Thank you Thomas & Mercer for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. IYKYK, my reviews are always honest.

BEEP BEEP! HONDA CIVIC RELIABLE 3 STARS

Writing: 3/5 | Plot: predictable but well-executed | Ending: solid

SYNOPSIS

Twin brothers. One lover. Two dead people. What's going on????

MY OPINION

Shoutout to @mytobereadstash for the buddy read even though I'm notoriously terrible at them and finished the book in a day😂 Follow her on Goodreads and Instagram to see what she thinks (whenever she finishes LOL)

Anyways, this is my first from A.R. Torre. This book was everything Freida McFadden tries to be. Yeah, I said it. While McFadden throws a lot in the pot, she always burns it. This had several moving parts, but Torre kept it toit (tight) and brought it all together at the end. There was no annoying inner monologues (McFadden special), limited closed caption writing, and no gaping plot holes. Yeah, yeetage of disbelief is required, but when is it not? At least there's a police procedural element so it's not silly season citizens gone rogue vibes. This is like a Criminal Minds episode but not as cheesy, if that makes sense.

I don't really have any rich homie qualms. I think if you're new to thrillers, you'll really enjoy this. It has twins, so yes, it's highly predictable (not a spoiler lol). There's tons of POVs, not all of them necessary, but the chapters are short so you don't waste too much time. All in all, if you like Alafair Burke, or Freida but you wish she'd just calm tf down sometimes, I think you'll enjoy this. An easy breezy read for the weekend, daily commute, or when you wanna tune your kiddies out 😂

Short and sweet! That's when you know I'm unbothered 🫣

PROS AND CONS

Pros: well-paced, juicy plot, multiple povs, short chapters, police procedural element, writing flows

Cons: nothing to note, just wasn't mind-blowing and the twin twist is hella predictable

I really enjoyed this book, I haven’t read a murder mystery in so long so it was a great change of pace. I really enjoyed the multiple perspectives that helped piece the case together. While this wasn’t a book I lost myself in, I really enjoyed it and only guessed one part of the ending!
It is 3rd person but I still felt like I was able to connect really well with the characters and the story.
Very few parts moved too slow which was an added bonus. Out of 5 stars I would give this book a 4 star rating. I would (and have) recommend this book!

Such a sexy fun read! Kept me on the edge of my seat and had dark mysterious vibes. Such a page turner! This author is a 1 click author for me and this one did NOT disappoint!! Thanks Ron netgalley and the publisher!!!

I've read, "Every Last Secret" and "A Good Lie" by this author and loved "Every Last Secret," but not "A Good Lie," so I was 50/50 on whether or not I would enjoy this one. It was really fast paced, which I enjoyed and we got multiple POV's that we don't understand how they all connect until suddenly it all becomes clear. It was definitely confusing to begin with, and would have enjoyed more backstory about each POV so I could have an easier time trying to unravel the story myself.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

after loving all of torre’s backlist and very strongly disliking her release from last year, I was worried I was turning into a backlist girlie 😅

but this one confirmed that A FAMILIAR STRANGER was just a fluke to me!! because this one had alllll of the vibes from THE GOOD LIE (my favorite) with the messy marriage, hollywood secrets, twin-ception, and of course a persistent likable detective!!

getting into the corrupt world of hollywood is always a pleasure to read about - mostly because it’s all based on the truth. police and the public do not treat celebrities the same as others, especially when faced with a crime 😅 and I loved that MC farah actively spoke out against this!

the messiness of nora’s relationship with twins hugh and trent was just so delightful, omg I couldn’t stop reading! while I did guess the big plot twist based on its predictability, I did enjoy going along for the ride!!

and what a ride it was! I love when all of the pieces finally click together - so satisfying!

other than the predictable and somewhat unsatisfying conclusion, this book really scratched my thriller itch, and I can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy come june!!!

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

rating: 3.5 stars
wine pairing: sonoma coast chardonnay

Stars. Lovers. Liars. Killers. This book had me hooked from the first page. Prepare to be surprised by the many unpredictable twists in this thrilling book. I enjoyed the fact that I didn’t see the twists coming but rather they surprised me. This book is incredibly well written and a fast-paced read.
I am looking forward to reading more of Alessandra Torre's future works.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest opinion.

A Fatal Affair by A.R. Torre is a riveting page-turner about what happens when a serial killer is discovered in the world of the rich and famous. Nora Kemp is Hollywood's sweetheart and is set to marry Hugh Iverson, America's most loved leading man. But when a woman's body is discovered in the guest house where Hugh's twin brother Trent was staying, a massive investigation begins... because not only is an unidentified woman dead but Trent is there with her, killed in an apparent murder suicide. Detectives Farah and Kevin have the most complicated case of their careers ahead of them, and you won't know what - or who - to believe until the very end.

A Fatal Affair was such a fun binge read. I love this author and this was no exception.

Such a twisted delicious Hollywood murder mystery.

I thought the premise was fun and the subplots (twins, missing kid, MBP) well done.

I would pretty much read AR Torre if she wrote a book on manual labor laws.

If you like a twisty, fun thriller storyline mixed with Hollywood gossip and glamour this one is for you. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (rounded up)

As usual, A. R. Torre takes the reader on a twisty, dark ride. Nora loves two men--who happen to be twins. When one of them ends up dead with an unknown woman, nothing is out of the realm of possibility so far as the motive why. This book had so many twists, leading to a dark, unexpected ending. Another great read by Torre!

The setting is the world of fame and glamor: Hollywood. Nora Kemp and Hugh Iverson are the biggest stars and the ultimate it-couple. Hugh is the ideal man and a dream of any woman. He also has a twin brother, Trent, who is the troublemaker of the two. And Nora, well, she has a secret as she is sleeping with both of them. Things get really messy when Trent's body is found in Hugh and Nora's guesthouse, along with a body of an unidentified woman. It looks like murder-suicide and the police have questions. Soon more evidence is found, including a missing child and a possible work of a serial killer.
It was a very quick read. The chapters are told in many POVs, we get to hear from pretty much everyone. I never felt lost or bored with the story because the pacing was fast and the story always kept moving forward. The mystery was interesting and engaging. The characters,for the most part, are unlikable, as they are the people who will do anything to keep their status in life. I took away a star because with made-up celebrities I always have this lack of believability I guess you could call it. They are in their thirties, yet they have everything, achieved everything and get to be called THE biggest stars in Hollywood, like there's no one bigger. I don't know, when I look at Hollywood, I could name a dozen names like that, not just two people and no one else. But maybe that's just a personal thing.
But overall, very entertaining and a quick read, I would definitely recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 Stars

Alessandra Torre’s A Fatal Affair is a well-written, complex thriller that demonstrates the author’s impressive plotting skills. The story is told in multiple POV from a wide cast of characters, and once I got into the rhythm of the book, I easily followed along. The author constructed the novel with clearly marked chapters of each POV and tied their plot threads together well.

This novel would have been a five-star read for me with just a bit more fleshing-out of the principal antagonist mothers in the tale. I needed a clearer understanding of their negative actions, motivations, and outcomes. The story focuses on the police investigation of two murders and the detectives on the case. I loved that both detectives are happily married and great working partners who keep their relationship strictly business and value their marriages, families, and each other. There are red herrings, twists and turns, and deep emotion in this story. 4.5 Stars. A compelling read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for providing an ARC to read and review. This review will post to Bayside Book Reviews at https://baysidebookreviews.com and its Instagram page on release day.
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Captivating suspense mystery with layers of twists and turns for fans of CSI or detective crime solving stories, with secrets, lies and Hollywood stars!

Nora Kemp and Hugh Iverson are the Hollywood it-couple, until secrets come to light when Hugh’s twin brother, Trent, and an unknown woman are found dead in their home. A murder-suicide or so it seems, but as the layers are methodically peeled away, things don’t add up. A kidnapped child, strange family connections and no other suspects, the investigation leads detectives to gruesome evidence of a serial killer. Will anything stay secret in Hollywood?

This novel had me hooked from the start, playing in my head very much like a movie would with multiple POVs, lovable, flawed and shady characters. I was rooting for the young boy, the Hollywood drama and I enjoyed being at the edge of my seat waiting for what would happen next! Looking forward to reading more from A.R. Torre in the future.


Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read and review this book to be published June 20, 2023

I requested this one because I loved a couple of this author’s precious works, and this one didn’t disappoint! It had me glued to the pages!

This was a good book, but it was hard to follow at times just given the number of characters. Overall I still highly recommend giving it a chance, but keep notes of who everyone is!

This book was an interesting read. Based in Hollywood about two famous twin brothers and the fiancé of one, with the murder of an unknown woman on the exclusive estate of one brother Hugh along with the supposed suicide of his twin Trent. It is told from multiple POVs so the reader must keep up or lose track of what is happening.

Hugh Iverson is a Hollywood icon and his bad boy brother Trent while famous too, never matches his brother’s fame. On this particular morning, a servant finds the two dead bodies and ultimately the police are called in. Hugh and his fiancé Nora are reluctant to talk to the police wishing to hide their secrets.

If this has you hooked, you would be much like me wanting to know hat happens next. Unfortunately, I felt this story dragged a bit and I was not invested in the supposedly grieving brother or his indifferent fiancé. The police detectives dig deep, trying not to be drawn into the magic of the Hollywood stars, and move forward with the investigation.

I’m a fan of Torre, but this was not my favorite by any means, and does not preclude my continued interest in her work going forward. I thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion. I gave it three stars.

First off, let me say - Netflix where you at??! You need to be picking up this one immediately because it was made to be on our screens. 🤩

This one is a TOTAL TWISTER 🌪️!!

I always love a good twisty suspense thriller and this one delivers! 🤌🤌

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you Netgalley & Thomas & Mercer for an eARC of A Fatal Affair - Summer’s upcoming, twisty read by A.R. Torre.

GUYS! I don’t know what I was doing for the many years before finding out about A.R. Torre and her amazing books. This is my 6th read of hers, and she absolutely delivered on all expectations. As soon as I saw this one I dropped everything I was doing to devour the story and push it right to the top of my TBR.

This book takes place in Hollywood, and Torre manages to seamlessly blend multiple storylines through different points of view and short, cliff-hanger chapters that will keep you saying - Just ONE more page, please.

Actress Nora kemp loves two men. The kicker, they’re twins, and she is engaged to one of them. When Trent and an unidentified woman are found dead on his brother’s Beverly Hills property, a murder-suicide is suspected. You KNOW with Torre’s books, though, that there’s more to this than meets the eye. A serial killer with a bizarre motive? A missing mother and son?

No doubt a 5-star read, I love the POVs between the detectives trying to solve the crime and the other major players in this storyline (including journal entries). A bit of police procedural, a bit of domestic suspense and potential serial killer vibes, this one’s got a LOT going on, and I am here for it. Binge away, friends, and be sure to add this one to your list for its release in June. Torre will keep you guessing the entire time (and you still probably won't guess the ending!)

This book kept me engaged from start to finish! Every chapter had a new piece of the puzzle to unveil. I was correct in some guesses but blown away by other revelations. All in all, I highly recommend giving this book a try! You won’t be sorry you did!

Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to read this eARC.

I wasn't expecting to like this as much as I did but it was definitely atmospheric and thrilling and the characters kept me going until the end. I also liked a lot of the commentary in here as well.

I enjoyed the glamour and the suspense that this book provided! It was a page turner and written well. I think people that love thrillers and mysteries will want to read it.

Three stars. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.