I think this is the first book in a new series by the author. I have read a couple of her books and, while I have enjoyed them, this one is the best I’ve read by a long way. We get a sneak peek into the mind of a sociopath, Dr Gretchen White - psychologist and criminologist, as she works as a police consultant to solve cold or ‘interesting’ cases under the patronage of Detective Patrick Shaughnessy of the Boston PD. These two have a very interesting dynamic. Shaughnessy still believes Gretchen killed her aunt when she was eight years old, and got away with it so he likes to keep an eye on her. And Gretchen wants to prove Shaughnessy wrong by demonstrating she can keep her darker impulses under control. Gretchen gets her serve of darkness from seeing the crime scenes, the photos, attending the autopsies and - scrabbling around in people’s minds. Oh how she loves scrabbling in those minds!

This case is precipitated by the presumed accidental overdose death of Lena Booker, high priced mob lawyer and one of Gretchen’s few actual friends. Lena called Gretchen on the night of her death and left a cryptic message saying she’d messed up, and “she’s just like you.” Lena is also the lawyer for 13 year old Viola Kent who brutally stabbed her mother, Claire, to death six months ago. Reed Kent, the father, and his two younger children - sons Sebastian and Milo, seem well shot of the freaky Viola. There are signs of long term abuse on the bodies of both boys. As Shaughnessy doesn’t see any wrinkles ahead in this case he assigns his latest partner (Gretchen tends to scare them away) Detective Lauren Marconi, to babysit Gretchen. These two also develop an interesting dynamic and, while they will never be good buddies (sociopaths don’t really go in for friends much), they do end up with a grudging sort of respect for each other.

This book is all about the characters and what an interesting bunch they are. Naturally Gretchen wants to interview the child Viola who, by all accounts, is a psychopath. After the interview Gretchen agrees that the child is, indeed, a budding psychopath who will, if able, go on to murder people. But did she kill her mother? She has already killed some animals - animal lovers should note that this is not described at all, it is just noted as having had occurred. But I think it is an important element of this particular story. You will soon learn that all is not as it seems within this family. Gretchen also uncovers links to the disappearance of Reed’s teenage girlfriend Tess Murphy. The consensus was that she ran away. But did she? And by the way the answers to the questions I pose are not necessarily the same or even obvious! It soon becomes clear that quite a few people had a motive for killing Claire Kent, including her daughter.

Gretchen is driven nearly to distraction with this juicy puzzle! So, while the story was not a fast paced thriller it was rather a delicious, devious mystery with a very surprising ending. I enjoyed the ride along with Gretchen and I know I am far away at the other end of the spectrum - what Gretchen would call an empath. But I can still enjoy a cracking story like this one. All the characters were exquisitely drawn, their mental anguish clear and, for Gretchen, like nectar. I wanted to give this 5 stars but I did think it was a touch long and belaboured the differences between sociopaths and empaths. On the other hand I enjoyed it so much that 5 stars it is! I really want to thank Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the free advance copy of this book which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.

I love dark.books. unfortunately this one lacked something for me. The characters didn't draw me in. Kept at it as saw such good reviews. But for me just wasn't a winner. Back and forth story lines usually I like but didn't work.

Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an early release of this book.

I must be definitely somewhat of an outlier on this one, given the glowing reviews that this book is getting. Although it has a very interesting storyline and Gretchen White is a unique character (a functional sociopath), I had a really difficult time getting into both the story and Gretchen’s character — both of which were well developed. And, even though I generally love novels that are told from different points of view and/or in different time lines, I found this novel’s moving back and forth in time and POV sort of disjointed and thus bothersome. However, the writing was excellent, and I loved the ending — which I found to be a complete surprise. I had not read anything by this author before, but I will definitely give another of her books a try. This one just basically missed the mark for me.

This was a very good book, interesting, different than most books of this genre. Complicated characters and relationships that span decades. we follow Gretchen a non violent sociopath, who works with the police to determine the guilt of a young girl accused of killing her mother. The plot involves a missing woman from many years ago and the lawyer, hired to defend the girl, who is both a friend of Gretchen's and a friend of the husband and the missing woman. Very well written and compelling

Wow, wow, wow! What an original, unique, and absolutely unputdownable read! Completely absorbing, with such a unique storyline (which is hard in this genre)! Kept me on the edge of my seat, with the riveting, suspense filled, completely captivating story! Cannot recommend enough! I will definitely be looking for more by this author, as this one blew my mind!

Will buzz around and use top Amazon reviewer number on release!

Very suspenseful with a great plot. Gretchen is like no other.
Many thanks to Thomas & Mercer and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

A Familiar Sight by Briana Labuskes is a well-written and engrossing read with well developed characterizations. Well worth the time spent reading.

WOW! Both creepy and exciting at the same time.
Gretchen White is a consultant for the police on cases that involve certain personality disorder perpetrators. She has also been labeled as a sociopath and has a past that should not be over looked or brushed aside. It is quite possible she has committed murder herself.

I enjoyed the complexity of this novel as well as the style. The past and the present are intertwined with flashback type episodes rather than alternating chapters.
This is one of the few books I have read that is truly worthy of the "Psychological Thriller" genre title. It had me pausing to think things through to a plausible conclusion only to throw another option up at me. Kept be wondering, speculating and turning the pages deep into the night.
Excellent maze!

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for allowing me the change to preread this novel in exchange for my honest review

I loved Girls of Glass so I was excited to read this one. Dr. Gretchen White is a non-violent sociopath which makes her work with detectives valuable as she can spot others. So when young Viola is arrested for killing her mother Claire, Gretchen knows something is a little "off." There are buried secrets and relationships that come to light as the book moves from present to past and we discover what really happened the night Claire was killed. It's a creepy kind of good if you like your books a little on the dark side!

OMG...what did I just stumble upon??!! In the world of psychological thrillers, 'A Familiar Sight' is pure gold..!!!

When 13-year-old Viola Kent is charged with the murder of her mother Claire, despite all evidences of Viola's violent sociopathic nature, Dr. Gretchen White is convinced of her innocence. Psychologist, criminologist and consultant for the Boston P.D, Gretchen is a sociopath herself (albeit, a non-violent one). Even as she walks a tightrope to keep her more wild impulses in check, she joins hands with Detectives Shaughnessy and Marconi to help solve the extremely intriguing and gruesome case.

Gretchen, far from your usual book heroine, is simply badass, for lack of a better word. Though Detectives Shaughnessy and Marconi take a backseat to Gretchen in the story, the relation she carves with them is noteworthy, considering they are wary of her twisted moral compass.

The world of Gretchen is cleanly divided into that of sociopaths and empaths, and the author repeatedly highlights this difference throughout the book, I believe, to underscore the fact that some people are simply wired differently. In my opinion, without this emphasis, it would be extremely difficult to comprehend Gretchen's thought process or Viola's actions. While I am grossly unfamiliar on the topic, the story offers glimpses into violent anti-social personality disorders and may require trigger warnings.

I am simply in awe of this author's writing because she didn't let up on the suspense right until the very end. Everytime I thought I had it all figured out, a few pages later, I would end up changing my mind again. And the climax was more dramatic than what my thriller-loving mind could imagine.

Overall, a fantastic psychological thriller, that is, without doubt, a must-read. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

One heck of a whodunit!
Thanks to the author and NetGalley for an ARC.

A mother is killed; a daughter is a sociopath; and everyone has secrets. With twists and turns I didn’t see coming, this book was one I couldn’t put down.

I could not put this book down! So many twists and turns that I did not see coming. Compelling and well-written, would definitely recommend!

I received an uncorrected advanced reader copy of “ A familiar Sight” by Brian a Labuskes via Net Galley. My thanks to the publisher, author NG..
“ A Familiar Sight” was to me a disturbing , vapid and unpleasant crime novel. As I read it, I found myself wondering why.I continued reading . Well, I wowed an honest review in return for access to the ARC, so I struggled on.
This book features Dr.Gretchen White a psychologist who sometimes consults with the police in cases that involve socio- or Psycho pathic behavior She herself is a sociopath with tightly controlled. violent tendencies. She offers thoughts bloody assaults to people who are annoying to her. Are we supposed to like her then? Dr. White has an ominous history: as a child, she was found kneeling over her aunt’s bloody body, holding a knife. Though found not guilty, the police feel she was the killer. As the book opens, Gretchen at the apartment of Lena Booker, he body lies on the couch, dead of an overdose. She was the lawyer who was going to defend a teenage girl who was found beside the bloody body of her mother, with her hands touching the gaping knife wounds. We learn that the girl,, Viola Kent, has a long history of abusing her smaller brothers and also other younger playmates. Her parents were afraid of her and for her. I think back to the 1950’s movie, “ The Bad Seed.” That little girl was scary, her parents terrorized . Then, no one could believe that such a pretty tot could be evil in those days when there was not a shrink in residence on every news feed. The viewer was drawn deeply into the horror of that little girl’s mind. No so here.
What sounded like a good set up at the beginning for a crime thriller, never came through . The author’s rambling, talky style left me wanting for more depth and exposition. Gretchen White’ s character was unappealing , snarky , superior and sarcastic. Worse, we never get very deep into her . For a psychologist, , her flawed character is a blank page.left largely unexplored.. Her “ friend/ enemy cop, Saughnessy is characterized as a fat, sullen and world weary; nothing new there.. The author relies heavily on the “ had we only known” style of flashing back weeks and months , giving little glimpses of the past that portend bad things. The shifting time frames of alternating chapters usually makes me wonder why the author simply does not begin at the beginning. No style points there.
Of course, this is only one person’s. opinion. MS Labuskes previous books have been well - received. . This book just did not click with me., but read it for yourself.

What happens when a self proclaimed sociopath becomes a police consultant? You get this explosive thriller! Dr Gretchen White gets a call from her friend Lena saying “ I screwed up”’ leading her to find her friend has died by her own hand sending Gretchen to find out answers. This book has past and present intertwined with 13 year old Viola in jail for killing her mother, which is the case Lena was working, turns out her and Violas father grew up together and he needed her help. This book is heavy with characters that you question why and how and do I really even like them? The one question throughout this book is are you an empath or a sociopath. With an ending you don’t see coming, buckle up for this stand out thriller. Thank you NetGalley.

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

A Familiar Sight by Brianna Labuskes is an exciting psychological thriller that will appeal to fans of bestselling books like The Silent Patient and An Anonymous Girl. The story revolves around Gretchen, a consultant for the police on cases involving anti-social personality disorders, and Shaughnessy, a police detective. One of Gretchen's "secrets" is that she was labeled a sociopath herself and was once suspected of murder.

Here is an excerpt from an opening chapter that reveals more about Gretchen and Shaughnessy's relationship:

"Why am I not surprised to see you standing over a dead body?" came a Boston-drenched rumble from behind Gretchen.
"Because you think I'm a killer you just can't seem to catch," Gretchen answered, dry and honest, as she turned to find Detective Patrick Shaughnessy lurking just over her shoulder. Next to him stood a petite but curvy woman with inky-black hair and the big hazel eyes of a baby deer.
...
"A killer I can't catch," Shaughnessy repeated... "Isn't that the truth."

Gretchen gets involved when her best friend Lena, a lawyer, is found dead.
Lena's latest case involves a teenager named Viola who has been accused of stabbing her mother to death. Viola has a long history of violence and the media has already labeled her a "bad seed" and "child murderer." But did Viola really kill her mother? Or is something else at play here? It will be up to Gretchen to find the clues and solve the case.

Overall, A Familiar Sight is an action-packed thriller that will keep you guessing. It was unputdownable. I had to keep reading and ended up finishing the book in a few hours. One highlight of this book is Gretchen's character. I enjoy complicated detectives when I'm reading mysteries, especially when they have a ton of personal problems, and being labeled a "sociopath" definitely makes Gretchen an interesting character. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above or if you're a fan of the thriller genre, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in August!

I loved this book! It was so unique, fascinating and fast-paced it blew me away. I want to read more thrillers about Dr. Gretchen White so I hope the author continues this series.

If you like Ethan Cross you should check out Brianna Labuskes.

Thank you NetGalley / Thomas & Mercer for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book just didn’t do it for me. It was way too long and had too much going on. I almost gave up in many parts. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy in exchange for review.

A brilliant thriller that will keep you enthralled until the end! Dr Gretchen White is a police consultant and an admitted sociopath, who when young was suspected of murdering her aunt. Detective Shaughnessy brings her in to help with a case where Viola Kent, a troubled teenager, is accused of killing her mother. Set with different timelines the story unfolds with many twists and turns along the way. The cleverly written interwoven plot will definitely keep you guessing. I particularly liked the main protagonist Gretchen and hope to hear more about her in the future!

Thank you Netgalley and Ms Labuskes for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Dr. Gretchen White is a diagnosed sociopath that consults with the police on murders, particularly those involving any kind of abnormal mental pathology. A woman has been killed and her 13 year old undiagnosed psychopathic daughter has been arrested for her murder. But did the daughter commit the crime, that she isn't denying, or is she a convenient patsy?

First! Oh. My. Gosh!!! If Ms Labuskes' other books are as good as this one, I have a new top favorite author. This story was unpredictable. Each chapter had me thinking I knew who the killer was, and each chapter that person was different. It wasn't until the last few pages I even had a hint to the correct person. Another thing I liked was the evil wasn't cut and dry, until the end, and even then, there was a lot of gray areas.
My absolute favorite part of the book was the dynamic between Dr. Gretchen White and Detective Marconi. I so hope that the author continues more books with this relationship. I'd love to see it develop more and what direction it takes. And if Gretchen ever actually stabs Marconi with a fork! Lol
Thank you again for the opportunity to read this fabulous story. I can't wait for the next installment! 🤞

An interesting storyline with a unique main character that definitely stands out in a crowded genre. Labuskes does an excellent job at developing Gretchen White’s character and drawing reader’s into her dynamic of being a functional sociopath. However, with the bouncing time line and the excess number of characters, it was difficult to stay engaged. Chapters felt incomplete and in many instances clinical terminology was often overused. 3 stars.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC of #AFamiliarSight which was read and reviewed voluntarily.