This is more than a five star read. Actually at least seven stars out of five for these new series by a great author. Her previous novels centered around Dr Gretchen White and I was disappointed that she was not the focus of this one until I started to read it. Here we have Dr Raina Sustanto, a linguistic expert with the FBI, whose work I found fascinating and wanted to know more so I actually googled books on the subject. Anyway, we are thrown into a possible copycat murder of a set of parents killed by their son Alex. Online there is a swell of ‘Alex is innocent’ posts and Raina joins the team to investigate. What follows is a multi leveled complex story with twists I never expected and a really wow ending. Can’t wait for the next one.

Great read that kept me guessing and wanting more. Highly recommend and can’t wait to read more from this author!

Wow, this book was fabulous and it hooked me from the very beginning!

The storyline was great and the characters enjoyable. As an avid mystery and thriller reader I really thought I knew where it was going and and then I was left with whiplash from the twists!! I was pleasantly surprised as I most books I pick up I rely on multiple reviews, however I was able to read an advanced copy of The Lies You Wrote with only the small synopsis available and I am so glad I did.

I am excited to have found a new author to add to my collection. Do not hesitate, give this book a shot, you will not be disappointed!

"She closed her eyes and the world faded to black."

The suspenseful psychological thriller "The Lies You Wrote" by Brianna Labuskes weaves together the past and present while exposing a labyrinth of lies, secrets, and a surprising turn. Labuskes creates an engaging and exciting book with nuanced characters and a plot that keeps you guessing right up to the very end.

The protagonist of the narrative is FBI forensic linguist Raisa Susanto, who becomes involved in a double homicide case in a small Washington town. As she investigates the case, she finds unsettling similarities to a murder-suicide that occurred 25 years prior—the killing of a young man named Alex Parker and his parents. The case appeared to be closed when Alex wrote a confession note, but as Raisa and forensic psychologist Callum Kilkenny looked further, they found troubling possibilities indicating Alex was a victim himself.

Labuskes deftly combines many storylines, effortlessly fusing the current investigation with the historical occurrences. As Raisa navigates the complicated world of online conspiracy theories and the deranged thinking of a killer, she does an amazing job of generating unease and tension. As the past and present collide, the tension grows and Raisa is forced to confront the sinister secrets buried beneath both cases.

Raisa's persona stands out because she has a sharp mind and a special talent for deciphering linguistic nuance. Her collaboration with forensic psychologist Callum Kilkenny gives the narrative depth because of their engaging dynamic and complementing skill sets. Raisa is a realistic and compelling protagonist because she skillfully balances her weaknesses and skills.

A fascinating feature of the book is its examination of online communities, conspiracies, and the influence of information on perception. while exploring the shadowy side of the internet, where the lines between fact and fiction are blurred and the effects of online content may be seen in the real world. The incorporation of an observant content moderator and a true-crime podcaster adds depth to the story and emphasises how technology affects investigations and information sharing.

The unexpected turns and twists in this page-turner tale keep readers guessing throughout. Labuskes skillfully constructs a tense story, scattering hints and surprises like breadcrumbs along the way. The story's tempo is well-balanced, enabling the suspense to rise gradually while upholding an air of urgency.

The gripping psychological thriller "The Lies You Wrote" will hold your attention from beginning to end. This novel is a must-read for fans of the genre because of Brianna Labuskes' outstanding narrative, complex characters, examination of murky secrets, and the power of perception. "The Lies You Wrote" is a book that will hold your attention until its unexpected finish if you like cerebral mysteries with a moody location and a never-ending sense of suspense.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. I read a lot of thrillers and this one kept me guessing until the very end! I loved the multiple points of view. Can’t wait for the next one in the series.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have to say… wow.
To be completely honest the beginning of this I was intrigued by the premise and the linguist FBI agent plot.
The middle of the book I got a bit bored.
But holy twists the last 1/3 of the book blew me away. I read a lot of thrillers and often see twists coming but wow. She got me good. If you like a twisty little mystery this one is for you!
I am excited this is listed as a sequel I will definitely be looking out for the next one!

"The Lies You Wrote" by B. Labuskes is a gripping thriller that delves into the twisted depths of a decades-old crime. Forensic linguist Raisa Susanto and forensic psychologist Callum Kilkenny make a dynamic duo as they unravel the chilling mystery behind a double murder. With skillful storytelling and cleverly intertwined timelines, Labuskes keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The multiple points of view offer a deeper understanding of the characters and the intricacies of the case. This book is an absolute page-turner, earning a well-deserved 5-star rating.

Holy Guacamole!!! I don't even know what to say about this book!! It literally kept me guessing until the very end! Just when your thought it was over BAM!!!! Please tell me there's a second books to this series! We need more of Raisa!!

The Lies You Wrote by B. Labuskes, published by Thomas & Mercer is the first stand.alone in the new Raisa Susanto Series. Introduction to characters and story are made perfectly.
Raisa is with the FBI and gets assigend a case of double murder with ties to a 25 year old case.
Callum gets paired with Raisa and he's more than set to find out what happened, to find a conclusion to this maze of a case.
Told in multiple povs the story jumps between decades of timelines. An excellent read, 5 stars.

This book gripped me from page one. A clever murder mystery involving a serial killer whose method of killing is repeated 25 years later. But who is the copycat killer and why have they waited so long to kill in the same way. Forensic linguist Raisa and FBI agent Kilkenny are part of a team assembled to investigate the latest murder and to re-examine events of 25 hears ago with unexpected and surprising outcomes. Great read for anyone who likes crime stories. Thoroughly enjoyed this.

This book is fast paced and delivers well. It is forensic thriller that has a multitude of characters with complex back stories thrown into the mix. The author had a good knowledge on the specialty which was show evidently in her descriptions.

The story had a lot of exciting turns and there was so much happening that I could not entirely guess the ending. Each chapter answered enough questions but still left a cliff-hanger enough for me to keep reading. I would not classify it as unquestionably realistic but it is a work of fiction and delivers an entertaining story. I would have enjoyed it more if there were fewer background characters as sometimes I would lose track of people and had to flip back.

Overall, I did enjoy the read and would recommend it to readers who are looking for a fast-paced thriller. Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!

This book really deserves a 3.5/5

The premise is a novel take on the forensic specialist sub-genre, and the author obviously spent a good amount of time researching it to make it feel real enough for the story. So much so that explaining it, combined with telling the backstories of not one, but two new characters, in the first 50 pages or so of the book, makes the writing feel very clunky. I honestly did not know if this book would end up in the DNF pile or not.

Thankfully I pushed through, as the writing picks up significantly once the story gets going and the case(s) start to unfold. The main character is interesting enough, and the switch between perspectives (which I will not get into as they are integral to the plot) are used well to draw you in without giving too much away. The plot twists and turns along the way, with an ending I did not see coming, which is always a pleasant surprise.

Overall, I would recommend this to someone who likes FBI/detective novels and wants a fresh take on the rather well tred path. This is listed as the first in a series, and I will be interested in the next installment

4.75 - 5 STARS

“The Lies You Wrote” is a fast-paced crime novel featuring an FBI forensic linguist working in tandem with a forensic psychologist to help capture a copycat killer that ties back to a 25-year-old, open-and-shut, murder-suicide case.

Right from the get-go, I was drawn into this unique and compelling story, finishing it just one day. Boasting a multitude of characters, potential suspects, and theories to explore, things did get a bit confusing at times, causing me to revisit previous chapters for clarification. Yet that was but a small price to pay, as I was now fully invested in trying to solve this complex, perplexing riddle that the author had meticulously laid out before me.

I’ve previously enjoyed Brianna Labuskes’ Gretchen White series, so I was very excited to delve between the pages of this first installment in her new Raisa Susanto series. This book definitely didn’t disappoint, and I look forward to reading more Raisa Susanto stories in the future!!

The Lies You Wrote by Brianna Labuskes Multiple POVs and mutiple timelines which are all well written and expertly interwoven. Information on forensic linguistics was very interesting as to how it is used to help solve crimes. Raisa has quite the history and it will be interesting to see how she evolves in the series. Kilkenny was a good match as a partner to Raisa. Very entertaining, fast paced and gripping read with many twists and turns and an "I didn't see that coming" ending.

Thank you to the author, Brianna Labuskes; Thomas & Mercer, publisher; and Netgalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

Thank you Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.
You have to pay attention in this book because there are a lot of characters to keep up with. There is a lot going on in this book that keeps you interested. The story is based on murders that took place twenty five years ago in a very small town. Put together a linguist with a lot of baggage and an FBI agent that has a sadness about him that goes deep and you have a pair that wants to trust each other but can’t. There are violent incidents that are pretty descriptive so just be aware.
I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it.

I loved this book because it was similar to Girl Forgetten but better. There were too many characters too keep track of though so I didn't see the ending coming. I could not put this book down because of all the cliffhangers. I did find the main character a bit annoying becuase she lacked confidence and let the other FBI agents steamroll her. I will definetly be reading the next book in the series.

I was given this book as an ARC and I have to say I really enjoyed it. I am pretty good at guessing the end of books but this one was a bit different. It followed similar patterns to other thrillers but it held my attention so well I didn’t think too much about the ending. The ending did cross my mind a few times throughout the book, where I would thinking maybe this was this person, or so and so committed the crimes.

While I think this was similar to so many thriller books it also had different elements that made me love it. I enjoyed the flash backs and journal entries, that held my attention the entire time. I also really enjoyed that the author uses real psychology terms and gave real background to linguistics. Not that it was completely believable but it also wasn’t so far fetched that I was left with more questions or plot holes. The chapters were a reasonable length and I felt they answered enough but left me guessing so I needed to keep reading. I’m so grateful I got an advanced copy, I will be recommending this to those I know who love this genre.

This is one of those books where you'll have to tread carefully over the suspension of disbelief bridge. By that, I mean, it ends up being a little too coincidental if you think too much about it. I'm a Hot Dummy, though, so I don't do that. If the story is good enough, as it is here, then I'm perfectly willing to accept a little coincidence. And I'm also looking forward to seeing where the story goes.

SO good! I am so excited for this new series by Brianna Labuskes. Dynamic characters with tragic backgrounds, I can't wait to see how they develop in the future.

This first in a new series kept me interested all the way through - I couldn't put it down!!! Well done!

Thank you #netgalley and #thomasandmercer for the eARC.

I honestly couldn’t put this book down, I read it in one sitting. I anxiously waited to see how this would end and let me tell you, I didn’t see it coming.

I would say there were too many characters and it was hard at times to keep track of them. But the development of the main characters was spot on.

I’m hoping there will be more books and the author can develop the two detectives a bit more, maybe add a bit more chemistry and romance? Who knows but I certainly want more of them.

If you’re looking for a fast paced, on the edge of your seat, thriller this is definitely the book for you.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my free copy!