Stephanie Rose's Hiding Lies is a dark and twisted horror that would put authors such as Clive Barker, Ramsey Campbell, and Ray Bradbury to shame with it's gruesomeness. The details of this book would be more in line of a Stephen King book, but the absolute mind games and depravity make Ms. Rose's Hiding Lies a deliciously dark and morbid mind twist that will be sure to keep you up at night.

Lydia is a forensic photographer with a traumatic past who meets and ultimately falls in love with Adam, a fellow tortured soul. This was a fast-paced read and I did not want to put it down; the alternating POVs were great, and the last chapter was simply not enough, I wanted more!!

5 / 5

Read: 06.03.2024
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!!

Thank you NetGalley, Stephanie Rose, and publishers for an ARC of this one in exchange for my honest opinion!

First off, this cover art is stunning. Unique, gruesome, and haunting - which captures the essence of this book perfectly. The beginning of this one starts off by introducing us to the FMC that has this interesting, but bloody job and immediately you get the feeling that she’s a little… off putting would be my best description. As we get to know her throughout the book, it’s easy to see that she’s been through an immense amount of trauma, but acts very nonchalant about it. And then we meet our MMC, who is as equally creepy. PLUS, we have a serial killer running around slashing people - a lot going on. One thing I will say is that the killers MO was revealed a little too early for me; I like trying to make my own guesses around the killer and their victims (I raised by Criminal Minds re-runs lol) and I was disappointed by how quickly everything was revealed. Around the 40%-50% mark, the book seemed like it was wrapping up until it took a total left turn to… romance? A unique twist I didn’t see coming and while I was kind of on board, I was also a little confused. The execution of said twist felt a little underdeveloped and a little unrealistic, but I was along for the ride and ended up enjoying it more than I initially thought. Overall, a solid thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat while bringing forth the question… do we TRULY know the people around us?

A twisted and brutal thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat - and far too scared to go camping!

Fast paced thriller. Some parts were too graphic for my liking but great concept. Did not expect or like the ending as I wanted a twist to capture Adam. Would definitely recommend if you want a fast paced thriller and don’t mind a bit of gore.

Hiding Lies follows Lydia who works as a forensic photographer who has a love for everything true crime. It’s her job to document the horrific murders that are being committed by the latest Serial Killer targeting those who lie. Lydia soon finds it difficult with the line blurring between helping her coworkers hunt down the man responsible for the deaths and her ability to resonate with the killer’s motive.

This was a fast-paced read and I particularly enjoyed the idea of reading the point of view of the killer in a book like this. I also loved the atmosphere of the book and how tense it could be.

There are a few things that I didn’t like that I think would’ve been better if they weren’t apart of the book but to keep this review spoiler free, I’m going to keep it at that.

Thank you to NetGalley and Mad Axe Media for providing me with this ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

We follow two individuals, one a forensic photographer and the other a serial killer. As their worlds come closer to colliding, we begin to understand that they each hold traumas from their past and how they deal with them will ultimately decide their futures. I really enjoyed this take on the serial killer and those chasing them down. Definitely recommend for those that love You, as we get some real insight into the mind of a killer.

I was provided this as an advanced reader copy to provide my review.

A uniquely dark and gritty read. This one blurs some serious lines until you don’t even know right from wrong.
So creative and well written. Unusual characters that make this a different read from most books. And it works! It’s dark and creepy and shocking with every page you flip.
It twists and winds it’s was through a most horrific serial killer with some awful shocking kills.
It’s brutal and nightmare inducing
And then…. And then…. The plot still twists… till the last page

In Hiding Lies, we follow Lydia, a forensic pathologist, as she's tasked with investigating the killings of a couple in a remote camping spot. A possible serial killer is at large, leaving a chilling message. Lydia resonates with this message deeply, and as the murders escalate, her suppressed dark childhood thoughts resurface. Amidst her probe, she crosses paths with Adam, a kindred spirit and avid reader grappling with his own inner turmoil.

This was a super fast-paced read. I was intrigued by the perspectives of a forensic photographer and a serial killer. I felt like there was potential for more depth in the story, so I gave it 3 stars. Nonetheless, what I did read was pretty engaging at the time!

Lydia, a forensic photographer with a difficult past, meets Adam while investigating camping murders. Their connection is new and unexpected.

As more bodies surface, a serial killer is revealed. Lydia takes photos, and Adam supports her.

With 240 pages, "Hiding Lies" is a gripping and fast-paced read. The story kept me hooked with its suspense, romance, and characters. It was hard to stop reading. Exploring the killer's thoughts and Lydia's perspective added depth.

Fans of "Dexter" will enjoy this book.

Note: The book covers some heavy topics. Details can be found in the comments section.

An intense, dark, and addictive story!

Thanks to Mad Axe Media and NetGalley for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts are my own.

Comes out Oct 29!

Rating: 4 stars!

I cannot stop thinking about this book.. Its INCREDIBLY graphic in its depictions of crime scenes and the minds of a serial killer, so if that ain't you thing, I suggest skipping this read. The story is dual POV between a serial killer and a crime scene photographer. The back and forth between the mind of the killer and the mind of the person trying to get in the mind of a killer... Incredibly original.

Thank you NetGalley and Mad Axe Media for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lydia, a forensic photographer, is assigned a case where a couple was murdered during a camping trip. As more victims turn up she finds that she has a personal connection to the case, which makes her even more determined to figure it out. I love a good thriller and this one definitely hit the mark. The twists and turns the story takes and the writing style kept me immersed in the story from beginning to end and I loved every minute of it. Would recommend to anyone looking for a good murder mystery!

Whew, what a twisted story this is! It's a love story, deep down. But it's a love story between a forensic photographer and a serial killer. One is working a string of brutal murders that the other has committed.

Throughout this twisty turny novel, we get to hear from both perspectives. And being inside the mind of a serial killer is terrifying. He's friendly, charming, helpful... right up until he decides you're not worthy to be alive.

Our protagonist has a dark vicious background as well. There's something within her that makes her sympathize with killers and murderers. She's not completely innocent herself despite working for the police.

Through a series of events, these two will meet, unaware of what secrets the other holds, and when those secrets are revealed... well, you'll have to read to find out!

This novel has a nice brisk pacing that keeps the narrative moving along while also giving readers the chance to know the characters. And who doesn't like a good book about a terrifying serial killer? 😁

I highly recommend it and want to thank Joey Powell for the ARC. But this review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.

Hiding lies

This book was a twisted thriller/horror for sure. Take the trigger warnings at the beginning of the book seriously before reading!!!

This is a dark book Vibes of criminal minds, silence of the lambs, Dexter, sharp objects, and the butterfly garden. This book is completely unhinged.

The main protagonist is a forensic photographer. I enjoyed this fact as so many books only follow police or fbi but a photographer in that line of work was an interesting change of pace.
From a personal taste in books I’d rate it a 3 there were definitely some gruesome parts to much for me but as an over all story it was well written I’d give it a 4.5.

This is a really dark thriller/horror, though also a love story. I urge everyone to check triggers before reading, as it for sure is full of them. I had a hard time getting through it, as I was affected by many triggers.

Wow, this is a short, grim, and violent little gem. It’s hard to talk too much about it without spoiling anything but it looks at serial killers in a very different way than many people are used to, and the results are pretty damn awesome.

gruesome, sad, happy and everything in between!

it brings together two people who’ve suffered horrific childhoods and shows how they find peace in other peoples horror and despair.

Adam, a serial killer who kills those to expose their lies meets forensic photographer Lydia who is following his crimes and living with their photographs.

honestly, love Lydia, which i know is crazy but i really enjoyed her character and her development, showing at the end she wanted to protect people from others too. I loved her job and how that was written, i especially loved the beginning explaining her backstory before showing her collection of photographs.

i still hate Adam, which i think is fair! he need for exposing lies and getting others to live their truths in death, was just a little annoying for me. obviously he was a psychopath but still.

i did love the overall plot, definitely not something i have read before and i definitely need a second book to carry on from that ending!

so good for a debut novel.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of Hiding Lies.

What a debut novel this was! Starting off with potent vigor, you know what you're in for. No mask, gloves off. It will be gory and straight forward. This novel is a very easy read with a focus on momentum for the characters and plot. We know Lydia is a forensic photographer and Adam a part-time sales rep and high end book entrepreneur. Through the dual pov's we learn both have unsettling pasts and dark secrets. One has taken it upon themselves to snuff out the lairs they come across unknowingly sparking the other's interest due to like mindedness.
The killings are thoughtfully planned and carried out. There's some evolution to the depth to picking the victims and some showed learning from the killer. The thought process for the killer is mostly simple and superficial and the other character has a bit more depth, but ultimately is simple with their development as well. The trust seemed to come too easily from their side, especially considering their past. There is a bit of a repetitiveness in the writing, which may have been seen as a security net due to the dual pov chapters.

I can definitely see the nods from the author's favored books and they wove in just fine. This author has a great mindset and I look forward to more publications. Maybe there will be a second installment to this story?

Full of twists and turns, this book kept me guessing right until the very end. I really appreciate when a novel hooks my attention right from the beginning and that was certainly the case with this one! I loved the in-depth perspective of the mind of a serial killer and enjoyed the dual perspective of both Lydia and Adam. I will certainly be looking for more of this authors work!

Whew…I almost put this book away about 10 different times for different reasons. There are warnings of sexual assault, domestic abuse, child abuse, child death, and animal abuse before you even start the first page. I’m a thriller/mystery nut and have read all of the scary books but this one hit differently. I’m not quite sure if that’s a good or a bad thing but I’m so hyped up right now after reading that I’m not sure how to even finish this review. Normally my reviews are much different. Overall, I guess I would say that if you have a strong stomach and can dis-attach from books better than myself, give it a try. I love books that are different, and although you knew where this book was heading there it was still a crazy experience from start to finish. I’m going to go read something from my not-normal rom-com genre to clear my brain now.