Don't Believe It

El sol se oculta en Sugar Beach, Santa Lucía, una de las playas más hermosas del Caribe. Él la espera en un pequeño mirador en la montaña, con dos copas de champagne listas, para celebrar el momento más feliz de su vida. No escucha los pasos a sus espaldas; solo siente el repentino golpe en la cabeza, la sangre que fluye de su cuerpo y, después, el empujón al vacío. El cuerpo de Julian Crist aparece flotando en el mar al amanecer. En pocas horas, la policía detiene a Grace Sebold y la acusa del asesinato de su novio. Han pasado diez años y, desde la cárcel en la isla, Grace no deja de buscar ayuda para demostrar su inocencia. Mientras tanto, en Nueva York, la periodista de casos policiales Sidney Ryan toma una decisión: show more hará un documental en tiempo real sobre la historia de Grace. show less

Loved this book!!!! It was amazing and one of my favorite books that I read this year. After reading "Summit Lake" (which I LOVED), I became a huge fan of the author and get excited when there's a new book out.

This book definitely has twists and turns and I didn't want to put it down. I was hooked immediately. Grumpy retired Detective Gus Morelli became one of my favorite characters and I never suspected the important part he would play in Grace's story. I loved how he was still seeking to get the truth out about what really happened.

Sidney Ryan decides to film a real-time documentary on Grace Sebold. Grace has been sitting ten years in a prison in St. Lucia after being convicted of murdering her boyfriend. Sidney starts her own show more investigation and discovers some new evidence. There's even an appearance from Dr. Livia Cutty. Grace's friends, Ellie, Daniel, Charlotte and her brother Marshall play a major role in the whole story. I wasn't expecting the ending. I thought I might know who the killers was, but I kept changing my mind. I wasn't completely surprised but the motives behind it were scary.

Now that I finished the book, I wish the story wasn't over!!! Even though Grace was released from prison she is still stuck in one for the rest of her life.

I LOVED the book so I definitely recommend it. I also recommend "Summit Lake and "The Girl Who Was Taken" because they were just as amazing. I can't wait to read the author's next book.

Thanks to NetGalley, Kensington Books and the author, Charlie Donlea, for a free electronic ARC of this novel. show less

As I started reading the first few pages of the book, I wanted to crawl under the covers and hide. The author grips readers with vivid details of Julian's last moments on this earth. I felt the slam to the back of the head and saw the red crimson blood dripping onto his shoulders. I knew this would be a book I couldn't put down. Why would someone so viciously murder Julian ? Could it be his girlfriend, Grace who in an act of rage who took his life?

When the verdict of guilty of first degree murder is read, Grace showed little emotion except to appear about reading to faint. What must be running through her mind as she is taken away? Her freedom is gone and she must spend her life behind bars reliving the nightmare she just went through. show more Years later Grace is sill claiming her innocence.

Sidney is an outstanding character with credentials that are very impressive. Her world will be turned upside down as she receives a letter from Grace ten years later while still in prison. She wants Sidney to prove her innocence. It was very creepy for me to read that Sidney has traveled to St. Lucia to stay in the same room Grace stayed in ten years ago. I liked the description of the area and found it to be very inviting. Sidney is not there to take in the sights , but to see if she can change Grace's life and prove her innocent. The documentary that Sidney is working on about Julian's murder is intense and very detailed. Will the help of Inspector Pierre help Grace or will she forever be guilty to the world? Some say the system rushed her conviction because they didn't want to hurt their tourism. Sidney must work closely with everyone to find the real truth behind Julian's murder.

As Sidney starts to interview Grace in prison, I loved the mention of the love lock. In Paris, couples have their names engraved on a lock. They then go to Pont des Arts Bridge and secure the log to the bridge. The key is tossed in the Seine. The lock symbolizes that you have found the person you want to spend your life with. Grace and Julian never made it to Paris, but to Sidney that lock shows their love for each other. I thought it was such a beautiful thing to do and I'm glad the author included it in Graces story.As Sidney starts to dig deeper into Grace's conviction, she starts to question if Grace was wrongly convicted. I loved the details of the crime lab and how the tests were run to prove evidence was not handled correctly. Sidney's documentary about the case being done live has gained a lot of attention. The story is captivating and will have you staying up late to finish. The book is packed with intrigue and has the government starting to take notice of the documentary. There are a few graphic parts in the story that may bother some along with a few cuss words. But I hope it won't keep you from reading on the best thrillers of the year. Its one of the best thrillers I've read with twists that caught me by surprise. Just when you think you have solved the crime, the author cleverly takes you in an unexpected direction. Expect the unexpected in this explosive story with an ending that will make you shake your head in shock.

I received a copy of this book from The Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour. The review is my own opinion. show less

Whoa. What a ride.

I suggest you read this book over a weekend because I deeply resented having to put it down to go to work.

I could barely put it down and couldn't wait to get back to the story every time I was forced to. The book is odd. The first third , it seems like nothing happens and it's just the set up of the story as described in the blurb BUT it is not boring. It feels like some revelation is just around the corner and the feeling only grows as the book progresses. It is weirdly creepy without being dark. The selection of suspects is small but I could not make up my mind about who I thought it was. Some of the plot twists weren't entirely unexpected but somehow still delivered shock value. It didn't end how I thought it show more would... I'll leave it at that.

Charlie Donlea's talent seems to be writing novels that are very...visual? It's not that there is a ton descriptions (thankfully) but this book felt like it could be a movie, just like Some Choose Darkness aka The Woman in Darkness. show less

Grace Sebold has been sentenced to prison for the murder of her boyfriend, Julian Crist, while on vacation in St. Lucia to celebrate the wedding of their friends, Charlotte and Daniel. Her brother, Marshall, their parents, and her best friend, Ellie Reiser were also there. Now, 10 years later, Grace writes to Sidney Ryan, a podcaster, asking her to tell her story and help get attention on her case, proclaiming her innocence. Sidney takes the offer, and begins producing a podcast series, bringing new evidence to light.
As the case proceeds, a former cop, Gus Morelli, reaches out to Sidney with more information.
This book is layered with many hints, but I was completely surprised by the final reveal.
Very good mystery!

"They stretched to their full length, three inanimate objects pulling all the contradictory darkness of their shadows from the brightness of the sun, until an hour later when they faded and melted into the night".
Don't Believe It by Charlie Donlea.

Don't believe it was a gorgeously written book and I started off not only liking this book, but liking it greatly. I know the whole podcast thing has become increasingly popular and I loved the mystery involved in this book. I enjoyed learning about "The girl of sugar beach" and I thought the beginning, in particular, was incredible.

It starts off in a tropical location with a murder and the pace, although slow and leisurely, somehow fits the book perfectly. This is not a book I ever wanted to show more put down at any point.

But then, for me anyway, it all fell apart. For two reasons. And for this review, there will be major SPOILERS:

So what got me about this book is the end. I did not understand it. There seemed to be loose threads all over the place.

Here is an important one: who was the woman that Julian had still been involved with? I mean we never find out. It did not make an sense to me. It was just an odd way to end the story.

Also, there is the killing off of Sydney.

I admire the writer's boldness in killing off the main character but I liked her and wish it had not gone that way. So much happens out of left field that do not make any sense. This was an enjoyable read in some respects but I found the plot holes and unresolved stuff to distracting and the killing off of the main character was jarring. I also did not find the identity of the real killer to be believable.

For me it went from a languid and fascinating mystery to a really sad, somewhat brutal book that ended in a very muddled way and left me frustrated to know the answers to things that had been briefly touched upon (and that were important to the story) but never resolved.

I most likely will not reread. show less

Don’t Believe it by Charlie Donlea is a 2018 Kensington publication.

St. Lucia-

The perfect place for a spring break excursion, weddings, or marriage proposals. Grace is positive her boyfriend, Julian, is about to pop the question, but their vacation quickly turns into a nightmare. Tragedy strikes before Julian has a chance to propose, and his death is ruled a homicide. Grace is swiftly arrested and convicted of his murder. The case was an open and shut slam dunk. But, in her letters to Sidney Ryan, Grace swears she is innocent.

True Crime, ‘wrongfully convicted’, documentaries are all the craze. Capitalizing on this, Sidney Ryan, a freelance filmmaker, thinks the 'Sugar Beach' case will make a compelling story. Despite some show more doubts, the network gives her the green light. But, when Sidney arrives in St. Lucia, she uncovers evidence that Grace had never mentioned- evidence that points to her guilt- not her innocence. But, Sydney also sees the dubious way the investigation was handled. Was Grace guilty or innocent? Will Sydney’s documentary raise more questions than it answers? The ratings are through the roof, but has justice finally be done?

This brisk, and timely thriller, cleverly takes advantage of the current true crime documentary trend. Only in this case, there are a few hidden dangers our documentary filmmaker never counted on. Not only that, the secondary characters are all intertwined with Grace in surprising ways, exposing motives and resentments that never came out at the trial. But, niggling doubts linger about Grace’s innocence, while Sydney grapples with the magnitude of the documentary’s success against the personal risks she must take to find the truth.

The atmosphere is authentic and tense, nailing the true crime formula of these mega popular documentaries and crime shows with a realistic look at what goes on behind closed doors at the network studios. It also has the feel of a cold case, which is one of my very favorite mystery tropes. There are plenty of jaw dropping revelations, and a huge last minute twist, that left me breathless. I do hope this author writes fast, and is right this minute working on a follow up to this book!!

I’ve heard some great things about this author, but this is my first impression of his work. Needless, to say, it will not be the last. I will be looking up his other books, and impatiently awaiting his next release.

4 stars show less