When Devon Mayes, who's finishing her training to become a therapist, loses a patient, her supervisor urges her to take time off and work on her own issues as a trauma survivor herself.  That means going back to Arkana, Oklahoma, where she grew up, and confronting her traumatic upbringing as a closeted bi woman in a highly religious and conservative town. She also has to face her own guilt involving the suicide of her best friend Summer and her complicated and unresolved feelings towards Summer and her twin brother, Keaton.

When she arrives run Arkana, secrets buried deep start resurfacing, including ones that may reveal that Summer did not take her own life.

Told in two timelines, the present and 2012, including entries from Summer's diary, the story grips you from the first chapter and doesn't let you go. You get deeply involved in the mystery but most of all you get touched by the struggles of a young girl trying to navigate being queer in a very hostile environment.

Devon is flawed, still working on herself. Keaton wasn't expecting her return and how it would change his life completely.

This book is touching, also full of social commentary without being "preachy". It's a journey into acceptance, forgiveness and finally love.

The audiobook is brilliantly narrated by Samantha Brentmnoor who knocks it out of the park. Her ability to show so much emotion and such nuance through her voice never ceases to amaze me. Every single character is unique in her performance. Stellar.

Thanks, Brilliance Audio for the ALC via NetGalley .

Content notes: homophobia, racism, religious trauma, suicide and suicidal ideation, SA (off page), consensual BDSM, toxic relationship with a family member, bullying.

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for allowing me to read and review this book.

Enjoyable and sultry thriller with good narration.

This book was shelved before I had a chance to listen to it and give an objective feedback. Very sad about it since I couldn’t wait to read it.

3.75⭐
A therapist returns to her conservative hometown, after one of her clients commits suicide (check Trigger Warnings), causing her to tap into her memories to finally reveal who murdered her friend all those years ago.

Honestly did not think I'd enjoy this as much as I did. A medium-paced thriller/mystery that'll keep you guessing.

Thank you NetGalley and Brilliance Audio for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This is a thriller but so much more. It has LGBTQIA+ rep, some spicy scenes, and I loved the flashbacks to 2012 and reading Summer’s journal for the other perspective of what was happening. Heather’s writing kept me intrigues and I finished it in one day.
Samantha Brentmoor narrated the audio and she kept me captivated. I appreciated her nuances and the way she spoke.

This evocative coming-of-age thriller will set your heart racing while tugging at every emotional chord.

Through dual narratives, this poignant tale delves into identity and bisexuality within a small religious town. With complex characters navigating revenge and redemption, it unfolds as a raw, haunting journey.

This sultry sizzling suspense is as captivating as it is unsettling—highly recommend!

One of my favorite books of the year, narrated by one of my all time favorite narrators? Absolute perfection. Samantha’s smoky voice was the perfect fit for this gritty story.

Alright, let’s talk about this book. From the very first chapter, I was hooked by the mystery. Now, I won’t spoil anything, but even though I had a feeling I knew what was coming, it didn’t take away from the suspense. There was still so much tension, and honestly, that made it so much more fun to listen to.

So, the main character? She's grieving. Her friend Summer dies unexpectedly, and she’s left to figure out how to cope with that kind of loss. To escape, she leaves her small town, takes on two jobs, just trying to distract herself from the pain. But—something pulls her back. And that’s when things really start to get interesting.

As she dives into Summer’s death, she starts uncovering secrets about the town. People she thought she knew? They’re keeping things from her. And the deeper she digs, the darker it gets. Every new revelation makes the mystery even more intense.

When she returns to town, she reconnects with old friends—and Summer’s twin, Keaton. What I loved about this book was that it wasn’t just about solving the mystery. It was also about her coming to terms with her own emotions. And those rekindled relationships? They definitely added some extra drama and spice that kept me on my toes.

Now, the alternating timelines between the past and the present kept me hooked the entire time. The way we slowly uncover more about Summer’s death and the town’s secrets—it had me on the edge of my seat. Seriously.

This Violent Heart is a suspenseful fiction novel with elements of mystery, thriller, and romance. This story is complex and intriguing, pulling the reader in from the beginning. It is told from past and present timelines, and with journal entries from the past to explore a character that no longer has a voice.

I listened to the audiobook version of this story, which is well done by a single narrator. She delivers the story, and the characters, in a captivating way, ensuring each POV, and past and present timelines are unique. I listened at 1.75x speed (this is my normal audiobook listening speed).

Thank you NetGalley and Brilliance Audio/Publishing for this advanced listening copy.

Thank you NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for the chance to listen to this advanced audiobook in exchange for an unbias review.

Could not put this down! Incredibly heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. Beautiful, suspense-filled, heavy, and deeply impactful. I'll keep this review spoiler-free, but honestly, I am so speechless to the point this is going to live in my head rent-free for a long time. The narrative and pacing is just perfect and the heavier topics are very well addressed! This book ultimately has a happy ending and when I finished I just had to sit with my thoughts for a while to process how much of an emotional journey this book had taken me on.

Samantha Brentmoor brings such incredible emotions into the narration of this story. I found myself laughing, sobbing, and yelling the whole time. Already an all-time favourite narrator but I think this is possibly one of her best so far.

As someone who reads a lot of romance and thrillers, it’s such a treat to read a book that’s both! It was also a spicy romance at that! I felt just as connected to the romance plot of the book (i love a messy love triangle) as I did the mystery part and wanting to find out what actually happened. The only thing I personally do not enjoy, is when a book has a wide array of topics it touches on (think mad honey by Jody picoult).

I also am now a Samantha Brentmoor narrator stan! Her male voice is unmatched and she has such a warm, low, slightly soothing sound (which I find rare for female narrators).

Heather Levy’s This Violent Heart is a dark, gripping psychological thriller that weaves a web of secrets, lies, and deeply buried trauma. With an intense and fast-paced narrative, Levy masterfully constructs a story that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish.

The novel’s themes are heavy, and it comes with significant trigger warnings—making it a challenging read for those sensitive to difficult topics. However, for those who can handle its intensity, This Violent Heart is an absolutely riveting experience. Levy’s writing is immersive, her character development is sharp, and the twists unfold with chilling precision.

What makes this book stand out is its ability to balance a compelling mystery with an exploration of human psychology, trauma, and resilience. The tension builds steadily, and just when you think you have things figured out, Levy surprises you again.

While this novel may not be for the faint of heart, it’s a must-read for thriller lovers who appreciate dark, layered storytelling. I highly recommend This Violent Heart—once you start, you won’t be able to put it down.

THIS VIOLENT HEART is a genre crossing novel combining spine tingling suspense with a deeply emotional journey of self acceptance. It addresses significant traumas which some readers may find uncomfortable.

Devon Mayes is a therapist who returns to her conservative hometown after being placed on mandatory leave by her employer following the tragic death of one of her clients. Returning home surfaces old traumas for Devon, including the guilt she harbors about her best friend’s suicide a decade earlier and her unresolved feelings about her friend’s twin brother.

This is an uncomfortable, yet compelling book touching on topics of religious trauma, sexual identity, sexual violence, and suicide. It is told across dual timelines and slowly builds to a frenetic conclusion.

Samantha Brentmoor’s narration captures the anguish of Devin’s journey. She does an excellent job and adds to the gritty quality of the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for the advance copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

i couldn't not get into this one for the life of me. It was just slow and the story did not resonate with me. I just couldn't continue and had to DNF.

2.5/5
I wasn’t a fan at all. Often felt bored. I felt like the romance really took away from the story. Made me feel like the characters didn’t care about the mystery so why should I? Really felt like it was dragging the whole time. I did like the back and forth thru timelines

Heather Levy never fails to bring thrills, chills and a compelling story. Devon returns to her small town to help come to terms with past trauma. Devon ends up uncovering a mystery surrounding her best friend. Absolutely unput downable from start to finish. If you haven’t read Hurt For Me, I’d suggest giving that one a read first before This Violent Heart.