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My Thoughts:

Don't Believe ItDon’t Believe It by Charlie Donlea

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 show stoppping stars to Don’t Believe It! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

My first read from Charlie Donlea was engaging and propulsive and a fabulous Traveling Sister group read to boot!

The Girl of Sugar Beach is a popular documentary covering whether Grace Sebold murdered her boyfriend while on spring break in St. Lucia. When the book opens, Grace has been in prison for 10 years, and Sidney Ryan agrees to produce the documentary in an effort to (hopefully) prove Grace’s innocence.

Sidney quickly becomes a pseudo-detective in her production role, and evidence falls in her lap that could change everything. Is Sidney really helping to free an innocent Grace, or is she possibly working for a brutal killer?

It took a little time to get into Don’t Believe It, but once I did, it took off! At first, I was not sure about the documentary scenes, but they ended up adding interest and perspective to the story.

I clicked with so much about this book. The likable characters, the fresh premise, and the twists that I never saw coming had me fully invested in this wild ride with a satisfying ending.

Overall, Don’t Believe It was an original, gripping, and fascinating read. I highly recommend this book to psychological thriller fans, and I am looking forward to reading more from Charlie Donlea!

Thank you to Charlie Donlea, Kensington Books, and Netgalley for the ARC. Don’t Believe It will be released on May 29, 2018!

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Synopsis:

From acclaimed author Charlie Donlea comes a twisting, impossible-to-put-down novel of suspense in which a filmmaker helps clear a woman convicted of murder—only to find she may be a pawn in a sinister game.

The Girl of Sugar Beach is the most watched documentary in television history—a riveting, true-life mystery that unfolds over twelve weeks and centers on a fascinating question: Did Grace Sebold murder her boyfriend, Julian, while on a Spring Break vacation, or is she a victim of circumstance and poor police work? Grace has spent the last ten years in a St. Lucian prison, and reaches out to filmmaker Sidney Ryan in a last, desperate attempt to prove her innocence.

As Sidney begins researching, she uncovers startling evidence, additional suspects, and timeline issues that were all overlooked during the original investigation. Before the series even finishes filming, public outcry leads officials to reopen the case. But as the show surges towards its final episodes, Sidney receives a letter saying that she got it badly, terribly wrong.

Sidney has just convinced the world that Grace is innocent. Now she wonders if she has helped to free a ruthless killer. Delving into Grace’s past, she peels away layer after layer of deception. But as Sidney edges closer to the real heart of the story, she must decide if finding the truth is worth risking her newfound fame, her career . . . even her life.

Have you read Don’t Believe It? Do you plan to? Happy Reading and Happy Memorial Day weekend to those in the US! 🇺🇸 Jennifer THR