AR Torre has quickly become one of my favorites! This book is no exception! Told from multiple POVs and interconnecting the lives of the characters in the most twisted ways makes this book fun from start to finish. I’ll buy anything this author releases! Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A Fatal Affair, by A. R. Torre, is a solid mystery and excellent police procedural. Told from multiple POVs, it follows Beverly Hills detectives Farah Anderson and Kevin Mathis as they investigate a murder/suicide in the home of Hollywood celebrities. Along the way, they encounter a cult-like children’s charity, led by Momma Beth, that culls its recipients from Make-a-Wish requests, and they find a Facebook group of not-so-wonderful mommies heavily involved in the mystery.
The multiple POVs of Nora, Hugh, Kyle, and especially the first-person POVs of Kerry and Miles, kept this story dynamic and compelling. Having the story set in Hollywood added to the illusion effect that “everything is not what it appears,” and the detectives have the added challenge of deciding whether the actors are truthful, or just really good-at-their craft liars. The huge twist at the end of the story wrapped this up with a satisfying conclusion.
This is an excellent mystery, with lots of breadcrumbs to follow, in pursuit of the killer and the motive. The short chapters add a sense of urgency to the arc of the story. And the witty repartee between the detective partners lends a bit of warmth to a tale full of darkness.
I recommend this suspense novel to readers who enjoy a good police procedural and readers who follow A. R. Torre, who never disappoints in her incisive thrillers!

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the ARC. These opinions are solely my own.

Written in very short chapters, this suspenseful novel begins when Hollywood royalty is found dead at his twin's guesthouse along with a tortured woman.

The twists and turns in this novel were excellent and the pacing was well-done. I really enjoyed the detectives working on the murder mystery (especially their banter). I appreciated how so much of their work had to be managed with Hollywood expectations, as well.

This was my first read by A. R. Torre but will not be my last.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my review copy.

Hugh and Trent Iverson are twins, and well-known actors. When Trent is found dead along with an unknown woman, the police are called and begin an investigation. Hugh and his fiancé Nora are questioned. I will be honest - this book just did not hold my attention. I found what I did read to be very predictable, before I eventually DNF at 40%. I am only leaving feedback as a requirement for my NetGalley review.

Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas and Mercer for the ARC.

3.5/5 stars.

What begins as a fast-paced twisted Hollywood tale with murder and Munchausen by Proxy sprinkled in unfortunately ended in a fast-paced tale with predictable plot points, reveals, and loose ends.

The first half was quite strong, in my opinion. We quickly switched between POVs, we got to know each character in accordance to where we were in the plot, and the author familiarizes us with the situation quite fast. However, after that... there's not much less. I felt like each character never broke out of the role they were assigned at the top of their chapter. For example - the detective was simply the detective. While we knew her relationships and we got to see her dynamic in relation to other characters, she was *just* the detective. She ceases to exist outside of this role. Every character reads this way and I wanted them to be at least a little bit more developed.

It was still a four star read, though! It was thrilling, it kept me turning the pages, and I was genuinely invested enough to actively want to know the final outcome.

That all changed with the very end - the accumulation of easily guessable reveals mixed with a really - uh, not well done? - device of "it's the FBI's problem now, so I guess we'll never know!" really soured my reading experience.

This was my first A. R. Torre and I can tell that there is an audience that will enjoy it, I'm just not fully convinced I belong with this audience.

A Fatal Affair is a fast-paced crime thriller set in Hollywood, where lies and deception thrive. Actress Nora is in love with two men; both twins with opposite personalities and when one of the twins, Trent, and an unidentified woman are found murdered, Nora and Hugh’s reputations and possibly lives are at stake. Two LA detectives work to solve the murders they encounter layers of deception in a cunning cat-and-mouse game. This wild read had a bit of everything; glamour, seduction, police procedural, court room drama, and even romance. Hooked from page one, Torres masterfully plants seeds of doubt and skillfully reveals the twists that keep you engaged until the end.

Told in multiple POV, this suspenseful mystery thriller kept me on the edge of my seat. Short chapters and lots of characters (a tad too many for my taste)kept me on my toes trying to figure out who’s who and what’s what!
Pay attention!
Fast paced, the author created this intriguing twisted web of multiple characters and multiple plot lines all leading to the main story line. Each chapter offered a subtle clue and another question.
Whodunnit?
I found it to be an ensemble story where it was ok not to connect with any one character but how the mystery unfolded. Hollywood glitz and glamor got down and dirty with the underbelly of Hollywood.
The build up, the suspense of trying to uncover this murder mystery was devilishly delicious.
This clever read was a great way to escape and get lost in a fun crime story. I’m a big fan of CSI crime drama and this had that flavor.
4.5 stars!

A thrilling investigation into an apparent murder-suicide, A Fatal Affair has twists, turns, and an ending I really did not see coming (but maybe should have). When the twin of Hollywood's it-boy is found dead along with a mystery woman, the police know this is about to be the highest profile case of their career.

If you're looking for a page-turner to bring with you on vacation, I think this is a great book to choose. The pacing was fast and each chapter brings a different point of view surrounding the central mystery, keeping your attention until the very last page. This was my first AR Torre and I will definitely read more of her books whenever I need a fast-paced thriller!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

PUB DAY REIVEW // A FATAL AFFAIR

4/5

“That’s the problem with Hollywood. We’re a sea of professional liars and seducers.”
And killers.”

This was such a FUN and highly entertaining read!!!

I loved the Hollywood/Beverly Hills setting, the multiple pov’s and the short short short chapters!!! This was such an easy book to FLY through!

The multiple pov’s were very easy to follow and each character was so well executed!

I was HOOKED from the get go and this was such a great book to play the whodunit game! This book gave me Clue meets Hollywood’s elite vibes. Everyone was a suspect and each perspective gave us more insight!

This is the perfect summer thriller - and on the *light* side in terms of graphic content. You can literally read this in one sitting by the pool!

RUN to read this on KU right this second!!

SIMONE SAYS READ THIS IF YOU LIKE

hollywood setting
multiple pov’s
short chapters
murder mysteries
bingeable summer reads

will you adding this to your to tbr?!

thank you to @netgalley and @amazonpublishing for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

This is my third A.R.Torre novel, and I'll be honest out of the three this is my least favourite. Not that it's not a great read. It's just that I found The short chapters discombobulating especially in the beginning and they stopped me from really getting into the story.

But it's a story that is intriguing. As A.R.Torre delves into the lives of the Hollywood elite and the dirty secrets they keep.

And told from multiple points of view. You're taken on a perplexing journey. When Hollywood's golden couple Nora Kemp and Hugh Iverson find Hugh's twin brother Trent in their guesthouse dead alongside an ordinary woman. Who they claim they have never seen before.

And the detectives tasked to investigate soon learn it's a murder-suicide. But one thing is clear this killer has struck before.

Yet, with Nora and Hugh tight lipped and their staff having signed NDA's. How are the detectives ever going to get answers?

Then there's the woman, who is she?

Furthermore, what does a mother and her son travelling to LA from Wisconsin to visit Disneyland on behalf of a cancer charity have to do with it all?

And with such an array of interesting characters. Plus bags of secrets, lies and deceit. This was an enjoyable read. It just didn't grab me or excite me as much as A Familiar Stranger or The Good Lie did.

I would though happily recommend it, especially if you like a mystery that will keep you guessing until the very last page.

This isn’t my first time reading A.R.Torre books and it won’t be the last either!
This is a police procedural story so if you like that type of books I suggest checking this one out!

A fast-paced engaging story with short chapters and multiple POVs that will make you keep interested from the beginning until the end to find out the truth to the murder case.
I really like the setting of this story – in Hollywood with famous celebrities, the scandals and gossips just makes this story even more fascinating!

The last few chapters is quite surprising when the answers are finally revealed, even the police had a hard time processing it all. The plot twist really had me in disbelief of what I just read.

Overall, it’s an enjoyable murder mystery, I had fun making theories as I follow the investigation with the police.
I am looking forward to read more books by this author in the future!

⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: Addicition, alcoholism, kidnapping, cancer, child abuse, death

I received an advanced review copy for free through netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Huge thank you to the author and publisher!

EXCERPT: The female victim wasn't beautiful.
Wasn't rich.
Wasn't single.
So how did she end up in a Beverley Hills mansion with Trent Iverson? And why was she dead?

ABOUT 'A FATAL AFFAIR': Stars. Lovers. Liars. Killers. This is Hollywood, and everyone has a part to play in a shocking novel of suspense by New York Times bestselling author A. R. Torre.

Actress Nora Kemp loves two men. One is Hugh Iverson, a philanthropic movie star who gives Nora security and respectability. The other is Hugh’s twin brother, Trent, a Hollywood bad boy who brings out Nora’s wild side. When Trent and an unidentified woman are found dead on the Iversons’ Beverly Hills property, more than Nora’s and Hugh’s reputations are at stake.

An investigation suggests murder-suicide. But there’s more to the crime than first meets the eye: suspicions of a serial killer with a bizarre motive, Hugh’s unnerved and cautious staff, and a missing mother and son. As two LA detectives sift through the deceptions of the innocent and the guilty—some living and some dead—solving the case becomes a cunning cat-and-mouse game.

Because in a city of illusions, the truth—no matter how dangerous—is so easy to hide.

MY THOUGHTS: A Fatal Affair has all the ingredients needed to make it a resounding success: the Hollywood setting; a love triangle; a missing woman and her child. Yet, despite my pulse rate elevating once or twice, I found the plot to be quite predictable. I have read other titles by this author which were far superior to this.

On the plus side, this is a quick, easy read with short chapters told from multiple points of view, and a definite 'crazy' element. Don't expect any depth to the characters; what you see is what you get.

If you're looking for a quick and entertaining beach/pool/fireside read, this will fit the bill.

⭐⭐⭐.4

#AFatalAffair #NetGalley

I: @alessandratorre4 @amazonpublishing

T: @ReadAlessandra @AmazonPub

#contemporaryfiction #crime #detectivefiction #murdermystery #serialkillerthriller

THE AUTHOR: A.R. Torre is a pseudonym of Alessandra Torre and is her dark alter ego. While Alessandra writes spicy romances, A.R. focuses on twisted stories filled with secrets, suspense, drama, and danger.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Thomas & Mercer via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of A Fatal Affair by A.R. Torre for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

Okay, A.R Torre can write a thriller. I have found one of my favorite thriller authors and I don’t know how it took me so long! Fast paced. Twisty. Serial killer. Celebrities. I never saw the ending coming. Every time I thought I knew what would happen next, I was very wrong.

There were so many characters and point of views that at first I wasn’t sure I could keep up but man was it well written. Miles was for sure my favorite, such a cute kid with strength he didn’t know he has before getting into this horrible situation. I also really enjoyed the relationship between the detectives.

I highly recommend this one and already purchased a few more of A.R Torres books even though they are available on KU!

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
The premise of the book drew me in but once I started reading it, I just couldn’t get into it at all.
I wish the author, publisher and all those promoting the book much success and connections with the right readers.

I feel like I tore through this book at breakneck speed every time I picked it up! Although it wasn't a deep, thought-provoking story, I really liked it and it was so easy to read. I had been a little worried because I've enjoyed the author's previous novels and some of the reviews for this one were a bit lukewarm but I soon breathed a sigh of relief. There are a great many characters and the story is told from the viewpoints of most of them - like The Leading Lady, the Detective, the Husband, the Kid, etc. - but the chapters are short and sharp and I soon got everyone straight in my head. It was easier to remember their roles than their names anyway. I liked the detective duo and the police procedural aspects of the investigation. The ending wasn't a total surprise but was well done.

To be brief, this book was a lot of fun despite the circumstances. You should enter the Goodreads Giveaway if it's open to you! There's only a few days left. 3.5 Stars rounded up!

I loved Hugh's assessment of a movie they had watched as "entertainingly mediocre" and I plan to use it in a future review!

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer via Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication: June 20, 2023

I was super into the A.R. Torre book I’ve read previously, and this one just didn’t stack up in terms of intrigue and development. We end up learning the “why” without really delving into the emotions involved. I felt that a lot of the perspectives were cut off before we could really do any sort of character work. I think a mini-flashback perspective of the killer would have worked well to give us more insight into the reasoning. Or more in each of the current perspectives that allowed us to get to know the characters more. It felt very surface level.

Not to say this wasn’t enjoyable at all, I had a fine time reading it and thought the Hollywood twins angle was fun. This just is not the most intricate thriller.

I received an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

This book was a miss for me. I found the characters detached and I was unable to relate to any of them.
I think it began promising but by the 5th chapter was beginning to wane.

A Fatal Affair is about a murder connected to Hollywood superstars, a missing child, and a confusing web of lies. Hugh and Trent Iverson are twin brothers who happen to be quite famous, Trent is known as the bad boy while Hugh is a heartthrob and America’s sweetheart type. When Trent is found shot to death in his brother’s guesthouse, things turn into a media circus quite quickly. Not only is the news shocking, but there is also another unknown female victim present that no one seems to know or understand who she is and how she got there.

The idea of a murder taking place on the grounds of a famous celebrity was a very intriguing plot line. Can you imagine how the press and the world would be completely enthralled with trying to figure out this whodunit? And who is this seemingly normal woman that is connected to this story and what happened to her child? Color me intrigued.

While there is some excitement in unraveling this compelling mystery, there are quite a few POVs and I'm not sure they were all completely necessary. The letter/journal device also just didn’t work for me as it is introduced into the book before it was found, so it seems like an underdeveloped element of the story. It would have done better as a flash forward or backward instead.

Still, this would be a fun read if you’re looking for a total escape and something to just let wash over you and just let it reveal itself to you in due time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer in exchange for an honest review.

AR Torre is an auto-buy author for me. She consistently writes gripping page turners with a great balance of twists and plot building. I loved the multiple POVs in this book- they were super easy to follow and brought a lot of depth to the story.

Some of the twists were slightly more predictable but that didn’t make me enjoy it any less. I truly didn’t know what to believe by the end.

Another slam dunk thriller for me. It read somewhat like a police procedural but had domestic suspense elements that the author always excels at. I will be recommending this to all fans of thrillers.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

Short chapters, easy to read and twisty but felt like there was too many POV which lead the plot to go in so many different directions constantly. I didnt really connect with any of the characters; and the twist was kind of predictable! Would still recommend!