Review – No Lie Lasts Forever by Mark Stevens
Synopsis
Zodiac with a terrifying twist, in a taut thriller from author Mark Stevens about a reformed serial killer and the disgraced journalist he coaxes into finding the imposter trading on his name.
When a reporter dies in a shockingly familiar way, the media rushes to announce the return of the PDQ Killer. The city of Denver reels, but no one more than Harry Kugel. After all, he is the PDQ Killer―or was fifteen years ago. And he didn’t do this.
Still working to reform his ways, Harry won’t let some amateur murderer ride his twisted coattails and risk drawing the police back his way. To protect his legacy and quiet new life, he’ll have to expose the copycat. Without exposing himself.
Disgraced TV journalist Flynn Martin holds the key. After a botched hostage situation, she’ll do anything to revive her dying career―even hunt down a monster who executed one of her own.
Harry must convince Flynn to follow him into the heady world of a killer. But with the law closing in and a rival at large, he starts to feel the familiar pull of old urges…
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Review
What happens when a serial killer tries to clear their name of a current murder?
This novel has a lot going on in it, and it takes time to grasp what is happening with the various storylines. Flynn is a journalist trying to uncover the truth when it comes to the murder of a fellow journalist, and whether it is tied to the PDQ killer from fifteen years ago. Are they related, or is this a cover-up?
There are numerous characters and multiple storylines to juggle. It was challenging for me to get into the book and understand the cast of characters and the mysteries to be solved. Flynn is at the center of everything, and while we discover who the PDQ killer is, we don’t know his motive for what he is doing in the present, outside of clearing his name of this most recent killing.
There are aspects of the book that don’t mirror our everyday life, such as a journalist being called in as a negotiator in a hostage situation. However, that is the beauty of fiction, the author can create any scenario they wish.
Possibly the most intriguing character is the serial killer, Harry. He is complex, and the way his mind thinks is different from most. At the same time, he is a serial killer, so how much do you really trust him?
This book is longer than I realized, and could have been trimmed to tighten up the stories within.
We give this book 3 1/2 paws up.
About the Author
The son of two librarians, Mark Stevens was raised in Lincoln, Massachusetts, and has worked as a reporter, as a national television news producer and in public relations. The Fireballer (Lake Union, 2023) was named Best Baseball Novel by Twin Bill Literary Magazine and named one of Best Baseball Books of the Year by Spitball Magazine.
His mystery novel Antler Dust was a Denver Post bestseller in 2007 and 2009. Buried by the Roan, Trapline, and Lake of Fire were all finalists for the Colorado Book Award (2012, 2015, and 2016, respectively). Trapline won the Colorado Book Award in 2016 and also received the best genre fiction award from Colorado Authors League.
Stevens has had short stories published by Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, Mystery Tribune, and in Denver Noir (Akashic Books, 2022). In September 2016, Stevens was named Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers’ Writer of the Year, and again in 2023. Stevens hosts a regular podcast for Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers and has served as president of the Rocky Mountain chapter for Mystery Writers of America. Stevens is also an avid reader and regularly shares his reviews.
Today, Stevens lives in Mancos, Colorado.
