I’m so glad I read this story. It’s not my normal genre, but I will be looking for more by Amanda McKinney. A story of marriage and lies. Who killed who? Full of twists and turns. It kept me guessing to the end.

4+

Rowan and Shepherd Velky don’t have the best of marriages, he’s a liar and she knows it and they’re definitely keeping secrets from each other. Rowan is a homicide detective in Blackbird Cove, Texas, and much more used to being on the questioning side of the table. Now though, she has to answer them.

Wow. This is an absolute glued to the pages mystery thriller if ever there was one! It’s a belter, a strap yourself in twisty, fast paced rollercoaster of a plot and yes, as well as being furiously whizzed on the rollercoaster, your jaw will end up aching from the reveals. There are several good red herrings and mic drop moments which are filled with tension and suspense. It’s so easy to read, it’s well constructed with short short chapters and alternating points of view that flow and make the suspicion antenna twitch furiously from one to the other trying to figure out the connections. All the characters have good back stories, parts of which are sad and moving. Rowan and her detective partner. Kellan are very likeable and the chemistry is intriguing.

I just wish the ending would have had a bit more to it as it’s a tad disappointing after the terrific buildup, hence the four stars rather than five. However, overall, this is a one sit read, as I find it very hard to drag myself away from the enthralling plot, which has all the ingredients of a good mystery thriller. It’s a highly entertaining read which is my first from this author and it definitely won’t be my last.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Storm Publishing for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

Oh wow, this was such a good read, had me twisted in knots as I discovered how the characters were linked, some flawed and unlikeable just adding to the tension in the storyline.
In the prologue we have a woman confessing to murder and the pace just carries on from there, as the lead detective and her team try to find links with the victims.
A fabulous first read for me for an Amanda Mckinney novel.
I was gifted this advanced copy from Netgalley and Storm Publishing with no expectations of a review. More than happy to leave though

Just wow! Amanda McKinney knocks it out of the park! She is a new to me author and I can’t wait to read more This is a totally bingeable book, from cover to cover. The perfect hat trick. Police procedural, psychological thriller and a healthy dose of domestic drama. Hooked me from the very beginning and did not let go until long after I put the book away. Fantastic characters! All round great book!
Thank you Amanda McKinney, NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I was not expecting this book to be the really twisted fast paced surprise it was. Great characters, short chapters and the twists just kept coming. I finished this book in one sitting and if I told you I had it all figured out, I would be ‘lying.’ The only downside was I felt this ending was rushed. But overall the book was very different and enjoyable. Thank you Netgalley and Storm Publishing for an early copy. This review is my personal opinion.

Sometimes when I am at work alone and I am in between projects I will read for a bit. That was a bad idea with this one. I hated Shepard right away. He is such a loser. I don't normally enjoy cop books but I had to keep at it once I discovered my hatred for "Shep." How did that loser land Rowan?
Also Mark. He is annoying as well.
I like how all the women are connected. It is a story about a small town so of course they are.
The stuff with Mark is so real "I thought things were good." No you absolute dummy.
It gets a little cheesy with cops but I enjoyed that.
Banjo was my favorite

Amanda McKinney & Storm Publishing for this ARC!

I could NOT put this one down! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rowan is a homicide detective in a quiet suburban town. When 3 women are murdered & seem to be all connected Rowan gets deeply involved trying to solve the murders. All while trying to deal with failing marriage.

This story had so may twists & turns and I kept switching my theories on who was the murderer!

You like this if:
-you enjoy outlooks POVs
-true crime
-who dunnit vibes
-complicated marriages

This was my first Amanda McKinney novel and it definitely will not be my last! It had the perfect amount of darkness, suspense, and twists that had me hooked from the very first page! It was such a quick, bingeable, and fast-paced read.

I highly enjoyed how it was the perfect combo of police procedural, domestic drama, 𝐀𝐍𝐃 psychological thriller all wrapped into one!

The dual POV’s of both Rowan and Amber (Rowan’s therapist) made for quite an interesting read to say the least. Holy morally grey characters 😵‍💫 there so many secrets and lies in this book, you just don’t know who to believe! I highly recommend adding this one to your TBR! 👌🏼

First book I have read from this author and I finished it in 2 sittings. The plot pace was good and there were some great twists.

Right from the start, this book was very descriptive which I was appreciative of, but not to the point that it was over the top. The police/ crime side of it was just the right amount that it kept you invested. The domestic drama was plentiful and I could not figure out “who did it,” I had suspected everyone by the end. Such a great book!! Will be reading more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing + the author for my DRC in exchange for my honest review.

This book definitely kept my attention. It kept me engaged and anticipating what would come next. It has some mystery to it and some twists and turns that you don't expect. I was definitely surprised by the ending. This was a good domestic suspense read!

A Marriage of Lies is a completely addictive and immersive story. With seemingly disparate multiple story lines, it was like putting together a puzzle without seeing the final image. You know the pieces fit together but you have no idea how, and at some point you are certain they cannot be connected.

I couldn't put this one down. So so good.

Forget folding laundry or going to the store to get groceries – "A Marriage of Lies" will have you throwing your daily to-dos out the window. Just ask your neglected houseplants – they'll tell you all about the countless nights you spent glued to the pages.

The author weaves a web of deceit so intricate, you'll suspect everyone from the goldfish to the mailman. Just when you think you've got it figured out, BAM! The rug gets pulled out faster than you can say "prenup." This book is like a mental rollercoaster, with enough jaw-dropping moments to stock a dentist's office.

If you've ever dreamt of letting the real world fade away while you devour a book, then "A Marriage of Lies" is your dream come true. Just be warned: you might want to stock up on takeout and caffeine, because once you start, there's no putting this book down!

A Marriage of Lies by Amanda McKinney
Goodreads: 4.32
Publication Date: March 29, 2024

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 💫 4.5/5 ⭐️’s

This book grabbed my attention from the start and kept hold of it throughout the entire book. I enjoyed the writing style, there were breaks of stories from the past, text strands, emails and more. There is a little bit of everything in this book: lies, murder, family drama, twists, jealousy and so much more! Oh and my favorite, SHORT chapters. 💕

The story is told from a few different perspectives. The main star of the show is Rowan, a female police detective with a tumultuous childhood, an aunt with dementia, a husband who reeks of alcohol and deceit & a whole lot of guilt. Her character is driven and loyal to the core. She finds herself right in the middle of an investigation on a serial killer who has murdered three women in their town. Amber, is another perspective who has a son with developmental delays and a husband who doesn’t love her. It took a bit for the storylines to merge, but when they do! Wow!

This was my first read by this author. I cannot wait to dive into Amanda’s other books! Get this book asap, you will not regret it.

FMC is a detective with a lying husband & serious abandonment issues - just how far will she go to keep the person closest to her all to herself?

A quick but attention grabbing psychological thriller! I finished it in the first sitting. This book will be available with Kindle Unlimited on March 29. Although this was my first book by Amanda McKinney, I will definitely be reading more. I could easily see her books becoming a comfort read.

I had a suspicion about the story's end game, but didn't expect several of the twists. The entire story is told in multiple POVs, which I really enjoyed, as well as time jumping from past to present - in my opinion, this really added to the character depth.. I felt like the narrators were a bit unreliable & at times the story was chaotic, but it ended up adding to the overall vibe of the story and working out well.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys dark & twisty, true crime, & morally grey tropes - look no further, this is the book that will make you say "just one more chapter!"

Thanks to NetGalley & Storm Publishing for the digital ARC in exchange for my review.

This was such a quick, fast-paced, enjoyable read!  It was dark and twisty, and I was definitely hooked from the very first page.  This was my 1st book by this author, but I will most definitely be reading more.

Detective Rowan Velky and her husband Shepherd have been together since their days in the foster care system.  Both have troubling childhoods, so they cling to each other for understanding and stability.  But their marriage is in trouble.  He won't find a job, he drinks way too much, and she knows he's been cheating on her.  She's trying to keep her marriage together, but she also needs to do her job.  She gets a call in the middle of the night about a body found in a wealthy neighborhood home.  The deceased woman has been strangled, and there are Xs carved in her eyes.  While investigating this case, another body turns up, and then another.  There is a potential serial killer on the loose, and she needs to catch them, but she also needs to save her marriage.  How far is she willing to go to do both?

Told in the POV of Rowan and Amber, who is Rowan's therapist, this book was unputdownable.  I read it in one sitting because I had to know what was going on.  I really liked the dual perspectives and how they tie together.  This book was filled with secrets and lies. You don't know who to believe.  It was suspenseful and incredibly entertaining.  I would definitely recommend putting this one on your TBR.

This book had a LOT going on but in a very well thought out and non-confusing way. A Marriage of Lies is about a detective, Rowan, who is trying to solve not one but three murder cases, dealing with her strained marriage, a complex attachment to her partner, Kellen and attending therapy trying to work through her past traumas. As she gets closer to solving the murders all her worlds will collide in a shocking twist you'll never see coming.

I like to think I'm good at at least semi guessing the plot twists in books but this one I never saw coming. Again, I think it was because there was a lot going on.. too much to try and piece everything together, but Amanda did an excellent job of tying up all the loose ends and creating a very satisfying ending!

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the advanced copy of this book. Pub date is 3/29.

Ever since reading “The Widow of Weeping Pines” (Mad Women series #2), I have been meaning to read about some more “mad women”-but ARC obligations have kept me from picking up another one of Amanda McKinney’s books. The solution? When “Marriage of Lies” was offered before publication date, I requested it! 😉

The synopsis lures us in by sharing with us that Rowan Velky’s husband Shep is lying, but that they used to be “THAT COUPLE”-you know the kind-the ‘I can’t be without you for a second kind”.

But now they are the kind who hide secrets from each other instead.

Now the only faithful companion living in her home with her is Banjo. 🐶 (Despite accompanying her to some dangerous situations, he will be fine.)

Rowan confides in us (First person POV) that Shep may have thought that she wouldn’t find out, but that she is a detective – it’s literally her job to uncover clues and solve mysteries.

She knows what he is up to.

So, how did she end up sitting in a police interview, answering the question ‘did you kill her?’ with a tremulous “YES”?

Did the pressure of her recent case, get to her?

The book opens with Detective Rowan Velky investigating a gruesome serial killer case with the Detective training under her, the town’s most eligible bachelor-“Detective Kellen Palmer.

It’s official!

Now that I have read a second book by this author, I can confirm that she writes short ADDICTIVE books, with quick “just one more” chapters that you will want to devour in a single sitting! This book is TWISTY, the pace is FAST, and it is definitely COMPULSIVE reading! As Amanda McKinney dropped clues in each of the opening chapters, I had no idea where this story was going and I couldn’t wait to find out!

I did eventually have a “guess” which proved to be correct, but I enjoyed seeing if my own detective skills would prove me right! The ending had a few time jumps which made it feel rushed and prevented me from awarding 5 stars, but it was 5 star entertainment for most of the book!

I can’t wait to read more from this author-I am definitely a fan! 🙋🏻‍♀️

You don’t have to wait long to pick up your copy-expected publication date: March 29, 2024

Thank You to Storm Publishing for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!

This is such an enjoyable and easy read for me. If you’re like me whom love digging into crime, murder & psychological thriller, I think you’ll enjoy reading this book.

I like the plot building as well as the writing style - which written mostly from character’s pov, along with clear dialogues and narration too. The plot switches between the present and the past, but it’s not confusing at all. I’ve been proven right for the twist and whodunnit & indeed satisfied with the ending as well.

The characters are great too, each of their own and they owned it. I love that there are clear details of the crimes as well, kinda giving me the vibes of watching those crime / forensic show - which taken us into the investigation of the murders and all, like we definitely feels included and together wracking our brain upon what happened and who’s the killer. I gotta say it’s pretty hazy to pin on the real whodunnit until after halfway through the story - specifically after the arrest. There are overall some minor twists in few things, which are refreshing even though I got them right except for one part - didn’t see who’s the real mistress is until almost the reveal.

Overall, at first I didn’t expected the story will go like this - which from the title I thought it’ll be more about marital stuff, yet honestly this is better than what I expected it to be. It does have the marital based things that linked through it all, and I think I can say it still true to it’s title. For me, this is indeed such a good read 👍🏻 Thank you so much for the ARC ❤️

What an absolute wild ride this book was!!

There are three different dead bodies in this town, and we get the firsthand account of the lead detective, Rowan, But in the very first chapter, Rowan herself is being questioned as the murder suspect herself.

This book was super fast paced, I devoured it so quickly. Literally, could not put this down as it was so gripping! The author’s writing style was great, I will definitely be seeking out others by her, as this was my first, I am definitely a fan now.

Read if you enjoy:
-police procedurals
-serial killer stories
-multiple POV
-mixture of therapy notes, letters, different timelines
-Kiersten Modglin books
… you’ll definitely want to add this one to your list, pub date 3/29.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for my advanced copy!