Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for this eARC.

In the intricate web of mystery and suspense, Brianna Labuskes delivers a compelling read with, "The Lies You Wrote."

This first installment in the Raisa Susanto series introduces us to a protagonist whose expertise in forensic linguistics sets her apart from the typical sleuths that populate the genre.

The story unfolds in the small town of Everly, Washington, where the past and present collide with a chilling echo of murders. Twenty-five years after a notorious double homicide, a new crime scene eerily reminiscent of the old stirs the quiet community and beckons the FBI to its doorstep. Enter Raisa Susanto, a forensic linguist with a keen eye for the subtleties of language, and her partner, Callum Kilkenny, a forensic psychologist with an uncanny ability to read between the lines of human behavior.

Labuskes weaves a tale that is as much about the pursuit of justice as it is about the exploration of language as a tool and a weapon. The narrative is rich with linguistic insights that add depth to the investigation, making "The Lies You Wrote" stand out in a crowded field of crime thrillers. Raisa's unique skill set allows her to parse clues from messages found on the dark web, drawing the reader into the shadowy corners of the internet where truth and fiction blur.

The novel's strength lies in its characters, particularly Raisa, whose background in linguistics is not just a profession but a passion that drives her. She is more than a detective; she is a decipherer of hidden truths, a trait that makes her both formidable and relatable. The dynamic between Raisa and Callum is another highlight, providing a partnership that balances professional acumen with personal complexity.

Labuskes' prose is sharp and evocative, painting a picture of Everly that is both intimate and foreboding. The plot is tightly constructed, with twists that are both surprising and satisfying. The author's attention to detail, especially in the depiction of forensic linguistics, adds authenticity to the story and educates the reader without overwhelming them.

"The Lies You Wrote" is a triumph of the mystery genre, offering a fresh perspective through the lens of language. It is a book that will resonate with fans of thrillers and linguistics alike, leaving them eagerly awaiting the next Raisa Susanto adventure. With this novel, Labuskes not only entertains but also enriches, proving once again that words have the power to reveal, to conceal, and to captivate.

A must read for mystery fans and lovers of linguistics and well-written works of fiction.

5 stars from this enthusiastic reviewer. I can't wait to read additional installments from this clever series.

A great new series with a crime mystery element. I liked the main character Raisa and her job was something new to me. Great story with many twists.

The Lies You Wrote
[First, I’d like to say, thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to review this ARC with honesty.]

So I’ve never read anything by this author before but have always been tempted by her other books. I am SO happy I read this one. It took me a bit and I apologize but when I started this, it was very hard to put down. The pacing was well done, the characters interesting enough that I became attached.

The ending - Ah, I need the next book!

For anyone that is looking for psychological thrillers, this is a good one. This appears to be leading into a series. Which is not a bad thing at all.

I will say I did see some of the twists coming and that doesn’t make it bad either. Parts were slightly murky and confusing but overall, if you kept attention for the most part you could piece it together.

My Rating: 4 Stars!

"Lies You Wrote" by Brianna Labuskes is a gripping thriller featuring FBI forensic linguist Raisa Susanto investigating a double murder mirroring a decades-old crime. Labuskes crafts a compelling protagonist and intricately woven plot filled with twists and turns. While the abundance of characters may be overwhelming, the story remains engaging with its incorporation of podcast snippets and interviews. However, some may find Raisa's need for validation and unresolved plot threads less appealing. Despite its flaws, "Lies You Wrote" captivates with its storytelling and leaves readers eager for more from this promising new series. Overall, a solid thriller deserving of 3.5 stars.

THE LIES YOU WROTE by Brianna Labuskes was a thrill ride of a whodunnit that will have you turning pages well into the night.

We meet Raisa Susanto, forensic linguist, Callum Kilkenny, forensic psychologist and Delaney Moore, a woman who picks up on patterns and things. They are all working together to find the copycat who killed Bob and Gina Balducci, reminiscent of a twenty five year old case involving the Parker family. But all may not be what it seemed if social media is to be believed.

As the three of them look at clues from their own perspectives and chosen occupations, they lean on each other to correctly interpret the clues left behind that could explain what they are seeing now. Each has a reason for wanting to appease their conscience for various past mistakes in solving this case.

Ms Labuskes has the knack of drawing you into the tunnel of a story and hoping for/dreading seeing the light at the end. I love her writing style as it leads to a very enjoyable read. I DID have some trouble at the end with names, but it just took a bit of concentration. (Not always an easy feat, I admit.) For that reason, I give a 4.5 but round up to a 5. The fact Ms Labuskes can move between genres shows that she is a true master of her craft. This is Book 1 of the Raisa Susanto series and I really look forward to following along as the character develops. Knowing the author’s abilities, I believe it will be a fun ride.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for this ARC opportunity. All opinions are my own and given voluntarily.

The double murder of a married couple in a small Washington town draws FBI forensic linguist Raisa Susanto into an investigation that mirrors a decades-old crime. Twenty-five years ago—to the day—Alex Parker murdered his parents, then took his own life, leaving behind a note admitting everything.

Raisa, paired with forensic psychologist Callum Kilkenny, uses her skills to read between the lines. Especially now that paranoid postings on a conspiracy thread suggest that Alex was a victim himself—theories that have piqued the interest of a perceptive content moderator and a true-crime podcaster eager for a big break.

As old and new crimes converge, messages from the living and the confessions of the dead take on new meaning for Raisa. Something more sinister than a copycat crime is at play, and plundering the darkest corners of a killer’s mind leaves her vulnerable to a deadly twist even she never saw coming.

Sheer perfection from start to finish.

This was my first read from this author - I definitely will be watching for more! A great spin on a police procedural, it will keep you guessing! Worth your time, well written, and well paced!

Title: The Lies You Wrote (Raisa Susanto #1)
Author: Brianna Labuskes
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Pub date: 1/1/2024

If you are a Criminal Minds fan, you are going to enjoy this one. The book relies heavily on the science of finding a serial killer using a forensic linguist and a forensic psychologist. As these two FBI specialists analyze the clues pulled from the old and new murders, they are both carrying their own baggage which plays into their ability to trust what one another brings to the table. Details emerge that have them questioning everything including their own fields but, they are strong in the convictions of their work. Are they right? Will they be able to end this killer’s game?

Quick read that had my mind engaged.

Glad to know there is book #2 coming out in 2024.

Thank you #NetGalley and #Thomas&Mercer for the opportunity to lose myself in these pages.

This was a fantastic debut of a new procedural series with a great new female lead. A linguist and a forensic psychologist. An old crime and a new one.

I thought this book was really interesting, kept me on my toes and guessing right up to the end. I liked the alternating viewpoints and articles/podcast transcripts worked in as well. A great read and a fascinating new series. I really likes Raisa and Callum and can't wait to see what they do next!

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, Brianna Labuskes and Thomas and Merced for the free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Interesting new series! I can’t wait to read the next one. Love how linguistics. Was easily explained in nice bite sized paragraphs. It wasn’t the entire story either and the twists. I didn’t see all of that coming!

Intense, addictive, and smart murder mystery that rises above the rest. Complex mystery tying past and present murders within a small town with secrets within secrets - add in forensic linguistics and psychology and you have a real treat for mystery fans! Can't wait for more ...

I have read a few thrillers of various tropes and this is my favorite out of my most recent reads. I thoroughly enjoyed the journey I was taken on and felt like I was trying to solve the crime alongside the characters.

This felt like a true crime podcast or documentary. There were multiple perspectives and had an interesting cast of characters. I almost felt like I was watching something unfold on TV. There are somethings you might be able to guess ahead of their reveals but I don't think that takes away from it when they are finally revealed. The book is well done and paced properly.

If you like something that wraps neatly up at the end you might be disappointed. There will be a second book but I doubt some of the loose ends will be mentioned again since it's focusing on a different serial killer and story.

An interesting parallel, Delaney Moore was described to be very similar to Penelope from Criminal Minds. I wonder if that was an influence on the book or characters.

At the end the names of the characters did become confusing and I wished the author would have stuck with one name for each person and maybe even kept them all related. Either choose their real names or their aliases. The inconsistency while all the information was coming together made it difficult to get the full effect of the reveals.

Thanks to Thomas & Mercer via Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC for an honest review.

The Lies You Wrote by Brianna Labuskes
Raisa Susanto #1

Riveting read – twists and turns aplenty – first time I’ve read this author but won’t be the last!

What I liked:
* Raisa Susanto: FBI Forensic Linquist, orphaned young in life, foster system graduate, brilliant, sees patterns in words, resilient, survivor, intriguing, would like to learn more about her
* Callum Kilkenny: FBI Forensic Psychologist, widow, wife killed by serial killer, brilliant, profiler, guarded, loner, not easy to read, intriguing, would like to learn more about him
* The plot, pacing, setting, and writing
* The tie-in of two murders a quarter decade apart and what they have in common
* The police procedural aspect of the story with the slow unveiling of one puzzle piece at a time
* The growing relationship between Raisa and Callum
* The twists, turns, and unexpected surprises
* Wondering how much nature vs nurture played a part in three of the characters lives
* The finale and wondering what will come next
* All of it really except…

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant to dislike
* Thinking about how many people let too many things slide and the impact it had on more than one in the story
* Thinking about the heavy psychological load more than one in this book was carrying

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Definitely!

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

Forensic linguist Raisa Sustano is brought onto a copy-cat killer case that has connections to a murder-suicide from 25 years ago. Alex Parker killed his parents and then himself in a small town that left three sisters traumatized. Now around the anniversary of those murders, a killer recreates the murder scene. Raisa is partnered with forensic psychologist Callum Kilkenny to analyze online conspiracy message boards that state Alex is innocent. The message boards are monitored by a civilian, Delaney Moore, who is also brought onto the case. Raisa is suspicious of Delaney from the beginning, but she can’t place why. As Raisa digs deeper into the murders, she learns things that will change her life forever.

It often takes me a bit to get into psychological thrillers because of the slow build writing style, but I was hooked from the beginning. I loved the different approach by making the protagonist a forensic linguist instead of a forensic psychologist. I appreciated that the author spent time explaining elements of linguistics so the reader could understand patterns Raisa was looking for and how they played a role in the case. This was truly suspenseful, and I never saw any of the twists coming. Even when you think you’ve finally got it figured out, the threads keep unraveling. I couldn’t get enough of this book. Thanks to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and Brianna Labuskes for this free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I thought it was a very unique premise about an FBI linguistic expert. Raisa is a leader in this specialty field and is brought in on a copycat killing. There’s many other interesting players in the story, including two young women who are extremely smart…amongst other things! Very entertaining from start to finish.

Raisa Susanto is an FBI Foreign Linguist, called in to help solve a murder linked to a previous murder 25 years ago. This novel has so many twist and turns, I ended up confused and although I continued to the end, it was not one of my favourites.

I have enjoyed a few of Brianna Labuskes’ books prior to reading The Lies You Wrote. Her writing is intelligent and I enjoyed the main character, Raisa. What I enjoyed about her was that I wouldn’t like her as a person in the real world. I think the intention is for the reader to be conflicted about her. I don’t always care for that sort of effort when it is obvious, but the author did a fabulous job of fleshing Raisa out as a main character. The story and the writing was fantastic and really kept me engaged in the book when there were times the graphic sexual details and social media dialogues made me want to give up on it. The multiple POV’s is always a winning writing tool in my opinion. I liked that it was utilized here. Brianna Labuskes is a fantastic writer and this one should please readers of her previous books.

This was a wild ride and I was totally here for it! I didn't see that last twist coming at the end. And I want to see how the fledgling friendship between Raisa & Callum develops. I now have ANOTHER series to add to my never-ending list that I want to read! This was my first book by Brianna Labuskes but it will not be my last, I am adding all of her books to my TBR!

#TheLiesYouWrote
#NetGalley

Wow! I have never read this author and I will go back and read all her books! A youg man is accused of murdering his parents..but did he? The twists and turns in this novel kept me on my toes. The characters were well developed, the plot was superb, and I was blown away by the ending. Not what I thought it would be! Defintely a 5 star read!

Thank you Thomas & Mercer for the ARC. I loved Brianna Labuskes' Dr. Gretchen White series and her recent historical lit/romance, so I was super excited for this one. Unfortunately this fell a bit flat for me.