Usually a character who is utterly despicable and seemingly unredeemable is the villain, not the main character. In A.F. Brady’s suspense novel Once a Liar, cut-throat defense attorney Peter Caine is such a horrible person throughout this book that I couldn’t believe that anyone would put up with him. But I could not put this book down, and I just had to keep reading to see how everything played out. Could Peter change and become a better person or would his cold, calculating ways catch up with him and he’d pay the greatest price? You have to read the fantastic Once a Liar to find out.

Told in two periods of time Then and Now, from Peter’s point of view, you get to see Peter’s life as he’s just starting out as a defense attorney, being scooped up and molded by his defense attorney hero–and dating his daughter. But Peter isn’t fit for family life, and everything quickly falls apart as his father-in-law molds his narcissistic sociopathic tendencies so they will win as many cases as possible. In the present day, Peter is struggling with maintaining the outward appearance of a perfect life, but his ex-wife has just died of cancer and the 16-year-old son that he never wanted is now dropped into his life. But this makes his long-time girlfriend completely happy since he’s refused to have kids with her.

Just add in the murder of the woman who broke up his marriage and took over his ex-wife’s foundation, and it looks like he’s being accused of the crime as time ticks on. Peter’s perfectly controlled world is imploding. But if he didn’t kill her as he’s saying, then who did–and who wants him out of their way?

I give Once a Liar a four out of five. I really enjoyed the slowly building suspense and the little revelations at the end of each timeline within each chapter. The plot was woven so intricately and seamlessly that I was really left guessing what might actually be going on at times. There were many characters that were just not nice people in this book, and a lot more appeared good but had so many hidden layers. I love when you’re kept guessing about who is really the ultimate bad guy. While the repercussions of Peter’s horrible life choices were just about to be revealed at the end of the book, I wished that some of the other equally corrupted and evil characters got some kind of justice in kind. The book just cuts off, leaving you hanging, and I really would have liked to see more after the big reveal.

I have a thing for sociopaths but for some reason this book didn't work for me. i just couldn't connect with the plot. I DNf at the 30% mark

Peter Caine is a father, lover, lawyer and sociopath. He manipulates every situation that he’s in to suit his own self-interests, including time spent with his son. When someone in his life is found murdered, he is the obvious suspect. But things are not as they seem.

I thoroughly enjoyed this. I loved the sociopathic narrator’s interpretations of the people and events surrounding him. Though diabolical, I found much humor in this. Although I figured out the ending out early on, I still reveled in the deliciousness of the conclusion.

Many thanks to Netgalley, Park Row Books and A. F. Brady for my complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Favorite Quotes:

Claire has been living in my house for eight years, but I still can’t fully acclimate to cohabitating with another human being with her own will and own needs… I still stumble over her things, crash into her when she stands between me and my destination and I can never remember how she takes her coffee.

I realize that I am lying to myself as much as I’m lying to everyone else. I’m not in control, and I see now that I never have been. I’ve just lied so much that I believe myself.

“You, sir—” he leans forward and bores a hole in my face with his penetrating eyes “— have a monster inside of you. The only question is, can you keep it contained? That is up to you and you alone.”

My Review:

I was enthralled by this deviously clever tale of Peter Caine, a highly successful and brilliant criminal defense attorney who had become as contemptible and loathsome as the wealthy yet repulsive criminals he represented. Peter didn’t start out that way but had become morally bankrupt, a prolific liar, a social fraud, a manipulative and narcissistic sociopath, and an atrocious human being. He had callously abandoned his child and avoided having any type of relationship with him, seeing his mere existence as a nuisance until deciding that taking custody of his motherless child would be good for his image. He put on a performance when required in public but he had long ago buried his emotional self and selfishly found human interactions to be an arduous waste of his energy. But was he a murderer? I couldn’t decide, but I really didn’t think so as he seemed too arrogant and emotionally lazy to have committed such a passionate act, although… he might well have if he felt his well-crafted persona was threatened.

Peter was despicable and I despised him, deeply; yet the wily wordsmith known as A. F. Brady wove such a beguiling tale I was incapable of putting my Kindle down. Her word voodoo was far too strong. I was captivated, too invested, hopelessly intrigued, and deeply engrossed. I couldn’t tear myself away from this cunningly contrived story and read it in a day. The storylines were adroitly plotted, insidiously sly, and quickly sucked me into the vile vortex of Peter’s inner musings. I don’t believe I even took a full breath until the last page. It was wicked good!

Thank you to Netgalley for access to reading Once A Liar in exchange for my honest review!

I don't think I have ever disliked a protagonist as much I have in this book.  Almost immediately I could not stand Peter Caine; egotistical, disrespectful, liar, cheater, and borderline psychopath are words I would use to describe him, but, I couldn't get enough.

The book flips between then and now and we follow Peter from a marriage to his law firm partner's daughter, birth of his son, cheating on his wife, death of his law firm partner, divorce, new girlfriend, death of his ex-wife, and then the death of his side girl, Charlie Doyle.  Did you get all that?

The primary focus of this book is who killed Charlie Doyle, the daughter of the district attorney.  The district attorney who would pimp her out to people to bribe them.  The district attorney who so desperately wanted Peter to join his side and work for him.  The district attorney who wasn't aware of the affair Peter was carrying on with her, in fact, only his ex-wife knew.  How long had the affair been going on?  Well, let's just say it hadn't really stopped...

Peter has no remorse for anything he does and is just so focused on being on top and making money.  The job of being a criminal defense attorney has taken a toll on him and turned his heart into stone.  Someone could absolutely be guilty on all counts, but, Peter would make sure they would walk away without a slap on the wrist.  He even walked away from his own son, never forming a relationship with him.

I had to see how this ended because I had to see SOMETHING happen to Peter Caine.  I found the book to be fairly predictable early on with who killed Charlie.  If *I* could guess who did it, I don't see how anyone couldn't predict it.  You guys know I never see endings coming.  The book reaches it climatic part right at the end of the book and gets resolved quickly.  I felt a little conflicted about the end because I ended up hating a lot of people, ha!  That's all I will say!  I used to feel bad for everyone who knew Peter and then, nope, I take back all of my sorrow I once had for all of you cold, heartless people!

I am going to give this book 3.5 stars which I will round up to 4 on sites like Goodreads and Amazon.  It was pretty predictable and it felt odd to read a book where you can't stand the protagonist the entire read.  I also felt like the death of Charlie wasn't justified enough.  I mean, I get it and the whole point of the book was revenge, but, I just didn't enjoy how the death of an innocent person was used for it.  It felt a little much for me.  Does that make sense?  The writing was great, I just did not particularly care for the way revenge took place.  Have you read this book?  What are your thoughts?

**WILL POST TO DONNASREADINGCHAIR.HOME.BLOG ON SUNDAY, FEB 24th AT 5:00 AM PACIFIC TIME**

Political and Judicial Corruption. Power. Sex. Money..... What does it all add up to? You guessed it. MURDER.

'When Jamie breaks down talking about how quickly his mother turned for the worse, I carefully observe the reactions from the crowd. I file these looks away in my brain for reference in the future. I wouldn’t have to pay such close attention if only I could still conjure these emotions naturally. But I haven’t felt remorse, I haven’t felt sympathy and I haven’t shed a genuine tear in as long as I can remember.
The other two speeches are delivered by two of Juliette’s childhood friends. I listen to the adulation and respect in the stories they tell; I laugh when the crowd laughs and bow my head when the crowd cries, just like I’m supposed to. When the pallbearers lift Juliette’s coffin and Louis Armstrong plays, I pull out of Claire’s grasp and escort my son down the aisle, closely following his mother’s body. Juliette wasn’t the first to die, and she wouldn’t be the last.'

********
Recently Released, January 29, 2019!

Once a Liar by A.F. Brady is a crafty, devious, sinister, and intriguing story that captured my attention immediately and didn't let go.
Loaded with unscrupulous and deceitful characters, most of whom have no qualms about stepping on anyone and everyone who gets in the way of their quest to get to the very top of their profession makes for an authentic storyline that fit the theme of judicial corruption perfectly.
As intended, Brady had me loathing Peter Caine immediately and I really wanted something bad to happen to him! I wanted him to be guilty of the murder of Charlie Doyle but, of course, that would be too easy wouldn't it.
Then again.....

This is a different crime thriller then I usually read as I generally steer clear of political storylines but I had no difficulty enjoying this novel from start to finish!
Recommended!

Thanks to NetGalley, A.F. Brady, and Park Row Publishing for giving me an advanced, uncorrected digital copy to read and review.

#Once a Liar #NetGalley # Harlequin Trade Publishing
Thank you for the ARCe copy

The book centers around Peter, a defense attorney and a definitely not a nice man. Peter came from a poor background that no one knows about because he has lied about his upbringing. He only cares about himself and will do anything to have the career that he has envisioned for himself.
Peter lives with his girlfriend Claire and when his ex-wife Juliet passes away he is faced with being a father to his teenage son Jamie. He has never shown any affection towards Jamie and does not know how to be a father.
Peter has had a on again off again affair with Charlotte/Charlie ever since he was married to Juliet. She is the step daughter of the district attorney that is Peter's enemy. When Charlotte is found brutally stabbed to death Peter finds himself the number one suspect. Will Peter the hot shot defense attorney find a attorney that will save him from prison as Peter has done for many of his clients or will he be headed to prison?
Once a Liar has many twists and turns and a very surprising ending. I definitely recommend this book.

At first glance, Once a Liar has everything I typically enjoy in a psychological thriller. It starts out well and doesn't take long to figure out that Peter Caine is one sick puppy. I anticipated a story that would have me eagerly flipping pages to find out what happens next. Unfortunately, that's not what happened. The pace quickly slows to a crawl and I began to lose interest, several times having to force myself to continue. It does pick up toward the end of the book though and includes some twists that may surprise many readers.

The characterization of Peter is very good. It's clear the author knows a lot about sociopaths and has created a character that should produce a visceral reaction in most readers. He certainly did with me. She's also created an interesting cast of secondary characters, many with their own share of psychological issues. These are not happy people. I wasn't able to find a single one I'd like to meet in real life. They are expertly depicted though and their actions generated strong emotional reactions in me. Kudos to the author for accomplishing that.


I like my stories told at a faster pace but if you enjoy a slow-moving character study with some twists and turns along the way, you may want to give this one a try.

Peter is not a nice guy. Not a nice guy at all. He is a defense lawyer for the scum of the Earth. He cheated on his wife and now his live in girlfriend, and he is non existent in his son's life. When he is accused of murdering his ex mistress, Peter has to try and figure out who is setting him up. This was a fast paced read with the main character very flawed and unlikable. I loved this book! I received an advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Harlequin Park Row. All opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and A.F. Brady.
Excellent book, well written with unforgettable characters.
The second part of the book was quick paced and could not put down. What a twisted ending!
Recommend.

Amazing read! The author wrote a story that was interesting and moved at a pace that kept me engaged. The characters were easy to invest in.

I really enjoyed this book! I was pulled in right from the beginning and was fully engaged all throughout the story. While I admit that I was a little disappointed at the end that there wasn’t more to it, it wasn’t because of any fault of the author, just my perception. I was hoping for more beyond where it ended, but that just leaves it more to the imagination.

Once a Liar by A.F. Brady. Flawed Characters and a chilling plot kept me turning pages until the "surprise twist" at the end. Getting into the head of a supposed sociopath was completely engrossing, Highly recommended.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

I had put this book off, because while I thought it looked interesting it wasn’t my top pick to read, big mistake. This book was so enthralling, chilling, and especially thrilling. It starts off from page one with a grip on the reader and keeps that grip held in place until the finally page. A must read for all psychological thrillers.
I will be using in a challenge and letting the members of Chapter Chatter Pub know it’s a must read!

<b> Short Summary</b>
Suspenseful and edgy. After I hit the half-way mark, I DID NOT want to put it down!

<b>My thoughts</b>
This book definitely makes you think about the consequences of your actions and the way you treat your family. If you love thrillers and haven’t read A.F. Brady, you need to read this book...I can’t praise her writing enough!

Although it wasn’t immediately unputdownable, once I settled in a little, it quickly picked up the pace!

It switches back and forth between “Then” and “Now”, going into depth about Peter Caine—the MC accused of murder. I love AND hate this way of storytelling. In a well-written book, it’s easy to follow and suspenseful. But on the other hand, the author builds up tension and you’re left hanging at the end of the chapter...ugh! It makes it very hard to find a stopping place. I’m constantly telling myself “just one more chapter”.

There are so many words to describe Peter Caine—liar, narcissist, heartless, callous, ruthless...I could go on, but I’m sure you get the picture!

It’s hard to feel any empathy for Peter. We see the cold and uncaring side of his personality that he tries to disguise. He’s a self-centered, egomaniac who thinks only of himself. Most of the characters—which are tangled and intertwined in lies and deception—are unlikable. The kind you love to hate!

<b>Likes</b>
After getting into Peter’s head—listening to his thoughts, observations and his inflated ego—I was thrilled to see his perfectly controlled life start to crumble. Such Karma!

<b>Dislikes</b>
I don’t think there was anything I disliked about this book!

<b>Recommend:</b>YES!

<b>My Rating: </b> 4 ⭐️’s

<b>Published:</b> January 29 2019 by Park Row <b>Pages:<b/> 336

Thank you to NetGalley / Park Row / A.F. Brady for this digital ARC, in exchange for my honest review!
#NetGalley #OnceAliar

<b>Book Blurb</b>
In this electrifying psychological thriller, a high-powered sociopath meets his reckoning when he’s accused of the brutal murder of his mistress.

Did he kill Charlie Doyle? And if he didn’t…who did?

Peter Caine, a cutthroat Manhattan defense attorney, worked ruthlessly to become the best at his job. On the surface, he is charming and handsome, but inside he is cold and heartless. He fights without remorse to acquit murderers, pedophiles and rapists.

When Charlie Doyle, the daughter of the Manhattan DA—and Peter’s former lover—is murdered, Peter’s world is quickly sent into a tailspin. He becomes the prime suspect as the DA, a professional enemy of Peter’s, embarks on a witch hunt to avenge his daughter’s death, stopping at nothing to ensure Peter is found guilty of the murder.

In the challenge of his career and his life, Peter races against the clock to prove his innocence. As the evidence mounts against him, he’s forced to begin unraveling his own dark web of lies and confront the sins of his past. But the truth of who killed Charlie Doyle is more twisted and sinister than anyone could have imagined…

Peter Caine is not a nice man. You may even call him a sociopath which is perfect, really, for his job as a Manhattan defense attorney. He doesn't lose a wink of sleep when he acquits murderers, rapists, and pedophiles. Success, wealth, and recognition are the only things that Peter cares about.

Peter has an ex-wife, Juliette, a teenage son, Jamie, a current live in girlfriend, Claire, and a secret lover, Charlotte.

What happens when, Charlotte, Peter's longtime on-again off again lover, the reason his first marriage dissolved, and the reason his current girlfriend has given him the ultimatum, it's me or it's her, is violently murdered?

When you've amassed so many enemies it's not surprising that eventually someone would have an ax to grind. For Peter that time has come!

This is one of those books that I enjoyed thoroughly but it wasn't exactly a page turner. A slow burn that I savored. I thought that Peter was portrayed as a perfectly despicable character that I truly loved to hate. I adored Claire and felt so sorry for Juliette and Jamie. The ending was just perfect! A.F. Brady is a talented writer that I plan to keep my eye on. 4 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley & Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This psychological thriller was intricately plotted and had an interesting premise. However, the journey through the book felt labored and I couldn’t connect with the main character Peter Caine. The author tries to make the case that sociopaths can be created through life experience instead of just being born that way. I was not won over to that view because Peter was portrayed inconsistently. Some readers may be able to let go and just enjoy the plot of the book. I couldn’t quite get there with this book and was left feeling unsettled and depressed after reading it. Thanks to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and the author A.F. Brady for an advanced electronic review copy.

Peter Caine is not a nice man. Not at work and not at home. He's got some mental health issues, to say the least. However, he did not murder Charlie (or did he?). Hah! Charlie's stepfather was already a sworn enemy and he's a DA so things are just bad. This nicely twisty thriller will keep you guessing. Told in dual time line, you'll follow Peter as he becomes the man he is when Charlie is killed. He's left a trail of broken relationships and just now is going to deal with his 16 year old son. You might guess the identity of the real villain but the pleasure will remain because it's in watching the snakes dance. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a 4 star read for me, and I hope the author will provide a book 2.\

I normally have a love-hate relationship with Thrillers but this one had me on my toes the whole way through.

I couldn't seem to solve the case, until 75% way through. Even then I was still questioning myself.

This book is definitely a yearly topper so far. I know it's only January but it was amazing and as I said before I really hope there will be a book 2.

My review will be up on Friday, January 18 @230 C.S.T

DNF at 40%. I enjoy unlikable main characters, but opening by telling the reader over and over (and over) how cold and detached Peter is, instead of simply allowing his actions to just speak for him, didn't work for me. It was obvious that he was "doomed" from the start and I knew who was going to collapse his life. (I did peek at the end, and yep! Family.)

Had the potential to be fascinating but Once A Liar doesn't trust the reader enough to let the story unfold without constant and laborious reminders about who Peter is, etc.