Told in multiple POV, this suspenseful mystery thriller kept me on the edge of my seat. Short chapters and lots of characters (a tad too many for my taste)kept me on my toes trying to figure out who’s who and what’s what!
Pay attention!
Fast paced, the author created this intriguing twisted web of multiple characters and multiple plot lines all leading to the main story line. Each chapter offered a subtle clue and another question.
Whodunnit?
I found it to be an ensemble story where it was ok not to connect with any one character but how the mystery unfolded. Hollywood glitz and glamor got down and dirty with the underbelly of Hollywood.
The build up, the suspense of trying to uncover this murder mystery was devilishly delicious.
This clever read was a great way to escape and get lost in a fun crime story. I’m a big fan of CSI crime drama and this had that flavor.
4.5 stars!

A thrilling investigation into an apparent murder-suicide, A Fatal Affair has twists, turns, and an ending I really did not see coming (but maybe should have). When the twin of Hollywood's it-boy is found dead along with a mystery woman, the police know this is about to be the highest profile case of their career.

If you're looking for a page-turner to bring with you on vacation, I think this is a great book to choose. The pacing was fast and each chapter brings a different point of view surrounding the central mystery, keeping your attention until the very last page. This was my first AR Torre and I will definitely read more of her books whenever I need a fast-paced thriller!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

PUB DAY REIVEW // A FATAL AFFAIR

4/5

“That’s the problem with Hollywood. We’re a sea of professional liars and seducers.”
And killers.”

This was such a FUN and highly entertaining read!!!

I loved the Hollywood/Beverly Hills setting, the multiple pov’s and the short short short chapters!!! This was such an easy book to FLY through!

The multiple pov’s were very easy to follow and each character was so well executed!

I was HOOKED from the get go and this was such a great book to play the whodunit game! This book gave me Clue meets Hollywood’s elite vibes. Everyone was a suspect and each perspective gave us more insight!

This is the perfect summer thriller - and on the *light* side in terms of graphic content. You can literally read this in one sitting by the pool!

RUN to read this on KU right this second!!

SIMONE SAYS READ THIS IF YOU LIKE

hollywood setting
multiple pov’s
short chapters
murder mysteries
bingeable summer reads

will you adding this to your to tbr?!

thank you to @netgalley and @amazonpublishing for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

This is my third A.R.Torre novel, and I'll be honest out of the three this is my least favourite. Not that it's not a great read. It's just that I found The short chapters discombobulating especially in the beginning and they stopped me from really getting into the story.

But it's a story that is intriguing. As A.R.Torre delves into the lives of the Hollywood elite and the dirty secrets they keep.

And told from multiple points of view. You're taken on a perplexing journey. When Hollywood's golden couple Nora Kemp and Hugh Iverson find Hugh's twin brother Trent in their guesthouse dead alongside an ordinary woman. Who they claim they have never seen before.

And the detectives tasked to investigate soon learn it's a murder-suicide. But one thing is clear this killer has struck before.

Yet, with Nora and Hugh tight lipped and their staff having signed NDA's. How are the detectives ever going to get answers?

Then there's the woman, who is she?

Furthermore, what does a mother and her son travelling to LA from Wisconsin to visit Disneyland on behalf of a cancer charity have to do with it all?

And with such an array of interesting characters. Plus bags of secrets, lies and deceit. This was an enjoyable read. It just didn't grab me or excite me as much as A Familiar Stranger or The Good Lie did.

I would though happily recommend it, especially if you like a mystery that will keep you guessing until the very last page.

This isn’t my first time reading A.R.Torre books and it won’t be the last either!
This is a police procedural story so if you like that type of books I suggest checking this one out!

A fast-paced engaging story with short chapters and multiple POVs that will make you keep interested from the beginning until the end to find out the truth to the murder case.
I really like the setting of this story – in Hollywood with famous celebrities, the scandals and gossips just makes this story even more fascinating!

The last few chapters is quite surprising when the answers are finally revealed, even the police had a hard time processing it all. The plot twist really had me in disbelief of what I just read.

Overall, it’s an enjoyable murder mystery, I had fun making theories as I follow the investigation with the police.
I am looking forward to read more books by this author in the future!

⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: Addicition, alcoholism, kidnapping, cancer, child abuse, death

I received an advanced review copy for free through netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Huge thank you to the author and publisher!

EXCERPT: The female victim wasn't beautiful.
Wasn't rich.
Wasn't single.
So how did she end up in a Beverley Hills mansion with Trent Iverson? And why was she dead?

ABOUT 'A FATAL AFFAIR': Stars. Lovers. Liars. Killers. This is Hollywood, and everyone has a part to play in a shocking novel of suspense by New York Times bestselling author A. R. Torre.

Actress Nora Kemp loves two men. One is Hugh Iverson, a philanthropic movie star who gives Nora security and respectability. The other is Hugh’s twin brother, Trent, a Hollywood bad boy who brings out Nora’s wild side. When Trent and an unidentified woman are found dead on the Iversons’ Beverly Hills property, more than Nora’s and Hugh’s reputations are at stake.

An investigation suggests murder-suicide. But there’s more to the crime than first meets the eye: suspicions of a serial killer with a bizarre motive, Hugh’s unnerved and cautious staff, and a missing mother and son. As two LA detectives sift through the deceptions of the innocent and the guilty—some living and some dead—solving the case becomes a cunning cat-and-mouse game.

Because in a city of illusions, the truth—no matter how dangerous—is so easy to hide.

MY THOUGHTS: A Fatal Affair has all the ingredients needed to make it a resounding success: the Hollywood setting; a love triangle; a missing woman and her child. Yet, despite my pulse rate elevating once or twice, I found the plot to be quite predictable. I have read other titles by this author which were far superior to this.

On the plus side, this is a quick, easy read with short chapters told from multiple points of view, and a definite 'crazy' element. Don't expect any depth to the characters; what you see is what you get.

If you're looking for a quick and entertaining beach/pool/fireside read, this will fit the bill.

⭐⭐⭐.4

#AFatalAffair #NetGalley

I: @alessandratorre4 @amazonpublishing

T: @ReadAlessandra @AmazonPub

#contemporaryfiction #crime #detectivefiction #murdermystery #serialkillerthriller

THE AUTHOR: A.R. Torre is a pseudonym of Alessandra Torre and is her dark alter ego. While Alessandra writes spicy romances, A.R. focuses on twisted stories filled with secrets, suspense, drama, and danger.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Thomas & Mercer via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of A Fatal Affair by A.R. Torre for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

Okay, A.R Torre can write a thriller. I have found one of my favorite thriller authors and I don’t know how it took me so long! Fast paced. Twisty. Serial killer. Celebrities. I never saw the ending coming. Every time I thought I knew what would happen next, I was very wrong.

There were so many characters and point of views that at first I wasn’t sure I could keep up but man was it well written. Miles was for sure my favorite, such a cute kid with strength he didn’t know he has before getting into this horrible situation. I also really enjoyed the relationship between the detectives.

I highly recommend this one and already purchased a few more of A.R Torres books even though they are available on KU!

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
The premise of the book drew me in but once I started reading it, I just couldn’t get into it at all.
I wish the author, publisher and all those promoting the book much success and connections with the right readers.

I feel like I tore through this book at breakneck speed every time I picked it up! Although it wasn't a deep, thought-provoking story, I really liked it and it was so easy to read. I had been a little worried because I've enjoyed the author's previous novels and some of the reviews for this one were a bit lukewarm but I soon breathed a sigh of relief. There are a great many characters and the story is told from the viewpoints of most of them - like The Leading Lady, the Detective, the Husband, the Kid, etc. - but the chapters are short and sharp and I soon got everyone straight in my head. It was easier to remember their roles than their names anyway. I liked the detective duo and the police procedural aspects of the investigation. The ending wasn't a total surprise but was well done.

To be brief, this book was a lot of fun despite the circumstances. You should enter the Goodreads Giveaway if it's open to you! There's only a few days left. 3.5 Stars rounded up!

I loved Hugh's assessment of a movie they had watched as "entertainingly mediocre" and I plan to use it in a future review!

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer via Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication: June 20, 2023

I was super into the A.R. Torre book I’ve read previously, and this one just didn’t stack up in terms of intrigue and development. We end up learning the “why” without really delving into the emotions involved. I felt that a lot of the perspectives were cut off before we could really do any sort of character work. I think a mini-flashback perspective of the killer would have worked well to give us more insight into the reasoning. Or more in each of the current perspectives that allowed us to get to know the characters more. It felt very surface level.

Not to say this wasn’t enjoyable at all, I had a fine time reading it and thought the Hollywood twins angle was fun. This just is not the most intricate thriller.

I received an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

This book was a miss for me. I found the characters detached and I was unable to relate to any of them.
I think it began promising but by the 5th chapter was beginning to wane.

A Fatal Affair is about a murder connected to Hollywood superstars, a missing child, and a confusing web of lies. Hugh and Trent Iverson are twin brothers who happen to be quite famous, Trent is known as the bad boy while Hugh is a heartthrob and America’s sweetheart type. When Trent is found shot to death in his brother’s guesthouse, things turn into a media circus quite quickly. Not only is the news shocking, but there is also another unknown female victim present that no one seems to know or understand who she is and how she got there.

The idea of a murder taking place on the grounds of a famous celebrity was a very intriguing plot line. Can you imagine how the press and the world would be completely enthralled with trying to figure out this whodunit? And who is this seemingly normal woman that is connected to this story and what happened to her child? Color me intrigued.

While there is some excitement in unraveling this compelling mystery, there are quite a few POVs and I'm not sure they were all completely necessary. The letter/journal device also just didn’t work for me as it is introduced into the book before it was found, so it seems like an underdeveloped element of the story. It would have done better as a flash forward or backward instead.

Still, this would be a fun read if you’re looking for a total escape and something to just let wash over you and just let it reveal itself to you in due time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer in exchange for an honest review.

AR Torre is an auto-buy author for me. She consistently writes gripping page turners with a great balance of twists and plot building. I loved the multiple POVs in this book- they were super easy to follow and brought a lot of depth to the story.

Some of the twists were slightly more predictable but that didn’t make me enjoy it any less. I truly didn’t know what to believe by the end.

Another slam dunk thriller for me. It read somewhat like a police procedural but had domestic suspense elements that the author always excels at. I will be recommending this to all fans of thrillers.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

Short chapters, easy to read and twisty but felt like there was too many POV which lead the plot to go in so many different directions constantly. I didnt really connect with any of the characters; and the twist was kind of predictable! Would still recommend!

A Fatal Affair by A.R. Torre
Rating: 4 stars
Pub Date: 6/20

As a fan of psychological thrillers, I thoroughly enjoyed the change of pace that this crime procedural offered. It was a refreshing read, perfect for anyone who enjoys a good detective novel. Add in the Hollywood element, and you have yourself an unputdownable read!

Hugh Iverson and Nora Kemp are Hollywood royalty. Wealthy, talented, and gorgeous, they are the envy of all. But behind the glitz and glamour is an ugly truth that nothing is what it seems. When Hugh’s twin brother Trent and an unidentified woman are found dead on their property, (apparently from a murder/suicide), everyone is about to find out what kind of secrets Nora and Hugh have been hiding.

This book was a wild ride! There are two deaths, a missing child, diary entries from the murdered woman, and a suspicious children’s charity. The story is told from multiple POVs, which, along with the short chapters, kept the story moving at a fast pace. This is my second book by this author, and her engaging writing style makes it easy to get swept up in her stories.

I loved the salacious Hollywood setting! The author masterfully incorporated the glamour and dark undercurrents of the entertainment industry, elevating the intrigue to a whole new level. It’s incredible what that much money can buy, and the story shows us just that.

Overall, this was fast-paced and engaging and kept me on the edge of my seat. With its unreliable narrators, thrilling twists, and captivating atmosphere, this book is sure to be a hit. Thank you so much to Thomas Mercer and NetGalley for my advanced reader copy.

Read if you like:
*short chapters
*multiple POV
*Hollywood
*unreliable narrators
*twisty endings

3.5
A. R. Torre has become an auto read for me. She does a great job with her mysteries in the sense that they are fast paced where the pages basically turn themselves, I typically don't know where it's going even though I think I do, and I am thoroughly entertained throughout, there's no drag.

A FATAL AFFAIR will be a fun summer read where you think you know what's happening, but come to find out you don't. A famous actor and an unknown woman are found together in what appears a murder and suicide, but there's a lot more to how they got here.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the advance e-copy of this book.

Two bodies have just been found at the residence of two very famous actors in Beverly Hills. The first body is the husband's twin brother. The second is the body of a woman who has been reported missing when she was supposed to go on a Make-A-Wish Disney trip with her son. And the son is missing also.
This is a soap opera-style mystery that is hard to summarize. Despite the fact that I guessed the biggest twist when I was only 3% in, I did not know all of the ramifications and the why and the how and the when to get there, and the ride was fun, and so was the final twist. The story is told in short chapters, with many interconnected POVs, which made for great pacing, always bringing something new and interesting.
I received an advance review copy of this book for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This authors work is really hit and miss for me. The last two books of hers I have enjoyed. This was better than those. I love how the author is growing with every book.

A twisted, fast paced, fly through read.
The pacing of this book is so fast because each chapter bounces back and forth between different characters labeled The Detective, The Leading Lady, The Leading Man, The Husband, and a few other side players. I didn't want to stop reading at just one chapter. I was so pulled in by each person that I didn't want to put it down, dying to hear the next part from them. It was a "just one more chapter" kind of book.
It's like pieces of the puzzle start to click together but there always those few that look like they would perfectly fit but just never quite click. More pieces need to be found.
This was a great thriller that I couldn't put down, even when my jaw was dropping to the floor!

(I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley)

This gripping thriller delves into the complex relationships and dark secrets of Hollywood's elite. The love triangle adds an intriguing layer to the suspenseful plot. The investigation of a murder-suicide uncovers a twisted motive and a web of deceit. The author skillfully keeps readers guessing until the very end. It's a thrilling page-turner that exposes the hidden truths lurking beneath the glitz and glamour of Los Angeles.