#Review | This Is How I Lied by Heather Gudenkauf

Gudenkauf proves herself the master of the smart, suspenseful small-town thriller that gets right under your skin.” —Gilly Macmillan, New York Times bestselling author of The Nanny

Everyone has a secret they’ll do anything to hide…

Twenty-five years ago, the body of sixteen-year-old Eve Knox was found in the caves near her home in small-town Grotto, Iowa—discovered by her best friend, Maggie, and her sister, Nola. There were a handful of suspects, including her boyfriend, Nick, but without sufficient evidence the case ultimately went cold.

For decades Maggie was haunted by Eve’s death and that horrible night. Now a detective in Grotto, and seven months pregnant, she is thrust back into the past when a new piece of evidence surfaces and the case is reopened. As Maggie investigates and reexamines the clues, secrets about what really happened begin to emerge. But someone in town knows more than they’re letting on, and they’ll stop at nothing to keep the truth buried deep.

Heather Gudenkauf is one of the authors on my “authors to read list”, so when I saw that she had a new book coming out, I knew I had to get a copy in my hands!!! And once again, she didn’t disappoint.

As the synopsis states, 25 years ago, Eve Knox age 16, was found dead in the Grotto Caves State Park by her younger sister and best friend, Maggie Kennedy. At the time, Maggie’s father was police Chief, however, the department never found her killer.

Now 25 years later, Maggie Kennedy-O’Keefe is a detective with the same department and reopens the cold case as new evidence has come to light.

There are quite a few suspects, that still reside in this town, which Maggie soon learns has had some unsavory pasts, lies, and secrets as to what happened that fateful day, December 22, 1995, including Maggie herself.

The story alternates from the present and what led up to that fateful day in December.

Reading this book was like walking through a corn maze trying to figure out who the real killer was since the author introduces red herrings throughout that makes this book a page-turner. And with every turn of the page, brings taut suspense, which makes it an engrossing read. LOVED IT!!!!

Another electrifying and white knuckle read by Heather Gudenkauf!!! I will be on the lookout for her next novel and will try to wrangle another ARC!!!

If you haven’t read a book by this author, you are truly missing out!!!!

Check out my reviews for some of her previous books: Before She Was Found, Little Mercies, and These Things Hidden

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