Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I did not realize this was a second book in a series and wish I would have read the first one too. This was a decent and quick thriller. It was a fun reading experience.

I didn’t realize this wasn’t the first book and I felt like I was missing some decently important information. But it also was just pretty dang boring

I am just now realizing this is book two, so maybe my review would be different had I read the other book prior to this one.

With that in mind, I did have a hard time following this story. I felt that the writing took sporadic jumps that had me a bit lost. I also listened to the audio version, which can make it more difficult to follow quick changing storylines in my opinion. As for narration- I loved the production, I just wish I could’ve got into the story more.

Narrated by Chris Abernathy
Presented by Brilliance Audio

I really wish NetGalley would advise when a book is not the first in a series.

That said, this seems like it still would have been terrible even if I had knowledge of this 'lighthouse incident' that they kept referring to.

The story is about two troublesome teens who steal an occult book and travel across the country to sell it. Harlan Winter, hero occultist of the series, chases after them, since its his book they stole.

I honestly just could not get invested. I didn't care about any of these characters, and the book constantly referred to the 'lighthouse incident' and I, not knowing this was a sequel, kept waiting for the book to delve into what had happened at the lighthouse. So maybe those who have read that first book will appreciate this more than I did.

The plot seemed really weak to me - I don't recall what made this particular stolen book special at all, and nothing particularly interesting happened along the journey aside from bad guys getting their comeuppance as violently as possible. The ending seemed strangely brutal and I'm not at all sure why it was necessary. Basically, a lot of violence for minimal payoff.

Also, why do I keep reading books that seem to deliver the message: 'having a baby will ruin your life'???

I don't think there was anything particularly redeeming about this one, but maybe those who have read the first book in the series will appreciate this more.

With thanks to NetGalley for an audio ARC

Book Title: Head Full of Lies
Series: Harlan Winter #2
Author: Jordan Farmer
Format: 🎧
Narrator: Chris Abernathy
Publisher: Brilliance Publishing-Brilliance Audio
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Pub Date: May 21, 2024
My Rating: 3.5 Stars

I was drawn to this story as I was born and raised in West Virginia – Yep a ‘Coal Miner’s Daughter’.
The state is beautiful just like the lyrics in John Denver song –“Country Roads” ~ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vrEljMfXYo
However most stories feature the poor and uneducated so I was hoping Jordan Farmer’s Harlan Winter would make me proud.

Story starts when Harlan Winter returned to his corner of Appalachia, where he wants is to run his occult bookshop;
The thieves are two local teenagers who leave Appalachia in a stolen car and heading to Florida where a buyer is waiting for their goods.

Story turned out ‘better than Okay’!

Want to thank NetGalley and Brilliance Audio for this early audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for May 21, 2024.