The Good Lie

Five Fabulous Stars! This psychological thriller throws in some brilliant twists without adding a dull moment. I was surprised to see this was my first read by Ms. Torre and I’m eager to check out her previous books.

The Bloody Heart Killer is a violent predator who kidnaps and murders handsome, popular teenage boys from privileged, wealthy families. After keeping them for a period, during which he tortures and abuses them, he defiles their bodies and dumps them for the police to find. BHK has killed six victims and the first chapter grabs our attention by describing the seventh victim’s return home, after being let loose rather than murdered. Scott has been held hostage and abused, but his story doesn’t quite add up. And when he show more points a finger at his science teacher—Randall Thompson—it only adds to the uncertainty of his story.

To add a bizarre twist, Robert Kavin, a high-profile defense attorney, has offered Randall free representation. Not so strange, except Robert’s son was the killer’s sixth victim. But he says he’s offering his services because he’s sure of Thompson’s innocence.

Robert meets Dr. Gwen Moore (in a remarkably interesting way), who is a psychiatrist specializing in the treatment of clients with violent tendencies. Doc of Death as she is called by some. Robert hires her to do a psych profile of the killer and so the story begins!

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and A.R. Torre for this free digital ARC, in exchange for my honest review!

My Rating: 5 STARS
Published: Thomas & Mercer
Pages: 356
Recommend: YES!

#NetGalley #TheGoodLie #ARTorres #PsychologicalThriller #NoRulesJustThrills #Thomas&Mercer #BookReview #MustRead #FiveStarRead
@NetGalley show less

This fast paced thriller had plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing until the end. I enjoyed most of the book, but I think Gwen may be in need of a therapist of her own. She makes some odd choices.

The Good Lie by A.R. Torre

The Bloody Heart Serial Killer has kidnapped, tortured, mutilated, and murdered six handsome male high school students. Scott Harden, the seventh kidnapped victim, has just escaped and has managed to make it home when the story begins. What he has experienced is horrific and has changed him but that is just the beginning as there is much more to come.

What I liked:
* The intensity of the story
* The skillful writing style
* Dr. Gwen Moore: a psychiatrist who has clients that have violent thoughts and see her to prevent thoughts becoming actions.
* Robert Kavin: lawyer who lost his son to The Bloody Heart Killer and seeks justice for Gabe and others who died – he also decides to defend the man accused of being show more the killer as he feels the man is innocent.
* Scott’s parents and how they were there for him
* The look at a few other patients Gwen was seeing
* Finding out who the serial killer was
* That it was dark, gritty and felt real in emotions, descriptions, and interactions
* How twisted the story proved to be
* That nobody came through unscathed
* Thinking about what the future held in store for more than one character in the story
* Reading a new-to-me author I thoroughly enjoyed.

What I didn’t like:
* Knowing that there are depraved killers out in the world as bad as or worse than the Bloody Heart Killer
* Thinking about the pain that must be experienced by the murder victim, the victim’s family, the friends of the victim, and the impact on everyone that comes in contact with the crime.

Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Definitely

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars show less

Review of eBook

When seventeen-year-old Scott Harden escapes his captor, he becomes the first victim to get away from the Bloody Heart serial killer. So named for the heart carved on the chests of the victims he kidnaps, tortures, and brutally murders, the BH Killer had murdered six young men.

Following his escape, Scott names Randall Thompson, a Beverly High science teacher, as the killer. Robert Kavin steps in with an offer to represent the teacher pro bono, an offer that sets more than a few alarm bells ringing. Robert Kavin, it seems, is the father of the Bloody Heart Killer’s sixth victim: his only child, Gavin.

Doctor Gwen Moore, a psychiatrist who specializes in treating clients with violent tendencies, is worried that she show more overlooked something in her treatment of John Abbott, who had come to her because of his fear of being violent toward his wife, Brooke. But both John and Brooke were found dead in the kitchen of their home; she, apparently of a heart attack, he, supposedly a suicide. But Gwen isn’t certain this is a correct assumption and she fears that she missed something vital in her sessions with John.

Robert approaches Gwen with a request for the psychiatrist to create a profile of the Bloody Heart Killer. Gwen finds the opportunity quite intriguing and, after due consideration, agrees to take on the assignment despite the fact that she is certain several people are lying.

Will Gwen find the truth? Is Randall a demented serial killer? And what secret is Scott keeping from everyone?

Believable characters populate this tense thriller that keeps readers speculating from the outset. Filled with lies, secrets, and unforeseen events, the narrative moves in some surprising directions while the underlying sense of suspense keeps the tension mounting and the pages turning.

The fast pace of the unfolding story keeps readers focused on the telling of the tale as the plot twists and turns while readers are kept hypothesizing as unexpected revelations foreshadow the astonishing outcome. The denouement is sure to surprise readers; the chilling tale is both creepy and shocking, guaranteeing that readers will find it difficult to set this one aside before turning the final page.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this book through the Goodreads First Reads program show less

Hmmm….Still trying to figure out how I feel about this book.

For the first 80%, I really liked it and didn’t want to put it down Then it took a twist that I’m still not sure how I feel about. Additionally, I had problems with some of the professionally ethical questions and behaviors, particularly on Gwen’s part. That is why I down rated it from 5 to 4 stars. So, 5 stars for style and engaging the reader, 4 for plot.

The Good Lie
A. R. Torre

Due 07/2021

Scott Harden has just escaped from a serial killer {The Bloody Heart ❤️ Killer ) and ran four miles to his house, his mother Nita couldn’t believe her eyes , 60 days he was gone. She was only waiting for a call to come identify her sons body.

Gwen Moore is a psychiatrist specializing in Violent tendencies and obsession .

Robert Kavin is a successful lawyer with a lot of loss in his life.

The B. H. Killer has killed 6 boys before by strangulation, mutilated , cut up into pieces , placed in trash bags and always they have a heart cut out in their chest . The boys are always popular ,arrogant , and well liked by there friends. Same age. Good looking etc.
Gwen & Robert Kavin are both working on the show more case together. Robert however has more to loose here, his son was also killed by the B. H. killer. But he is now defending the identified killer, a local high school teacher Pro Bono. He doesn’t believe he’s guilty.

You go back and forth trying to guess who really did. Did the school teacher do it. What’s Scott hiding. It’s a lot btw. How does Robert know it’s not him.
Loved this book A. R. Torre never gets it wrong , romance or thriller - they’re always a page turner show less

4 of 5 stars
This was a good psychological thriller. Starting with the return of a kidnapped teenager, this novel also follows a psychiatrist, Gwen Moore, and an attorney, Robert Kavin, who are both connected to a killer. The Bloody Heart Killer has taken several wealthy, handsome, popular teenage boys and now that one has escaped, the police believe they have their killer. But do they? Robert and Gwen work together on the case. The ending may surprise you.