Excellent page turner that’s impossible to put down. I am a huge fan of Ms. Gudenkauf’s books and I think this is my favorite one so far. When the unsolved murder case of a 15 year old is assigned to Maggie 25 years latter, it hits a little close to home since the victim was Maggie’s best friend at the time of the murder. As the daughter of the detective assigned to the murder when it occurred, Maggie feels extremely pressured to find the truth. But can Maggie really comes to terms with the truth when it may involve her. Multi layered story with so many twists and turns it will leave you guessing until the very end.

This is how I lied is a page turner that will grab you and keep you reading until the end. The characters are intriguing . After 25 years can a best friend solve the murder that she thinks she may have committed. Very intense.

This is How I Lied by Heather Gudenkauf is a standalone intense thriller. The storyline switches between 1995 and the present, 2020, with three POV’s. Police officer Maggie O’Keefe becomes involved in the reopening of a murder that took place 25 years ago, when new evidence is found. In 1995, Maggie’s best friend Eve Knox was found murdered in a cave discovered by Maggie, and Eve’s sister Nola; we do get the POV in both time periods for Maggie and Nola.

In flash backs, Eve, who is 15 years old, lives at home with her mother and her sister and has a boyfriend, Nick who has become obsessive and abusive. Nola is considered weird, showing sociopathic things with animals, and she also taunts Eve over the abusive marks on her body. Maggie and Eve are together a lot, until Eve discovers something very wrong that Maggie is involved in.

In present time, Maggie is pregnant, and is assigned to work on the newly opened case, since she is better off staying at her desk or doing local interviews during the last stages of the pregnancy. Maggie’s father was the police chief, who handled the case in 1995, but now he is in the stages of Alzheimer, so it is difficult for Maggie to ask him questions.

What follows is an amazing gripping thriller filled with so many shocking secrets and twists along the way. There are so many suspects, including Maggie with her own secrets; Nola was a scary character who you knew was dangerous. From start to finish, this was an intense, heart pounding, exciting, nonstop action story that had me unable to put the book down, especially with the many surprises that threw us for a loop, and kept us confused as to who really was the murderer.

Heather Gudenkauf wrote a fantastic adventure, as she kept throwing us so many surprise revelations and suspects that kept changing the game in this gripping thriller. This is How I Lied was an amazing read that was so well written, as well as being an intense twisty exciting thriller with some fantastic characters, and a mystery to the very end.

4.5 STARS - This Is How I Lied is a spine tingling, page-turning, whirlwind of a read. Wowzers! It grabbed me immediately, took me through some great twists and didn't let go until the final pages.

Ya, it was soooo good.

Maggie is a police detective in a small Iowa town where she's lived her whole life. When new evidence emerges in the unsolved case of her best friend Eve's 25-year-old murder, Maggie jumps at the chance to find her friend's killer. This atmospheric read bounces from 25 years in the past to the present giving readers a look into Eve's life leading up to her murder and Maggie's current day hunt for the elusive killer.

The characters are an assortment of small-town citizens who are well-developed and many with secrets to hide. One character in particular stands out from the crowd. Nola, Eve's sister is one complicated, delightfully sinister character that added a layer of creepiness that I enjoyed. While not a woman I'd befriend (eeks!), she's an interesting, wounded character that added a lot to the story.

There was one rather large twist and an event that had me suspending disbelief a little outside my comfort zone but overall I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It is a well-crafted, powerful and gripping novel that had me guessing and second guessing the identity of the culprit. With its compelling cast and engaging story, I highly recommend it to fans of Suspense. Look for it May 12, 2020!

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Harlequin for providing me with a complimentary digital copy of this title, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.

Another knock out from this author! Original and unique. I could barely sit the book down to function. Highly enjoyable and a must read!

1995: Eve is sixteen, and when she goes into some dangerous caves one evening, she doesn't make it out alive.

2020: Maggie Kennedy O'Keefe, Eve's former friend, is now a Detective. Eve's case has been reopened and Maggie is assigned to investigate. With a wide circle of suspects and some new evidence, can Maggie help solve the mystery of who killed her friend all those years ago?

This was twisty, fast-paced, and even though I am desperately suspicious of every character in a crime novel, that worked to my advantage here. Nola, Eve's sister, was a fantastic character, she was so unpredictable, and I loved the structure of the chapters, I enjoyed how the story unfolded by going back.

Full review coming to behindgreeneyes.com in May as part of the blog tour.
Many thanks to the publisher for granting me access to a copy via Netgalley.

(partner @parkrowbooks ) I’ve come to count on @heathergudenkauf when I’m in the mood for an engaging, gripping thriller and her newest didn’t let me down! It has multiple viewpoints, a cold case mystery and enough unreliable suspects to make your head spin. I really couldn’t ask for more in terms of a solid thriller. Since my review mojo has basically disappeared that’s all I’ve got, but look for this one next month and in the meantime if you don’t want to wait the author has an extensive backlist that I can highly recommend, start with These Things Hidden it’s SO good, right @beauty_andthebook_

Well written, dynamic characters and a mystery that keeps you guessing until the end. Another winner by Heather Gudenkauf!

Thank you #netgalley and #harlequin-trade for the eARC.

So this is another mystery that is written like in the future and past aspects jumping back and forward from three different characters! Eve was murdered, Maggie, and Eve's sister Nola. Maggie is now an officer and is looking into the 25 year old case. This story is not for the faint of heart because there is a lot of different things going on in this novel: abuse, murder, family drama and some domestic violence between Eve and her boyfriend Nick. This is a fast paced thriller, full of lies, secrets and a mystery that needs to be solved. I really enjoyed this thriller and I will admit once you start this book prepare to be a couch potato until you finish it because it will have you guessing who killed Eve and have you hooked from beginning to end! This is a nail biter, sitting on the edge of the seat type of thriller!

This Is How I Lied
Heather Gudenkauf
May 12, 2020

Maggie Kennedy grew up in Grotto, Iowa. She and her brother, Colin were at home with their father. Her father was chief of police in Grotto. Her mom had passed away from a brain aneurysm when she was 9 and Colin was 11. Life had not been easy but she loved her dad. The empty neighbors house had a truck out front. Maggie had so hoped that someone, a girl her age might move in. As she watched the movers hall furniture into the house, she only saw a young child running around in the yard. As time passed though, out of the house came a girl who looked just about Maggie’s age. Maggie ran out of her house and next door to meet Eve Knox. The two became instant friends. They walked to and from school and by early teens were best of friends.
Eve was dating Nick Brady. He was a fellow student who ran with the wrong crowd. His temper flared easily and many times he would take his anger out on Eve. Maggie babysat for the family across the street. The father of the twins was Cam Harper, a man who was friendly, handsome, and preyed on teen girls sexually. The girls shared their problems but Maggie never shared the relationship that developed between Cam and herself. Eve’s sister, Nola was a strange girl. She had no friends and was bullied by other students. As the novel goes on it reflects on a timeline of 1995 and 2020. Maggie eventually became a detective in the Grotto Police Department. Nola was very intelligent and became a Vet. Eve was murdered in 1995 and the case was still unsolved in 2020.
Gudenkauf gives us the story of each of these girls, their families and quite the unexpected situations that develop throughout the novel. Each chapter’s heading is one of the names of the girls with dates presented under the heading. The intense mystery that unfolds is very similar to Heather Gudenkauf’s style of writing in each of her books. I know when I pick up one of her novels I will be in for a terrific journey. This Is How I Lied is no different. I was totally involved in the story-line. Her readers will recognize the Gudenkauf suspense trail that she unfolds for us. Once again, I cannot give out many details as there would be spoilers. I do encourage suspense lovers to get a copy of her latest book due for publishing May 12, 2020. This Is How I Lied is being published by Park Row Books in arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A. I wish to thank them for allowing me to read and review this pre-published edition of her latest book. I enjoyed Heather Gudenkauf’s latest offering, This Is How I Lied, sure to be a 5 star hit.

Twenty-five years ago her best friend was taken from her and this earth, murdered and left in a cave, and no one was ever arrested or charged with the crime. And for twenty- five years this event has haunted detective Maggie Kennedy O’keefe. Being the one to find your murdered best friend is bound to rattle your world, but the not knowing who did it is just as bad.

Armed with new evidence, Maggie is determined to find the answers no one else ever has, she feels like she owes her friend that much, and nothing is going to stop her from doing her job! Just as she starts to make headway on the case things start to take an unexpected turn... a dangerous one that could cost her everything!

This is How I Lied is a startling little page-turner that will keep you on the edge of your seat the whole way through. Following Maggie on her journey for answers was quite exhilarating and emotional. Page after page I fell deeper into her world and more addicted to the words, I just couldn't pry my eyes away from the pages. Wow what a read!! I have got to say this first time read impressed on all fronts, the words held my attention intently throughout, and the characters were perfectly drawn... loved every minute of it!! Highly recommend!

I requested an advanced copy of this title from the publisher, via NetGalley, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion.

I will leave a review on Amazon or B&N on May 12, 2020

This is How I Lied is a thrilling read. So well written and kept me wondering almost until the very end whom was actually responsible for the murder. As most of this authors books it was so well written, with many twists and turns. I would definitely recommend this book to those that enjoy a good suspense thriller.

I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my fair and honest review.

Loved it! This was so good and I love that some secrets were revealed early on instead of dragging things out forever and ever. Couldn’t put it down!

4.5 stars

Maggie O’Keefe’s life changed irrecoverably when her best friend was murdered at fifteen. For twenty five years she was plagued by the nightmare while the killer was never identified. Now a detective, she was determined to solve the crime when new evidence emerged. But opening up a cold case might uncover the small town secrets she was not ready to face.

This story was an engaging read and got me questioning every character for most of the book. I loved the shift between past and present as the storyline uncovered. I enjoyed the overall storyline even though I felt the ending could be tighter.

The characters were intriguing from sweet, helpful ones to vile, evil ones. My favorite was Nola who drew me in right from the beginning with her unconventional interest and provocative personality.

This Is How I Lied is a story of manipulations and buried truths. It would appeal to readers who enjoy being immersed in a domestic thriller read.

I'm not surprised that Heather Gudenkauf has written another 5 star thriller. All her books are fantastic and whenever I go into a new one I know for a fact that I'm going to love it! There's just something about her writing style and her genius ideas that surround her plots that keep me coming back for more. That's no different with This is How I Lied and I devoured this one!

Another solid entry for Gudenkauf!

From the opening pages, I was sucked in the story and wanted to know exactly what happened that fateful December day in the cave.

Gudenkauf does an excellent job recreating the timeline leading up to Eve's murder with the tension between Maggie and Nola, and Nola that the rest of the community.

I look forward to recommending this book current fans of Gudenkauf and to readers looking for suspense thrillers.

4.5 stars - I have to admit I didn’t enjoy Before She Was Found that much. However, I remembered the crazy unpredictable ending, so I had to give this one a go and I was not disappointed! I enjoyed this book so much and I will forever be reading books by Heather Gudenkauf.

The story is told by three POVs; Officer Maggie Kennedy O’Keefe, who is investigating the 25-year-old murder of her best friend Eve Knox, Eve Knox, the murder victim, and Nola Knox, Eve’s crazy sister.

I must say I completely hated Nola’s character! She was absolutely vile and evil. That was probably the whole point, but I had zero sympathy for her and could not stand reading her chapters. However, I really loved Officer Maggie’s character and loved to read what she went through in 1995 and how the events in 1995 changed her life.

This was a total page-turner with a killer ending! If you think you know where this story is going think again! There are so many twists and non-stop action! Extremely well written!

I read around 300 books every year. The fact that this ending shocked me says something—what a ride. I will be pushing this book into the hands of everyone I know come May. It is in my top ten for the year!!

What a rush of a mystery novel. Small town secrets between neighbors, lovers and family come to a head in a dark and twisty thriller.

THIS IS HOW I LIED by Heather Gudenkauf is an atmospheric and twisty thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. It is set in the small town of Grotto, Iowa, and told in two timeframes. Twenty-five years ago, sixteen-year-old Eve Knox was found brutally murdered in the caves near her home where she and best friend, Maggie Kennedy often hung out together. Her body was discovered by Maggie and Eve’s sister, Nola, and although there were a few possible suspects at the time, there was never enough evidence to charge anyone and the case went cold. Maggie has been haunted ever since by her friend’s death and the events of that horrible night. When new evidence is unearthed all these years later, Maggie, now a local detective, is called upon to reopen the investigation and reexamine the details from the past herself. Soon shocking secrets emerge that call into question what really happened to Eve and it becomes clear that not everyone in town wants the long-buried past to be revealed. The heart-pounding story is narrated from three points of view: Maggie, Nola and flashbacks to Eve on the fateful night of her death. Filled with twists and turns that I never saw coming, I couldn’t put this book down. The flawed characters kept me guessing who was telling the truth and who could be trusted right up until the end. I really enjoyed this compelling and suspenseful book and I highly recommend it! Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read an early copy.