Eve was murdered 25 years ago when she was just 16 years old. Her murder has never been solved. Maggie was Eve's best friend and is now a detective with the police department. As Maggie goes over the original notes, pictures, and witness statements, Maggie realizes there are a lot of suspects. This thriller has it all! Mystery, lies and secrets, unreliable characters! I loved it and couldn't put it down until I finished! I received an advanced readers copy and all opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of This Is How I Lied by Heather Gudenkauf that I read and reviewed.
This book was one of the best books I have read from start to finish this year. The story grabbed me from the start and I fell in love with it. I am usually not a huge fan did books that are told from the point of view of the characters and you have to pay attention to the titles of the chapters to know who you are reading about and when you are reading about but for this book I did not mind it at all and if just made the book stronger.
The story was great and how it unfolded throughout the book keeps the reader on the edge of their seat and guessing about what took place and what is going on and what is going to happen. This book was one that I did not want to put down because I wanted to know how Maggie was going to deal with things. Was Nola as crazy as she seemed? And what really happened to Eve? Those questions I was dying to get answered and I loved how they were answered. This was an excellent book.
This Is How I Lied gets five out of five stars!

Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Maggie is a detective and 25 years ago, her best friend, Eve, was murdered in a nearby cave. The case was investigated by Maggie's father, who now has dementia. Now one of Eve's shoes has been uncovered and the case is re-opened with Maggie now as the lead detective. There are plenty of suspects in this small Iowa town, like Eve's very strange sister, Nola, and Eve's boyfriend, Nick, but none were ever proven to be the killer.

I liked this book. There were just enough potentially guilty people but not so many than I couldn't keep them straight. It kept me guessing. This kind of reminded me of a Tami Hoag novel, and I am a big fan of hers. I would read more from this author.

I will automatically read anything by Heather Gudenkauf. I really enjoyed this straightforward thriller. So many twists and turns kept me entertained. Loved it! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. I will definitely be recommending this one to everyone!

Oh wow what a book!!! This book is so good!! I loved the twist and turns!! A definite must read for thriller fans!!

This is a good, but not great offering from Gudenkauf. It's a fairly straightforward mystery--what exactly happened to Eve 25 years ago? How did she die and who is lying about their part in Eve's murder?
Overall, there aren't any major surprises. I was expecting a twist as with Gudenkauf's previous books, but this one doesn't really have one.
The one thing I really didn't care for is that there are a few plot threads that are not resolved fully in the end. Yes, we do find out who killed Eve and why, but there are some side stories introduced along the way that are just brushed off in the end. I don't like when interesting plot points are put in as red herrings, or not even as red herrings, basically ignored and forgotten about until the end saying "oh, by the way, XXXX just stopped."
Fast paced for the most part and things don't get bogged down at all, but the mystery could have been developed so much more. Lots of potential, but not a large amount of payoff.

December 1995. A 15-year-old teenager, Eve, was found dead in a cave, believed to be murdered. But the case went cold, with no murderer(s) found. Fast forward 25 years later, year 2020, a boot was found at the murder site, and the case was reopened, to be reinvestigated by the victim’s best friend, now a police officer, Maggie O’Keefe. The novel was narrated by three people – Maggie, Eve and her sister, Nola.

Before Maggie, her father, Chief Kennedy, was in charge of the case, but now with Alzheimer, Maggie couldn’t consult him about his opinion and what he discovered 25 years ago. Now married and pregnant, and so closely related to the victim, Maggie doubted herself in her ability to solve the case while staying professional and keeping an emotional distance.

Eve narrated her story in 1995. She wasn’t just like any other teenager living their carefree life. At times, she felt like having to act like an adult, taking care of her ‘crazy’ sister because her mom was working all the time, while figuring out her love life with her then boyfriend, Nick, who was constantly verbally and physically abusing her. As if that wasn't enough, she then discovered her best friend, Maggie, had been harboring a dark secret from her.

And Nola. Wow. What a character! In the story she was a freak show - intense, weird, known to literally fight back when provoked, and just really obsessed about animal anatomy. If she existed in real life, she should be left alone. That said, she was the glue that held the story. Whenever I had to close the book, I just couldn't stop thinking about her - like what the heck is she up to now. She better not be taking a dear animal’s life for her experiments!

I literally couldn't put this book down. I woke up in the middle of the night to continue reading it. And my oh my, the women in this book! We have the gungho, pregnant Maggie; the sensitive and smart Eve, and the psychotic Nola. The men merely existed - not one stood out to me. But this in no way affected the brilliance of this book, of course.

The frequent alternating timelines bothered me at first. It can be confusing at times, especially when it alternated between stories and voices too, but after awhile, I was so absorbed in the story that I just went with the flow.

Except for the man in red sweater, everyone else was a suspect, right down to the quiet, self-absorbed Colin, Maggie's brother, because you know, the ones get mentioned the least always ended up being the killer right?

Did I guess the killer? Yes and no. I guessed it correctly at first (No Colin wasn't my guess), then the genius of the author changed my friggin' mind. And I ended up following that fake lead and boom, I. Was. Wrong!!!

Would I recommend this? Yes, if you’re a fan of GOOD murder mysteries with a reliable narrator or narrators! Give me more Heather Gudenkauf’s works please!

Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin - Park Row for a free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.

Heather Gudenkauf at her best. Another great twisty who done it! 25 years ago Maggie's best friend Eve is murdered and Maggie and her friend Eve's little sister Nola are the ones who find her body in a local cave. Fast forward to present day and Maggie is a police detective and 7months pregnant. She is assigned to be in charge of reopenning this case as new evidence has been found in the cave she was found in by exploring kids.Just when you think you are figuring it out...you learn another twist. Story told in duel timelines 25 yrs apart.
Thank you Net Galley, the Publisher and Heather for the opertunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review

This is How I Lied is one of those books that pulls you in from page one and doesn't let go until close to the end. I happily put aside things I had to do so that I could enjoy the delightfully dark and intense mystery that unraveled as each page turned.

This is How I Lied is more plot-driven than character-driven, but when everyone is lying to cover up their guilt, wrong-doings, and crimes, how could it not be. Usually, I love when characters are well-developed, enjoying the ability to feel as if I know them as well as I know my friends and neighbors, and though I did not experience that in this story, I understood why. How can you understand a person if they are holding on to a secret so tightly that they have closed off part of themselves? Though I didn't feel like I knew Maggie and the rest of the characters, I did find them utterly intriguing and was quickly carried away by their story from 25 years ago.

I did guess the killer and why, but then I guessed all of the main characters and had reasons why for them as well, so really, I don't think my guessing correct is valid in this situation. It was cheating at the mystery game. But that is part of the fun. You can guess plausible murders and reasons they would want to murder Eve, but which one did it. You have to read it to find out!


I loved the way descriptions of people, places, and actions read in an almost poetic way. These small nuances set a scene that I could envelop myself in and allow the story to carry me away.

The only thing I wish is that the ending had been a bit different. I hesitate even to put this in my review because I don't have anything constructive to offer as in how I needed it to be changed. I only know that the special something that held me enthralled from page one diminished before the last page and that I lost it somewhere during the final scene in the cave.

This is How I Lied is a compelling psychological thriller that you will happily put off doing other things so that you can spend the time enjoying the story.

Heather Gudenkauf is an auto-read for me, I have yet to be disappointed in anything she has written. She knows how to grab this reader and doesn't let go until the last page.

The fun part of reading this book was going in blind, I didn't read the blurb and was sucked in with the first chapter. Weaving not just between time periods (present-day and 25 years ago) but also there are different POVs. There was 16-year-old Eve, her deliciously creepy sister Nola (like seriously what a character), and Maggie.

The story itself was well rounded, the puzzle pieces fit together nicely with a fitting conclusion but what a ride getting there. I had to take my theories apart and reassembly numerous times. The author has a knack for twists and turns. She also connected me to each of these 3 teens, I got to know them which just made me connect all the more with this story.

This Is How I Lied is a well-written murder mystery that is dark, mysterious, suspenseful, and full of secrets. Definitely a book and author I highly recommend.

My thanks to the publisher, Park Row for a digital ARC (via Netgalley) in exchange for an honest review.

This was a brilliant book. 25 years ago, Eve Knox went missing, her body found by her sister Nola and best friend Maggie. Now a detective, Maggie has taken on the cold case after new evidence comes to light.

Told in the present from both Nola and Maggie’s perspective, as well as the past in Eve’s own voice, This Is How I Lied is a fast paced read that had revelations with every page. As Eve herself says, why do all the people who claim to love her, want to hurt her? The question is though, who hurt Eve enough to actually kill her? This Is How I Lied has it all: an abusive ex-boyfriend, an absent mother, a best friend with her own secrets, threatening vagrants and a sister who is clearly damaged.

There were a few twists that were expected, a massive one that shocked me and a final twist which uncovers the truth as to what happened that night.

If you enjoy a good thriller then this one is worth a read!

Excellent book. A twisted who done it, with a variety of characters and a small amount of insanity that bring light to this story. Well written with drama, tragedy, fear and love woven together to make this an outstanding read. Don’t miss this one.

What a page turner!! I stayed up way to late last night wanting to finish this book! The book opens in 1995 with fifteen year old Eve being murdered in a cave and she’s trying to escape from her murderer. Fast forward twenty five years and Eves childhood best friend Maggie is a police detective, she’s eight months pregnant and a new clue a boot was found by kids playing in the cave where Eve had been murdered. Maggie is now reopening Eves cold case and she’s hoping to finally bring Eves murderer in and give her justice. Maggie and Eves younger sister Nola were the ones who had found her that horrible night twenty five years ago. The book goes from 1995 with Eve telling her story and what led to her murder and 2020 where Maggie is trying to solve the murder. With an handful of suspects which include Eves boyfriend Nick who was the high school golden boy who had a dark side, Nola her younger sister that would dissect animals and would turn on her in an instant and a town drifter who creeped her out. Maggie begins to investigate and re-examine the old evidence and soon uncover secrets and someone in her small town knows more and they will stop at nothing to keep their secret hidden. Five stars! I loved this book I was so invested in the characters! The author did an amazing job building the tension and mystery, the twists and turns left me shocked!

Wow, wow, wow! Gudenkauf knows how to write thrillers! She sucked me in on page one and didn’t let me go until I finished! She’s got this formula that leads to intense thrills, bone tingling chills, and gasp worthy shocks and I LOVE IT! I highly, highly recommend this book and I’ll be reading some of her previous books too! My second book of hers, but most definitely not my last! Well written and unputdownable is exactly how I would explain this book, and I think most will agree! Highly, highly, highly recommend!
Will make sure to buzz it up on all the different platforms!

I have become an admirer of Heather Gudenkauf's writing. I really enjoyed her last book, Before She Was Found, and was so kicked when I realised a new one was coming. So happy I could receive a digital ARC to read.

'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.'

How absolutely intriguing is the blurb? The premise completely hooked me and so did the book! This one is definitely a winner.
The story is told by multiple narrators, a heavily pregnant Officer Maggie Kennedy who starts investigating a twenty-five year murder of her best friend, Eve Knox, when new evidence is found.
The second narrator is Eve Knox, the 15-year-old victim who is staying with her strange sociopathic sister, Nola and her mother at the time.
The final narrator is Eve's younger sister, Nola, who is, to put it mildly a little weird and strange.

I loved the characters of this book. So well fleshed out especially Nola who was strange and weird and yet so good at her job and yet disturbing in her thoughts and actions.

Don't want to reveal more of the plot but suffice it to say that the pacing of the story, the plot movement and the characters make this an extremely engaging story. It has action, emotion and it just keeps getting better page after page. I could not put it down until I reached the last page!!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for sending me a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Twenty five years ago, Eve, was murdered in the caves of Grotto Caves State Park near her home in Iowa. Later that night she is found by her younger sister, Nola, and best friend, Maggie. Due to lack of evidence no one is charged with her murder. Twenty five years later, new evidence has come to light and Maggie is in charge of her case. This was a fast paced page turner with a plethora of suspects, twists and turns you won’t see coming and a perfect ending

Who could have killed Eve Knox?

Everyone liked her - it was a shock to the small town of Grotto.

Her troubled sister, Nola, and best friend, Maggie, found her.

There were quite a few suspects, but not enough evidence so the case was dropped.

The book opens to a grizzly scene of Eve running out of a cave, but not being able to escape.

Twenty-five years later, new evidence is found. Maggie is now a police officer and takes over the case. What will she find?

We go back and forth from 1995 to 2020 and see Eve's life as a teenager and then in 2020 we see the investigation taking place again with we the readers trying to guess who the killer is.

You will say it's her, no it can't be, it has to be him, no it might be that person. You will go back and forth trying to figure it out, and I bet you will guess incorrectly unless you are a super sleuth.

THIS IS HOW I LIED is very engaging, tense, and so good you won't want to put the book down.

Suspense and thriller fans will not be disappointed.

Ms. Gudenkauf will keep you on the edge of your seat and wondering, wondering, wondering.

What a twisted, fantastic, unpredictable tale with characters that lived with secrets and lies and that made me nervous at what they were doing.

Do not miss it. You will be on the edge of your seat by the end. 5/5

This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was my second Heather G book and I have to say it was just as good as the first! Heather has a way of sucking you in on the very first page and not letting you go until the very last page.

If you love edge of your seat, page-turning, complex characters (which are sometimes mind-boggling), murder with roads leading everywhere and to everyone than you are going to love this book.

While there are a few things happening all at the same time, the road does eventually end where I thought it would. I really did enjoy this journey and if you love suspense thrillers than you will too.

#ThisIsHowILied #NetGalley #Maggie #Eve #Nola #LovedIt

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for a free copy of this book.
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What I Liked: It was a fast paced thriller. Though I had my thoughts on who it was, it was quite the ride getting there. Also, though I ended up being right, I still second guesses my way through a lot of the story because there were so many people who could have killed Eve. I was satisfied with the ending, which is not always the case in thrillers.
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What I Didn't: I personally am over alternating time lines. We go back and forth. Many thrillers seem to not be able to be written without this now. Nora's therapy notes I felt were truly an unneeded addition since she happily told you everything when she spoke. Many gaps can get filled in without using multiple POVs and timelines
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Though I am over alternating time lines, I would still recommend this thriller because that is a personal gripe. That is not a gripe towards the author or this book, which was well done overall!

I am no stranger to Heather Gudenkauf’s books. I’ve ready every one so far so this one won’t be my last.
This book was a real page turner with many twists and turns.
Maggie snd Eve are best friends, but a secret tears them apart and one snowy night before Christmas Eve was found dead.
The book goes from past to present and is told from multiple standpoints.
Had me turning the page over and over anxious to find out what happened and how it happened. But what I did find out is that things aren’t always what they seem.
Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this one early. Great book that definitely does not disappoint. Reserve your copy for publication on May 12,2020!!!

Thanks heather gudenkauf for another page turner.

I’m sorry I love to read but I admit I’m not the best review writer but it’s not lie that this book is really good!!