After reading JP Delaney’s previous book and loving it I was super excited to see this next endeavor. I really enjoyed the first part of the book, the character Claire, and the unique story. My biggest complaint was how dark the book got towards the middle and end. The story will keep you guessing until the last few pages, re- reading sections and second guessing every character.

Claire Wright is a British actress in the U.S who is struggling to find jobs. She wants to get her Green Card and takes on a job that promises to gain her that document. But, the job turns out more dangerous than she thought. She is working for a lawyer who sets her up as a decoy to find cheating husbands. Her last assignment ends badly when the man’s wife is found murdered. Claire was one of the last people to see her alive. She agrees to work for the police in trying to get the man, Professor Patrick Fogler, to confess. Using all her acting skills, she inserts herself into this man’s life. Things get way more complicated than she bargained for though.

It’s hard to tell who is deceiving who is this complex story. First, the reader thinks it’s Patrick, then Claire. The plot is well-woven and the reader is drawn into the mystery. But, there is also a certain darkness to the novel that will probably repel some readers. A lot of it deals with psychological perversions and really “out there” stuff. If you don’t want to read about these things, I would avoid this book. The characters are deeply involved in this subculture surrounding the violent poetry of Baudelaire.

I found it difficult to get into to the writing style in the book. The main character is an actress and often imagines her dialog in her head in a form that reads like a written script. I am not really a fan of live performances, and would have preferred a more standard narrative form to the writing. But, the author uses this as a gimmick because the main character is an actress, and there is a play in the last half of the book as well. I can see how this style is fitting with the theme, but it was difficult for me to read.

The storyline itself was convoluted. At one point, Claire is sent to a mental hospital, which I found somewhat misplaced. It seemed like that whole section could have been left out. Except for the fact that Patrick has to rescue her from the situation, that whole part of the novel didn’t seem to have a real purpose to me. It probably served to let the reader know that Claire was doubting her own sanity, but I didn’t think the novel needed that scene.

Honestly, I liked the first book by this author a lot more than this one. I just couldn’t get into this one because I was put off by the counterculture stuff and the seeming unnecessary parts to the plot. The ending was interesting, but seemed contrived to me. It was pretty far from reality, in my opinion.

I can’t really give this book a full five stars. I think this author has done better work. I give this one 3 out of 5 stars.

This might be the weirdest book I've ever read. I was drawn to the initial premise of a down on her luck actress who must take on nontraditional roles to make money, but ish got weird fast. A turn on every page like a telenovela.
*Thanks toNetgalley, the author, and the publisher for anARC in exchange for an honestreview*

This book is a must read. It kept my attention from start to finish, with great characters, and lots of questions till the very end. Beware though, there is some weirdness to contend with in this title, so if you are easily turned off by the psychology and psychological issues of other people, don't read this one. Claire Wright is a 25 year old woman from England, who comes to New York to work on her acting career when things went south for her in her career at home. She is currently a student of acting through a prestigious program, and does some side work to make ends meet. Due to unforeseen circumstances, this gets tougher for her, but her agent is able to point her in the right direction to an acting job that helps. The job is not your standard job for an unemployed actress, as she also does not have a green card, which makes her somewhat unemployable. She is instead working undercover for a lawyer in town who does a lot of divorce work. Claire is good at her job, and does well at this job, until the last client she works for is murdered. She also was the last person to see the husband of the deceased before the wife was murdered. It appears that as a result, she is once again tapped for an interesting job. One that may finally give her a green card in the end. If she can survive.... and if she is not guilty.... and if.... Well? What are you waiting for... you really need to read this book. It is well worth it!

This is a dazzler of a psychological thriller filled with unreliable narrators and delicious twists and turns. Claire is a British actress who has tanked her career and is attempting to start anew in America, but she lacks a Green Card and cash. She is, however, a talented actress, and that's where the plot lies. Claire works part time for a law firm, presenting herself as a high priced prostitute to married men, videotaping her verbal contract with them, and then providing the evidence to the wives. An unusual case in which the wife is murdered casts suspicion on Claire until the police hire her to go undercover to investigate the husband of the murdered woman whom they believe is a serial killer. The fun starts when Claire falls in love him. From there the twists keep coming. Great read!

I really liked this book and highly recommend it, Just when I thought I knew how the book was going to end and who the murderer was JP Delaney throws a twist into the story and I was wrong. I like the actress Claire, she was such a good actress it was hard to tell if she was acting or not and if she was capable of being the murderer.

This is the second book I have read of JP Delaney's and even though THe Girl Before was a very good book I think this one is even better. A new favorite author.

This book will be released on July 24, 2018. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher ofr the advanced copy for my review.

Nickie
Pos

Unfortunately I found this premise to be completely unbelievable. To have the reader believe she was hired by the police (and be given details of an open murder case) is just novice work by the author. The first few pages started out intriguing but then it just went downhill fast.

I didn’t really care for the authors ‘s previous book, “The Girl Before,” and about 1/3 of He way through this one I realized I didn’t really like this one either. I guess this author just isn’t for me.

Claire is a struggling actress in America with no green card. You can imagine how difficult it is for to find an acting job to support herself! So when a firm of divorce lawyers asks her to serve as a lure for husbands whose wives suspect they are cheating, she takes the job. All she must do is go to a bar, allow the cheating husband to know that she was available, get the evidence on tape, and then leave with her pay, $400. However, things change when the last offending husband does not try to pick her up. Then, to top that, his wife ends up dead, just minutes after Claire had been paid. Suspecting that the husband had killed his wife, Claire is hired to try to get a confession from him. Is she up to the challenge of this deadly game?

This story is filled with unexpected twists and turns, as Claire tries to survive in her world of acting, her first love. Character development is effective, and tension is high in this one. Enjoy the ride!

I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

I don’t give out many five star reviews on Goodreads but this one deserved it. Believe Me by JP Delaney might just be my favorite book in 2018 so far! I was completely hooked from page one and the pace just got better and better until I HAD to finish it.. way past my bedtime. The author does a perfect job with a tight plot and sympathetic, yet weird, characters. I read this in TWO sittings. Everything else was blocked out as I delved into this gripping story.

I’ve mentioned how I enjoy psychological thrillers and this one is a MUST READ for my fellow literary thrill seekers.

Here’s the synopsis:

A struggling actor, a Brit in America without a green card, Claire needs work and money to survive. Then she gets both. But nothing like she expected. Claire agrees to become a decoy for a firm of divorce lawyers. Hired to entrap straying husbands, she must catch them on tape with their seductive propositions.

The rules? Never hit on the mark directly. Make it clear you’re available, but he has to proposition you, not the other way around. The firm is after evidence, not coercion. The innocent have nothing to hide. Then the game changes.

When the wife of one of Claire’s targets is violently murdered, the cops are sure the husband is to blame. Desperate to catch him before he kills again, they enlist Claire to lure him into a confession.

Claire can do this. She’s brilliant at assuming a voice and an identity. For a woman who’s mastered the art of manipulation, how difficult could it be to tempt a killer into a trap?



Some of the book was slightly confusing but I kept reading and the mystery unraveled. Maybe we, the readers, are supposed to be a little confused. When I finished the book, I was sad there isn’t an entire body of work by this author to get through. If you haven’t read The Girl Before, read it now! This novel will be published in July.

This book was an excellent read that I highly recommend. Held my interest throughout and I read it it two days.

Fasten your seatbelts and don’t make any plans, you won’t be able to put this book down. After reading the authors first book, The Girl Before, I was very excited to start this book, it kept you guessing until the end. The only reason for not giving the book 5 stars, is that it was a little to graphic for me at times. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Claire Wright is playing a dangerous game trapping cheaters that helps her pay the rent while she studies to become an actress. Only the last assignment she takes might be her last.

The wife of a cheating husband hopes Claire and her boss Harry can catch him. But the set up ends up being a more tangled web than anyone realized. Professor Patrick Fogler, the target, might just be serial killer and when the police close in on this mystery, Claire becomes a suspect too.

Told in Claire's point-of-view, we're inside her artistic mind as she tells her story sometimes in screenplay format and with certain key pieces of information kept from her, the suspense builds as the story unfolds. As her character evolves, it's a mind-bending dive into a world where everyone is an actor and if that's true - who's telling the truth?

For fans of Delaney's first work, "The Girl Before", this novel will be another thrill-ride-a-minute work and for new readers, you can expect another book to devour in the mystery and thriller world.

The twists keep coming and until the final pages, you won't know what's the truth and who's acting.

For fans of books by B.A. Paris and Ruth Ware.

Thank you to Ballantine and NetGalley for early access. Due July 2018.

Warning! Do not read if you have lots to get done and are intending on taking a short break!
This book sucked me in immediately and I actually could not put it down. I started it when I woke up, just intending to read it while I drank my coffee, and then it was suddenly 4 PM and I was on the last few chapters. Enthralling, rich, and surprising, Believe Me is absolutely a must read.

What did I just read? I am still left asking what was real and what was an act? Claire is a British acting student without a green card in New York City that discovers a way to make some money, working for a lawyer to trap cheating men. When one of the wives is found murdered she starts working with the police to trap the killer. But is she really working for the police? Or is she delusional? How far will she go for the part of her life?

Twisty tale of what-in-the-world-is-truth?? I would definitely recommend it to readers of "The Girl Before," this one has the same noir feel.

*4.5 stars

What the fuck did I just read?! At first I didn't know what to think as this began with Claire doing an "acting" job. Even the format that it was written was a little off. It was like reading a manuscript for a movie/play.ni wasn't sure if I was going to like it if it had continued that way. When a client gets killed after one of Claire's "acting" jobs she does for a law firm, she finds herself a suspect. I really don't want to say much because I think it would ruin the reading experience for others. I honestly didn't know what the hell was happening or what or who to believe! I thought it was well done. Towards the end I was beginning to waver and thinking that the book was losing its momentum but then WHAM! I was shaking my head, thinking what the hell?! Couldn't put this one down! Found it to be a highly entertaining read.

**Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a roller coaster! I felt like she was crazy and I couldn't tell who the killer was, if the cops were telling the truth, or what. But by the end, I was completely mesmerized by the whole story. Similar books are out there, but this one is the best of them!

I'm struggling to give this one a rating. I liked J.P. Delaney's other work, and wanted to really like this one as well, but there were a few things that just hold me back from saying it's a great book.

The book is very fast-paced and interesting to read. It is much more raw, raunchy and aggressive than his other book, which I found appealing, but I think others could easily be turned off by it. Part One I really enjoyed. It caught my attention, moved along quickly and made me interested in the characters. Part Two was where it started to lose steam. The whole premise is a bit flawed and wouldn't occur in the real world, and the interactions are sometimes a stretch. By Part Three there were so many twists and turns that were sort of interesting, but also made it confusing at times. It was like the author was trying too hard for shock value. However, all of that said, I did like the ending and thought it was well done. Some may say it was wrapped up too tightly in a nice neat package, but I think there was enough to say it was a good ending.

I would recommend, but don't think it's a "Must Read!"

I sure didn’t see that one coming! This book kept me reading late into the night and kept me guessing until the end. It really makes you question what is real and what is not!