicted of murdering her boyfriend. Sidney starts her own investigation and discovers some new evidence. There's even an appearance from Dr. Livia Cutty. Grace's friends, Ellie, Daniel, Charlotte and her brother Marshall play a major role in the whole story. I wasn't expecting the ending. I thought I might know who the killers was, but I kept changing my mind. I wasn't completely surprised but the motives behind it were scary.

Now that I finished the book, I wish the story wasn't over!!! Even though Grace was released from prison she is still stuck in one for the rest of her life.

I LOVED the book so I definitely recommend it. I also recommend "Summit Lake and "The Girl Who Was Taken" because they were just as amazing. I can't wait to read the author's next book.

Thanks to NetGalley, Kensington Books and the author, Charlie Donlea, for a free electronic ARC of this novel.

This is Charlie Donlea's third book, following Summit Lake and The Girl Who Was Taken. all of which of enjoyed.

I had what seemed like a long wait to be approved by NetGalley for Charlie Donlea’s Don’t Believe It, but you can believe this: it was worth the wait. Thanks not only to NetGalley but also to Kensington Books and to Mr. Donlea for allowing me to read this fabulous book in exchange for my unbiased review.

The American public loves true crime television documentaries. Having previously read two stand-alone books by Charlie Donlea, I was excited to see what he did with his new one, Don’t Believe It. Sidney Ryan, a television documentary producer, has found her niche, having featured convicted murderers a sort of televised version of the Innocence Project. Success brings fame; Ms Ryan finds herself swamped with requests from inmates insisting on their innocence and begging her to look into their cases. One such convict is a woman named Grace Sebold.

Grace Sebold, a former medical school prospect, has been imprisoned for ten years after being found guilty of the murder of her boyfriend Julian Crist. The two were with Grace’s family and friends at a wedding in St Lucia when Julian’s body was discovered in the ocean below a bluff. Even though Grace proclaims her innocence, the police seem to have overwhelming evidence against her. Ten years later, her appeals are exhausted, and Grace feels that Sidney Ryan is her only hope.

After doing her due diligence, Sidney agrees to pitch the story to the network. “The Girl of Sugar Beach” begins production. Does Sidney have a hit on her hands? Will she discover the truth? Will the things she uncovers exonerate Grace Sebold, or will they doom her to a life in prison in St Lucia, far from her family and friends?

The book opens with the murder, narrated by the mysterious killer. We do not know the identity or the gender of the murderer. Quite early on, I smugly pronounced that I knew the solution. Don’t believe it! As Sidney delved deeper and deeper into the events surrounding that day, she came up with questions and possibilities that cast doubt on Grace’s guilt. Could she really be innocent? Don’t believe it? What about her faithful friends, her disabled brother, some unknown person? What about her testimony? Don’t believe it? So much for my smugness! I know longer knew what to believe. I still thought I might be right, but then came a huge curveball. What? All of a sudden, I really had doubts. Didn’t I?

Charlie Donlea does a fantastic job showing the creation of the documentary with the competition between TV personalities, the pressures to meet deadlines, and the push for higher ratings. I also liked the way Sidney stuck to her search for the truth, no matter where it led. I also loved Gus Morelli, whom we meet later in the story. Donlea takes his time developing these characters and makes them more than just a TV producer and just an amputee, who, by the way, happens to be an ex-cop. There is a depth to these characters that makes them human. Thank you for that, Charlie Donlea. As for the ups and downs of the plot, now that it’s over and I can say that despite all the doubts and red herrings, whew! I think my heart rate and blood pressure have returned to normal. And was my original suspicion correct? Surprisingly – yes! That in no way, shape, or form detracted from my enjoyment of this novel. I wasn’t thrilled with the ending, but I won’t hold that against you, Mr D. I guess it fits, after all.

I expect that Donlea fans will really enjoy this book. Those who have not yet discovered him are in for a pleasant surprise.

5 stars

Thank you to Kensington books for sending me a copy of Don’t Believe It by Charlie Donlea. OMG guys!!!! This BOOK!

So, I had not read anything by Mr. Donlea but once I received Don’t Believe It I wanted that to change. I quickly one-clicked for one of his other novels, Summit Lake, which I absolutely loved! After reading Summit Lake I KNEW this one would be good. It wasn’t just good, it was great! So so awesome!

So what’s it about? Sidney Ryan is a documentary producer. She finds inmates who were wrongfully accused of crimes they did not commit. Sidney has received many letters from Grace Sebold and Grace’s best friend, Ellie, that Grace is innocent. She was accused of killing her boyfriend in St. Lucia and she’s been in jail there ever since. As Sidney starts to investigate the 10yr old crime things don’t add up. Is Grace really innocent? What really happened all those years ago?

Ohh guys! I loved this mystery but I also loved the documentary aspect. The ratings, the edits, cuts, deadlines. The pressure Sidney was under to get this just right was rough. New information about the case was coming at her left and right. All Sidney wanted was the truth and the documentary to succeed. She got way more than that! THAT ENDING?!? Omggg so good!

To me, this book was fast paced and highly addictive. I was never bored and it just kept getting better. I highly recommended this one! 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

5 stars!
This book.....Where to start?

I read and loved The Girl Who Was Taken last year and knew l had found something special in Charlie Donlea's writing. Time constraints and Mount TBR have kept me from his debut, Summit Lake, but l am going to read it this year. I am.

I was lucky enough to get approved by Netgalley to read an ARC of Don't Believe It, l enjoyed it so much l ordered a hardback to add to my shelves.
So then, what is this book about and why is it so fantastic, you ask?

Any Murderinos out there? Yes? No need to read any further, just grab a copy, you will love it! Not a murderino? Ok, let me break it down.
Do you love true crime documentaries? True crime podcasts? True crime books? Just obsessed with murder-y things and serial killers and stuff? You are probs a murderino then. But l digress.
Don't Believe It hitches it's wagon to the popularity true crime media is enjoying right now. Think Making a Murderer and Serial.

Sidney Ryan is a documentary filmmaker who has enjoyed some level of success by turning her lens to the wrongfully convicted and bringing their injustices to light. Her latest project, The Girl From Sugar Beach, explores the conviction of Grace Sebold and asks whether she was guilty or innocent murdering her boyfriend, Julian. As the documentary series progresses and it looks like Grace may get a new trial, Sidney begins to question if Grace is innocent after all. Livia Cutty is back (from The Girl Who Was Taken) and her inclusion in this book was so well executed, this is the way crossovers should be done, her expertise as a medical examiner worked well in the setting of a true crime documentary. It was like visiting an old friend.

Honestly, it took me a few chapters to settle in to the writing style and really get invested, but then l was totally hooked and couldn't put it down. I had to know what was happening. Guilty or innocent?

And then s#!t got bananas.

And that bit (you will know it when you get to it, l had to read it twice, l just couldn't process it!) made it an all-the-stars kind of read because that was BOLD. I love it when writers make choices that are risky. This thing (that l cannot/will not spoil) made this book one l will not forget.

I can't wait to read what comes next.
Charlie, l promise to read everything you write, always. x

WOW! Loved! 5+ stars! I also read "Summit Lake" by this author and loved it, I am now a fan!

This was a complete page turner for me. Sidney is our main character and is a producer of crime documentaries. She chooses those she believes are wrongfully convicted. She is on the hunt for answers for Grace Sebold who has sought Sidney's help and is pleading her innocence. Grace was accused of killing her boyfriend while vacationing at St. Lucia and has been in jail for 10 years! The documentary aspect of this book was addictive. Is Grace actually innocent or is she a conniving killer who is using Sidney as a pawn in some sort of twisted game? I know this much, I am ALL IN with this author and ALL of his future work! I could not put this book down.

A huge thank you to Kensington Books for approving my request for an advance copy of this book! You have a new fan! A huge thank you also to the author and NetGalley!

Ok all I have to say is WOW. That was one of the best endings I have ever read. Not at all what I was thinking. Anyway, all in all the book was good. I wouldn’t say I loved it but it definitely held my attention. Loved the description of St. Lucia and how the book described the making of a real time documentary. It was a very good thriller and I would recommend...

WOW! WOW! WOW! Having read (and loved) this Author's two previous books, I was very excited to read Don't Believe It. It is superb! This book had me hooked from the beginning and my brain is still trying to compute what I have read. Sidney Ryan produces a documentary on the possible wrongful conviction and imprisonment of a young woman who is believed to have pushed her boyfriend off a cliff to his death on a Caribbean island. Sidney believes she has figured it out when she receives a letter from a retired homicide detective that makes Sidney look into a case from many years in the past that was ruled an accident. Just when you think you know what will be revealed next, the story takes a shocking turn in another direction. An unputdownable book that I was sorry to see end. I hope we see another book soon by this Author. Thanks to NetGalley, Kensington Books and the Author for allowing me to read and review this book.