I obtained a overview copy from the writer. This doesn’t have an effect on the contents of my overview and all opinions are my very own.

No Lie Lasts Without end by Mark Stevens

Mogsy’s Ranking: 4 of 5 stars

Style: Thriller, Thriller

Sequence: Stand Alone

Writer: Thomas & Mercer (June 1, 2025)

Size: 457 pages

Creator Info: Web site

I went into No Lie Lasts Without end not totally certain what to anticipate, since crime thrillers aren’t my traditional style and Mark Stevens is a brand new creator to me. However I ended up having a blast with this punchy, fast-paced novel. What set it aside for me is its angle on the acquainted hunt-for-a-serial-killer narrative, studying like a police procedural in some ways, besides we’re following the investigation by way of the eyes of a journalist relatively than a detective. I actually appreciated this attitude, which added a gritty urgency to the story, particularly when mixed with the sharp, no-nonsense prose.

The guide follows Flynn Martin, an formidable journalist at a Denver information station whose circumstances unexpectedly take a nosedive when her stay, on-air involvement in a high-profile hostage state of affairs goes horribly improper. The fallout of that tragedy leaves her disgraced and on the verge of shedding her job. Determined for a shot at redemption, Flynn is keen to do something to make sure she’s not remembered for her one catastrophic mistake. A chance arises when a fellow reporter is discovered murdered underneath suspicious circumstances, and Flynn all of a sudden finds herself on the heart of a case that might make or break her profession.

As extra details about the sufferer surfaces, the ugly particulars bear an eerie resemblance to the work of the PDQ Killer, a serial assassin who terrorized Denver by killing three ladies earlier than vanishing with out a hint fifteen years in the past. The potential for his return sends shockwaves by way of town, resulting in renewed efforts by the police to attempt to discover and seize him. However just one individual is aware of the reality. Harry Kugel, the actual PDQ killer, is aware of he didn’t commit this newest homicide, and is livid that another person could also be killing in his title. On the threat of upending his newly constructed and reformed life, he reaches out anonymously to Flynn, providing a deal she will be able to’t refuse.

What actually labored for me was the writing. Stevens’ propulsive prose is characterised by brief sentences and simply sufficient element to floor the characters and setting with out slowing issues down. The dialogue is identical manner, snappy and pure. It’s a mode that’s excellent for this arrange, and the guide does an ideal job immersing the reader in Flynn’s world of investigative journalism—the urgency of chasing leads, digging for details, and continuously racing the clock. The guide does take some time to ascertain its foundations, with the opening chapters heavy on character introductions, however as soon as Flynn is contacted by Harry, the pacing kicks into excessive gear and doesn’t let up.

Talking of which, the alternating views between our two POVs create a posh kind of stress. For one, we already know who the actual PDQ is, as Harry is correct there in plain view, his each thought and motion made recognized to the reader. But it surely’s the anticipation of when and the way he’ll be caught that’s the driving power right here, simply as a lot as Flynn’s pursuit of the reality behind this newest copycat killing. The novel isn’t a lot a whodunit as it’s a cat-and-mouse recreation, with each characters circling one another fastidiously, every holding onto one thing the opposite wants.

Harry Kugel is disturbingly well-drawn. He’s a monster, however avoids turning into a cliché as a result of his darkly compelling voice. In him, Stevens has created an introspective if delusional sociopath who genuinely believes he’s moved on from his violent previous. Meticulously cautious, he is aware of he’s fortunate to have prevented seize and that his present lifetime of normalcy is his reward for the great conduct he’s exhibited for the final fifteen years. In fact, that is shattered the second he discovers another person has, effectively, framed him, and solely by turning again to the darkness can he protect the fantasy he has constructed for himself. As for Flynn, a troublesome however flawed protagonist whose impartial streak typically will get the higher of her, she may be tough to sympathize with particularly at first when her cussed refusal to observe directions inevitably results in catastrophe. She solely has herself guilty for a lot of of her errors, however she does finally develop extra cautious and measured whereas sustaining her tenacity.

My remaining take? No Lie Lasts Without end undoubtedly surpassed my expectations. I discovered it extra attention-grabbing than your common serial-killer thriller in that it was extra a psychological battle than a puzzle for the reader to unravel. This was my first time studying Mark Stevens, however I can be curious to see what he does subsequent.