Member Reviews

This was a much darker book than I typically read, and it gave me plenty of bad dreams. That being said, it was a page turning thriller, filled with twists and turns all the way through. I did not want to put it down!

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YES! By far the best book I read to keep me on pins and needles of 2020!

It all started with the hook of a Prologue, that happened 25 years ago. A teenage girl, Eve Knox, is murdered. The question is who could have killed a popular teenager?

Enter Maggie Kennedy 25 years later, whom is 7 months pregnant at the age of 40, that is now a police detective. She was Eve’s best friend and actually was one of the people who discovered her dead body. Her father at the time was Chief of Police and now he has dementia, but he was never able to bring the killer to justice.

This cold case became alive again when a missing boot was discovered by some kids that was actually one of Eve’s missing boots at the time of the murder.

Of course, Maggie must be the detective to lead this case, since it was her best friend. With forensic technology so advanced they hope there might be old DNA that would lead them to the killer.

The host of potential subjects is daunting. You have Eve’s sister, who has always been the town “creepy weirdo scientist”. She is now a Vet, a disgusting hoarder and has a unique hidden hobby of collecting bones. Eve’s boyfriend, whom she broke up with the day before, was physically abusive. There is a town creeper and a pedophile that are all thrown into the mixture of whodunnit?

The story, goes back and forth, from 1995 to 2020. Can Maggie figure out the killer, even though her dad spent years trying to figure it out, to no avail?

Just when you think you figure out who the killer was, nope the twists and turns keep coming, leaving you hanging on every word.

An unputdownable book, that will stay with me for awhile! That is the making of a great thriller. Go get a copy now!

Thank you @Heather Gudenkauf For writing this fabulous book. Thanks to #NetGalley for allowing me to read #ThisIsHowILied in exchange for my honest review.

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Thanks to Net Galley for an advanced copy of THIS IS HOW I LIED. The story centers around a 25 year old murder and the detective investigating it. I really liked this book and getting to know the characters. I wasn't totally surprised by who did it, but the story kept me wavering back and forth between characters and would have me debating with myself as to who was the most guilty. I really liked how the author delved into the relationships n the book, and how this murder affected them

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I was excited to have a chance to read this book, as I have been interested, but I'd never had the opportunity to read one of Heather Gudenkauf's books.

It tells the story of small-town police officer, Maggie, who is investigating the unsolved murder of Eve Knox from 25 years ago. The key issue is that Maggie and Eve were best friends and Maggie has never gotten over Eve's murder. There are still many possible suspects: Eve's dominating boyfriend, her creepy sister, and others. There are some twists and turns, but none of them were surprising.

Overall, the writing is solid and it was a quick read. I just found that the story didn't work for me. Seems that I am in the minority on this one.

Thanks to NetGalley, Park Row Books, and the author for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

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I couldn't put this book down! I really like how how this moved between past and present. I especially loved the friendship between Eve and Maggie as well as Maggie's relationship with her father. The twists in this read were thrilling! This is won't be my last book by Heather Gudenkauf!

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I was drawn to this book by the author’s name. While I never read anything by Heather Gudenkauf before, her name has come up time and again in new book and popular author lists.

All the characters in the story were very well developed. The main character, Maggie, was my favorite by far. The author more or less really set me up to like what a good person she was, and then BOOM! she brought up a few bad choices that left me reeling a bit with disappointment. I actually paused to think about how this woman seemed so real to me, I could feel that emotion. The story has some twists and turns as any good psychological thriller does and is neatly wrapped up by the last page.

Sex is mentioned only as an occurrence where another character hears sounds through a bedroom door. Swearing is minimal.

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I'll finally be able to speak the words that I haven't been able to. I'll be able to say, This is how I lied, and now this is my truth.

Maggie Kennedy- O'Keefe grew up in Grotto, Iowa. A small river town that her father was chief of police. A case that has always haunted the Kennedy family was the murder of Maggie's best friend and neighbor Eve Knox. She was brutally murdered in the Grotto Caves State Park. Twenty-five years later, Maggie is now pregnant and working as detective in the same prescient where her father presided. Eve Knox case was cold and was about to reopen with new evidence that has come to light. She is asked by the current chief of police if she would like to handle the case with fresh new eyes. Maggie takes the case and the secrets begin to unravel.

Heather Gudenkauf is perfection when it comes to unraveling secrets of a small town. The players are the best friend now detective. Maggie has her own secrets that drive her to being on the police force. The boyfriend Nick who is abusive that everyone seems to love. The crazy sister Nola that has demented secrets that can destroy her. The successful neighbor who has a all together wife with two kids. Each of these characters carry secrets that relate to Eve's murder. The narration is done in the past of Eve's voice, Maggie, Nola. Each character is different. Each character comes in full circle, facing the past and exposing their secrets.

A Special Thank you to Harlequin Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review

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Many thanks to NetGalley, Park Row Books/Harlequin, and Heather Gudenkauf for the opportunity to read her latest thriller. She is a must-read author for me and this book is fabulous - 5 stars for a gripping read!

The story is spooled out in different voices and time periods. In 1995, Eva and Maggie are best friends but both keeping quiet even to each other about how they are being treated my people who supposedly love them. Eva's little sister, Nola, is a different, somewhat creepy child, obsessed with dead animals and even killing them to see inside. Then Eva is found murdered in a cave and nothing is ever the same. In 2020, Maggie still lives in town and is married, 7 months pregnant, and a police detective. New evidence is found in Eva's case and Maggie is assigned to investigate. Nola is still in town as well, working as a veterinarian, still up to her creepiness. How many of these secrets will come to light during the investigation?

Just a book I could not put down, complete with a twist that will have your head spinning. Highly recommended!

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I have to admit. I wasn’t feeling this book in the first several chapters. I’m glad I stuck it out though! It ended up being great! Heather is such a great author and I’ve loved all of her books.

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I’m absolutely here for all things in the thriller genre and I loved the sound of this one.

I really liked Maggie. She’s strong and smart and loves being a cop. Nola is definitely interesting and even though she’s part of the story, this is definitely all Maggie. There’s a small group of other characters and I wish we could have gotten to know more about them.

Plot wise, it was intriguing, but never captivating. I did love the use of three POVs {especially seeing things from Eve’s side} and it did help me suspect nearly everyone. There’s a thread of this story that was a little disturbing and it was sort of hard to read some of of the things that progressed because of it.

Overall, it was a good story, but didn’t have the tension I was expecting to have.

FYI: talk of sexual assault, physical assault, and statutory rape

**Huge thanks to Park Row for providing the arc free of charge**

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This suspense/thriller is one of those stories that is just enjoyable to read. During this social distancing Covid 19 pandemic, escaping into a story is just what the doctor ordered. The story unfolds and you bond with Eve and Maggie and, like everybody else, Nola seems to be quite an oddity. At one point in this story, it really becomes the book you cannot put down. #thisishowilied #netgalley

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Wow! This was certainly a page turner! I was hooked from page one and on the edge of my seat til the very end. It’s an unputdownable book! Definitely recommend! Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

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Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: This Is How I Lied

Author: Heather Gudenkauf

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 4/5

Publication Date: May 12, 2020

Genre: Mystery

Recommended Age: 17+ (violence, murder)

Publisher: Park Row

Pages: 336

Amazon Link

Synopsis: Twenty-five years ago, the body of sixteen-year-old Eve Knox was found in the caves near her home in small-town Grotto, Iowa—discovered by her best friend, Maggie, and her sister, Nola. There were a handful of suspects, including her boyfriend, Nick, but without sufficient evidence the case ultimately went cold.

For decades Maggie was haunted by Eve’s death and that horrible night. Now a detective in Grotto, and seven months pregnant, she is thrust back into the past when a new piece of evidence surfaces and the case is reopened. As Maggie investigates and reexamines the clues, secrets about what really happened begin to emerge. But someone in town knows more than they’re letting on, and they’ll stop at nothing to keep the truth buried deep.

Review: Overall, I liked this book. The book did well with the characters and the world building. The writing was well done and the book gripped me with the suspense. The book had me scared of the dark for a bit as well lol. I really liked the twists as well, even if I saw them coming.

However, I don’t know how realistic the book is. From my experience in criminal justice, they wouldn’t have put someone on that found the bodies and was the victims best friend to avoid conflict of interest and fruit of the poisonous tree doctrine (where when you do something out of police procedure then all evidence found via that means is not admissible in court). The pacing was also slow and the twists and plot were predictable.

Verdict: I liked this one!

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4.5 stars! I read Before She Was Found last year and absolutely loved it, so I was excited to get my hands on This is How I Lied! Like Before She Was Found, This is How I Lied sucked you in right from the first chapter! This book was impossible to put down. The changing perspectives and time frames between Eve, Maggie and Nola was done perfectly--it was easy to follow and made me want to read just one more chapter. The story is exciting and keeps you guessing right until the end. Once I got to about 75% of the way through, I HAD to keep going--that ending was a roller coaster!! I absolutely loved Maggie--I definitely related to her a lot, as my father also suffered from dementia as well. I found myself crying through some of those chapters--don't see that too often with a thriller! However, that mix of connection to the character and a fast paced, exciting plot made this book fantastic. I've been a fan of Heather Gudenkauf for quite a few years, and I absolutely recommend all her books, including this one!

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Sixteen year old Eve Know was murdered in a cave, and knew her killer. Her best friend, Maggie stays dedicated to the case and becomes a police detective who has been assigned to re-open the case. She was also the one that found Eve's body, along with her sister, Nola. They live in a small town, so everyone is examined and has something to hide.

This book was page turning and eerie. You don't particularly love the characters, which works for this book. The story progresses at a good speed, and concludes well. I did have a few unanswered questions at the end, which I often do with thrillers and mysteries. The end was slightly underwhelming, but still a highly recommended book for its story line and prose. Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read and review!

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Amazing characters and story!
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Wow! That is exactly what I said so many time throughout this power packed book. The author crammed so many awesome pieces into this book, it simply grabs you and you are just compelled to keep reading.

The character development is awesome. It is not often we get a female creepy character. Nola is weird and odd, and just gives you the creeps overall. The level of detail throughout is superior and Gudenkauf is stellar at bringing the goods that leaves you wondering what is coming on the next turn of the page.

With unsettling descriptions and a plot that builds the suspense throughout the story, she weaves us through the garden path right to the edge of the cliff. The “who done it” is uncertain right to the end and then Gudenkauf wraps it up smoothly in a nice little bow – sort of!

For a first time reader like me, she grabbed me with her style of writing. I loved the plot twists and the suspense, but I enjoyed the creep factor even more. She keeps you off balance throughout! So worth the read!

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This Is How I Lied: A Novel by Heather Gudenkauf is a new thriller book that I really enjoyed. The mystery unfolds over two timelines to uncover who killed Eve. A teenage girl is found dead and twenty five years later some new evidence is found to open up the case again. The detective assigned to the case was the victim's best friend and she is now determined to uncover the truth of what really happened. This book was told by several different character perspectives and had some good twists. Thank you to Park Row Books for this review copy.

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I LOVE when a strong female lead is featured in a book. And the alternating timelines kept things interesting.

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Heather Gundenkauf's This Is How I Lied takes a look back at a several decade's old murder where her lead character, Maggie, discovered her friend, Eve, dead in the Grotto Caves. Maggie is a strong character who is challenged throughout the novel by her peers, family, husband, and most of all, Eve's sister, Nola, who just happened to be with her when she found Eve. Told by various narrators, the tale weaves through the present and carefully intertwines it with the past. With new evidence and witnesses not telling everything they know, Maggie's job is tough... and she's also seven-months pregnant with a baby she and her husband desperately want. I hope Ms. Gundenkauf continues on with Maggie's tale... she's a smart detective and based on the rural setting, could have a lot of interesting stories with this character.

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WOW! Heather Gudenkauf, author of "This Is How I Lied" has written an intriguing, captivating, intense, and suspenseful novel. The genres for this novel are Psychological Thriller, Mystery and Suspense, and Fiction. The timelines for this story are in the present and twenty-five years in the past. The author describes the characters as complex, complicated, and each could be a suspect.

Maggie, a very pregnant Police Officer, has the task of dealing with a 25-year-old cold murder case being opened after new evidence is found. This case involved the murder of her best friend Eve so many years before. Maggie and Eve's unstable sister Nola discovered the body. Maggie has to relive the torturous and terrifying memories from so long ago. As Maggie revisits the various characters, she finds herself deeper into the secrets and betrayals of the town. 

I love the way that Heather Gudenkauf vividly describes the scene of the crime and all the possible suspects. The author weaves her web and draws us in. I was sitting on the edge of my seat. There are a few OMG moments! I would highly recommend this suspenseful thriller.

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