This was such a thrilling read overall. It kept me gripped and guessing all the way through, a very captivating read.

3.5⭐️

Thank you Netgalley, Stephanie Rose, and Mad Axe Media for an ARC in return for an honest review!

Lydia is a forensics photographer who is obsessed with true crime who most don’t get. She enjoys her job and the work she does. I loved the aspect of her job! This is dark and graphic at times. CHECK TRIGGER WARNINGS.

What was not my favorite it? I feel like there wasn’t much character development and the romance in this was insta love. Where was the substance? Why were things rushed?

Read if you like:
• Books like: Butcher and Blackbird and You
• dark and twisted
• alternating POVs
• quick paced read
• TV shows like: Dexter, CSI, Forensic Files

Fantastic quick thriller read!!

Main characters Adam, a troubled man who’s had a thirst for kill, and Lydia, a forensic photographer who’s got her own dark past, meet in a great dual perspective story line that is imaginative and detailed from the start! I loved the “You” (Netflix) vibes I got from this book!

I took off a star for an abrupt ending that left me needing more, but overall I really enjoyed this campsite thriller!

Dexter meets Joe Goldberg

Imagine a positive Version of Joe and Love!

I loved that the book got straight to the point. I was gripped from the very first sentice.

It’s like a merge of Criminal Minds, CSI, You and Dexter.

The only issue I had was that the ending felt rushed but on the whole it was a fast paced thriller.

2 stars for this debut.

Lydia is a forensic photographer with the Portland Police and loves her job. So much so that crime scene photos hang in her house and she feels like she understands killers. Having had an incredibly rough childhood growing up in the foster care system, she can stomach quite a lot. When Lydia is called to the scene of a gruesome crime in the woods of the PNW—two campers slain outside of their tent—she is excited to get to work and track down the person who did it.

I really thought that I would love this book. People have been comparing it to Dexter and I love Dexter!! I liked that <i>Hiding Lies</i> was told in dual timelines; books with two POV’s are the bees knees because it leaves readers with more information. It’s also a story that is incredibly fast paced.

I, unfortunately, am struggling to come up with anything else that I actually liked about this book. Some plot points were quite underdeveloped and others were way too conveniently written. This story lacked depth which made it a quick and easy read—regardless of the subject matter—but it left me feeling unsatisfied. I feel like there are different genres within the horror genre alone… Some horror builds tension and fills you with this chilling sense of unease and some horror is there to try to shock you and this story was the latter. If that’s your jam, you may just love this book but I prefer the former type of horror so, for that reason and the reasons listed above, this book didn’t do it for me.

Regardless, I want to show my gratitude to Mad Axe Media and NetGalley for the digital copy. Out 10/29/2024.

Are you looking for a thrilling novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat? Look no further than this upcoming release!

The story follows a forensic photographer who is pulled onto a massive case, which could be a huge win for her career. As more and more buzz surrounds the case, she realizes that she might be dealing with a serial criminal. Her unique point of view and participation become crucial to her team, as they work tirelessly to uncover the truth.

But this isn't just any crime novel. The characters are well-developed and relatable, with personal struggles and traumas that add depth to the story. The protagonist must balance her family's past, her trauma, her love interests, and her career, all while trying to solve the case.

As the plot unfolds, the tension and suspense build to a crescendo. Just when you think you know what's going to happen next, there's another unexpected twist. The ending will leave you breathless and wanting more.

This book is deeply dark and immensely compelling. It explores an intensely menacing side of human nature and is disturbing in so many ways. I wasn't taken with the narrative and found it difficult to get into. It is thrilling in places and very tense.

This is a dark, and unhinged plot (my favorite). We follow Lydia, a forensic pathologist, as she gets assigned the case of a murdered couple found in a secluded camping area. A potential serial killer is on the loose and they want to send a message. Lydia hears the message loud and clear and as the murders grow, so do her dark inner thoughts. Thoughts she has kept locked up since she was a child 💭 Also, while investigating the case she meets a fellow tortured soul and book lover named Adam. They talk about their love for The Silence of the Lambs and fall in love in 23.7 seconds.

TW for rape, child death, and graphic violence to name a few. Definitely lived up to a horrific read! This gave me Dexter vibes. Not as well done, but I appreciated what Rose was trying to do and I know she will continue to grow as an author. I was hooked to some parts of the novel and I look forward to her next novels. I wasn’t a fan of the insta love + could not get my head around the actions or thoughts of Lydia. I think the plot would move so fast it was hard to rationalize how she could feel such polarizing feelings within the span of one or two pages. I think it’s best going into this knowing these characters make morally gray characters look like Mr. Rogers and friends.

I don't really read horror but this was really creepy and gripping! I'm glad I read it!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

First, thank you to NetGalley, Stephanie Rose, and Mad Axe Media for the ARC!

Hiding Lies is an upcoming romantic?/horror releasing this October that follows the lives of 2 troubled adults trying to cope with the abuse they suffered as children.

Lydia funnels all her energy into her obscure job as a forensic photographer. An occupation the author claims makes Lydia a social outcast and loner. I personally feel like that would be quite interesting.. I mean, I wouldn’t want to do it but to talk to someone about it.. might be fascinating.

Adam channels all his anger into killing. He’s Portlands new and elusive serial killer with a type. Pretty much if he catches random strangers in lies (big lies) he singles them and their loved ones out and murders all of them.

I was not expecting this book to be this dark. The first page has a whole list of every trigger warning but i chose to continue anyway.

Lydia’s presence in the police investigation is very heavy and I feel like we got no resolution there, her relationship with Frank (professional) just dropped out of the book after she figured Adam out. Actually- Franks back story was never resolved..

I feel like if the story didn’t end where it did, and we got more I would have liked this better.
I was hoping for more of a mystery book over knowing just about every secret right off the bat.

Just not the one for me, but I could see someone else loving this!

The idea of this story is what gripped me, a forensic photographer and a serial killer?? Yes please but I feel the story fell flat and there were times I had to read the sentence a few times to actually understand what was being said. I feel the book will benefit more with someone going over it a few more times and correcting some punctuation errors.

Adam’s chapters were a lot easier and better written in my opinion, I believe because he was the killer and a lot more detail was required for it to make sense with how he was murdering the victims but I would’ve liked maybe a chapter in the past which explained both their backstories a little bit more, I know it explained about the foster homes for Lydia and uncle/auntie for Adam but I would’ve liked a little bit more of that.

I did find it a tad unrealistic (shock I know it’s a story😂) with her still photographing the crime scene with it being someone she knew and with the way she broke down before. If it was in real life, I think they would’ve removed her from the case.

I do feel like Adam and Lydia literally fell in love from the get go, which really empathised their characteristics and sorta being psychopaths. It was love at first sight with them and it’s like they saw themselves within one another which personally I did like in this case. I do sorta wish there was more of a twist with the book for example, when she went away for a week and ghosted Adam, I had a side thought that maybe she’d gone away, confessed everything to frank and was working undercover and the ending would’ve been him being caught but I did like the aspect of them becoming a team. I would like to see them in the future and see if Lydia sabotages crime scenes with her photos knowing full well she and Adam killed together.

With a bit of work, I believe this book could be a 5 star as the idea was amazing and some scenes were 10/10.

I haven’t posted a review of this book anywhere else as it isn’t due out yet and me rating it 3 stars. I don’t want to bring down the rating etc.

This was a gripping read, I thought the characters were intriguing and I'm going to keep an eye out for more from this author.

This was a great read! Full of unexpected twists that kept me on the edge of my seat. I couldn’t put this one down. Highly recommend!

I have a hard time with alternating POV stories, but this one worked really well.

I initially thought this was going to be a generic thriller but was much more psychological horror, with a sprinkle of slasher. Some scenes were particularly gruesome. Oh, and it’s also a romance but, creepily, it works.

While it was easy to see where the story was going, I stilled enjoyed the ride.

I think many people who are fans of true crime will love it for the psychological aspect, and the extreme horror freaks (me) will love it for the blood.

Hiding Lies is a brilliant, beautifully crafted psychological thriller read, that you will be incapable of putting down. Told from the POV of two very dark and haunted minds, this book captured my attention from the very first line to the very last.

The author gives readers a detailed look into the background of our MCs, allowing readers to have a better understanding of the complexity of their minds and lives, along with the inner mental and emotional turmoil they face each day, being haunted by their past.
This book was fast paced and never held a dull moment. I really liked how the author always made sure that there was something happening on these pages. I am firm believer that books under 300 pages, should have suspense all throughout- this book delivered in that regard.

Another thing I really appreciated was how the author didn't make things overly gruesome or gory. As a reader I was able to read and digest everything without feeling overwhelmed. There was no reliance on shock value to carry the story and really made it even more enjoyable for me.
I really liked both these MCs in this book and thoroughly enjoyed both their POVs; even the romance was a welcome surprise and didn't distract from the plot.
Overall, this was a really enthralling read and I would probably re-read again in the future.

4.75 rounded up for Goodreads!

Thank you to Netgalley, Mad Axe Media and Stephanie Rose for my eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
Pub date: October 29th, 2024.

This book had me addicted from the start! It was so intense that I could not wait to see the twist. Authot knows how to deliver the breath taking, draw dropping twist that we all know and love and never expect the ending. I believe this book is her best one yet but I say that everytime I read one of her books. Thank you for allowing me to read your book in advance.

Lydia, a forensic photographer, is living life through her photographs. Until she is called to come to the most gruesome case of her career and then meets someone worth while, Adam. As the case starts to unfold, her personal life and work become intertwined. Lydia must decide if she will follow her heart or her morales.

Hiding lies is a book in its own league. It gave me the creepy vibes that I wanted from it. Really enjoyed the writing style and story, thought just slightly predictable. I’d recommend this to anyone who likes a dark crime mystery!

TW: Contains detailed descriptions of torture, murder, sexual assault, domestic abuse, child abuse, child death, and mentions of animal abuse.
Stephanie Rose's chilling new thriller, "Hiding Lies", offers a gripping narrative that will keep you on the edge of your seat. As mentioned by other reviewers, it blends the suspense of Caroline Kepnes' "You" with the intensity of an episode of "Criminal Minds."
Dual perspectives provide depth to the characters of Lydia, a complex forensic photographer, and Adam, a terrifying yet strangely charismatic serial killer.
While it was a short read, the author did a good job of pacing the story and allowing the characters to develop naturally.
I really enjoyed this book and eagerly anticipate future works from this talented author.
This review is voluntary and my own personal opinion.
Thank you, NetGalley, Stephanie Rose, and Mad Axe Media for the eARC.

Ok so I really really enjoyed this. There is a serial killer/love story-esque feel to it. The writing was very good and descriptive. If you are squeamish I would definitely refrain from this one, as there are several moments in the book that could be considered disturbing to some readers. I loved the forensic aspect of the book through Lydia, as well as the POV of the killer through Adam. I loved this book, it’s very fast paced and easy to dive into! Overall, a solid 4.5 for me! Thanks NetGalley for this ARC!

𝐇𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐛𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐬𝐞
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫 | 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐫
𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫: 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒, 𝟐𝟗𝐭𝐡 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫!!
𝐌𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝟑 ⭐️

An addictive, fast paced, serial killer ride. This isn’t for the squeamish as some scenes are pretty gruesome.

Told in two different POV, by Lydia, A forensic photographer with a love of true crime and a history of trauma.
Adam, a history of trauma also, and becomes very very dark.

What I enjoyed;
•The police investigation
•Lydia, I thought her character was great & I loved the fact there may be an influence from Beetlejuice with the main character being called Lydia and a photographer!
•The crime scenes

What I wanted more of:
•Frank!!! I really liked his character
•The ending, I’m not sure I’m entirely convinced with this ending… it’s open for a sequel surely?

Overall a great read, but a few things were missing for me. The book should have been longer in my eyes.

Thanks so much to @netgalley & mad axe media for this eArc.

Remember, releases 29th October so perfect for Halloween!

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