Why would someone who could get away with murder confess to a murder they didn't commit?

This book moved! Great character development and (SPOILER maybe) Gretchen is a sociopath and not the one we are investigating or being accused of slaughtering animals or people. It shows, in a way, that those labeled as such can be respectable members of society if given the opportunities and guidance in finding their path.

There are funny bits within the story as well...Gretchen has to work with a partner she hates, which in some instances, becomes hilarious.

This book was well developed with a few great twists. I read it in one sitting (stayed up late and wanted to ignore the alarm for work the next morning). This is a great cozy in for the evening spring read.

Thank you Thomas & Mercer & Net Galley for the review copy.

A cold-blooded murder. A confession. And a mystery that’s just beginning in a shocking novel of psychological suspense by the Amazon Charts and Washington Post bestselling author of A Familiar Sight. Criminologist Dr. Gretchen White thought Detective Lauren Marconi could never cross certain lines. Then Lauren, with fresh blood on her hands, is arrested for an execution-style slaying. Even as the evidence mounts, Gretchen is convinced she’s innocent. Because Lauren would have known how to get away with murder.

Absolutely loved it, another great book featuring Gretchen and White and Lauren Marconi. Fantastic story that is gripping and suspenseful. Love the development of the relationship between Gretchen and Lauren along with Lauren's boyfriend Lachlan. These characters grow wonderfully as each book progresses and I really like spending time with them. Was on the edge of my seat right until the end as I could not work out who the killer was, very suspenceful stuff. If you have not read any of this series you really should, highly recommended

Jeez, Louise.......

See It End left me all tangled up. Like the heavy-duty undertaking of folding fitted sheets. No matter how you think you've got a definite process, there's still gaps and lumps and bumps under that material. But, miracuously, it all straightens itself out in the end. Ready for your shelf.

There's been a murder. A female cop is involved.

Dr. Gretchen White, psychologist and criminologist who works with the Boston PD, is startled when the passenger door of her sleek Porsche is yanked open and Detective Lauren Marconi is sitting white-faced next to her. Lauren has blood splattered on her shirt and more under her fingernails. The only thing she says to Gretchen, "I did it. Don't investigate." Out the door in seconds.

And within hours, Marconi is arrested for the murder of Owen Hayes. Hayes has been under Marconi's radar for over eight years for some dastardly business that Marconi can't prove. Even the head of the Boston PD Internal Affairs, Lachlan Gibbs, thinks that Marconi is guilty. And he's been Marconi's love interest lately. Internal Affairs trumps affairs of the heart.

But Gretchen is not one to tiptoe out of a room. She's determined to find out exactly what Marconi was in the midst of regarding Owen Hayes. Marconi is too smart and calculating to let herself get caught even if she committed the crime. Gretchen admires intelligence. No one even comes close to hers. And you'll find out more and more about Gretchen herself.

Now back to those fitted sheets........Brianna Labuskes writes in such a way that she has us talking out loud to those printed pages. And then, the dialogue is brilliant with spots of humor here and there and some trial-and-error thoughts by these characters laying out practical approaches and who dun it suppositions. I loved that. You can master those fitted sheets if you have enough folding room. The determined tucking and folding will eventually get you there. And "there" is quite the jig-jag in its conclusion. What a ride!

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Thomas & Mercer Publishing and to the talented Brianna Labuskes for the opportunity.

WHAT I LIKED:

+ Gretchen is a diagnosed sociopath. I really enjoyed this factor because she was the one solving the crime instead of committing the crime. Most often, the sociopaths and the psychopaths are the ones that people are trying to catch not the one that is solving the crime. It was an interesting take on the story to see Gretchen try to figure out what happened and using her diagnosis as an advantage instead of a hinderance. In many ways, it humanized those who have similar diagnosis. They are still human, even if they process differently.

+ Dual Timelines. They told the story through Lauren Marconi (Read: Macaroni) perspective in the past, more specifically in the days leading up to the crime and through Gretchen's perspective as she tried to solve the crime in the current timeline. Dual timelines can be tricky to achieve, but Brianna Labuskes masterfully navigated her way through both timelines; dropping subtle hints as she went.

+ The Suspense was suspensing. I really had no idea, up until the last few chapters of the book, who actually committed the murder. I couldn't figure out if it was Lauren or if some other convoluted plot had occurred that just put Lauren in the wrong place at the wrong time. Even when I did figure out who it was, the how and the why kept me turning the pages until the very end.

+ Fast-Paced. Now when I tell you this book hooked me from the first line, I kid you not. Homegirl was thinking about slicing some poor guy's carotid artery during their date. I've been on a boring date or two myself in my day, but sheesh ma'am! Pump the brakes a little! The story took off running from the first word and didn't stop until the end. I appreciate stories that can hold my attention, because it is incredibly short. Think: small squirrel with ADHD. If you can't get to the point in as few words as possible, I am GONE. I have to be in the mood for a slow-burn.

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:

I don't really have anything to say here. I genuinely enjoyed everything about this book. The twisty plot, the sarcastic characters, the banter, everything was brilliantly written.

Thank you Net Galley and Thomas and Mercer for an ARC of this book for an honest review..
This book is so intriguing because Dr Gretchen is a psychologist but also a sociopath who has to keep her life under control since she has violent behavior just under the surface. I didn’t realize this was a series I had read the book before this one which was such a thriller that’s why I wanted to read this book. This book takes you on a wild ride of several people and digs into a difficult subject that has you on the edge of your seat. This was a great book. Now that I know it’s a series but also stands alone In would recommend reading the other two books first. I highly recommend this book.

This is a book like no other! First and foremost, the main character, Dr. Gretchen White is a criminologist and a sociopath, a functioning sociopath. There is indeed a percentage of our society that is born that way so the various insights on her inner thoughts really are interesting and adds an unusual side to her character.
The murder mystery story line is also really well written and the fact that it involves Marconi, her friend in the police force, whom you can't help but develop much affection throughout this series, only adds to the interest.
The fact that she has to to work with Marconi's boyfriend, Lachlan Gibbs whom she severely dislikes, is simply hilarious.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough and would really encourage the reader to read the first two books before to get the full benefit of this unusual series.

I hadn't read any previous books in this series and omg, have I missed out!! This book really is everything you could want in a thriller. It's so intelligently written with no cliches or predictable story lines. The characters are well written and realistic and don't make stupid decisions just to further the plot. The book is constantly moving the plot forward and there are no boring filler chapters or wordy pointless monologues. And as for the twists and turns?! Just sheer perfection. I can't wait to read the previous book. A must read

I was so excited to see another (last?) book in this series about the criminologist and sociopath, Dr. Gretchen White. And it involves Detective Lauren Marconi who I love to see interact with Gretchen. Except this time around, they barely do because someone has been killed and everyone believes Marconi did it. Her confession doesn't exactly help. But Gretchen knows better and when Marconi comes to her briefly before turning herself in and tells her not to investigate, Gretchen does the exact opposite. And it's a good thing she does because she's the only one who can get to the truth.

She partners with Lachlan, Marconi's boyfriend and fellow officer to get official access to certain people and places. It's the typical 'look how much we can't stand each other' type of duo but you know they'll get along eventually. Kind of like Gretchen and Marconi, imagine that! So they have to work together and dig through Marconi's past, which neither of them knows anything about.

It's quite a backstory, with family tragedy abounding. Not only did Marconi know the victim she was accused of killing, but she was suspicious of him for years - believing him to be a kidnapper and killer himself. Her suspicions were well known and caused problems in her career. She could never quite find the smoking gun to put away the man for good. But would she have taken the law into her own hands? And why now, so many years later? That's for Gretchen to figure out.

It's an in-depth mystery with several possible suspects and motives that Gretchen and Lachlan have to sort through to get to the truth. There are multiple perspectives throughout the story and you'll find yourself coming up with different theories about who could be the killer and why. It might be best to just sit back and enjoy the story because I doubt anyone will see what's coming!

WOW is all that I can really come up with to explain this book right off the bat. Brianna wasted no time making this book take off in the first chapter and it just keeps going until the very end. After the revelations that Gretchen gets from the second book, you start off with her going on a blind date to seem more "normal" or at least that's what Lauren tells her. As Gretchen comes out of that horrid date, her life takes a huge turn when the confession from Lauren comes and puts Gretchen's whole world view in question. Lauren has blood all over her and tells Gretchen that not only is she guilty of the murder, but that she also does NOT want Gretchen to investigate it. Gretchen has always thought that Lauren was on the good side, but if she did commit that brutal murder, is there really any good left to lean on anymore? Not only is her world upside down but now she has to work with Lauren's boyfriend, Lachlan Gibbs whom she has never really liked. As they uncover things from Lauren's past, more questions than answers come out and they have to figure out the truth before time is too late.

I was on the edge of my seat during this entire book and I was never let down once. Not only do we finally get background on the elusive Lauren Marconi, but we get to see Gretchen form a new dynamic with someone else in hopes of not only saving Lauren's' reputation, but ultimately her life too, cops behind bars don't fare well, I mean remember book twos ending? I loved being able to watch the book jump from present time with Gretchen and Lachlan, and then seamlessly jump back into time to learn how and why Lauren acts the way that she does. The twists in the book will keep you guessing until the final sentence is read, and with the end you find peace but also hope that there is somehow more to the story at some point. I blew through this series so quickly because I just needed more and more, this is definitely my favorite series I've read in 2022 and will definitely be a recommended series for a long time coming from me.

I tried to go into this one without any preconceived notions considering how much I loved the first two books in this series. Just like the first two, I loved it! The way the author weaves her characters is fantastic. And I never noticed with the previous books how little I knew about Marconi until this one. Previously, she gave us just enough to not ask questions. This time I found myself asking, “how did I not question that before?!” The further I read, the more I got answers to questions I didn’t know I had. She does a great job of putting the reader in her world and evoking emotion. I have to admit, I was sad at the end because it felt like the end of the series. Maybe not, but I’ve grown quite attached to Gretchen and I’m interested to see where she goes from here if the series is continued. If so, I will be at the front of the line to buy the next one.


Huge thanks to Thomas and Mercer and Netgalley for sending me this ARC for review! All of my reviews are given honestly!

What happens when a few boys go missing over a long period of time? Nothing until someone can make the connections. This is the premise of Briana Lubuskes new book, See It End. Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC of this book. Unknown to me, when I started this book, this is book 3 of the Dr Gretchen White series. I would highly recommend reading the first two books first. There were many references to previous events that are key to understanding the characters in this book. That being said, I totally enjoyed this book.
Who better than a psychopath to consult the police on psychotic cases. Gretchen learns that her friend Lauren, has been arrested for an execution style murder, but Lauren had blood on her clothes and hands. She knows that her friend would not be that sloppy, but has asked Gretchen to let it go. So of course, she can’t. So, who else would have wanted an assumed child kidnapper to be dead? As you can imagine, there are quite a few, and they all had an opportunity. As the clues come in, they all point back to Lauren, but could she really commit murder? A very complex and well written book, full of twists and turns until the end.

**this is an honest, consumer review provided by NetGalley as an arc. I am doing this review voluntarily**

Wow. This was amazing!! 4.5! This had me guessing if I was bad at intuition lol. A great thriller and I would not be surprised if this is all over book tok and bookstagram once it drops. Great read!

See It End
Dr. Gretchen White
by Brianna Labuskes

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, from Thomas & Mercer, and #NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity to preview and review. The opinions expressed are completely my own.
I suppose this was a book of a series, I was soo confused about the names and the back story. If I had read maybe the 1st book, I would have known this.

I loved this series. Dr Gretchen White is a clinical psychologist who consults for the police but she also is a sociopath! Her sense of empathy is just not there and she often has violent thoughts of killing, which she mostly controls. Due to their lack of empathy, and sense of connection to people, sociopaths don't make true friends.
However, Gretchen has a friendship with Lauren - a police detective. It is not the normal definition of friendship - but it's important to Gretchen. In this book, Lauren is accused of a murder. Gretchen doesn't believe it and begins to investigate. I love reading about Gretchen's thoughts as she makes decisions I mean I feel totally invested.

You do not have to read the previous books in this series to enjoy this one but I suggest you to read. It will give you a real sense of what Gretchen is like and it will provide an emotional investment in their friendship that will enhance your enjoyment of this book.

Dr Gretchen White. An amazing character. Haven’t we all wanted to be so brutal and so untouched by guilt? I can’t say enough how much I enjoyed this novel. Brianna Labuskes, you are one talented lady! I love how Dr White has become more than she was, if that makes sense. I hope her story isn’t over.

This is the third in this series featuring Dr Gretchen White, a dynamic di I also psychologist, assisting the police, who also happens to be a psychopath I loved the first two and this third one is great. Her police partner Lauren Maroni from previous stories is arrested for murder and tells Gretchen ‘I did it’. Well we all know she couldn’t have, right? We go backwards and forwards, twisting and turning, learning bombshell details of Lauren’s past. Although, I missed having Lauren and Gretchen solve the crime together, Gretchen has the ‘what would Lauren think/do theme’ running and it worked. This book goes more depth into the workings of the minds of serial killers and Gretchen is learning as she goes in some aspects u til it finally comes together. Can’t wait for the next one!

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, from Thomas & Mercer and #NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity to preview and review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

A mystery that keeps you guessing. You won’t want to put it down.

Criminologist Dr. Gretchen White thought Detective Lauren Marconi could never cross certain lines. Then Lauren, with fresh blood on her hands, is arrested for an execution-style slaying. Even as the evidence mounts, Gretchen is convinced she’s innocent. Because Lauren would have known how to get away with murder.
Forced to team up with Lachlan Gibbs, the combative by the book star of Internal Affairs and Lauren’s boyfriend, Gretchen starts digging for the truth. But when she begins to uncover Lauren’s closely guarded secrets, the investigation raises more questions than answers. As Lauren’s decade-long obsession with the victim comes to light, Gretchen can’t help but doubt her own instincts.
She knows better than most that not everything is as it seems. And with Lauren’s future on the line, it’s more important than ever to see this mystery through to the end.
Really enjoyed this book totally recommend
Thank You NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer
I just reviewed See It End by Brianna Labuskes. #SeeItEnd #NetGalley

I wanted to enjoy this one but felt the overall mystery, plot and characters hard to relate to. I can totally see the potential here though, I might just not be the target audience.

Another Gretchen White book - woo hoo!
I love this series. Dr Gretchen White is a clinical psychologist who consults for the police... But... she is a sociopath! Her sense of empathy is just not there and she often has violent thoughts of killing, which she mostly controls...

Due to their lack of empathy, and sense of connection to people, sociopaths don't make true friends. However, Gretchen has a friendship with Lauren - a police detective. It is not the normal definition of friendship - but it's important to Gretchen. I believe she has feelings that she doesn't really recognize.

In this book, Lauren is accused of a murder. Gretchen doesn't believe it and begins to investigate. I love reading about Gretchen's thoughts as she makes decisions - I feel totally invested in her..

You do not have to read the previous books in this series to enjoy this one - but you should. It will give you a real sense of what Gretchen is like - and it will provide an emotional investment in their friendship that will enhance your enjoyment of this book.

Now is this a true 5 star book? Probably not. But I am giving it 5 because I just love Gretchen so much!

Thank you to the author, the publisher and to #netgalley for the ARC which did not impact my review.