I was given this Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an honest review. This is one of those books that when you put it down, you’re constantly thinking about it in the back of your mind as if it’s actually going on somewhere in this world. It had a little plot twist at the end which surprised me I really didn’t have a clear idea of “who did it” until I got a lot closer towards the end. The author included lot of concurrent stories including flashbacks that were dark and sad. (Please be advised there are some sensitive subjects.) All the stories helped piece the story together and unfold the truth.

In summary, without ruining much, this story is about two children carrying a lot of childhood trauma. Trauma that actually brought them together in love, and eventually marriage. Unfortunately the childhood trauma followed them. Now as adults Rowan, a detective and her husband Sheperd were unhappily married; both with their own issues they were trying to overcome. Both with their own secrets.
Suddenly a string of similar murders occur and of course, we don’t know who did it. Especially since it seems that everyone in this story knows each other somehow!

For those that love thriller stories, this is a really good one, I do wish the ending wasn’t so rushed as the entire book went into a lot of details and back stories that left you with questions, which I enjoyed.

Thank you Amanda McKinney, NetGalley and Atorm Publishing.

What more can you want in a thriller? Affairs, murder, deceit, and great twists! Enjoyed the multiple point of views that all tied in together. Great storytelling that kept me hooked the entire time with a great conclusion. Definitely add this one to your TBR!

Flew through this book. Couldn’t put it down! However was
Disappointed at the end! Thanks Net galley

4.5🌟I devoured this book in one day! Can’t remember the last time I did that!

Rowan Velky is the lone homicide detective in a small suburb in Texas. She’s been tasked with training the new hire…the town heartthrob, Kellan.

Now, with three women murdered and their bodies mutilated, the two detectives suddenly face the prospect of a serial-killer running loose in their tiny town.

I loved how the story weaved through different perspectives. We have what appears to be completely unrelated stories that all ultimately converge in a shocking twist! Those are my favorite kind of thrillers. Where you are trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together...and it feels like you have two completely different puzzles in front of you.

The only reason I dropped a half-star was I’d hoped for a bit more from the ending. Somewhat lackluster after the entire twisty roller-coaster ride I just put myself through all day.

If you enjoyed Amanda McKinney’s series Mad Women, don’t miss out on this latest! Her thrillers just get better with each release!

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing

I enjoyed this book up until the very end. For me the ending which I expected a twist was a let down in my opinion. I felt that the rest of the book was okay and it held interest enough to want to know who the killer was but not enough thrill to warrant an ending like that.

My turn!!!!!

Does anyone else get way too excited to participate in book tours ?

It’s me, I get so dang excited I almost leave a little stream behind me as I make my way up to MY TURN…

Well, it’s here folks. Im about ready to blow y’all’s mind with this banger!

A Marriage of Lies

Good, gosh almighty, paint my nose and call me rose!

Lies, secrets and deceit, oh my!

This book will have your head twisted right off your neck with an ending you’ll never see coming . Don’t believe me? Check out this teaser:

Beneath the surface of every marriage there are secrets. This one is deadly.

My husband is lying. The minute he came home with alcohol on his breath and unable to look me in the eyes I knew it.

We used to be in love – the intense ‘I can’t be without you for a second’ kind. Where it hurts deep to be apart.

But now, we’re the couple that keep secrets from each other.

We hide the truth.

He thought I wouldn’t find out. I’m a detective – it’s literally my job to uncover clues and solve mysteries.

I know what he did.

And now I’m sitting here, in a police interview, being asked the question ‘did you kill her?’ to which I utter one life-shattering word: ‘yes.’

You can find my review/post on Instagram @thrillbythepage_ as well as on Goodreads: KoriPotenzone

INCREDIBLE!!! Thank you NetGalley, Amanda McKinney and Storm Publishing for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow!! That was a profoundly intense, darkly twisted and emotionally charged journey!! A Marriage of Lies is my first experience with this author’s work, and I am utterly enthralled by the story. Initially, I was torn between four or five stars, but after sleeping on it and waking up still consumed by its brilliance, I'm convinced it unequivocally merits five stars!! I devoured this book completely, utterly captivated, unable to tear myself away until I reached the final page in one sitting, keeping me on pins and needles until the very end!! Consider this a warning to clear your schedule, grab a snack, and set aside all responsibilities before immersing yourself in this book!! The blend of secrets, lies, jealously, drama, mystery, murders, gripping suspense, intense tension, short chapters, inventive and original plot, intricate twisty twists, complex and morally ambiguous characters, fast pacing, alternating perspectives, and a surprise ending make this a compelling and phenomenal psychological thriller!! Truly, the narrative seamlessly weaves together elements of domestic drama, police procedural, and a serial killer psychological thriller genres, resulting in a perfect blend of gripping intrigue!! I am proud to add this to my favorites list for 2024!!! 💙💙💙💙💙

Beneath the facade of every marriage lies a web of secrets. In Detective Rowan's marriage, the secrets have turned deadly. The moment her husband returned home reeking of alcohol and avoiding her gaze, Rowan sensed the deception. They use to share love so intense it felt unbearable to be apart, but now they are two people harboring secrets from each other. He underestimates her skills as a detective, uncovering truths and solving mysteries is what she does. Rowan knows what he's done. And now, as she sits in a police interrogation room, facing the damning question, "Did you kill her?" Rowan delivers one earth-shattering admission:"Yes." This is all you're going to get from me on the synopsis because I really do not want to spoil the experience for you. Believe me, it's better to dive into it without knowing anymore. Brace yourself for a riveting, twist-filled rollercoaster ride!!!

Overall, I was thoroughly immersed from start to finish. The ending caught me off guard and left me with goosebumps!! I am absolutely thrilled to read more works by Amanda McKinney. I wholeheartedly recommend this book and believe it deserves all the stars!! ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

TW: child abuse, neglect, foster care, suicide attempt, eating disorder, dementia, child with developmental delays

This book was really well done, and I enjoyed it immensely. The story focuses around a police officer who is investigating a series of murders in her town. The story switches perspectives throughout which I enjoyed and really kept me hooked. I read this very quickly, and it was pretty easy to keep up with. I also didn’t know who to trust, or what to believe, which is a huge plus when reading a thriller/crime based novels. 5 ⭐️

I think this novel was amazing because it was twisted & very dark. I literally was trying to solve the slayings, the moment I thought I was getting closer then the plot would take an unexpected turn. The book was an absolute page turner.. the characters were a little off the hinge but that’s what made this storyline GREAT!

Thank you to Net Galley for the advanced copy of this book. I rated this book 4 stars and enjoyed the narrative told from the different characters.

This was my first Amanda McKinney book and it definitely won't be my last. This book had me hooked, I finished it in a little over 24 hours. I wanted to keep reading to figure out how all the characters were connected as each chapter was a new pov. There were so many twists and turns that I never predicted what was happening.

The book begins with Rowan's pov, a detective investigating multiple murders in her area. Then we are introduced to Amber, Rowan's therapist. As a true crime girly, I was very intrigued by this book & like I said blew through it quickly but didn't really know what was happening until it became clear how the characters were connected. I wanted more in-depth character building in the beginning to help me have a better grasp on what was happening than the oh-wow moment I had about halfway through when it all clicked.

Like I stated above, I never saw any of the shocking moments coming but the reason I had to give it 3 stars instead of 4 was because the end was a bit of a letdown for me. I felt like there was a lot of build-up throughout the book, even though it's a quick read and I felt like the ending was rushed. Nothing seemed to be as shocking anymore but instead just laid out. Some of the actions that took place also didn't seem like the character would do those things, at least in my opinion. Lastly, I love thrillers/mysteries and the end seemed too happily ever after for me. I was disappointed to know everything worked out. Which I know is odd & after looking at others' reviews I am in the minority here but it just felt rushed. I would've loved for the author to length the book a bit and keep me on the tips of my toes in the last 10% of the book as she did the rest of the time.

Overall - I would recommend this book to others & I look forward to checking out other Amanda McKinney books.

———————————————————————

Thank you, NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book had me hooked from the very beginning. There were many twists and turns that I was not expecting. Loved the story. Would recommend this to other readers.

There were some twists and turns in the book that was good. There were a few parts of the book that were a little slow. This is a book that is an interesting read and am glad that I was able to read it.

Rowan Velky is a police detective. She is married to Shepard Velky. They have known each other since their days in the care system.
Kellan is her work partner who she is training.
Amber is Rowan's therapist. She is married to Mark. They are just finding out that their son Connor may have some disablility/delay issues.
A woman is found dead in her home by her Neighbour and so begins a murder investigation.
My brain had to work a little to keep track of all the character relationships and the switching from one part of the story to another, but in some ways that's what kept me so interested to see if I could work how it all fit together. Really loved this book.

Title: A Marriage of Lies
Author: Amanda McKinney
Pub Date: March 29, 2024

After reading this book, Amanda McKinney is now an autoread author for me! This book had me hooked from the start and remained a twisty enjoyable read throughout!

When homicide detective Rowan Velkey is called to the scene of a murder, she is shocked to find that the victim had the letter X stitched over her eyes. After two more victims are identified with similar carvings on their bodies, the search is on and Rowan and her handsome partner, Kellan, make it their priority to find the serial killer that seems to be targeting women in this town.

This book is told from multiple points of view, primarily those of Rowan who is dealing with some psychological issues stemming from her past, and her friend and therapist, Amber, who has her own personal issues that she is dealing with. Both woman are in unhappy marriages and everyone seems to have secrets that they are keeping from each other. There are also flashbacks into Rowan’s past throughout the book that add to the story, but also lead me to question things about her as a character. All of these circumstances add up to a bunch of unreliable characters with many secrets and had me constantly questioning what was really going on!

Amanda McKinney definitely knows how to tell a story and I can’t wait to read more of her books! If you love a good twisty thriller that you won’t want to put down, than you won’t want to miss this one!

Thank you to Amanda McKinney, Storm Publishing, and Thriller Book Lover Promotions for this advanced reader copy!

WOW WOW WOW! What an insanely chilling read that had me reading straight through the night because I COULD NOT put the book down till I was finished! The plot was well thought out and the characters were well developed and the twists and turns were incredibly shocking!

Wow, I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book but I could not put it down.
It is a perfect blend of domestic drama, thriller and police procedural.
This story is so twisty that you will not know which way it is going. The characters and plot kept me engaged from beginning to end. With the short chapters, I just had to keep going to find out what the hell is happening.
This is my first book by Amanda McKinney and it will most certainly not be my last. This a must read for all psychological thriller fans.

3.5 rounded up to 4. This was a good read. The story kept me interested and guessing. However, I wish I knew more about the characters. The book focuses mainly on two characters, but there are other important ones that could be discussed in more detail.

I completed this short book in a day! Rowan Velky is a lead detective in the police force. Her husband, Shepherd, have been together since an early age and met through the foster care system.

Amber is Rowan's therapist. Amber is married to Mark and they have a son, Connor, 7 years old, who is autistic. Both marriages are in trouble. There are lots of secrets and lies in both marriages. A murder occurs and Rowan has been arrested and charged with the murder and she admits it! Did she do it? Is she innocent? I found the plot confusing.

Maybe it was not the right time for me to read this book. Unfortunately, the writing style, chapter style and vocabulary in this book was not for me. Believable characters and scenarios it was not and I was disappointed. I think the book would be better as a film.

I WANT TO THANK NETGALLEY FOR THE OPPORTUNITY OF READING AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN RETURN FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.

What did I just read?! This book was ADDICTIVE! My first by this author, but it won’t be my last! I’ll be thinking about this book for a while. I am so thankful I had to chance to read this early and will be sharing with my fellow thriller lovers!