
Member Reviews

binged it! Pretty sure I read it in about 3 hours. That’s how you know you’ve got a good thriller! 👏🏻 Occasionally I thought I had this one figured out, but I was always slightly off, and that’s how I like it! If you’re looking for a quick read that will keep you on your toes, this is a great one!

This was a really interesting read! All the twists throughout the book really had me wondering how the story would end. It was great to read the story from multiple different POVs and I was really intrigued to find out how all the characters are going to be connected to each other. I also found the characters and their backgrounds interesting. The ending didn't blow me away but it was still good. I will for sure be reading more from this author and I really recommend this book if you're looking for a psychological thriller to read.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book was a great story! It took me several chapters to really get into it but I couldn’t stop reading it once I got into the plot more. It was a good mystery/thriller that has a lot of shocking twist and turns up until the end. Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for giving me the opportunity to receive a ARC of this book to read and review.

This book is a pretty straightforward police procedural. Amber and Rowan are the two FMC and most of the chapters are from one of their POV.
While I found this a decent enough read, it didn’t grab me. The characters were all a little unlikeable. The way the story jumped around also gave it a bogged down feeling. Overall I would say 3.25 stars from my POV.
I received a ARC of this book, all opinions are my own.

A Marriage of Lies by Amanda McKinney sent delicious chills up and down my spine. I hungrily gulped down this domestic psychological thriller in one sitting and was pleased with the way it ended. The deceit and secrets in real life would be atrocious but in a thriller? Bring it on!
In a police interview, Detective Rowan confesses to murder early on. Prior to that, she detects cracks in her marriage to Shep. Their lies eventually catch up to them. I felt the angst in the air, in(actions) and in their words. Rowan's detective partner Kellan is a close friend and the two also flirt and banter which provides a dangerous form of stability.
Rowan's therapist Amber is also stuck in a complicated marriage. She and her husband Mark are distressed to hear their young son has cognitive problems. As a therapist Amber hears others' problems all day and discovers more webs of lies...and some are her own.
Meanwhile, there's a killer on the loose with a disturbing modus operandi. Both women get entangled in the case in different ways.
Though the unconvincing law reinforcement bits didn't thrill me, the multiple perspectives and timeline flashbackd and knife-slicing tension did. The inclusion of other media (texts, notes) added believability. Few characters are likeable but they were well written.
If it's time to bite your nails, read this. Do know there are graphic descriptions.
My sincere thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this riveting novel.

What a tangled mess of lies, deception and loyalty.
I loved this book. I love not being able to guess the ending if you can give me a book that’s not easy to predict I’m a happy reader. I feel like if I try to summarize this one in my review I’d give it away tho so all I will say is if you enjoy domestic thrillers with twist a turns throughout this is the book for you.

You know that book that you pick up and are just going to read a couple of chapters??? 😏You know because it’s author that you have never read before… and you just want to see how their writing grabs you??? 🤷♀️Then… Holy Hell you are halfway done with the book… you are messaging your book peeps to say OMG 😳 you were right… this book is… FANTASTIC!! 😍 This is that book!! 😉
This book starts with a HUGE bang 💥 and NEVER lets up!! If I had to use ONE word to describe this book.. it would be addictive.. I couldn’t believe how this book started and I needed to know WHY??? 😳🤔
I was absolutely fascinated with Rowan and her stellar detective work… the creepy serial killer vibes… were perfection. I mean … those crime scenes… 😳…
I was completely invested in EVERY character! As soon as I thought I knew what was going on… another layer of our flawed characters were revealed.. 😳🤫
That ENDING!!! 😳🤯 I never saw it coming!! Twisted, dark… fast paced thrill ride!! Sign me up for whatever @amandamckinneyauthor writes next!! I am a fan!! 👏👏
5 fantastic ⭐️ stars!!!

Rowan is a homicide detective in a small town, her and her partner are investigating the murder of three women, she is married to a man who drinks to much. keeps you interested all the way to the end/

4,5/5 stars
Thank you NetGalley, Amanda McKinney and Storm Publishing for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.
The story revolves around Rowan Velky, a homicide detective in a small town.
When three women end up dead and mutilated Rowan and her partner Kellan (the handsome detective that everyone has a crush on) is faced with a serial-killer on the loose.
In the meantime Rowan has problems in her marriage. Her husband stays out late and comes home drunk and she fears that he might be cheating on her.
This book was AMAZING, it was so much fun to read and a real page-turner. I read it in two days and was obsessed with the story. For everyone who loves twisty-twisty thrillers, pick this up after it’s been released March 29th!

I really enjoyed this book and loved the writing style and the pace too.
Rowan is a police detective with a marriage on the rocks and a difficult past. When asked whether she killed a murdered woman in a formal interview, Rowan answers “yes” !
This is a really dark and twisty thriller, with loads of tension and some gut-wrenching emotional red herrings to add to the intrigue.
I was fully expecting this to be a solid 5 start read, but the ending sadly fell a bit flat for me.
4 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Amanda McKinney and Storm for an ARC in return for an honest review.

WOW! What a wickedly crafted thriller with an ending I NEVER saw coming! Just when I thought I knew what was going to happen, BOOM! The ultimate plot twist!
Rowan is a detective in a small suburb in Texas and is shocked when their small town is riddled with three gruesome homicides that appear to be connected. Stuck in an unhappy marriage, toying the lines of a dangerous flirtatious relationship with her partner, and now stuck investigating these murders; what unfolds is truly a wild ride.
How far would you go to protect someone you love? How far would you go to make sure justice is served?
Find out in this unputdownable page turner! I love that it’s told for multiple perspectives and each chapter transitions so well!

This book was good I really enjoyed it.. I did not see the twist at the end! I couldn’t put it down and read it over a couple of days. The main character was likeable and felt the crime part was well written. Don’t usually go for crime genre but this is a good psychological crime thriller. Definitely recommend it and would love to read more by this author. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review.

Great story that really gripped me from the beginning. Rowan is a top notch detective, however she suspects her husband is having an affair but struggles to prove it. Meanwhile in the town where she polices, gruesome homicides are happening & although the victims appear unconnected, something is clearly afoot as all are killed in the same way. Throw in a hot detective and a subplot of Rowan visiting her counsellor & her backstory & you have a proper thriller! Thanks to Net Galley for the advanced copy.

3.5 STARS
The prologue to the book grabs your attention and piques your interest in the upcoming story. An arrest, a confession, but why is it happening? The book reveals what has happened before the arrest, using several POV's and some flashbacks. The several POVs were not confusing, and the author did a great job at building the suspense. A married couple, who have a long history together, but there are secrets between them that will destroy their marriage and one or both of them. The overall mystery is enjoyable, and the first half of the book has a great pace, the book was an easy read. But it's the last half of the book, the inconsistencies in the storyline, and the ending that seemed rushed that takes the book a little off the rails. Plus the legal/law enforcement part of the story is completely wrong, and some things happen between the characters and in the story that don't make much sense in light of other events.
The female lead character unfortunately comes off as weak at the end, which is a disappointment.
I think there was great potential in this story, but the last half of the book did not duplicate the same excitement as the first half. I think there was a missed opportunity to make the female lead a strong woman, who took her power back and went on to become a great detective. That character could have a series, with additional books! I enjoyed the author's writing and would have gladly followed this character into new mysteries. Sadly, a missed opportunity to let this character and writer shine.
The story plot is a great idea, but the ending falls flat and is rushed. The dialogue is well done, and the book is well written.

W.O.W is all i can say about this book, i read it throughout the course of a day., as i couldnt put it down It has more twists than a rollercoaster at a theme park. Im speechless as to how this book drew me in, as nothing is as it seems. I wont reveal the story, but once you read it, you will think you know how the puzzle fits together........ WRONG!!!!. If i could give this a 10 i most definately would. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 star read from me, i highley recommend

This was one of the best thrillers I’ve read. The plot twists were absolutely amazing & the character building throughout was genius. I’ve already purchased 2 more books by this author. Loved this one!

4.25 stars. This book was a wild ride! It was super addicting! I laid down tonight, planning to read for a bit because I was pretty tired, and from 39%, I read on to finish the book! I did guess the end but it didn't take away from the fun journey to get there! I liked the FMC, but I really loved Kellan. 😍 I highly recommend this book if you want a fun and thrilling ride!

A fast paced crime thriller with an engaging and complex heroine, and plenty of red herrings. Detective Rowan had a damaged and traumatic childhood, and threw herself into police work to try to improve the system. Her husband Shep also grew up in care homes, and he's her anchor, always loyal and solid after Rowan's years of neglect.
But now she seems to be getting close to a younger colleague, and she's convinced Shep is having an affair. Her therapist is trying to convince her to leave her husband.
Against this backdrop, women are being murdered with the same MO. And Rowan finds herself under arrest,

This domestic psychological thriller was given gone girl vibes, I really enjoyed this but to me it seems more of a domestic drama novel than a psychological thriller

** I received this book as an arc for free through NetGalley from Storm Publishing in exchange for an honest review.**
In this gripping story, Rowan discovers her husband Shep’s deception when he returns home with the smell of alcohol on his breath, unable to look her in the eye. Their once passionate love has deteriorated into a relationship filled with secrets and lies. Despite his attempts to conceal the truth, she, being a detective, uncovers his wrongdoing. The story reaches a climax when she confesses to a murder during a police interrogation, revealing the dark secrets lurking beneath their marriage.
Overall rating: 4/5
Ratings:
1. **Plot and Storytelling:** 4/5 I found the plot of this book incredibly engaging, gripping me from the start and holding my attention throughout with its swift pacing and numerous twists. Although I thoroughly enjoyed the thriller aspect, I was slightly let down that I predicted the twist, though not the exact details.
2. **Characterization:** 4/5 The characters in this story are both relatable and flawed, making them feel authentic. They evoked a range of emotions in me, from rooting for their success to feeling frustrated with their decisions.
3. **Writing Style:** 5/5 I thoroughly enjoyed Amanda McKinney's writing style. The pacing was spot on, keeping me guessing and on edge throughout. She provided just enough detail to keep me guessing incorrectly about the unfolding events.
4. **Originality:** 3/5 While the premise of the story wasn't unique, I appreciated the fresh twist McKinney brought to it. The involvement of a police detective in a family's dark secrets felt familiar, but the execution was refreshing.
5. **Emotional Impact and Resolution:** 5/5 This book kept me thoroughly engaged and invested in the characters' journeys. The resolution was satisfying, tying up loose ends and answering my lingering questions effectively. Overall, it left me thoroughly satisfied with the reading experience.
Would I recommend you buy this book? Absolutely I will be purchasing more of Amanda McKinney’s work and I can’t wait to see what she writes next.
If you like this book, I would recommend Never Lie by Freida McFadden for a fast-paced twist. That’ll keep you guessing for a more domestic thriller check out The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose. Both are good options and I hope you enjoy them.