No Lie Lasts Forever

A brilliant and famous crime reporter, Robbie McGrath, has been brutally murdered. The media and police almost hysterically report that the infamous PDQ Serial Killer is back after a fifteen-year hiatus. The city of Denver is thrown into a fearful uproar.

TV journalist Flynn Martin is still reeling from a blow to her self-esteem and career after she’s drawn into a televised hostage situation that ends with the deaths of both a hostage and the gunman.

Author Mark Stevens ratchets up the tension and intrigue in this marvelous thriller and police procedural. Flynn is anonymously contacted by Harry Kugel—the actual PDQ killer—who is outraged that someone else is trying to capitalize on his “outstanding” reputation. He vehemently denies committing this latest crime and insists he has reformed. Using threats and coercion, he enlists Flynn’s aid to discover the “real” perpetrator and clear his name. How dare some amateur ride his coattails of infamy?

To expose the true killer of her colleague, Flynn stealthily begins her own investigation. Unfortunately, a dangerous cat-and-mouse game ensues between her, Harry, and the police. Along the way, her son Wyatt’s safety becomes a terrifying pawn, as Harry heartlessly leverages her silent cooperation.

Can a serial killer truly reform? Who can trust his twisted sense of right and wrong?

This multi-faceted, twisted plot involves politicians, the police, and other journalists—each with their own agendas. Flynn must explore the recent cases Robbie was investigating to uncover possible clues to her murder. Are dirty cops part of the story? Harry Kugel insists he’s now a functioning, everyday member of society. Stevens dives deep into the mind, motives, and origins of this heinous monster.

Mark Stevens weaves a harrowing, viscerally intense narrative filled with deeply authentic characters into a page-turning gem loaded with twists and unexpected turns. Flynn’s investigation inadvertently leads her into the everyday world of this narcissistic, sociopathic killer.

I started reading this engrossing thriller on my Kindle but was so captivated that I finished the last quarter of the book on the audiobook version, expertly narrated by Ina Barron. She has appeared in Grey’s Anatomy, Royal Pains, and NCIS, and has received multiple awards for her voice work. Barron masterfully brought this tale to life in the theater of my mind with her dynamic vocal inflections and emotional range across multiple characters.

Thanks to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and Brilliance Audio for providing an uncorrected proof and advance audio version of this novel in exchange for an honest review.