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Bald-Faced Liar
Living a lie becomes a matter of life and death for a woman hiding from her past in a novel of mounting psychological suspense by the bestselling author of Jane Doe and The Hook.
Traveling nurse Elizabeth May has a promising new home in Santa Cruz. And another new identity. It’s a pattern of reinvention for a woman escaping her traumatic childhood—and hiding from the decades of notoriety and destruction that followed. Invisibility has kept Elizabeth safe. Until now. After all these years, someone sees her for who she is.
Threat by threat, a vengeful stalker is dismantling Elizabeth’s carefully constructed lifetime of lies. And no one in her temporary circle can be trusted—not her fleeting new love interest, not the supportive friend she knows only from online forums, and certainly not the police. They’ve never been there for her.
As fear sharpens to terror, Elizabeth soon discovers something about her past that even she didn’t know. The revelation could finally set her on a path of healing and redemption. Or, now alone in the dark, it could be Elizabeth’s worst nightmare.
Traveling nurse Elizabeth May has a promising new home in Santa Cruz. And another new identity. It’s a pattern of reinvention for a woman escaping her traumatic childhood—and hiding from the decades of notoriety and destruction that followed. Invisibility has kept Elizabeth safe. Until now. After all these years, someone sees her for who she is.
Threat by threat, a vengeful stalker is dismantling Elizabeth’s carefully constructed lifetime of lies. And no one in her temporary circle can be trusted—not her fleeting new love interest, not the supportive friend she knows only from online forums, and certainly not the police. They’ve never been there for her.
As fear sharpens to terror, Elizabeth soon discovers something about her past that even she didn’t know. The revelation could finally set her on a path of healing and redemption. Or, now alone in the dark, it could be Elizabeth’s worst nightmare.
318 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 17, 2025
3850 people are currently reading
8175 people want to read
About the author
Victoria Helen Stone
11 books1,562 followersWall Street Journal bestselling writer Victoria Helen Stone, author of the runaway hit Jane Doe, pens critically acclaimed novels of dark intrigue and emotional suspense. Her work includes Follow Her Down, At the Quiet Edge, Problem Child, Half Past, and the chart-toppers False Step, and Evelyn, After. Bald-Faced Liar is her tenth suspense.
Victoria writes in her home office in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah, far from her origins in the flattest plains of Minnesota, Texas, and Oklahoma. She enjoys gorgeous summer trail hikes in the mountains almost as much as she enjoys staying inside by the fire during winter. Victoria is passionate about dessert, true crime, and her terror of mosquitoes, which have targeted her in a diabolical conspiracy to hunt her down no matter the season.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victoriahel...
Victoria writes in her home office in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah, far from her origins in the flattest plains of Minnesota, Texas, and Oklahoma. She enjoys gorgeous summer trail hikes in the mountains almost as much as she enjoys staying inside by the fire during winter. Victoria is passionate about dessert, true crime, and her terror of mosquitoes, which have targeted her in a diabolical conspiracy to hunt her down no matter the season.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victoriahel...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 391 reviews
June 24, 2025
Gasp! Hysterical yet exhilarating in an edge-of-your-seat way, Bald-Faced Liar was everything I could want in a psychological thriller. From the quirky protagonist to the spine-chilling stalker premise, as soon as I started this novel, I couldn’t even think of putting it down. After all, it was both laugh-out-loud funny as well as drenched in paranoia and foreboding. With a dark and twisted plot that hinted at some serious themes, it nevertheless provided plenty of fun thanks to a woman who couldn’t resist piling on the secrets and lies. Ultimately, Elizabeth and the other memorable characters were the secret sauce to why this was an undeniable home run, which was also why it was binge-worthy in the extreme.
So what in particular made them all sing? Well, to start off with, Elizabeth was that notable combination of strong, compelling, and slightly unhinged. Not in an over-the-top manner, but in a can-I-trust-a-thing-that-she-says way. By the end of the novel, though, everything about her made perfect sense. With a thought-provoking character arc that finished off with a smile-inducing conclusion, she was the epitome of what I love in a finely drawn heroine, as she was clever, funny, and realistically flawed. But then, she wasn’t the only winning persona in this stunner of a read. From her endearing love interest to an ironically lovable gangster, there was plenty to love about this motley crew of original personas.
All said and done, with long-buried secrets, ground-shifting twists, and plenty of morally gray characters, there was no telling where this one was headed. Other than straight into the land of utter perfection, that is. You see, on top of everything I’ve already mentioned, Ms. Stone also delivered vivid world-building that immersed me in each and every unforgettable scene. The best piece of all, though? That had to be the climax, which is guaranteed to have you double checking the locks on all of your windows and doors. So if you’re looking for a book you won’t be able to put down, you’ve found it right here. I mean, I finished it in one single sitting and I’m sure that you’ll want to as well. Rating of 5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Traveling nurse Elizabeth May has a promising new home in Santa Cruz. And another new identity. It’s a pattern of reinvention for a woman escaping her traumatic childhood—and hiding from the decades of notoriety and destruction that followed. Invisibility has kept Elizabeth safe. Until now. After all these years, someone sees her for who she is.
Threat by threat, a vengeful stalker is dismantling Elizabeth’s carefully constructed lifetime of lies. And no one in her temporary circle can be trusted—not her fleeting new love interest, not the supportive friend she knows only from online forums, and certainly not the police. They’ve never been there for her.
As fear sharpens to terror, Elizabeth soon discovers something about her past that even she didn’t know. The revelation could finally set her on a path of healing and redemption. Or, now alone in the dark, it could be Elizabeth’s worst nightmare.
Thank you to Victoria Helen Stone and Lake Union Publishing for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: June 1, 2025
Content warning: stalking, breaking and entering, suicide, knife violence, mention of: child abuse
So what in particular made them all sing? Well, to start off with, Elizabeth was that notable combination of strong, compelling, and slightly unhinged. Not in an over-the-top manner, but in a can-I-trust-a-thing-that-she-says way. By the end of the novel, though, everything about her made perfect sense. With a thought-provoking character arc that finished off with a smile-inducing conclusion, she was the epitome of what I love in a finely drawn heroine, as she was clever, funny, and realistically flawed. But then, she wasn’t the only winning persona in this stunner of a read. From her endearing love interest to an ironically lovable gangster, there was plenty to love about this motley crew of original personas.
All said and done, with long-buried secrets, ground-shifting twists, and plenty of morally gray characters, there was no telling where this one was headed. Other than straight into the land of utter perfection, that is. You see, on top of everything I’ve already mentioned, Ms. Stone also delivered vivid world-building that immersed me in each and every unforgettable scene. The best piece of all, though? That had to be the climax, which is guaranteed to have you double checking the locks on all of your windows and doors. So if you’re looking for a book you won’t be able to put down, you’ve found it right here. I mean, I finished it in one single sitting and I’m sure that you’ll want to as well. Rating of 5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Traveling nurse Elizabeth May has a promising new home in Santa Cruz. And another new identity. It’s a pattern of reinvention for a woman escaping her traumatic childhood—and hiding from the decades of notoriety and destruction that followed. Invisibility has kept Elizabeth safe. Until now. After all these years, someone sees her for who she is.
Threat by threat, a vengeful stalker is dismantling Elizabeth’s carefully constructed lifetime of lies. And no one in her temporary circle can be trusted—not her fleeting new love interest, not the supportive friend she knows only from online forums, and certainly not the police. They’ve never been there for her.
As fear sharpens to terror, Elizabeth soon discovers something about her past that even she didn’t know. The revelation could finally set her on a path of healing and redemption. Or, now alone in the dark, it could be Elizabeth’s worst nightmare.
Thank you to Victoria Helen Stone and Lake Union Publishing for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: June 1, 2025
Content warning: stalking, breaking and entering, suicide, knife violence, mention of: child abuse
May 3, 2025
This didn’t have the suspense that I thought it would. I would also describe it as kind of quirky. It definitely was not what I expected. I expected this to be more dark and more full of suspense and I didn’t really get those vibes personally.
What I will say is that I could tell this author is a good writer in general which is why I rounded up to 3 stars instead of what I really felt which is more like 2-2.5. This story just was not for me personally.
Thank you to Amazon First Reads for this free advance copy.
What I will say is that I could tell this author is a good writer in general which is why I rounded up to 3 stars instead of what I really felt which is more like 2-2.5. This story just was not for me personally.
Thank you to Amazon First Reads for this free advance copy.
February 17, 2025
Holy stalker!! 5 creeptastic stars!!
Thank you so much @victoriahelenstone @amazonpublishing for this gifted copy!🥰 Pub date is 6/17/25🥳🥳 Guys.. you don’t want to miss this one!! Listen to this..
Our girl Elizabeth May.. Eliza.. Beth… What the hell is her name?! 😂 She has a little… problem… she lies a bit.. 😬🤫.. about her name.. profession.. her past.. you name it.. BUT she has a good reason.. 🤔.. or so she says… She had a traumatic past… annddd a stalker!! 😳😳😳… Or does she?? 😏
I had NO idea what was the truth… this seriously kept me guessing to the very end! The stalker vibes were off the chain!! This quickly got dark and terrifying. 😍 Things I loved…
✅ All the stalker vibes… it will have you checking the door locks 🔒 😳
✅ Dogs 🐕 Yes Please!!
✅ Beach 🏝 town living 🍹
✅ Gangsters 😳
✅Murder!! Yes your thriller loving hearts.. will be VERY happy 😂
✅ Date night takes on a whole NEW meaning! 😳😂I will NEVER forget that!
Okay that is a wrap!! If you haven’t read @victoriahelenstone’s books… you don’t know what you are missing!! She is the queen👸🏻of the revenge thriller… Jane Doe is one the best revenge books EVER in my opinion. That started my love of her books!!
🖤🖤 Who is excited for this one??? Do you have a favorite @victoriahelenstone book? What are you reading today? 🖤🖤 Sign up for @victoriahelenstone's newsletter for a chance to win an ARC!! Run 🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️
Thank you so much @victoriahelenstone @amazonpublishing for this gifted copy!🥰 Pub date is 6/17/25🥳🥳 Guys.. you don’t want to miss this one!! Listen to this..
Our girl Elizabeth May.. Eliza.. Beth… What the hell is her name?! 😂 She has a little… problem… she lies a bit.. 😬🤫.. about her name.. profession.. her past.. you name it.. BUT she has a good reason.. 🤔.. or so she says… She had a traumatic past… annddd a stalker!! 😳😳😳… Or does she?? 😏
I had NO idea what was the truth… this seriously kept me guessing to the very end! The stalker vibes were off the chain!! This quickly got dark and terrifying. 😍 Things I loved…
✅ All the stalker vibes… it will have you checking the door locks 🔒 😳
✅ Dogs 🐕 Yes Please!!
✅ Beach 🏝 town living 🍹
✅ Gangsters 😳
✅Murder!! Yes your thriller loving hearts.. will be VERY happy 😂
✅ Date night takes on a whole NEW meaning! 😳😂I will NEVER forget that!
Okay that is a wrap!! If you haven’t read @victoriahelenstone’s books… you don’t know what you are missing!! She is the queen👸🏻of the revenge thriller… Jane Doe is one the best revenge books EVER in my opinion. That started my love of her books!!
🖤🖤 Who is excited for this one??? Do you have a favorite @victoriahelenstone book? What are you reading today? 🖤🖤 Sign up for @victoriahelenstone's newsletter for a chance to win an ARC!! Run 🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️
June 23, 2025
the setup…
Elizabeth May is a traveling nurse now living in Santa Cruz. It’s a job that perfectly suits her lifestyle as she normally never stays anywhere long enough to form roots, long term friends or connections. Even here she compartmentalizes her life, using different versions of her name…Eliza, Beth, Betsy, etc…as her identity with the volunteer animal shelter, her neighbors, the regulars at the beach. You get the picture. Long ago she fled from her Iowa hometown to escape a traumatic past. But now, she seems to have a sinister stalker that’s not only trying to expose that past but threaten her life.
the heart of the story…
At first, Elizabeth’s lies seem almost diabolical. She lies about everything, even the most inconsequential…her job, name, weekend activities…you name it. But as more of her past is revealed, you get a sense of the why and she feels a bit tragic. Elizabeth is so good at it, too. But the threat is real and she can’t be entirely open with law enforcement because of her mountain of lies. And she’s unapologetic about it.
the narration…
Soneela Nankani is another one of my favorite performers and she hit all the right notes in capturing the essence of the complicated Elizabeth May. She was excellent in her storytelling, too.
the bottom line…
Elizabeth’s a complicated character with a terrible and traumatic past that I might have run from, too. With so few people in her life, let alone knowing her real name, the suspects were limited and I went back and forth about them. I was drawn into the story from the onset even though the pacing slowed somewhat from some repetitive musings. But when it got back on track, I couldn’t put it down. This bald-faced liar kept me guessing.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Brilliance Audio and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
Elizabeth May is a traveling nurse now living in Santa Cruz. It’s a job that perfectly suits her lifestyle as she normally never stays anywhere long enough to form roots, long term friends or connections. Even here she compartmentalizes her life, using different versions of her name…Eliza, Beth, Betsy, etc…as her identity with the volunteer animal shelter, her neighbors, the regulars at the beach. You get the picture. Long ago she fled from her Iowa hometown to escape a traumatic past. But now, she seems to have a sinister stalker that’s not only trying to expose that past but threaten her life.
the heart of the story…
At first, Elizabeth’s lies seem almost diabolical. She lies about everything, even the most inconsequential…her job, name, weekend activities…you name it. But as more of her past is revealed, you get a sense of the why and she feels a bit tragic. Elizabeth is so good at it, too. But the threat is real and she can’t be entirely open with law enforcement because of her mountain of lies. And she’s unapologetic about it.
the narration…
Soneela Nankani is another one of my favorite performers and she hit all the right notes in capturing the essence of the complicated Elizabeth May. She was excellent in her storytelling, too.
the bottom line…
Elizabeth’s a complicated character with a terrible and traumatic past that I might have run from, too. With so few people in her life, let alone knowing her real name, the suspects were limited and I went back and forth about them. I was drawn into the story from the onset even though the pacing slowed somewhat from some repetitive musings. But when it got back on track, I couldn’t put it down. This bald-faced liar kept me guessing.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Brilliance Audio and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
June 16, 2025
I listened to this one on audiobook and I loved the narrator. The book itself was interesting. It was a fun thriller, but the twists weren’t very twisty and I saw the ending coming for a large portion of the book. When Elizabeth was a small child she got caught up in a witch hunt for satan worshipers and was coached by an older girl to report sexual abuse and satanism by their daycare providers who were prosecuted and sent to prison for two years until the older girl recanted and so did Lo. Lo was labeled “Devil Girl” as she grew up and was bullied horribly. She has spent her adult life as a traveling nurse moving from place to place and lying to everyone she meets. She has acquaintances in her current town but everything starts to get weird when she starts to be harassed from someone calling her a liar and clearly is talking about what happened when she was 5. When she reports the incidents to the police they clearly think she is just seeking attention. This book was ok, definitely a fun ride. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I wasn’t reading so many books with this theme of a narrator being set up to look crazy. I gave this one 3.5 stars which I rounded up because I really did like the narration.
May 4, 2025
Such a fun read! The main character’s strong, complicated, and has a tendency to lie, which made it super fun uncovering her secrets. The story kept me hooked the whole way through. I also really love this author’s writing style. Solid character growth and a satisfying ending
May 7, 2025
This one just didn’t intrigue me as much as I had hoped. I thought it would be a lot more dark and mysterious but it seemed repetitive with the main character. A lot of filler scenarios. It was more interesting to me in the last 20% of the book. It was very slow for me for most of it and the last bit seemed rushed.
The only characters I seemed to like were Grigore, the landlord—whom was only a part of the story for a brief bit and the pup Cocoa.
Honestly, I don’t remember much from it—this isn’t one that I enjoyed reading. It might be great for some others but unfortunately, personally it was a miss.
The only characters I seemed to like were Grigore, the landlord—whom was only a part of the story for a brief bit and the pup Cocoa.
Honestly, I don’t remember much from it—this isn’t one that I enjoyed reading. It might be great for some others but unfortunately, personally it was a miss.
May 29, 2025
A creepy read, featuring a complicated protagonist, stalking, satanic panic and unraveling the secrets of a hidden past.
‘People are like books for me, and I wander the world like it’s a library, plucking out whatever catches my interest.’
Format: ebook - Prime first reads (May)
‘People are like books for me, and I wander the world like it’s a library, plucking out whatever catches my interest.’
Format: ebook - Prime first reads (May)
May 29, 2025
Decent
The fact Grigore just went with it like it was nothing. He is the MVP. Mike was a little to understanding and patient for me.
The fact Grigore just went with it like it was nothing. He is the MVP. Mike was a little to understanding and patient for me.
March 15, 2025
You may recognize this author from the fabulous revenge thriller, Jane Doe. I'm so thankful to have the opportunity to read Stone's newest thriller, Bald-Faced Liar. (My bad not knowing it wasn't bold-faced liar. 😂)
📖: Elizabeth May (aka Eliza, Beth, Bess...) has been living under the radar after a tumultuous childhood and currently stationed in lovely Santa Cruz, CA. Within a few days, Elizabeth meets a cute new guy, is sabotaged online, and wonders if someone is following her. Are these coincidences, or is something bigger at play?
🤝: This may be a good fit if you enjoy:
- "am I going crazy?!" psychological thrillers
- unexpected allies
- quirky little beach towns
💭: Bald-Faced Liars kept me guessing who was creating all the chaos in Elizabeth's life. I was mad and questioning everything right along with her. The reveal wasn't my favorite, but I like how everything wrapped up. This book would be a better fit for readers who read to be entertained rather than expecting everything to be realistic.
This is my second book by Victoria Helen Stone, and I'm officially a fan of her writing style. I enjoy her voice and snarky characters, and I will absolutely continue to pick up her books.
Thank you to Victoria Helen Stone, Lake Union Publishing, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ebook.
📖: Elizabeth May (aka Eliza, Beth, Bess...) has been living under the radar after a tumultuous childhood and currently stationed in lovely Santa Cruz, CA. Within a few days, Elizabeth meets a cute new guy, is sabotaged online, and wonders if someone is following her. Are these coincidences, or is something bigger at play?
🤝: This may be a good fit if you enjoy:
- "am I going crazy?!" psychological thrillers
- unexpected allies
- quirky little beach towns
💭: Bald-Faced Liars kept me guessing who was creating all the chaos in Elizabeth's life. I was mad and questioning everything right along with her. The reveal wasn't my favorite, but I like how everything wrapped up. This book would be a better fit for readers who read to be entertained rather than expecting everything to be realistic.
This is my second book by Victoria Helen Stone, and I'm officially a fan of her writing style. I enjoy her voice and snarky characters, and I will absolutely continue to pick up her books.
Thank you to Victoria Helen Stone, Lake Union Publishing, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ebook.
March 22, 2025
Bald-Face Liar is a gripping, fast-paced thriller that kept me hooked from start to finish. Elizabeth May has spent her life running from a dark past, but when a stalker starts tearing apart her carefully built lies, she realizes she’s not as invisible as she thought.
The suspense is intense, with constant twists that kept me guessing. Elizabeth is a strong, complex character, and I loved uncovering her secrets as the story unfolded. The paranoia, the mystery, and the shocking revelations made this book impossible to put down.
The suspense is intense, with constant twists that kept me guessing. Elizabeth is a strong, complex character, and I loved uncovering her secrets as the story unfolded. The paranoia, the mystery, and the shocking revelations made this book impossible to put down.
August 31, 2025
Our main character has perfected the art of lying or "half truths." She found herself at the center of a very public scandal because of it at age five. So, as can be expected, no one believes her when she finally tells the truth ...
Twisted, full of tense suspense, and fast paced. This story started off a bit slow but so intriguingly bizarre.
Twisted, full of tense suspense, and fast paced. This story started off a bit slow but so intriguingly bizarre.
June 28, 2025
#ad much love for my finished copy @victoriahelenstone @amazonpublishing & @kayepublicity #partner
🆃🅷🅴 🅱🅰🅻🅳-🅵🅰🅲🅴🅳 🅻🅸🅰🆁
ᴀᴠᴀɪʟᴀʙʟᴇ ɴᴏᴡ ᴏɴ ᴋᴜ ᴀꜱ ᴀ ʀᴇᴀᴅ&ʟɪꜱᴛᴇɴ
“Even when you're not lying, you're a freak and no one likes you,” (p. 29).
^ but she’s always lying 💁🏼♀️
Elizabeth May (my daughters’ middle names LOL Elizabeth and Mae) is a traveling nurse. And a nurse you won’t ever be able to forget. New city, fresh starts, and all that. But you can’t leave destruction behind you and never expect it to catch up with you. Or can you?
This book was so entertaining! I listened to the audio while following along and just have to say that Soneela Nankani did a phenomenal job! She hit the funny parts perfectly, altered her voice at the most perfect time. She brought this book to another level and it was such a fun read.
I love Stone’s writing, her voice comes across so strong and she writes the most fab thrillers. I fully enjoyed this one and don’t think I’ll ever be able to forget this book.
Fast-paced and totally addicting this is the type of book you read in one sitting. But behind the humor and fun the story grapples hard-hitting themes.
𝕋𝕙𝕖𝕞𝕖𝕤/𝕋𝕣𝕠𝕡𝕖𝕤:
Identity
Childhood trauma
Truth vs Lies
Betrayal
Stalking
Resilience
Unreliable narrator
Dark humor
TWs galore 😂 look them up if you’re a person who likes to know 💕
Recommend.
🆃🅷🅴 🅱🅰🅻🅳-🅵🅰🅲🅴🅳 🅻🅸🅰🆁
ᴀᴠᴀɪʟᴀʙʟᴇ ɴᴏᴡ ᴏɴ ᴋᴜ ᴀꜱ ᴀ ʀᴇᴀᴅ&ʟɪꜱᴛᴇɴ
“Even when you're not lying, you're a freak and no one likes you,” (p. 29).
^ but she’s always lying 💁🏼♀️
Elizabeth May (my daughters’ middle names LOL Elizabeth and Mae) is a traveling nurse. And a nurse you won’t ever be able to forget. New city, fresh starts, and all that. But you can’t leave destruction behind you and never expect it to catch up with you. Or can you?
This book was so entertaining! I listened to the audio while following along and just have to say that Soneela Nankani did a phenomenal job! She hit the funny parts perfectly, altered her voice at the most perfect time. She brought this book to another level and it was such a fun read.
I love Stone’s writing, her voice comes across so strong and she writes the most fab thrillers. I fully enjoyed this one and don’t think I’ll ever be able to forget this book.
Fast-paced and totally addicting this is the type of book you read in one sitting. But behind the humor and fun the story grapples hard-hitting themes.
𝕋𝕙𝕖𝕞𝕖𝕤/𝕋𝕣𝕠𝕡𝕖𝕤:
Identity
Childhood trauma
Truth vs Lies
Betrayal
Stalking
Resilience
Unreliable narrator
Dark humor
TWs galore 😂 look them up if you’re a person who likes to know 💕
Recommend.
May 5, 2025
Book Review: Bald-Faced Liar by Victoria Helen Stone
(A Woman’s Perspective on Deception, Autonomy, and the Performance of Truth)
Victoria Helen Stone’s Bald-Faced Liar is a sharp, darkly comedic exploration of female deception as both survival strategy and social critique. Through the lens of its morally ambiguous protagonist, the novel interrogates the societal expectations placed on women to perform honesty, likability, and vulnerability—while revealing how strategic dishonesty can become a tool of empowerment in a world that often rewards male cunning but punishes female guile.
Key Themes and Strengths
The Feminist Ethics of Deception
Stone’s protagonist, a self-proclaimed liar, challenges the binary of “good” versus “bad” women by weaponizing deceit to navigate patriarchal structures. The novel provocatively asks: When honesty leaves women vulnerable, is lying not just pragmatic but justified? This theme resonates with historical and literary traditions of women using subterfuge to reclaim agency, from folktale tricksters to modern antiheroines.
Performance of Femininity as a Con
The book dissects how women are socialized to perform authenticity—modesty, emotional transparency, self-deprecation—while men who manipulate are often celebrated as shrewd. Stone’s protagonist subverts this by treating femininity itself as a malleable disguise, exposing the absurdity of gendered double standards around deception.
Dark Humor as Social Commentary
The novel’s sardonic tone reframes lying not as a moral failing but as a satirical lens to critique hypocrisy. The protagonist’s escalating fabrications mirror the absurdity of societal expectations, inviting readers to question who the real liars are: the woman who owns her deceit, or the institutions demanding her unquestioning compliance?
Psychological Nuance of the Unlikable Woman
Stone avoids romanticizing her protagonist, instead crafting a complex portrait of a woman whose lies stem from both trauma and opportunism. This refusal to sanitize female imperfection is a hallmark of feminist literature, rejecting the demand for morally legible heroines.
Narrative Structure as Mirror to Deception
The first-person voice immerses readers in the protagonist’s unreliability, forcing them to grapple with their own complicity in believing (or doubting) her. This metatextual play echoes women’s real-world struggles to be heard while being dismissed as “dramatic” or “untrustworthy.”
Critique
While the novel brilliantly deconstructs gendered hypocrisy, it occasionally leans into tropes of female manipulation as inherently transgressive, potentially reinforcing the very stereotypes it critiques. A deeper exploration of how race, class, or sexuality intersect with societal tolerance for deceit could have added further dimension.
Conclusion
Bald-Faced Liar is a whip-smart addition to the canon of feminist psychological thrillers, offering a defiant rebuttal to the cult of female authenticity. Stone’s protagonist doesn’t apologize for her lies—she weaponizes them, turning societal expectations into the ultimate con. The result is a provocative read that reframes deceit as not just survival, but rebellion.
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
A darkly entertaining and intellectually incisive novel that challenges readers to question who benefits from the myth of women’s inherent honesty.
Thank you to the author for a free copy of this book!
(A Woman’s Perspective on Deception, Autonomy, and the Performance of Truth)
Victoria Helen Stone’s Bald-Faced Liar is a sharp, darkly comedic exploration of female deception as both survival strategy and social critique. Through the lens of its morally ambiguous protagonist, the novel interrogates the societal expectations placed on women to perform honesty, likability, and vulnerability—while revealing how strategic dishonesty can become a tool of empowerment in a world that often rewards male cunning but punishes female guile.
Key Themes and Strengths
The Feminist Ethics of Deception
Stone’s protagonist, a self-proclaimed liar, challenges the binary of “good” versus “bad” women by weaponizing deceit to navigate patriarchal structures. The novel provocatively asks: When honesty leaves women vulnerable, is lying not just pragmatic but justified? This theme resonates with historical and literary traditions of women using subterfuge to reclaim agency, from folktale tricksters to modern antiheroines.
Performance of Femininity as a Con
The book dissects how women are socialized to perform authenticity—modesty, emotional transparency, self-deprecation—while men who manipulate are often celebrated as shrewd. Stone’s protagonist subverts this by treating femininity itself as a malleable disguise, exposing the absurdity of gendered double standards around deception.
Dark Humor as Social Commentary
The novel’s sardonic tone reframes lying not as a moral failing but as a satirical lens to critique hypocrisy. The protagonist’s escalating fabrications mirror the absurdity of societal expectations, inviting readers to question who the real liars are: the woman who owns her deceit, or the institutions demanding her unquestioning compliance?
Psychological Nuance of the Unlikable Woman
Stone avoids romanticizing her protagonist, instead crafting a complex portrait of a woman whose lies stem from both trauma and opportunism. This refusal to sanitize female imperfection is a hallmark of feminist literature, rejecting the demand for morally legible heroines.
Narrative Structure as Mirror to Deception
The first-person voice immerses readers in the protagonist’s unreliability, forcing them to grapple with their own complicity in believing (or doubting) her. This metatextual play echoes women’s real-world struggles to be heard while being dismissed as “dramatic” or “untrustworthy.”
Critique
While the novel brilliantly deconstructs gendered hypocrisy, it occasionally leans into tropes of female manipulation as inherently transgressive, potentially reinforcing the very stereotypes it critiques. A deeper exploration of how race, class, or sexuality intersect with societal tolerance for deceit could have added further dimension.
Conclusion
Bald-Faced Liar is a whip-smart addition to the canon of feminist psychological thrillers, offering a defiant rebuttal to the cult of female authenticity. Stone’s protagonist doesn’t apologize for her lies—she weaponizes them, turning societal expectations into the ultimate con. The result is a provocative read that reframes deceit as not just survival, but rebellion.
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
A darkly entertaining and intellectually incisive novel that challenges readers to question who benefits from the myth of women’s inherent honesty.
Thank you to the author for a free copy of this book!
August 1, 2025
This was a solid “ok.” It was an easy enough read, but for a “suspense” book, it was somehow boring. It followed the normal basic outline of these novels: build up, a little climax, and then the bad guy tells the whole story at the end. It’s been done a thousand times. I could guess at the bad guy right away. I guess the “twist” was who Tristan was, but I didn’t care, because the person he was wasn’t even alluded to earlier in the story.
A lot of things bugged me. In one of the chapters, it said something like “I told you she was my favorite nurse.” Who is the you? Why the shift to second person? Then there was one sentence earlier on where it talks about how Lauren still had her baby fat, but I think the author was trying to say that she didn’t have her baby fat.
So now that we know what happened at the end, I suppose that Lauren is never going to get justice. And there goes that storyline! Why would Elizabeth change her name and her story with so many people within the same town? Did she not think that they would run into each other?
My biggest problem with this book is that the whole premise is flawed. First of all, who on earth is going to put a five year old on the stand and grill her and subject her to “rape” (yes, she called it that) by doctors? She is FIVE- it’s ridiculous. What was everybody’s motivation to convict this couple? Why would there suddenly be a corrupt police force and psychologist with leading questions? It just doesn’t make any sense. And there’s absolutely no way people would get thrown in jail with no physical evidence except for a random Bible that it turns out the son put there. Wouldn’t the first thing people do is to check for DNA evidence?
And we find that absolutely nothing about Elizabeth’s background. It makes no sense that parents would turn on their five-year-old child and call her a liar instead of trying to protect her. I guess I couldn’t get past the flawed premise and the story itself really didn’t do anything to make me the first like it more. It’s a quick easy read, but it’s just kind of dumb all around. Seriously, Elizabeth spent her entire life trying to hide who she was because at five years of age she was manipulated into saying something. To that end, why does she like Lauren so much since Lauren is the one who put her up to it?
I don’t know. Just not for me.
A lot of things bugged me. In one of the chapters, it said something like “I told you she was my favorite nurse.” Who is the you? Why the shift to second person? Then there was one sentence earlier on where it talks about how Lauren still had her baby fat, but I think the author was trying to say that she didn’t have her baby fat.
So now that we know what happened at the end, I suppose that Lauren is never going to get justice. And there goes that storyline! Why would Elizabeth change her name and her story with so many people within the same town? Did she not think that they would run into each other?
My biggest problem with this book is that the whole premise is flawed. First of all, who on earth is going to put a five year old on the stand and grill her and subject her to “rape” (yes, she called it that) by doctors? She is FIVE- it’s ridiculous. What was everybody’s motivation to convict this couple? Why would there suddenly be a corrupt police force and psychologist with leading questions? It just doesn’t make any sense. And there’s absolutely no way people would get thrown in jail with no physical evidence except for a random Bible that it turns out the son put there. Wouldn’t the first thing people do is to check for DNA evidence?
And we find that absolutely nothing about Elizabeth’s background. It makes no sense that parents would turn on their five-year-old child and call her a liar instead of trying to protect her. I guess I couldn’t get past the flawed premise and the story itself really didn’t do anything to make me the first like it more. It’s a quick easy read, but it’s just kind of dumb all around. Seriously, Elizabeth spent her entire life trying to hide who she was because at five years of age she was manipulated into saying something. To that end, why does she like Lauren so much since Lauren is the one who put her up to it?
I don’t know. Just not for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 18, 2025
From a master storyteller, Victoria Helen Stone (long-time favorite), author of the popular Jane Doe series, returns following (2024), Follow Her Down with her highly anticipated 10th suspense psychological thriller, BALD-FACED LIAR.
Check out her feature in Park City News.
My apologies for the lengthy review, but I get a little carried away with the books I am most passionate about, as I want everyone to read them!
Stone's 10th thriller is among her best.
With each Victoria Helen Stone (VHS) story, you expect flawed characters trying desperately to survive against the odds, a wicked plot, dark humor, twists, and a race against time to the finish line. She does not disappoint!
Stone, a versatile writer, has also penned romance novels under the pseudonym Victoria Dahl, with a total of 29 published works in this genre.
In her latest work of fiction, a woman is hiding from her past, where lying has become a part of her life—her means of survival. But her lies may have caught up with her in this psychologically rich, twisty, emotional, unputdownable thriller. The suspenseful plot will keep you on the edge of your seat, guessing the identity of the stalker and the motive until the grand finale.
The title "Bald-Faced Liar" is a poignant reflection of the protagonist's ongoing struggle with truth and deception, a compelling and central theme in this gripping narrative.
An exploration of childhood trauma, identity, acceptance, and survival. Victoria Helen Stone is at the TOP of her game with BALD-FACED LIAR. Highly impressive. You will find so much more than a thriller. Emotional, compelling, and psychologically rich.
About...
Set in beautiful coastal Santa Cruz, CA, Elizabeth May (nurse extraordinaire) is a traveling nurse with a habit of lying about every detail of her life, and sometimes she even forgets all her lies and her many aliases.
She often feels like a freak. She remembers the pain, the fear, the torture, and relives it in her dreams every night. The horror movie. Her frequent name changes are a reflection of her need for anonymity and her desire to escape her past—a past that continues to haunt her.
From police, prosecutors, and therapists. She was examined, interrogated, hypnotized, guided, and prayed over. It started as manipulation and a persuasion to lie to help someone. Was she a victim?
She moves every few months, from state to state, creating vignettes of life in each one. That worked for fifteen years before she landed this short-term gig in Santa Cruz, and she has been here for the last two years.
Her shady Romanian landlord offers her a nice discount for the work she has done for him since her arrival. Grigore cut a hundred dollars off her rent to keep an eye on the apartment upstairs and the cottage next door, since she is home all day. This gives her something to do between her work and also something to stress about— trying to keep up with these tenants/visitors coming and going like a revolving door. Also, her shady landlord may be of assistance later on. (Wink😉)
(Beth, Eliza, Elizabeth) is almost forty, has never had kids, has been married, and now her life isn't perfect. But she is making it work and is a survivor.
She has come to this little beach hideaway, and this seems to be the best medicine for what ails her. She must stay safe, and she enjoys people-watching, seeing people come and go, and imagining their lives behind closed doors. Her resilience is truly inspiring.
But the truth is, NO ONE truly knows her. So she does not have to leave this place. She will never go back.
There are dangers to stuffing all your bad feelings down as deep as you can. However, on the other hand, she knows that opening up allows control to fall into the hands of others.
She must keep herself safe. She is resourceful and always looking over her shoulder. She is fun and has a warm personality. She needs to remember what lies she tells. She needs to stay under the radar. She even uses humor and plenty of snark as another coping mechanism. Keep everyone at a distance. Do not get invested in anyone.
She can never get too close to anyone if they stumble upon the truth about her past. Her use of humor and snark is not just a coping mechanism, but also a way to keep people at a distance, preventing them from getting too close and discovering her secrets.
Then she discovers she has a creepy stalker, which destroys her carefully laid life, and now she is forced to confront the present and her traumatic past, which started her on this journey in the first place. A false facade.
Why is this happening now, and who remembers her from Iowa? She cannot go to prison. She second-guesses everything, trying to backtrack how she slipped up. Are there others involved in the case? Who is dead, alive, and what is their motive? Is she next? It is time to pull off the biggest lie of her life.
What about Mike, the sexy environmental chemist/neighbor? Of course, she tells him she is an accountant when she meets him.
What about her online friend, Tristan? Can he be trusted?
She can never trust anyone with her most secret feelings. She cannot even trust herself. Her struggle with trust is palpable, and it's hard not to feel empathetic towards her. Will she be discovered and have to relive her trauma? INTENSE!
My thoughts...
Victoria Helen Stone never ceases to amaze me with her awe-inspiring talents, creativity, and her well-drawn characters. Plus, I love her settings and vivid descriptions. All her books are well thought out, and there is always something beneath the outer shell of her main characters, which is usually a woman showing great strength when things get intense, and there is nowhere to turn.
With BALD-FACED LIAR, Stone has created a complex main character in Elizabeth, blurring the lines between right and wrong and how a traumatic childhood shapes your adult life.
An exploration of the capacity of the human heart to harm, manipulate, to heal, and ultimately, to hope. Victoria is a savvy writer who delves deeply into her characters’ motivations.
A riveting page-turner, intense, delivering thrills, twists, superb characterization, emotional depth, and entertainment that we all come to expect from her work. Well done!
The author brilliantly builds suspense as the stalker comes into play, causing Elizabeth to question everything in her life, including her sanity. She keeps readers guessing as to where she is taking us, but hang on for the ride!
Elizabeth is in a terrible position, so you feel for her. Yes, she was just a girl. Yes, she ruined several lives. But she cannot forget, and it tortures her. How can she ever trust anyone after a childhood defined by false memories and community hysteria? All the damage was not only to her but to many. What is the cost of a lie?
The "cost of a lie" refers to the negative consequences, both emotional and relational, that can result from lying. These consequences can include guilt, anxiety, decreased self-esteem, and damage to relationships. Additionally, lying can lead to a loss of trust, both in oneself and in others, and can create a cycle of further deceit.
Her coping mechanism is DENY. Deny. Deny.
Elizabeth has many personalities, and we see all sides throughout the book. From vulnerable and fearful, to strong, resilient, and courageous. Inspired by the Satanic Panic (you must read up on this as haunting, unsettling, disturbing, and intriguing).
Psychological thrillers delve into the human mind, frequently focusing on the inner turmoil and intricate relationships of their characters. Books and films delve into themes of obsession, manipulation, and the blurred lines between reality and delusion. The author cleverly guides Elizabeth through many of these emotions and complexities, as well as her innermost thoughts, as she struggles to move beyond her past, her identity, and her new life.
Interview...
Stay tuned for my fascinating and fun #AuthorElevatorSeries QA with Victoria on pub day, June 1, where we go behind the scenes of the book and this mega-talented superstar author! I am truly honored to feature her for the second time. The first was back in 2018, the year I introduced my Elevator series with her, Jane Doe. Here we are seven years later, and still a favorite.
Elizabeth (aka Eliza, Beth, Bess...) is a total riot! I think fans are going to adore her as you follow her on her wild adventure called LIFE.
As always, Victoria Helen Stone shines and is one of my favorite authors, having read all her books and anxiously awaiting her next masterpiece.) I love her dark humor! Highly entertaining.
Movie-worthy! Be sure and add this gem to your summer reading list. Ideal for book clubs and further discussions. I hope we see her again in future books to catch up!
Audiobook...
I have since listened to the audiobook, narrated by the talented Soneela Nankani, for a highly entertaining, suspenseful, and engaging performance. Thanks to Brilliance Audio for providing an advanced listening copy.
Recs...
BALD FACED LIAR is for fans of well-written character-driven psychological suspense, Jane Doe, and the author, as well as those who enjoy works by Kaira Rouda, A.J. Banner, Sally Hepworth, Laura Lippman, Freida McFadden, and Jenova Rose.
Many thanks to the author, Lake Union (publisher), and NetGalley for a digital and paperback advanced review copy in exchange for an honest review. Also, my Kindle First Read Pick
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars +
Pub Date: June 1, 2025
June 2025 Must-Read Books
June Author QA Interview
Check out her feature in Park City News.
My apologies for the lengthy review, but I get a little carried away with the books I am most passionate about, as I want everyone to read them!
Stone's 10th thriller is among her best.
With each Victoria Helen Stone (VHS) story, you expect flawed characters trying desperately to survive against the odds, a wicked plot, dark humor, twists, and a race against time to the finish line. She does not disappoint!
Stone, a versatile writer, has also penned romance novels under the pseudonym Victoria Dahl, with a total of 29 published works in this genre.
In her latest work of fiction, a woman is hiding from her past, where lying has become a part of her life—her means of survival. But her lies may have caught up with her in this psychologically rich, twisty, emotional, unputdownable thriller. The suspenseful plot will keep you on the edge of your seat, guessing the identity of the stalker and the motive until the grand finale.
The title "Bald-Faced Liar" is a poignant reflection of the protagonist's ongoing struggle with truth and deception, a compelling and central theme in this gripping narrative.
An exploration of childhood trauma, identity, acceptance, and survival. Victoria Helen Stone is at the TOP of her game with BALD-FACED LIAR. Highly impressive. You will find so much more than a thriller. Emotional, compelling, and psychologically rich.
About...
Set in beautiful coastal Santa Cruz, CA, Elizabeth May (nurse extraordinaire) is a traveling nurse with a habit of lying about every detail of her life, and sometimes she even forgets all her lies and her many aliases.
She often feels like a freak. She remembers the pain, the fear, the torture, and relives it in her dreams every night. The horror movie. Her frequent name changes are a reflection of her need for anonymity and her desire to escape her past—a past that continues to haunt her.
From police, prosecutors, and therapists. She was examined, interrogated, hypnotized, guided, and prayed over. It started as manipulation and a persuasion to lie to help someone. Was she a victim?
She moves every few months, from state to state, creating vignettes of life in each one. That worked for fifteen years before she landed this short-term gig in Santa Cruz, and she has been here for the last two years.
Her shady Romanian landlord offers her a nice discount for the work she has done for him since her arrival. Grigore cut a hundred dollars off her rent to keep an eye on the apartment upstairs and the cottage next door, since she is home all day. This gives her something to do between her work and also something to stress about— trying to keep up with these tenants/visitors coming and going like a revolving door. Also, her shady landlord may be of assistance later on. (Wink😉)
(Beth, Eliza, Elizabeth) is almost forty, has never had kids, has been married, and now her life isn't perfect. But she is making it work and is a survivor.
She has come to this little beach hideaway, and this seems to be the best medicine for what ails her. She must stay safe, and she enjoys people-watching, seeing people come and go, and imagining their lives behind closed doors. Her resilience is truly inspiring.
But the truth is, NO ONE truly knows her. So she does not have to leave this place. She will never go back.
There are dangers to stuffing all your bad feelings down as deep as you can. However, on the other hand, she knows that opening up allows control to fall into the hands of others.
She must keep herself safe. She is resourceful and always looking over her shoulder. She is fun and has a warm personality. She needs to remember what lies she tells. She needs to stay under the radar. She even uses humor and plenty of snark as another coping mechanism. Keep everyone at a distance. Do not get invested in anyone.
She can never get too close to anyone if they stumble upon the truth about her past. Her use of humor and snark is not just a coping mechanism, but also a way to keep people at a distance, preventing them from getting too close and discovering her secrets.
Then she discovers she has a creepy stalker, which destroys her carefully laid life, and now she is forced to confront the present and her traumatic past, which started her on this journey in the first place. A false facade.
Why is this happening now, and who remembers her from Iowa? She cannot go to prison. She second-guesses everything, trying to backtrack how she slipped up. Are there others involved in the case? Who is dead, alive, and what is their motive? Is she next? It is time to pull off the biggest lie of her life.
What about Mike, the sexy environmental chemist/neighbor? Of course, she tells him she is an accountant when she meets him.
What about her online friend, Tristan? Can he be trusted?
She can never trust anyone with her most secret feelings. She cannot even trust herself. Her struggle with trust is palpable, and it's hard not to feel empathetic towards her. Will she be discovered and have to relive her trauma? INTENSE!
My thoughts...
Victoria Helen Stone never ceases to amaze me with her awe-inspiring talents, creativity, and her well-drawn characters. Plus, I love her settings and vivid descriptions. All her books are well thought out, and there is always something beneath the outer shell of her main characters, which is usually a woman showing great strength when things get intense, and there is nowhere to turn.
With BALD-FACED LIAR, Stone has created a complex main character in Elizabeth, blurring the lines between right and wrong and how a traumatic childhood shapes your adult life.
An exploration of the capacity of the human heart to harm, manipulate, to heal, and ultimately, to hope. Victoria is a savvy writer who delves deeply into her characters’ motivations.
A riveting page-turner, intense, delivering thrills, twists, superb characterization, emotional depth, and entertainment that we all come to expect from her work. Well done!
The author brilliantly builds suspense as the stalker comes into play, causing Elizabeth to question everything in her life, including her sanity. She keeps readers guessing as to where she is taking us, but hang on for the ride!
Elizabeth is in a terrible position, so you feel for her. Yes, she was just a girl. Yes, she ruined several lives. But she cannot forget, and it tortures her. How can she ever trust anyone after a childhood defined by false memories and community hysteria? All the damage was not only to her but to many. What is the cost of a lie?
The "cost of a lie" refers to the negative consequences, both emotional and relational, that can result from lying. These consequences can include guilt, anxiety, decreased self-esteem, and damage to relationships. Additionally, lying can lead to a loss of trust, both in oneself and in others, and can create a cycle of further deceit.
Her coping mechanism is DENY. Deny. Deny.
Elizabeth has many personalities, and we see all sides throughout the book. From vulnerable and fearful, to strong, resilient, and courageous. Inspired by the Satanic Panic (you must read up on this as haunting, unsettling, disturbing, and intriguing).
The "satanic panic" of the 1980s was a period of widespread fear and hysteria surrounding alleged satanic cults and ritual abuse of children. While it began in North America, it quickly spread to other parts of the world. The panic involved numerous false accusations, unjust criminal trials, and the disruption of countless lives.
Psychological thrillers delve into the human mind, frequently focusing on the inner turmoil and intricate relationships of their characters. Books and films delve into themes of obsession, manipulation, and the blurred lines between reality and delusion. The author cleverly guides Elizabeth through many of these emotions and complexities, as well as her innermost thoughts, as she struggles to move beyond her past, her identity, and her new life.
Interview...
Stay tuned for my fascinating and fun #AuthorElevatorSeries QA with Victoria on pub day, June 1, where we go behind the scenes of the book and this mega-talented superstar author! I am truly honored to feature her for the second time. The first was back in 2018, the year I introduced my Elevator series with her, Jane Doe. Here we are seven years later, and still a favorite.
Elizabeth (aka Eliza, Beth, Bess...) is a total riot! I think fans are going to adore her as you follow her on her wild adventure called LIFE.
As always, Victoria Helen Stone shines and is one of my favorite authors, having read all her books and anxiously awaiting her next masterpiece.) I love her dark humor! Highly entertaining.
Movie-worthy! Be sure and add this gem to your summer reading list. Ideal for book clubs and further discussions. I hope we see her again in future books to catch up!
Audiobook...
I have since listened to the audiobook, narrated by the talented Soneela Nankani, for a highly entertaining, suspenseful, and engaging performance. Thanks to Brilliance Audio for providing an advanced listening copy.
Recs...
BALD FACED LIAR is for fans of well-written character-driven psychological suspense, Jane Doe, and the author, as well as those who enjoy works by Kaira Rouda, A.J. Banner, Sally Hepworth, Laura Lippman, Freida McFadden, and Jenova Rose.
Many thanks to the author, Lake Union (publisher), and NetGalley for a digital and paperback advanced review copy in exchange for an honest review. Also, my Kindle First Read Pick
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars +
Pub Date: June 1, 2025
June 2025 Must-Read Books
June Author QA Interview
August 23, 2025
Elizabeth May wants to keep her past hidden. She has a new identity and is working as a traveling nurse in Santa Cruz. She lies to everyone in her life to keep her traumatic childhood and her notoriety hidden. But eventually things start to make her feel uneasy. She feels like she's being followed and that someone knows who she really is. Can she manage to keep her past hidden? This was such a fun read. I enjoyed the writing, the plot was steady paced and it had me guessing what was going on throughout! Definitely an addicting thriller. Cannot wait to read more of her books.
Thank you to the publisher, author, and Suzy approved book tours for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to the publisher, author, and Suzy approved book tours for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
May 24, 2025
3.0 stars. My 1st reads choice for May. An okay read, more mystery than suspense. Didn't care for the main character/Elizabeth, a traveling nurse. Although her professions seem to change depending on who she's talking to. LOL! The title is certainly on point. She lies to everyone about everything. The story moves very slowly, and I lost count of the number of panic attacks Elizabeth a/k/a Betsy, Beth, Liz, etc. has. Wasn't really shocked by the "who done it." There weren't that many choices it could've been. I suppose the ending is upbeat for our main character, but that's a stretch given her past actions.
August 6, 2025
3.5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2025/07/30/...
As you can probably guess from the title, Bald-Faced Liar by Victoria Helen Stone is a psychological thriller that explores the slippery nature of truth. But while there’s plenty of like here, especially in the way the author plays with identity and secrecy, this novel wasn’t quite as sharp or suspenseful as I’d hoped it would be.
Set along the sunny coast of Santa Cruz, Bald-Faced Liar follows a woman of many different identities. It’s why she’s grateful to be called Elizabeth, a versatile name that lends itself to countless nicknames and is common enough to allow her to fly under the radar on google searches. For most of her life she’s been on the run from her past, drifting from one city to the next, reinventing a new life for herself every time she moves. In Santa Cruz, she can blend in among the never-ending supply of tourists, whom Elizabeth also takes a certain voyeuristic pleasure watching from afar. Learning their names, scrolling through their social media feeds, and piecing together their dramas, she thrives on imagining the lives of others because her self-imposed detachment keeps her from participating in normal interactions herself.
Still, there’s a certain charm to her new home, and against her nature and better judgment, thoughts begin to creep in about putting down roots here permanently. After all, life is good, and dare she hopes she’s finally escaped the long shadow of her past? However, this sense of peace does not last. Cracks start to form in the carefully constructed illusion of her existence when she realizes someone is watching her. At first, it’s subtle—an anonymous online attack meant to sabotage her at work, followed by threatening messages in the mail. But soon, these incidents begin to escalate into more dangerous territory, causing Elizabeth to fear for her life. With no one to turn to—she’s lied to too many people for too long— she wonders if everything she’s been running from has finally caught up with her.
With such an eccentric protagonist, it’s safe to say that Bald-Faced Liar is the kind of story that runs on the strength of its quirky character work. When the book opens, we literally meet Elizabeth in a tight spot, eavesdropping on her neighbors and delighting in the scandalous details of their lives. From the start, it’s clear that while Elizabeth may appear outwardly ordinary, there’s something deeply broken beneath the surface. Her obsession with spying on others and the thrill she gets from uncovering their intimate secrets point to some unresolved trauma from her childhood. In fact, throughout the early chapters, the subject keeps popping up, leading readers to question: What exactly did she do to result in all the paranoia and constant lying? Was it something scandalous, a crime of some sort, or perhaps even something unforgiveable? At this point, all we know is that whatever it was, it turned her into a pariah and set her on her nomadic path.
On the story front, the novel also comes out strong. Because of all the questions hanging in the air, there’s a perpetual atmosphere of tension that lingers, especially as more side characters are added and the suspect list starts to grow. While none of the supporting cast are explored too deeply, admittedly this might have been a direct consequence of Elizabeth’s aloofness and guarded behavior. Regardless, several of them actually offered potential for surprising turns and red herrings. The setting of Santa Cruz also added a lot flavor, and the author did a good job of bringing the quintessential California beach town to life, making it easy to see why Elizabeth loved living here so much.
That said, the excellent setup of a slippery heroine caught in a web of paranoia eventually unravels under the weight of its own twisty plotline and shifting character tones. Take Elizabeth, whose moral ambiguity made her a fascinating study for the first half of the novel when you were never quite sure whether to hate her or root for her. But as the truth gradually came to light, it turned out the big bad reveal wasn’t nearly as damning as it was made out to be—at least, not to me. In fact, many readers would probably feel sympathy for Elizabeth, or, at the very least, not hold anything against her. Personally, I found her much more intriguing when I had a more conflicted response towards her. I hate to say it, but once her backstory filled out, she became less of an enigma, falling into a more familiar and clichéd role.
I also thought the ending overstayed its welcome just a little. After delivering a satisfying punch at the climax, the book probably should have wrapped up quickly on a high note, yet the extended denouement dragged on just enough to feel a bit silly, undercutting the tensions that the story had worked so hard to build.
Other parts of Bald-Faced Liar will strain your ability to suspend disbelief, but despite some hiccups along the way, this book still has a lot going for it. The writing is sharp and witty, and the pacing moves well. The story never forgets to stay entertaining, even when it’s straying into the absurd. It’s a thriller that walks a fine line between dark suspense and character-driven drama, resulting in a mixed bag for sure, but an interesting one.
As you can probably guess from the title, Bald-Faced Liar by Victoria Helen Stone is a psychological thriller that explores the slippery nature of truth. But while there’s plenty of like here, especially in the way the author plays with identity and secrecy, this novel wasn’t quite as sharp or suspenseful as I’d hoped it would be.
Set along the sunny coast of Santa Cruz, Bald-Faced Liar follows a woman of many different identities. It’s why she’s grateful to be called Elizabeth, a versatile name that lends itself to countless nicknames and is common enough to allow her to fly under the radar on google searches. For most of her life she’s been on the run from her past, drifting from one city to the next, reinventing a new life for herself every time she moves. In Santa Cruz, she can blend in among the never-ending supply of tourists, whom Elizabeth also takes a certain voyeuristic pleasure watching from afar. Learning their names, scrolling through their social media feeds, and piecing together their dramas, she thrives on imagining the lives of others because her self-imposed detachment keeps her from participating in normal interactions herself.
Still, there’s a certain charm to her new home, and against her nature and better judgment, thoughts begin to creep in about putting down roots here permanently. After all, life is good, and dare she hopes she’s finally escaped the long shadow of her past? However, this sense of peace does not last. Cracks start to form in the carefully constructed illusion of her existence when she realizes someone is watching her. At first, it’s subtle—an anonymous online attack meant to sabotage her at work, followed by threatening messages in the mail. But soon, these incidents begin to escalate into more dangerous territory, causing Elizabeth to fear for her life. With no one to turn to—she’s lied to too many people for too long— she wonders if everything she’s been running from has finally caught up with her.
With such an eccentric protagonist, it’s safe to say that Bald-Faced Liar is the kind of story that runs on the strength of its quirky character work. When the book opens, we literally meet Elizabeth in a tight spot, eavesdropping on her neighbors and delighting in the scandalous details of their lives. From the start, it’s clear that while Elizabeth may appear outwardly ordinary, there’s something deeply broken beneath the surface. Her obsession with spying on others and the thrill she gets from uncovering their intimate secrets point to some unresolved trauma from her childhood. In fact, throughout the early chapters, the subject keeps popping up, leading readers to question: What exactly did she do to result in all the paranoia and constant lying? Was it something scandalous, a crime of some sort, or perhaps even something unforgiveable? At this point, all we know is that whatever it was, it turned her into a pariah and set her on her nomadic path.
On the story front, the novel also comes out strong. Because of all the questions hanging in the air, there’s a perpetual atmosphere of tension that lingers, especially as more side characters are added and the suspect list starts to grow. While none of the supporting cast are explored too deeply, admittedly this might have been a direct consequence of Elizabeth’s aloofness and guarded behavior. Regardless, several of them actually offered potential for surprising turns and red herrings. The setting of Santa Cruz also added a lot flavor, and the author did a good job of bringing the quintessential California beach town to life, making it easy to see why Elizabeth loved living here so much.
That said, the excellent setup of a slippery heroine caught in a web of paranoia eventually unravels under the weight of its own twisty plotline and shifting character tones. Take Elizabeth, whose moral ambiguity made her a fascinating study for the first half of the novel when you were never quite sure whether to hate her or root for her. But as the truth gradually came to light, it turned out the big bad reveal wasn’t nearly as damning as it was made out to be—at least, not to me. In fact, many readers would probably feel sympathy for Elizabeth, or, at the very least, not hold anything against her. Personally, I found her much more intriguing when I had a more conflicted response towards her. I hate to say it, but once her backstory filled out, she became less of an enigma, falling into a more familiar and clichéd role.
I also thought the ending overstayed its welcome just a little. After delivering a satisfying punch at the climax, the book probably should have wrapped up quickly on a high note, yet the extended denouement dragged on just enough to feel a bit silly, undercutting the tensions that the story had worked so hard to build.
Other parts of Bald-Faced Liar will strain your ability to suspend disbelief, but despite some hiccups along the way, this book still has a lot going for it. The writing is sharp and witty, and the pacing moves well. The story never forgets to stay entertaining, even when it’s straying into the absurd. It’s a thriller that walks a fine line between dark suspense and character-driven drama, resulting in a mixed bag for sure, but an interesting one.
May 13, 2025
Another kindle first reads that I enjoyed but that probably won’t live rent free in my brain.
In an effort to escape her past and remain hidden, Elizabeth May has been a travel nurse for nearly 2 decades, never living anywhere longer than 6 months. But now, Elizabeth has a life in Santa Cruz where she’s live 3 years, in which she has created many alter egos that she only shares with certain people was an interesting storyline. None of her people groups overlap- her library friend, coffee shop friend, margarita friend, beach friends, etc all think she has a different name- all nicknames for Elizabeth- and a different job or back story before Santa Cruz.
It’s not until Mike arrives, a thought to be one night stand who is in town for the next 6 months and wants to get to know her more, that things start to unravel. It’s also the same time that she begins getting stalkerish interactions involving her past.
Following Elizabeth as she tries to reveal her stalker, stay safe, and not allow her many lies to be revealed, was interesting. The Grigore plot line was also a fun and not too dramatically fictionalized storyline for the author to include.
In an effort to escape her past and remain hidden, Elizabeth May has been a travel nurse for nearly 2 decades, never living anywhere longer than 6 months. But now, Elizabeth has a life in Santa Cruz where she’s live 3 years, in which she has created many alter egos that she only shares with certain people was an interesting storyline. None of her people groups overlap- her library friend, coffee shop friend, margarita friend, beach friends, etc all think she has a different name- all nicknames for Elizabeth- and a different job or back story before Santa Cruz.
It’s not until Mike arrives, a thought to be one night stand who is in town for the next 6 months and wants to get to know her more, that things start to unravel. It’s also the same time that she begins getting stalkerish interactions involving her past.
Following Elizabeth as she tries to reveal her stalker, stay safe, and not allow her many lies to be revealed, was interesting. The Grigore plot line was also a fun and not too dramatically fictionalized storyline for the author to include.
May 11, 2025
Bald-Faced Liar by Victoria Helen Stone. Thanks to @kayepublicity for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Elizabeth has always hid herself after a traumatic childhood. Reinvention is key for her feeling safe. Until she begins getting threats from someone who sees her for who she is.
This is a fast paced thriller that is easy to read and entertaining. It has a super interesting back story which really makes me want a prequel! The story takes place in Santa Cruz and you get a real feel for the atmosphere, which is not typical for the genre but I loved it! The ending is exciting and definitely ends with a bang.
“No one thinks they’re the villain of their own story.”
Bald-Faced Liar comes out 6/1.
Elizabeth has always hid herself after a traumatic childhood. Reinvention is key for her feeling safe. Until she begins getting threats from someone who sees her for who she is.
This is a fast paced thriller that is easy to read and entertaining. It has a super interesting back story which really makes me want a prequel! The story takes place in Santa Cruz and you get a real feel for the atmosphere, which is not typical for the genre but I loved it! The ending is exciting and definitely ends with a bang.
“No one thinks they’re the villain of their own story.”
Bald-Faced Liar comes out 6/1.
June 30, 2025
This was a refreshingly original psychological suspense! A stalker thriller told through the lens of an unreliable narrator, it’s filled with morally ambiguous, layered characters. I especially enjoyed Elizabeth—eccentric, slightly unhinged, yet oddly endearing. Her past is shrouded in secrets, and it was a compelling ride unraveling the tangled web of lies she’s spun—and now lives within.
Bonus points for the sharp, unexpected humor sprinkled through the paranoia—it gave the story a fun twist amid all the darkness.
Bonus points for the sharp, unexpected humor sprinkled through the paranoia—it gave the story a fun twist amid all the darkness.
June 9, 2025
DNF at 20% Thought it was going to be more suspenseful. Writing is great. Slow, quirky & just meh
June 1, 2025
This book was pretty good.
It was alittle out of my usual, but kept me well entertained with a good mixture of comedy and suspense. It was hard to put the book down at times. The ending was a little guessable as I figured out how Beth was going to handle everything, but it didn't ruin anything about the book. I will definitely try another from this author.
It was alittle out of my usual, but kept me well entertained with a good mixture of comedy and suspense. It was hard to put the book down at times. The ending was a little guessable as I figured out how Beth was going to handle everything, but it didn't ruin anything about the book. I will definitely try another from this author.
May 7, 2025
3.5 ⭐️ A very good entertaining read. A bit predictable but some parts were spooky!
June 5, 2025
3.5
intriguing and twisty story that fizzled a bit at the end.
intriguing and twisty story that fizzled a bit at the end.
June 2, 2025
3.5 rounded up
May 23, 2025
Victoria Helen Stone has carved out a distinctive niche in psychological suspense, and with Bald-Faced Liar, she delivers perhaps her most nuanced exploration of identity, trauma, and survival yet. This isn't just another thriller about a woman on the run—it's a profound examination of how childhood trauma shapes us and the elaborate defenses we construct to survive in an unforgiving world.
The novel follows Elizabeth May, a traveling nurse who has perfected the art of reinvention. Living in Santa Cruz under yet another carefully crafted identity, Elizabeth believes she's finally found safety in her web of lies. But when a stalker begins systematically dismantling her fabricated life, she's forced to confront not only her present danger but the traumatic past that set her running in the first place.
Unraveling the Threads of Deception
The Protagonist's Complex Psychology
Stone's greatest achievement here is creating a protagonist who challenges our conventional notions of reliability and sympathy. Elizabeth is, by her own admission, a compulsive liar. She uses different names with different people, creates elaborate backstories for casual acquaintances, and has built her entire adult life around avoiding authentic connection. Yet Stone skillfully reveals the profound trauma underlying these behaviors, making Elizabeth's deception feel less like moral failing and more like necessary survival.
The roots of Elizabeth's behavior trace back to the Satanic Panic of the 1990s, when as a five-year-old, she became embroiled in false accusations against daycare providers. Stone handles this historical backdrop with remarkable sensitivity, showing how mass hysteria and adult failures can destroy a child's fundamental relationship with truth. Elizabeth's lies aren't pathological—they're protective armor forged in childhood terror.
The Stalking Terror
The escalating threat creates genuine psychological horror as Elizabeth's carefully constructed world crumbles piece by piece. Stone excels at building atmospheric dread, from mysterious objects appearing in Elizabeth's shopping bag to flyers plastered around town branding her a "known liar." The stalking feels viscerally real, tapping into contemporary fears about privacy and digital surveillance while maintaining the intimate terror of being hunted by someone who knows your deepest secrets.
What elevates this beyond typical stalker fiction is how the harassment forces Elizabeth to question her own sanity. When no one believes her—including the police—readers experience her mounting desperation and isolation. Stone masterfully manipulates our sympathies, making us question along with Elizabeth whether the threats are real or manifestations of her fractured psyche.
Character Dynamics and Relationships
The Fragile Web of Connection
Despite her commitment to emotional distance, Elizabeth finds herself drawn into genuine relationships that complicate her carefully managed existence. Her tentative romance with Mike, a visiting environmental scientist, provides both comfort and anxiety as she struggles with the unfamiliar territory of authentic connection. Stone navigates this relationship with particular skill, showing how Elizabeth's defensive mechanisms both protect and sabotage her chances at happiness.
The supporting cast serves important narrative functions while feeling like fully realized individuals. Violet, the librarian, represents the kind of genuine friendship Elizabeth has never allowed herself. Grigore, the Romanian landlord with mysterious connections, offers unexpected protection when conventional authorities fail. Each relationship forces Elizabeth to confront different aspects of her isolation and need for human connection.
The Revelation of Truth
The novel's most powerful moments come when Elizabeth discovers the true nature of her childhood trauma. The revelation that Jacob Hoffholder, the boy she believed orchestrated the false accusations, was actually being sexually abused by his father recontextualizes everything. Stone handles this twist with remarkable emotional intelligence, showing how truth can be both liberating and devastating.
This discovery forces Elizabeth to reckon with decades of misplaced guilt and shame. The adults who should have protected all the children involved instead created a system that traumatized them further. Stone's indictment of institutional failures—from law enforcement to social services—feels particularly relevant in our current moment of reckoning with systemic problems.
Strengths and Minor Criticisms
What Works Brilliantly
Stone's prose is sharp and engaging, maintaining perfect pacing throughout the novel's 400+ pages. Her ability to sustain psychological tension while developing complex character relationships demonstrates mature storytelling skills. The Santa Cruz setting comes alive as more than backdrop—it becomes a character itself, representing the kind of accepting, quirky community Elizabeth has always sought but never trusted herself to fully inhabit.
The exploration of trauma responses feels authentic and nuanced. Elizabeth's behaviors, while sometimes frustrating, always feel psychologically grounded. Stone avoids both demonizing and excusing her protagonist's deceptions, instead presenting them as understandable adaptations to impossible circumstances.
Areas for Consideration
While the novel's length allows for rich character development, some middle sections feel slightly padded. A few plot threads, particularly involving Elizabeth's online friendship with Tristan, could have been trimmed without losing impact. Additionally, the final act's turn toward more violent thriller territory, while emotionally satisfying, somewhat shifts the novel's careful psychological focus.
The resolution, though providing closure for Elizabeth's immediate danger, leaves some questions about her long-term healing journey. Readers invested in her psychological development might wish for more exploration of how she'll integrate her revelations into a healthier future.
Final Verdict: A Resonant Achievement
Bald-Faced Liar succeeds as both an engaging thriller and a meaningful exploration of trauma, identity, and healing. Stone has crafted a novel that entertains while asking serious questions about how we survive in a world that often fails to protect its most vulnerable members. Elizabeth's journey from isolated fabricator to someone capable of authentic connection feels earned rather than convenient.
While the novel occasionally struggles with pacing and tonal consistency in its final act, these minor flaws don't diminish its considerable achievements. Stone has created a psychologically complex thriller that lingers long after the final page, challenging readers to consider their own relationships with truth, connection, and self-protection.
For fans of character-driven psychological suspense, Bald-Faced Liar represents Victoria Helen Stone at her most accomplished, delivering both the thrills readers expect and the emotional depth that elevates good entertainment into memorable literature.
The novel follows Elizabeth May, a traveling nurse who has perfected the art of reinvention. Living in Santa Cruz under yet another carefully crafted identity, Elizabeth believes she's finally found safety in her web of lies. But when a stalker begins systematically dismantling her fabricated life, she's forced to confront not only her present danger but the traumatic past that set her running in the first place.
Unraveling the Threads of Deception
The Protagonist's Complex Psychology
Stone's greatest achievement here is creating a protagonist who challenges our conventional notions of reliability and sympathy. Elizabeth is, by her own admission, a compulsive liar. She uses different names with different people, creates elaborate backstories for casual acquaintances, and has built her entire adult life around avoiding authentic connection. Yet Stone skillfully reveals the profound trauma underlying these behaviors, making Elizabeth's deception feel less like moral failing and more like necessary survival.
The roots of Elizabeth's behavior trace back to the Satanic Panic of the 1990s, when as a five-year-old, she became embroiled in false accusations against daycare providers. Stone handles this historical backdrop with remarkable sensitivity, showing how mass hysteria and adult failures can destroy a child's fundamental relationship with truth. Elizabeth's lies aren't pathological—they're protective armor forged in childhood terror.
The Stalking Terror
The escalating threat creates genuine psychological horror as Elizabeth's carefully constructed world crumbles piece by piece. Stone excels at building atmospheric dread, from mysterious objects appearing in Elizabeth's shopping bag to flyers plastered around town branding her a "known liar." The stalking feels viscerally real, tapping into contemporary fears about privacy and digital surveillance while maintaining the intimate terror of being hunted by someone who knows your deepest secrets.
What elevates this beyond typical stalker fiction is how the harassment forces Elizabeth to question her own sanity. When no one believes her—including the police—readers experience her mounting desperation and isolation. Stone masterfully manipulates our sympathies, making us question along with Elizabeth whether the threats are real or manifestations of her fractured psyche.
Character Dynamics and Relationships
The Fragile Web of Connection
Despite her commitment to emotional distance, Elizabeth finds herself drawn into genuine relationships that complicate her carefully managed existence. Her tentative romance with Mike, a visiting environmental scientist, provides both comfort and anxiety as she struggles with the unfamiliar territory of authentic connection. Stone navigates this relationship with particular skill, showing how Elizabeth's defensive mechanisms both protect and sabotage her chances at happiness.
The supporting cast serves important narrative functions while feeling like fully realized individuals. Violet, the librarian, represents the kind of genuine friendship Elizabeth has never allowed herself. Grigore, the Romanian landlord with mysterious connections, offers unexpected protection when conventional authorities fail. Each relationship forces Elizabeth to confront different aspects of her isolation and need for human connection.
The Revelation of Truth
The novel's most powerful moments come when Elizabeth discovers the true nature of her childhood trauma. The revelation that Jacob Hoffholder, the boy she believed orchestrated the false accusations, was actually being sexually abused by his father recontextualizes everything. Stone handles this twist with remarkable emotional intelligence, showing how truth can be both liberating and devastating.
This discovery forces Elizabeth to reckon with decades of misplaced guilt and shame. The adults who should have protected all the children involved instead created a system that traumatized them further. Stone's indictment of institutional failures—from law enforcement to social services—feels particularly relevant in our current moment of reckoning with systemic problems.
Strengths and Minor Criticisms
What Works Brilliantly
Stone's prose is sharp and engaging, maintaining perfect pacing throughout the novel's 400+ pages. Her ability to sustain psychological tension while developing complex character relationships demonstrates mature storytelling skills. The Santa Cruz setting comes alive as more than backdrop—it becomes a character itself, representing the kind of accepting, quirky community Elizabeth has always sought but never trusted herself to fully inhabit.
The exploration of trauma responses feels authentic and nuanced. Elizabeth's behaviors, while sometimes frustrating, always feel psychologically grounded. Stone avoids both demonizing and excusing her protagonist's deceptions, instead presenting them as understandable adaptations to impossible circumstances.
Areas for Consideration
While the novel's length allows for rich character development, some middle sections feel slightly padded. A few plot threads, particularly involving Elizabeth's online friendship with Tristan, could have been trimmed without losing impact. Additionally, the final act's turn toward more violent thriller territory, while emotionally satisfying, somewhat shifts the novel's careful psychological focus.
The resolution, though providing closure for Elizabeth's immediate danger, leaves some questions about her long-term healing journey. Readers invested in her psychological development might wish for more exploration of how she'll integrate her revelations into a healthier future.
Final Verdict: A Resonant Achievement
Bald-Faced Liar succeeds as both an engaging thriller and a meaningful exploration of trauma, identity, and healing. Stone has crafted a novel that entertains while asking serious questions about how we survive in a world that often fails to protect its most vulnerable members. Elizabeth's journey from isolated fabricator to someone capable of authentic connection feels earned rather than convenient.
While the novel occasionally struggles with pacing and tonal consistency in its final act, these minor flaws don't diminish its considerable achievements. Stone has created a psychologically complex thriller that lingers long after the final page, challenging readers to consider their own relationships with truth, connection, and self-protection.
For fans of character-driven psychological suspense, Bald-Faced Liar represents Victoria Helen Stone at her most accomplished, delivering both the thrills readers expect and the emotional depth that elevates good entertainment into memorable literature.
May 12, 2025
3.5 Stars Rounded up to 4
I chose this novel as my Kindle First Reads pick for May 2025 mainly because I've read other books by the author. The story revolves around Elizabeth, a pathological liar. The beginning of the book is rather humorous and I found myself wondering why she felt the need to present herself differently each day. To some people she was Beth, and to others she was Lizzie. Some knew her as Betty or Betsy. Elizabeth herself even had difficulty keeping track of the varying personas she presented to each person she encountered. As the story evolves, we learn why she does this.
The middle of the book dragged for me. There was a bit too much repetition and waiting for something to happen. In the end, the story wraps up nicely. I'm glad I stuck it out. Recommended with reservations.
I chose this novel as my Kindle First Reads pick for May 2025 mainly because I've read other books by the author. The story revolves around Elizabeth, a pathological liar. The beginning of the book is rather humorous and I found myself wondering why she felt the need to present herself differently each day. To some people she was Beth, and to others she was Lizzie. Some knew her as Betty or Betsy. Elizabeth herself even had difficulty keeping track of the varying personas she presented to each person she encountered. As the story evolves, we learn why she does this.
The middle of the book dragged for me. There was a bit too much repetition and waiting for something to happen. In the end, the story wraps up nicely. I'm glad I stuck it out. Recommended with reservations.
June 15, 2025
This one just didn't grab me like I thought it would. It's pretty slow to start and there's not much to the heroine for me to hold on to. I had the same issues here that I have with unreliable narrator suspense novels - which is while Beth isn't unreliable per se, you're still trapped in her head and it's just not a terribly riveting place to be and frankly kind of exhausting. Fairly early on in the book I wanted to shake her silly and drag her to the nearest therapist.
It very much was floating on the Sea of OK for me but I stuck with it because I figured there was a twist, which there is (a pretty good one actually) and things really did start picking up for me in the second half. A 3.5 star read for me.
It very much was floating on the Sea of OK for me but I stuck with it because I figured there was a twist, which there is (a pretty good one actually) and things really did start picking up for me in the second half. A 3.5 star read for me.
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