This Is How I Lied

Detective Maggie Kennedy O'Keefe returns to a 25-year-old cold case involving the murder of her best friend Eve Knox. Now eight months pregnant, Maggie must confront painful memories as new evidence emerges in the unsolved crime that shook their small Iowa town. The investigation forces Maggie to re-examine relationships from her teenage years, including her connection to Eve's troubled sister Nola and others who were close to the victim. The narrative moves between 1995 and the present day, revealing hidden truths about the tight-knit community and its residents. Working against time and her own physical limitations, Maggie pursues leads while navigating complex family dynamics and professional pressures. Her determination to find justice for Eve puts her on a collision course with dangerous secrets that some would prefer stay buried. The novel explores themes of loyalty, memory, and the weight of unresolved trauma on small communities. It raises questions about how well we truly know those closest to us, and whether some mysteries are better left unsolved.

Readers describe this as a fast-paced thriller that keeps them guessing until the end. Many note they finished it in one or two sittings. Readers appreciate: - Multiple timelines and perspectives that build suspense - The pregnant detective protagonist adds complexity - Regional details of small-town Iowa feel authentic - Resolution of the cold case mystery pays off Common criticisms: - Some plot points strain credibility - Middle section drags - Character motivations can feel unclear - Several readers found the ending rushed Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (13,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (2,800+ ratings) Sample reader comments: "The alternating POVs and timelines kept me on edge" - Goodreads reviewer "Last 100 pages were impossible to put down" - Amazon reviewer "A few too many coincidences for my taste" - Goodreads reviewer "Some character decisions didn't make sense" - BookBub reviewer

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🔍 Author Heather Gudenkauf works as a K-3 educator when she's not writing, which influences her understanding of family dynamics and child psychology in her novels. 📚 The book tackles the topic of genetic memory—the controversial theory that trauma can be passed down through generations—weaving it into the story's psychological suspense elements. 🏆 This Is How I Lied became an instant bestseller upon its 2020 release and was selected as a LibraryReads pick for May 2020. ⏰ The narrative alternates between two timelines—1995 and 2020—exploring how a single tragic event can ripple through decades and affect multiple generations. 🗺️ The story is set in the fictional town of Grotto, Iowa, but was inspired by the author's experiences growing up in Dubuque, Iowa, lending authenticity to the small-town Midwest atmosphere.