I did not really like this book. It felt like there was a lot of unnecessary dialogue and plotlines that don't help this book. It took a bit of time to get through this book. I also think that this qualifies as a thriller, there was no suspense, it was pretty lax and dull to me. I was not a fan

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complementary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

Unfortunately, this author is not for me.
Not the first time I picked a book by this author, and not the first time it didn't work for me.
Maybe it's the topics Rose discusses, maybe it's her writing style, maybe it's her characters?
It just doesn't work for me.
And it's fine. I'm sure other readers will like it.

I really enjoyed this book. This was the first book that I have read my Willow Rose but it will not be the last! This book had me on the edge of my seat, always wondering what was going to happen next.

Willow Rose has a way with her writing that makes you think you are right there in the book and like you have known the characters for your whole life. She keeps you intrigued throughout the whole book with all of her twists and turns.

Don't Lie To Me is the first story in the series that has Eva Rose as the main character. This story brings us into the realm of child abuse and the repercussions stemming from that. There are a few subplots in this book, that I think will be connected in the following books in the series.

This is for sure a book that you won't be able to put down. I promise you, you won't be able to guess the ending (which are the best kinds of books). you will be turning pages throughout the night and putting off all other responsibilities just to be able to finish and find out what happens at the end.

Who are these people? Why should I care? Please spare me from inane dialogues to fil the space. The aim should be to grab readers’ attention from the start.

I think this book is only readable if you are already a fan.

I really enjoyed the first book in the Eva Rae Thomas series! I loved the characters, the suspense and the twist that I never would have guessed. I am now looking forward to reading the next instalment and beyond! 5 stars.

Eva Rae Thomas has moved back to her hometown with her three children. She has left the FBI to focus on the kids, seeing as her husband decided to leave her. But even her good intentions of staying away from cases don’t help when she is caught up in a murder straight away.

Sophie Williams, a rising surfing star, has gone missing from a scout camp. When her body is discovered, it leads to a string of abducted and murdered children that leaves the police confounded. Eva is asked for assistance and when videos surface of the killer blaming divorce and the consequences on children for the reason behind the abductions, Eva knows time is of the essence. But with memories of her abducted sister coming to mind, Eva knows this one will feel close to home. She just doesn’t realise how much...

I’ve read a number of books by this author but each series I start I feel disappointed. There are always too many ideas and things thrown into the plot and some lead nowhere while others are meant to hint at the ending but majority never do. There are just too many “huh?” moments in this to allow you to read the book and escape into it.

So firstly you have a killer who is doing this to show their deep hatred of divorce and the consequences it has on the children. The killer is killing innocent children to prove this? Um, why? Then you have an ex-FBI agent who has no jurisdiction but constantly goes into crime scenes, gets involved, and the police are so befuddled that she has to join them? But does not actually use her profiling skills. She has promised to be more of a mother now that she has all this time with her children but cannot keep up with groceries, laundry, or school events because she is too busy helping her old flame in the police and even leaves her hyperactive child in the car while she checks out a crime scene?

I found the writing stilted to read and the chapters that were in the child’s POV were written in an adult voice. Then there were so many kids either left alone overnight or not contacted in months and the number of times people said Sophie would be the next Kelly Slater was crazy. There are other surfers from Cocoa Beach! And the mother turning a blind eye to their child being molested so that they could be coached by the best? I don’t think so! And the abuse of one of Eva’s friends? What did that have to do with the whole story? A subplot that didn’t add anything.

Then when the killer is outed (which was a very unrealistic time grudge to hold) the families carry on as though “Oh well, these things happen” when for it not to be noticed was highly suspect.

It started out with a hook but landed up going in tangents and not a series I would continue as I didn’t connect with any of the characters.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review the book.

Wow!! This was a great thriller. You'll never guess who the killer is!!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

I thought this book was alright, but there wasn't much that stood out persay. Nothing really impressed me but it was a good read.

Don’t Lie to Me, is the first book in the Eva Rae Thomas series. This is a non stop thriller! It had me guessing who the killer was from beginning to end! The ending was a shocker! I will be reading the rest of this series! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

"Don't Lie to Me" by Willow Rose is a gripping and fast-paced mystery that sets the stage for the compelling Eva Rae Thomas series. As the first installment, it introduces us to former FBI profiler Eva Rae Thomas, who is drawn back into the world of crime-solving when a young girl goes missing in her hometown. The plot is a masterclass in suspense, that kept me on the edge of my seat.

What makes "Don't Lie to Me" particularly captivating is the characters. Eva Rae Thomas is a strong, relatable protagonist whose personal struggles add layers to her relentless pursuit of justice.

It's no wonder that after finishing this book, I couldn't resist diving into the rest of the series. Reading all 16 books within a week is a testament to the author’s ability to create a world so compelling and addictive that it becomes impossible to put down.

For fans of psychological thrillers and detective stories, "Don't Lie to Me" is a must-read.

Don't Lie to Me is the first book in Willow Rose's Eva Rae Thomas series. Eva Rae is an ex-FBI profiler who moves back home after her ex-husband decides to leave her and their children for a younger woman to start a new family.

After arriving back in her hometown, Eva Rae is pulled into a murder mystery that hits a lot closer to home than she is originally aware of, and when her younger daughter goes missing, she is afraid the killer has her in his cross-hair.

The story comes to a dramatic climax, making Eva Rae and her mother realize just how much pain and unresolved trauma can shape a person's life, and sometimes, regardless of how much a person may think otherwise, you can never really know a person.

Ms. Rose uses the topics of divorce and some of the consequences as the major theme of the Don’t Lie to Me. While the book is very easy to read, the topics are quite serious; some might even say brutal. Willow Rose did a great job treating these topics with respect, and making them easy to handle regardless of how disturbing they are, and how much they could in fact trigger some people if not treated carefully enough.

Just finished reading this intense crime thriller! An ex-FBI detective, recently divorced, is thrust back into action when a series of chilling kidnappings and murders rock her town. With relentless suspense, shocking twists, and deep emotional layers, this story will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

The story explores themes of family trauma, divorce and the long-lasting effects on the children.

The detective's personal connection to the case and her familiarity with the locations and clues made it a bit convenient for her to solve the mystery. Or maybe it's a possibility that the author wanted to emphasize the detective's skills and intuition. It's just a matter of perspective.

Even after predicting the plot twist, the journey to go there was still engaging and satisfying.

A fast-paced complex mystery that touches on some tough subjects. I think will be a good series and looking forward to reading the next book.
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read this advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Willow Rose always leave me wanting and need more of her work and this is no different. From the characters to the plot it’s amazing

Since Eve Rae Thomas’ husband left her for a new wife and family, she is struggling with having to leave the FBI and becoming a full time mother. She is not used to the day to day activities it takes to run a household and desperately misses being in the thick of an investigation. So when she discovers a local missing girl murdered and wrapped in a sleeping bag she feels she must solve the case. As more child abductions come to light it leaves Eve Rae with the recurring nightmares of the abduction of her sister, Sydney when they were kids. Can she find the children before it is too late and will finding the serial abductor help find her missing sister?
Overall rating 5/5
Willow Rose is an underrated thriller/mystery writer. She needs more recognition for her quick page turning reads. I love how she takes news headlines and puts them into thrillers. The twist at the end is chef’s kiss! This was the first in the Eva Rae Series which has me hooked. I cannot wait to read all of them.


*Thank you to Willow Rose, Buoy Media, and Netgalley for the ARC copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.

This truly delivered on the suspense! I couldn’t put it down because I needed to know what was coming but I was very overwhelmed. There was so much happening.

Page turner 🙌🏻

I had the hardest time putting this down. The way it flowed, blending two stories into one was seamless! And she was very careful to not use the persons name in the second story. I bounced back and forth thinking it “it’s another victim” to “maybe it’s the killer” I don’t know how many times !!
The layout and thought process behind each victim was almost unnerving. I never would have seen it that way at all.

Only receiving a 4 star because it was a slow start. But once your through the first few introductory chapter, it was so much better !

Thank you to NetGalley, author Willow Rose and BUOY media for the ARC and opportunity to review this book.

While I struggled to determine if I wanted to give this book 3 or 4 stars I went with 4 because the overall premise and plot twists were 4 star quality.

The characters were not realistic though and that’s where I felt more a 3 star read. The author could/should have spent time with actual members of a police department to learn how it is actually run. The main characters actions throughout the book as an FBI agent were just too far fetched. Perhaps this is because I have read many thrillers and the police/legal side were more realistic than this book. Other readers may find this great.

As a Mom, good lord I wanted to reach through the book and smack the main character. I’ve been through a divorce myself and never in a million years would I have behaved the way she did. Again, not a realistic portrayal of a working Mom.

Once you take away the above, the storyline was good. The climax was well written and developed throughout the book. I was totally wrong on who the killer was which made the suspense of finding out even better.

I would absolutely read more from this author and would recommend this book if you go into it knowing it really isn’t a true portrayal of the members of the police and FBI and so far off from a true working Mom going through a divorce.

4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Not my favourite buh I like!! This is the first book by this author and I liked the short chapters also i didn’t enjoy the ending :(

Rollercoaster of a book. I thoroughly enjoyed the book from beginning to the end. The ending was jaw dropping. Suspense was spot on and the twists and turns kept me on the edge.