Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

Stephanie Rose’s Hiding Lies is a dark, gripping thriller that delves into the shadows of human nature and the complexities of trauma. This novel is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and horror, offering a chilling narrative that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

The story follows Lydia Walker, a forensic photographer haunted by her traumatic past. When she is assigned to a case involving the gruesome murder of a camping couple, Lydia’s life takes a turn. She meets Adam, a fellow tortured soul, and their connection adds a layer of emotional depth to the narrative. As more victims are discovered, Lydia realizes she has a personal connection to the case, pushing her deeper into the investigation. 

Lydia Walker is a compelling protagonist. Her complex character is well-developed, and her internal struggles are portrayed with raw honesty. The relationship between Lydia and Adam is intriguing and unsettling, adding a unique dynamic to the story. 

Stephanie Rose’s writing is evocative and unrelenting. She masterfully builds suspense, creating a tense atmosphere that permeates the entire novel. The pacing is brisk, ensuring that readers remain hooked. 

This novel explores themes of trauma, justice, and the duality of human nature. Lydia’s journey is a poignant exploration of how past traumas can shape one’s present and future. 

Hiding Lies is a dark, thrilling ride that leaves you questioning the boundaries of morality and justice. Stephanie Rose has crafted a novel that is thought-provoking and terrifying, making it a standout in the genre. If you’re looking for a book that will keep you up at night, Hiding Lies is the perfect choice.

I would rate this 4.5 stars if I was able to rate "partial stars" as it is a standout in the genre.

Thank you to Stephanie and mad axe publishing for this arc.
This is a book with a dual POV from a forensic photographer and from a serial killer. It is brutal and gory with a bit of romance mixed in which I loved. Can’t believe this is a debut novel! I’m looking forward to see what Stephanie comes out with next.

I appreciate the opportunity to read this book. Thanks to Netgallery and the author for the ARC.

Unfortunately, this one didn't work for me. It's a quick and simple read (albeit with some very dark subject matter) but it lacked depth and immersion. Still, there are plenty of high ratings here so obviously it has an audience. I'm sadly just not a part of it.

e cover alone had me super intrigued with this book and knew I couldn’t pass on reading it. Sadly, this one just wasn’t what I was expecting it to be. I loved the main character being a forensic photographer and it really gave the whole story a CSI and Criminal Minds vibe to it. The two POVs between Lydia and Adam was a good touch to the story and seeing how everything played out and connected.

The story was definitely dark and graphic and I definitely recommend reading the trigger warnings before jumping into this one as there are multiple throughout the story. I thought this story was going to go a different way and I think that’s where it took a turn for me. I can’t say too much without giving stuff away so if you know you know. Also I wasn’t a huge fan of the ending, I wanted more of a conclusion which you don’t get.

Overall, I would recommend this one to anyone who likes true crime shows and wants quick, horror read!

ARC 📖 Review: Hiding Lies by Stephanie Rose
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Pub Date: 10/29/24

I binged this entire book today, it was such a fast paced fun horror story! This is exactly why I hate camping too. The animal abuse was not described in detail, I still skimmed those parts because I’m a sensitive girly lol. Solid read for horror lovers!

Thank you @netgalley and @madaxemedia for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

🏕️🔥🔪

Lydia Walker is a forensic photographer with a traumatic past. She is assigned a case centered around the gruesome murder of a camping couple. When she meets Adam a fellow tortured soul her personal life begins to improve. As more victims turn up she discovers she has a personal connection to the case. Will she remain loyal to her career or explore her darker urges?

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Stephane Rose's debut was very good. It was a bit darker and more gory than I normally like and there were trigger warnings at the beginning which is appreciated. Overall I would recommend this book but make sure you go into it knowing it is gory and read the trigger warnings first.

Oh my days…. This was the craziest book I have read in a long time but I really enjoyed it. Crazy as in really good on how a persons mind work just to get revenge on others due to their own past traumatic history and the thrill they get out of it when savagely killing others. It was like no other story I have read!

It’s a must read for people who like mystery or thriller books. I gave it 4 stars originally but now I am remembering it again and writing this, changed it to 5 stars. I wish that the book could have continued and would love to know what happens next - cliffhanger!

Thank you to Netgalley and Mad Axe Media

This dual POV story is not for the squeamish. There is no settling in period, the reader is thrown into the world of blood, bodies and harrowing back stories. The story is told from the POV of Lydia & Adam, and their love of true crime, and committing crimes.

It was a quick, easy, and witty read despite the heavy subjects that the story deals with. I feel like the author was trying to bring a lightness to the trauma, to balance the darkness and pits of humanity with these 2 interesting, unique characters.

The introduction is intense, captivating and will have you thinking ’WTF am I reading and why don’t I want to put it down?’. The reader is thrown into the deep end of the traumatised mind of Lydia. Lydia thinks about death all the time; her own & others, and situations in which both can happen. She’s a forensic photographer and a TA in a forensic science program because she wants to be surrounded by sociopaths and their work. She feels sorry for the victims, but she respects the work the killer has put in. Her job is the closest she can get to walking in the footsteps of a killer. She thinks the murderer is an artist and the victim is how they express themselves. Twisted enough for you yet? Keep going.

We are then introduced to Adam, the Romeo to this twisted love story. His childhood was rough, and his life experiences have made him into the person he is today; strong minded, vengeful and, in his opinion, just. He hates liars and he’s a firm believer in the truth setting you free, even if his take on it is warped.

There are numerous trigger warnings that go with this book, but I often find that trigger warnings can give away some of the storyline so if you’re planning on reading this, be prepared for a few wincing moments! Also, maggots have always freaked me out, and this book did not help the situation. If you’re still reading this and haven’t thought ‘no, no, definitely not’ then give this book a read and see if your stomach & mind are strong and twisted enough.

I really enjoyed this very unique debut novel by Stephanie Rose! It's an engaging, quick read with a few heart-pounding moments! I enjoyed getting both points of view in this, those from Lydia the forensic photog and from the killer! This will be a great read for true crime fans (although this is fiction), or fans of Silence of the Lambs, Samantha Downing or Gillian Flynn! It is a bit dark and gory so be fair-warned going in. This will be a great fall read when released in October!! You could mark this one down as a dark romantic horror. Thank you NetGalley and Mad Axe Media for this ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley, Stephanie Rose and Mad Max
Media for the ARC of Hiding Lies.

This book started with a plethora of trigger warnings, a few of which gave me pause…but I’m so glad that I decided to forge ahead with this one. Yes, there were very triggering subjects and vivid depictions. However, they gave the characters such interesting backstories and made you realize why they are the way they are.

The POV shifts between crime scene photographer Lydia and the murder she’s investigating, Adam. Lydia has a dark past in the foster care system which has made her detached and interested in the more morbid things in life. Adam also had a rough childhood, but he has gone down a darker path in life. The two have a meet cute and it the story finds a touch of romance.

This one reminds me a bit of Dexter. It was a fascinating read and I was hooked on the storyline, regardless of the darker moments. Please read the trigger warnings before proceeding

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!