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Don't Believe It
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 overlooked during the original investigation. Before the series even finishes filming, public outcry leads officials to reopen the case.
Delving into Grace’s past, Sidney peels away layer after layer of deception. But as she edges closer to the real heart of the story, Sidney must decide if finding the truth is worth risking her newfound fame, her career … even her life.
As Sidney begins researching, she uncovers startling evidence overlooked during the original investigation. Before the series even finishes filming, public outcry leads officials to reopen the case.
Delving into Grace’s past, Sidney peels away layer after layer of deception. But as she edges closer to the real heart of the story, Sidney must decide if finding the truth is worth risking her newfound fame, her career … even her life.
448 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 29, 2018
About the author
Charlie Donlea
21 books7,867 followersCharlie Donlea is the USA TODAY and #1 Internationally bestselling author of SUMMIT LAKE, THE GIRL WHO WAS TAKEN, DON'T BELIEVE IT, SOME CHOOSE DARKNESS, THE SUICIDE HOUSE, TWENTY YEARS LATER, and THOSE EMPTY EYES. His eighth thriller, LONG TIME GONE, explores the science of forensic genealogy and will be released in June 2024.
His books have been translated into twenty languages across nearly forty countries. He resides in Chicago with his wife and two children.
He spends a part of each year fishing with his father in the far reaches of Canada, where the roads end and lakes are accessible only by floatplane. These majestic trips to “God’s Country” inspired the setting for his first novel, Summit Lake.
His books have been translated into twenty languages across nearly forty countries. He resides in Chicago with his wife and two children.
He spends a part of each year fishing with his father in the far reaches of Canada, where the roads end and lakes are accessible only by floatplane. These majestic trips to “God’s Country” inspired the setting for his first novel, Summit Lake.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 5,592 reviews
September 26, 2022
"Don't Believe It satisfies our darkest curiosities as crime fiction readers."
Admit it, you're just as intrigued in the wave created by the media of the onslaught of true crime documentaries today. Whether it's a TV show like Making A Murderer or a podcast like Serial, these investigations into convicts who claim their innocence are a huge hit among viewers (and listeners), young and old alike. Why should it be different for readers? Instead of leaving this to true crime books, authors have begun to delve into the fictional world to create stories very similar to the real life hits. Full disclosure- I'm a sucker for these type of stories, but I have to say that this was one of the most intriguing and well written narratives I've come across yet.
I've been a huge fan of Donlea's for years now, and I swear he gets better with each book. Summit Lake was a memorable debut and a fun mystery to try and solve. The Girl Who Was Taken had a similar feel to this latest novel, more of a psychological thriller sprinkled with YA themes that appealed to adults as well. I was pleased as punch to see that Dr. Livia Cutty makes a generous cameo in DBI, as she was a favorite character out of all the books I read last year. Don't Believe It is Donlea's most compulsive and explosive novel so far, and once you read it you'll see for yourself just why everyone is raving about it.
Go in blind people. Don't skim tons of reviews before picking this up. Don't go searching out "just a little more info", because you truly want to be surprised and shocked here. I don't want to post anything remotely spoiler-related here, so I'll just make some vague observations. I love the past and present POVs that we receive here; the beginning is gripping and makes the reader wonder just how anyone could question this woman's guilt, but as we read on, we see that not all is as it appears to be at first glance. There are so many great threads that eventually come together in the end, and I'm pleased to say there was a twist used near the finale that secured the 5 STAR rating for me. It's a twist that, surprisingly, isn't used frequently, but one that ALWAYS manages to catch me off guard.
If you enjoy a good psych thriller that feels equal parts mainstream and indie, add this to your list. You NEED this. I found I couldn't turn the pages quickly enough and unravel the story as fast as I'd liked. It's the type of book that you initially want to absorb via osmosis, but also don't want it to end so quickly because it's so fun to read. This book was current, relevant, and highly entertaining. Once again, I can't wait to read what Donlea works on next!
*Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing my review copy.
Admit it, you're just as intrigued in the wave created by the media of the onslaught of true crime documentaries today. Whether it's a TV show like Making A Murderer or a podcast like Serial, these investigations into convicts who claim their innocence are a huge hit among viewers (and listeners), young and old alike. Why should it be different for readers? Instead of leaving this to true crime books, authors have begun to delve into the fictional world to create stories very similar to the real life hits. Full disclosure- I'm a sucker for these type of stories, but I have to say that this was one of the most intriguing and well written narratives I've come across yet.
I've been a huge fan of Donlea's for years now, and I swear he gets better with each book. Summit Lake was a memorable debut and a fun mystery to try and solve. The Girl Who Was Taken had a similar feel to this latest novel, more of a psychological thriller sprinkled with YA themes that appealed to adults as well. I was pleased as punch to see that Dr. Livia Cutty makes a generous cameo in DBI, as she was a favorite character out of all the books I read last year. Don't Believe It is Donlea's most compulsive and explosive novel so far, and once you read it you'll see for yourself just why everyone is raving about it.
Go in blind people. Don't skim tons of reviews before picking this up. Don't go searching out "just a little more info", because you truly want to be surprised and shocked here. I don't want to post anything remotely spoiler-related here, so I'll just make some vague observations. I love the past and present POVs that we receive here; the beginning is gripping and makes the reader wonder just how anyone could question this woman's guilt, but as we read on, we see that not all is as it appears to be at first glance. There are so many great threads that eventually come together in the end, and I'm pleased to say there was a twist used near the finale that secured the 5 STAR rating for me. It's a twist that, surprisingly, isn't used frequently, but one that ALWAYS manages to catch me off guard.
If you enjoy a good psych thriller that feels equal parts mainstream and indie, add this to your list. You NEED this. I found I couldn't turn the pages quickly enough and unravel the story as fast as I'd liked. It's the type of book that you initially want to absorb via osmosis, but also don't want it to end so quickly because it's so fun to read. This book was current, relevant, and highly entertaining. Once again, I can't wait to read what Donlea works on next!
*Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing my review copy.
May 25, 2018
*4 Stars* for shock-value
Well, that was a fun and twisty little shocker of a read!
I have to admit, after not entirely loving this author’s previous novel, The Girl Who Was Taken, I went into this one a bit unsure of what to expect.
However, this book proves that each novel an author produces should be treated as an isolated body of work, because there were so many elements of this book that completely blew me away!
Don’t Believe It presents a layered story with exhilarating turns that keep the reader second guessing, as a good mystery should. But it doesn't stop at one—the twists keep coming—like the waves of an ocean, and every time you think you’ve got it figured out you're knocked back off your feet again.
This story is constructed in a true crime documentary fashion that is being filmed in real-time. We follow the producer as she sells the show, the crime her show will feature, the convict who claims she’s been wrongfully accused, along with all the interviews and flashbacks in-between as this murder-mystery unfolds.
For me, this author’s core strength lies in his plot design, scattering clues with subtle but distinct indications as he masterfully leads the reader in all the wrong directions. The reveals are shocking and tremendous, but the groundwork applied beforehand will fully back them up.
The various characters are intriguing, sheltering side stories that branch away from the main focus only to gradually manifest into something deeper.
Although I appreciate that this book really delves into the behind-the-scenes politics of making documentaries, some of it grew tedious and caused certain areas to drag. I wanted more focus on the characters themselves, and less inconsequential narrative. But the shocking twists and turns were worth the wait.
If, like me, you are a fan of the hit true-crime documentary Making a Murderer, along with the Serial podcast, and would like see how investigating such a case would play out in fiction, I’d suggest giving this one a go!
*Traveling Sister read! Thanks, ladies :-)
*Arc kindly provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
Well, that was a fun and twisty little shocker of a read!
I have to admit, after not entirely loving this author’s previous novel, The Girl Who Was Taken, I went into this one a bit unsure of what to expect.
However, this book proves that each novel an author produces should be treated as an isolated body of work, because there were so many elements of this book that completely blew me away!
Don’t Believe It presents a layered story with exhilarating turns that keep the reader second guessing, as a good mystery should. But it doesn't stop at one—the twists keep coming—like the waves of an ocean, and every time you think you’ve got it figured out you're knocked back off your feet again.
This story is constructed in a true crime documentary fashion that is being filmed in real-time. We follow the producer as she sells the show, the crime her show will feature, the convict who claims she’s been wrongfully accused, along with all the interviews and flashbacks in-between as this murder-mystery unfolds.
For me, this author’s core strength lies in his plot design, scattering clues with subtle but distinct indications as he masterfully leads the reader in all the wrong directions. The reveals are shocking and tremendous, but the groundwork applied beforehand will fully back them up.
The various characters are intriguing, sheltering side stories that branch away from the main focus only to gradually manifest into something deeper.
Although I appreciate that this book really delves into the behind-the-scenes politics of making documentaries, some of it grew tedious and caused certain areas to drag. I wanted more focus on the characters themselves, and less inconsequential narrative. But the shocking twists and turns were worth the wait.
If, like me, you are a fan of the hit true-crime documentary Making a Murderer, along with the Serial podcast, and would like see how investigating such a case would play out in fiction, I’d suggest giving this one a go!
*Traveling Sister read! Thanks, ladies :-)
*Arc kindly provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
May 17, 2018
This is a good one!
Charlie Donlea jumps on the Serial/Making A Murder train with Don’t Believe It, and boy does he deliver! This is a tightly wound, dark psychological thriller that kept me guessing!
Sidney Ryan has a knack for creating enthralling true crime documentaries. Having successfully created two binge-worthy series, she now has a contract on a large tv network to create a third series. Her subject is quite controversial: Grace Sebold who was convicted 10 years ago for the murder of her boyfriend, Julian Crist, while on vacation in St. Lucia.
Grace was a 26-year-old medical student when she was arrested for Julian's murder. She claims that the St. Lucian police targeted her as a suspect and created evidence to match their claims. She is adamant that she is innocent and Sidney soon begins investigating what really happened when Julian died.
Sidney plans to air 10 installments about Grace’s case. She constructs them on a weekly basis and sometimes comes across vital information at the last minute. She is learning about the murder at the same time as the viewing audience, which is when readers are learning too.
Don’t Believe It had me constantly questioning Grace’s innocence--I changed my mind several times about whether or not she murdered Julian. Books that have me constantly questioning EVERYTHING are some of my favorites. While I did eventually figure things out before the book ended, I wasn’t completely sure of why what happened the way it did (sorry for lack of detail, I’m trying to avoid spoilers) until I got to the very end. There's also some unexpected big twists and turns that threw me for a loop.
I didn’t love this at first. I couldn't connect with Sidney’s character in the beginning and was annoyed with the chapters featuring Gus. However after I got about 25% in, everything clicked and my life began to revolve around reading this book. Overall, I really enjoyed reading Don’t Believe It! I especially loved the last sentence and the way it brought everything full circle.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Kensington Books in exchange for an honest review.
Charlie Donlea jumps on the Serial/Making A Murder train with Don’t Believe It, and boy does he deliver! This is a tightly wound, dark psychological thriller that kept me guessing!
Sidney Ryan has a knack for creating enthralling true crime documentaries. Having successfully created two binge-worthy series, she now has a contract on a large tv network to create a third series. Her subject is quite controversial: Grace Sebold who was convicted 10 years ago for the murder of her boyfriend, Julian Crist, while on vacation in St. Lucia.
Grace was a 26-year-old medical student when she was arrested for Julian's murder. She claims that the St. Lucian police targeted her as a suspect and created evidence to match their claims. She is adamant that she is innocent and Sidney soon begins investigating what really happened when Julian died.
Sidney plans to air 10 installments about Grace’s case. She constructs them on a weekly basis and sometimes comes across vital information at the last minute. She is learning about the murder at the same time as the viewing audience, which is when readers are learning too.
Don’t Believe It had me constantly questioning Grace’s innocence--I changed my mind several times about whether or not she murdered Julian. Books that have me constantly questioning EVERYTHING are some of my favorites. While I did eventually figure things out before the book ended, I wasn’t completely sure of why what happened the way it did (sorry for lack of detail, I’m trying to avoid spoilers) until I got to the very end. There's also some unexpected big twists and turns that threw me for a loop.
I didn’t love this at first. I couldn't connect with Sidney’s character in the beginning and was annoyed with the chapters featuring Gus. However after I got about 25% in, everything clicked and my life began to revolve around reading this book. Overall, I really enjoyed reading Don’t Believe It! I especially loved the last sentence and the way it brought everything full circle.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Kensington Books in exchange for an honest review.
January 23, 2023
Sad trombone - my first read of 2023 was kind of a flop. This book has so much potential but it all went downhill fast.
Things that irritated me:
Hopefully my other reads for 2023 will only go up from here.
Things that irritated me:
Hopefully my other reads for 2023 will only go up from here.
August 5, 2018
Don't believe it, but Donlea pulled the wool over my eyes yet again!
Grace Sebold has been incarcerated for ten years in a St. Lucian prison for the murder of her boyfriend, Julian. Julian was murdered while the couple were on the island for the wedding of Grace's friends. They appeared to be the perfect couple. They were happy, in love and going to attend the same medical school. They had a whole future ahead of them until that fateful night when Julian was killed. Grace has maintained her innocence from the very beginning. She has never wavered in this and has written documentary filmmaker Sidney Ryan numerous times asking for help. Sidney Ryan has a passion for justice and has aided in getting those who are falsely imprisoned exonerated.
Finally, Sidney is willing to hear Grace's story. Intrigued, Sidney wonders if Grace is truly innocent and the victim of a rushed investigation and/or faulty police work or is she in fact guilty. Sidney knows there is a story here and after pitching it to her network, she begins filming "The Girl of Sugar Beach." The documentary keeps gaining viewers with each installment and becomes a rating hit. The audience tunes in each week as Sidney reports on old and new evidence. An American tried and convicted in another country is an intriguing subject and has everyone wanting to know - Did she do it?
Donlea works his magic and continues to keep readers guessing. He is a master at throwing out false leads, possible suspects and had me thinking, re-thinking and questioning my suspect list. There are quite a few twists and turns in this book which moves the story along quite nicely. I personally felt the office/network scenes slowed the book down a little and didn't add much to the story. During those sections, I wanted to get back to the documentary investigation and get there NOW! The documentary sections of this book were strong and enjoyable.
I was happy with the forensic work in this book. Almost as happy as I was with the multilayered and well thought out plot. Donlea is very clever at leading the reader down the wrong path. What you think you know to be true- may not be true and vice versa. Half the fun of reading this book is trying to figure out whodunit. Was Grace the killer? Was there another killer? Why was Julian Killed? I had so many questions while reading this book. Many of my questions were answered but I was left with one remaining question: will there be a sequel?
After recently reading two books by Donlea, I am hooked. He writes intelligent and carefully crafted novels that have me glued to my seat fully absorbed in the story. Riveting storytelling that doesn't disappoint.
*I enjoyed discussing this book with The Traveling Friends group!
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com
October 15, 2022
Don't Believe It by Charlie Donlea
Narrated by Nina Alvamar
Sidney Ryan produces documentaries and her latest real time, multipart documentary, The Girl of Sugar Beach, is a huge hit. It's about Grace Sebold, a woman in prison for killing her boyfriend, Julian, ten years ago. But it seems lousy police work and jumping to conclusions without solid evidence may have put her there. Sidney's documentary can't give Grace back those ten years and all she lost by being convicted of murder but it could at least set her free for the rest of her life.
When you have a hit like this, deciding to reverse course when 70% through the thing, you know that the powers that be are not going to be happy. Sidney's digging brings up information and evidence that would be better left buried since it could destroy her career and have a murderer after her hide. Julian died when he was hit on the head and fell over a cliff. Now new revelations are hitting Sidney over a head and she has a big chance of falling off a cliff of personal success. But her convictions will not let her keep going down a path she sees could be wrong. How much is she willing to pay for the truth?
I have followed cold cases and true crime for as long as I've been on the internet. So this type of story is made for the part of me that is curious to know what really happened. Even so, events and revelations towards the end of the book got so convoluted that I had to sleep on the story for a couple of nights to see how I really felt about it. I wasn't happy with the implausibility of the revelations and the fact that investigations throughout the years must be so very sloppy that it's hard to believe anything gets solved in this world. But now I can just accept the story as it is and know that I really enjoyed most of it, whether I like the revelations are not.
Published May 29, 2018
Narrated by Nina Alvamar
Sidney Ryan produces documentaries and her latest real time, multipart documentary, The Girl of Sugar Beach, is a huge hit. It's about Grace Sebold, a woman in prison for killing her boyfriend, Julian, ten years ago. But it seems lousy police work and jumping to conclusions without solid evidence may have put her there. Sidney's documentary can't give Grace back those ten years and all she lost by being convicted of murder but it could at least set her free for the rest of her life.
When you have a hit like this, deciding to reverse course when 70% through the thing, you know that the powers that be are not going to be happy. Sidney's digging brings up information and evidence that would be better left buried since it could destroy her career and have a murderer after her hide. Julian died when he was hit on the head and fell over a cliff. Now new revelations are hitting Sidney over a head and she has a big chance of falling off a cliff of personal success. But her convictions will not let her keep going down a path she sees could be wrong. How much is she willing to pay for the truth?
I have followed cold cases and true crime for as long as I've been on the internet. So this type of story is made for the part of me that is curious to know what really happened. Even so, events and revelations towards the end of the book got so convoluted that I had to sleep on the story for a couple of nights to see how I really felt about it. I wasn't happy with the implausibility of the revelations and the fact that investigations throughout the years must be so very sloppy that it's hard to believe anything gets solved in this world. But now I can just accept the story as it is and know that I really enjoyed most of it, whether I like the revelations are not.
Published May 29, 2018
July 7, 2018
4.5 Stars! This was a good one just the way I like my mystery/thrillers!
DON’T BELIEVE IT by CHARLIE DONLEA is a gripping, fascinating, action-packed, and suspenseful psychological thriller novel that I was immediately drawn into and had me totally engaged in the storyline right up to that surprising and shocking ending. This book was so entertaining, enjoyable and extremely hard for me to put down.
CHARLIE DONLEA delivers a well-written, detailed, unique and twisty read here that had me questioning whether Grace was guilty or innocent for murdering her boyfriend while on vacation in St. Lucia.
This book pretty much kept me guessing right up to around the 70% mark and then that is when I started piecing things together. Even though I thought I knew what was happening when the actual reveal came it was presented in a way that shocked and surprised me. I loved that about this book!
I absolutely loved the way that this story was told and with the way it was formatted had me immediately intrigued in this storyline. It was a lot of fun following along with our central character, Sidney an investigative reporter who was producing a true-life documentary into the innocence of Grace as the investigation unfolded in real-time. What Sidney learned we as readers learned at the same time which really moved the plot forward for me.
To sum it all up it was an entertaining, enjoyable, fast-paced, and clever read with an ending that left me hoping for a sequel! Would recommend!
* Traveling Sisters Group Read ~ Thank you ladies for another wonderful reading experience!
Publishing Date: May 29, 2018
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Kensington Books and Charlie Donlea for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review!
Review written and posted on our themed book blog Two Sisters Lost In A Coulee Reading.
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com
Coulee: a term applied rather loosely to different landforms, all of which refer to a kind of valley.
DON’T BELIEVE IT by CHARLIE DONLEA is a gripping, fascinating, action-packed, and suspenseful psychological thriller novel that I was immediately drawn into and had me totally engaged in the storyline right up to that surprising and shocking ending. This book was so entertaining, enjoyable and extremely hard for me to put down.
CHARLIE DONLEA delivers a well-written, detailed, unique and twisty read here that had me questioning whether Grace was guilty or innocent for murdering her boyfriend while on vacation in St. Lucia.
This book pretty much kept me guessing right up to around the 70% mark and then that is when I started piecing things together. Even though I thought I knew what was happening when the actual reveal came it was presented in a way that shocked and surprised me. I loved that about this book!
I absolutely loved the way that this story was told and with the way it was formatted had me immediately intrigued in this storyline. It was a lot of fun following along with our central character, Sidney an investigative reporter who was producing a true-life documentary into the innocence of Grace as the investigation unfolded in real-time. What Sidney learned we as readers learned at the same time which really moved the plot forward for me.
To sum it all up it was an entertaining, enjoyable, fast-paced, and clever read with an ending that left me hoping for a sequel! Would recommend!
* Traveling Sisters Group Read ~ Thank you ladies for another wonderful reading experience!
Publishing Date: May 29, 2018
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Kensington Books and Charlie Donlea for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review!
Review written and posted on our themed book blog Two Sisters Lost In A Coulee Reading.
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com
Coulee: a term applied rather loosely to different landforms, all of which refer to a kind of valley.
February 5, 2018
The light doesn't often penetrate into the darkest depths of the ocean.
Kinda like that ol' shell game that slides and switches the hidden ball beneath. You thought you knew exactly where it was. Trust me.....you won't.
Being a documentary filmmaker can have its occasional perks if the right story comes along. Just ask Sidney Ryan and her crew. It's feast or famine and very little in between. It's also a cutthroat business that depends on ratings. You gotta stay ahead of the bigger fish or you'll get swallowed up in a heartbeat.
But this time Sidney has come across a ten year old case set on the sandy beaches of the tropical St. Lucia in the Eastern Caribbean. Murder somehow doesn't seem to fit in a high class resort setting. But Julian Crist was dead before he could even say, "Pass the sunscreen." His girlfriend, Grace Sebold, has been prosecuted and convicted of his murder and has been sitting in a prison cell on the island ever since. The St. Lucian jury thought it was a slam dunk. Case closed....until Sidney comes along.
The crew flies out to St. Lucia, interviews Grace, and sifts through years of rushed documents and flimsy investigations. Sidney's weekly "The Girl of Sugar Beach" is a ratings bonanza. The public can't get enough of the "reveal" every week. The government of St. Lucia is takin' a hit and soon Grace is released after being locked up for ten years. End of story? Oh, not quite, Folks.
Dearest Charlie Donlea, you have clearly outdone yourself with this one. I'm a big Donlea fan and have read them all. But this one? Have mercy! The intense research, the smart smart approach, and the pop-ups of well-defined characters that are inserted at just the right bend in the road make this a definite "must read", my Fellow Readers. So glad to see how you brought back Dr. Livia Cutty once again. You need to take a bow just for that alone. Add to that the creative implementation of Gus to this fine storyline. You just can't write fast enough for the next one to get here, Charlie. Bravo!
I received a copy of Don't Believe It through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Kensington Books and to the talented Charlie Donlea for the opportunity.
Kinda like that ol' shell game that slides and switches the hidden ball beneath. You thought you knew exactly where it was. Trust me.....you won't.
Being a documentary filmmaker can have its occasional perks if the right story comes along. Just ask Sidney Ryan and her crew. It's feast or famine and very little in between. It's also a cutthroat business that depends on ratings. You gotta stay ahead of the bigger fish or you'll get swallowed up in a heartbeat.
But this time Sidney has come across a ten year old case set on the sandy beaches of the tropical St. Lucia in the Eastern Caribbean. Murder somehow doesn't seem to fit in a high class resort setting. But Julian Crist was dead before he could even say, "Pass the sunscreen." His girlfriend, Grace Sebold, has been prosecuted and convicted of his murder and has been sitting in a prison cell on the island ever since. The St. Lucian jury thought it was a slam dunk. Case closed....until Sidney comes along.
The crew flies out to St. Lucia, interviews Grace, and sifts through years of rushed documents and flimsy investigations. Sidney's weekly "The Girl of Sugar Beach" is a ratings bonanza. The public can't get enough of the "reveal" every week. The government of St. Lucia is takin' a hit and soon Grace is released after being locked up for ten years. End of story? Oh, not quite, Folks.
Dearest Charlie Donlea, you have clearly outdone yourself with this one. I'm a big Donlea fan and have read them all. But this one? Have mercy! The intense research, the smart smart approach, and the pop-ups of well-defined characters that are inserted at just the right bend in the road make this a definite "must read", my Fellow Readers. So glad to see how you brought back Dr. Livia Cutty once again. You need to take a bow just for that alone. Add to that the creative implementation of Gus to this fine storyline. You just can't write fast enough for the next one to get here, Charlie. Bravo!
I received a copy of Don't Believe It through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Kensington Books and to the talented Charlie Donlea for the opportunity.
July 17, 2018
5 well, shit, I didn't see that coming from a mile away stars!
Well done Charlie Donlea. Can I get a slow clap!?
This is one of the books of the month choices for the Traveling Friends group and what an amazing pick! I'll let you know right off the bat, my dog has not been fed yet, my laundry remains safely unfolded and I've done a good solid nothing since getting home but read. I.Had.To.Finish.
Don't Believe It is a very well timed, pop-culture relevant tale about the conviction Grace Seabold in 2007. The story begins by following our MC Sidney Ryan on her third true-crime documentary as she sets out to shed new light on Grace's case. Sidney loosely takes credit for the surge in interest in true-crime podcasts and procedural documentaries (think Serial, My Favorite Murder, Making a Murderer, The Last Podcast on the Left and so on) and the story is set up much the same way. Everything unfolds from evolving POVs throughout and with snippets of the documentary episodes and juror deliberation interspersed with traditional story telling.
As I've mentioned in my reviews before, I often find switching POVs, flash-backs, and separations from the story to interfere with the seamlessness of a read. In this instance it really worked for me. It was another layer of Sidney's character development - to see how she viewed and set up the episodes in her mind come to fruition. Overall, I thought the character development of the major players was truly exceptional. Sidney and Grace were wonderful to read and even characters I thought I hated I gained a begrudging respect for. We all know someone like Luke "The Bear" Barrington - needlessly competitive, throwing shade like the Kardashian's take selfies. However, in the end, I really enjoyed his arc and the bit of background we got on him. It was something I didn't even realize I needed until it was happening. Even when I felt characters were superfluous, Donlea brought it right back into focus.
"I just cringe watched the whole season, I don't need a recap."
Binge watched. And I missed a deadline, thanks to your letter. This is what you get."
Ok, just. Gus + Christina 5 ever.
So, basically, when I'm reading a new book I take notes for my reviews and I think about what I want to say and how I feel about each moment as they happen. While I was taking notes throughout this, I was so positively sure that I 100% knew what was going to happen. Despite this, I had to keep going, it became not about who did it but why they did it for me. Then, like a freight train it all comes into clear focus for the reader at the same time it does for Sidney and WHAM, ya done.
This whole thing is set up on the premise of Sidney's latest true-crime documentary being an in-the-moment type show. Her viewers get the information pretty much, at the same time she does. I thought this was a neat concept to start but then I realized the reader is the viewer and Donlea gives us information at the exact moment Sidney receives it and it really created a lot of pulse-pounding action.
This was the true definition of a page-turner. Donlea has smart writing, excellent twists, and turns, an original story concept and a wonderful execution. I highly suggest this for anyone interested in thriller/suspense novels with a love of true-crime to boot!
Well done Charlie Donlea. Can I get a slow clap!?
This is one of the books of the month choices for the Traveling Friends group and what an amazing pick! I'll let you know right off the bat, my dog has not been fed yet, my laundry remains safely unfolded and I've done a good solid nothing since getting home but read. I.Had.To.Finish.
Don't Believe It is a very well timed, pop-culture relevant tale about the conviction Grace Seabold in 2007. The story begins by following our MC Sidney Ryan on her third true-crime documentary as she sets out to shed new light on Grace's case. Sidney loosely takes credit for the surge in interest in true-crime podcasts and procedural documentaries (think Serial, My Favorite Murder, Making a Murderer, The Last Podcast on the Left and so on) and the story is set up much the same way. Everything unfolds from evolving POVs throughout and with snippets of the documentary episodes and juror deliberation interspersed with traditional story telling.
As I've mentioned in my reviews before, I often find switching POVs, flash-backs, and separations from the story to interfere with the seamlessness of a read. In this instance it really worked for me. It was another layer of Sidney's character development - to see how she viewed and set up the episodes in her mind come to fruition. Overall, I thought the character development of the major players was truly exceptional. Sidney and Grace were wonderful to read and even characters I thought I hated I gained a begrudging respect for. We all know someone like Luke "The Bear" Barrington - needlessly competitive, throwing shade like the Kardashian's take selfies. However, in the end, I really enjoyed his arc and the bit of background we got on him. It was something I didn't even realize I needed until it was happening. Even when I felt characters were superfluous, Donlea brought it right back into focus.
"I just cringe watched the whole season, I don't need a recap."
Binge watched. And I missed a deadline, thanks to your letter. This is what you get."
Ok, just. Gus + Christina 5 ever.
So, basically, when I'm reading a new book I take notes for my reviews and I think about what I want to say and how I feel about each moment as they happen. While I was taking notes throughout this, I was so positively sure that I 100% knew what was going to happen. Despite this, I had to keep going, it became not about who did it but why they did it for me. Then, like a freight train it all comes into clear focus for the reader at the same time it does for Sidney and WHAM, ya done.
This whole thing is set up on the premise of Sidney's latest true-crime documentary being an in-the-moment type show. Her viewers get the information pretty much, at the same time she does. I thought this was a neat concept to start but then I realized the reader is the viewer and Donlea gives us information at the exact moment Sidney receives it and it really created a lot of pulse-pounding action.
This was the true definition of a page-turner. Donlea has smart writing, excellent twists, and turns, an original story concept and a wonderful execution. I highly suggest this for anyone interested in thriller/suspense novels with a love of true-crime to boot!
June 3, 2018
A destination wedding to a lovely tropical island. Good friends since childhood, all gathering to celebrate this joyous occasion. Picture perfect...until one unlucky member on the guest list is killed and another accused of the crime.
Grace has been sitting in prison for over 10 years! She insists on her innocence and now pleads with her former friend Sidney for much needed help.
Coincidentally, Sidney happens to be the successful host of a documentary series that reviews previous crimes. And in many cases, able to exonerate people sitting in prison for crimes they didn’t commit. Only this time, Sidney is choosing to produce her show in real time and let the evidence lead the way.
It’s been a while since I’ve been really wowed by a book. I was beginning to feel that familiar slump coming on, but this book definitely blew out all the cobwebs! I was drawn into a fantastic thrill-ride from start to finish! Told from different timelines and perspectives, it flowed easily and I was never confused as to direction/plot. (Yeah!!)
This is the second book I’ve read by Charlie Donlea and while I enjoyed his previous work, this one was an absolute home run for me! Shocking...twisty...jaw dropping! Everything you look for in a thriller! This one is jam packed full of goodies!
I highly recommend!!
A fantastic Traveling Sister read!💞
Thank you to NetGalley, Kensington Books and Charlie Donlea for an ARC to review in exchange for an honest review!
For our full Traveling Sister review please visit Brenda and Norma’s fabulous blog: https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com
Grace has been sitting in prison for over 10 years! She insists on her innocence and now pleads with her former friend Sidney for much needed help.
Coincidentally, Sidney happens to be the successful host of a documentary series that reviews previous crimes. And in many cases, able to exonerate people sitting in prison for crimes they didn’t commit. Only this time, Sidney is choosing to produce her show in real time and let the evidence lead the way.
It’s been a while since I’ve been really wowed by a book. I was beginning to feel that familiar slump coming on, but this book definitely blew out all the cobwebs! I was drawn into a fantastic thrill-ride from start to finish! Told from different timelines and perspectives, it flowed easily and I was never confused as to direction/plot. (Yeah!!)
This is the second book I’ve read by Charlie Donlea and while I enjoyed his previous work, this one was an absolute home run for me! Shocking...twisty...jaw dropping! Everything you look for in a thriller! This one is jam packed full of goodies!
I highly recommend!!
A fantastic Traveling Sister read!💞
Thank you to NetGalley, Kensington Books and Charlie Donlea for an ARC to review in exchange for an honest review!
For our full Traveling Sister review please visit Brenda and Norma’s fabulous blog: https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com
May 29, 2018
Happy publication day to Charlie Donlea! This was a Traveling Sisters group read and we definitely all enjoyed this fabulous book.
Just when you think that all new avenues of thrillers have been exhausted, an author comes out with a new format and blows it out of the water.
This was a super entertaining whodunnit centered around a cold case which is being reopened for a documentary in the likes of Serial.
This book gave me major Amanda Knox/Dangerous Girls vibes - these are all fascinating crime stories and the curiosity will definitely peak your interest in this case as well - what really happened? Is she really guilty? Are the forensics accurate?
The author took some bold moves in his plotting (which I will not mention because, spoilers!) and I have to applaud him. Other readers in our group also loved how he tied in characters from some of his other works, it's always fun when favorite characters make a reappearance. This is my first book by Donlea, but I will certainly be back for more after reading this fabulous, twisty tale!
Thanks for a fun group read, Traveling Sisters! 4.5 stars
Thank you to Charlie Donlea and Kensington for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Just when you think that all new avenues of thrillers have been exhausted, an author comes out with a new format and blows it out of the water.
This was a super entertaining whodunnit centered around a cold case which is being reopened for a documentary in the likes of Serial.
This book gave me major Amanda Knox/Dangerous Girls vibes - these are all fascinating crime stories and the curiosity will definitely peak your interest in this case as well - what really happened? Is she really guilty? Are the forensics accurate?
The author took some bold moves in his plotting (which I will not mention because, spoilers!) and I have to applaud him. Other readers in our group also loved how he tied in characters from some of his other works, it's always fun when favorite characters make a reappearance. This is my first book by Donlea, but I will certainly be back for more after reading this fabulous, twisty tale!
Thanks for a fun group read, Traveling Sisters! 4.5 stars
Thank you to Charlie Donlea and Kensington for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 20, 2018
Don’t Believe it by Charlie Donlea is a 2018 Kensington publication.
St. Lucia-
The perfect place for a spring break excursion, weddings, or marriage proposals. Grace is positive her boyfriend, Julian, is about to pop the question, but their vacation quickly turns into a nightmare. Tragedy strikes before Julian has a chance to propose, and his death is ruled a homicide. Grace is swiftly arrested and convicted of his murder. The case was an open and shut slam dunk. But, in her letters to Sidney Ryan, Grace swears she is innocent.
True Crime, ‘wrongfully convicted’, documentaries are all the craze. Capitalizing on this, Sidney Ryan, a freelance filmmaker, thinks the 'Sugar Beach' case will make a compelling story. Despite some doubts, the network gives her the green light. But, when Sidney arrives in St. Lucia, she uncovers evidence that Grace had never mentioned- evidence that points to her guilt- not her innocence. But, Sydney also sees the dubious way the investigation was handled. Was Grace guilty or innocent? Will Sydney’s documentary raise more questions than it answers? The ratings are through the roof, but has justice finally be done?
This brisk, and timely thriller, cleverly takes advantage of the current true crime documentary trend. Only in this case, there are a few hidden dangers our documentary filmmaker never counted on. Not only that, the secondary characters are all intertwined with Grace in surprising ways, exposing motives and resentments that never came out at the trial. But, niggling doubts linger about Grace’s innocence, while Sydney grapples with the magnitude of the documentary’s success against the personal risks she must take to find the truth.
The atmosphere is authentic and tense, nailing the true crime formula of these mega popular documentaries and crime shows with a realistic look at what goes on behind closed doors at the network studios. It also has the feel of a cold case, which is one of my very favorite mystery tropes. There are plenty of jaw dropping revelations, and a huge last minute twist, that left me breathless. I do hope this author writes fast, and is right this minute working on a follow up to this book!!
I’ve heard some great things about this author, but this is my first impression of his work. Needless, to say, it will not be the last. I will be looking up his other books, and impatiently awaiting his next release.
4 stars
St. Lucia-
The perfect place for a spring break excursion, weddings, or marriage proposals. Grace is positive her boyfriend, Julian, is about to pop the question, but their vacation quickly turns into a nightmare. Tragedy strikes before Julian has a chance to propose, and his death is ruled a homicide. Grace is swiftly arrested and convicted of his murder. The case was an open and shut slam dunk. But, in her letters to Sidney Ryan, Grace swears she is innocent.
True Crime, ‘wrongfully convicted’, documentaries are all the craze. Capitalizing on this, Sidney Ryan, a freelance filmmaker, thinks the 'Sugar Beach' case will make a compelling story. Despite some doubts, the network gives her the green light. But, when Sidney arrives in St. Lucia, she uncovers evidence that Grace had never mentioned- evidence that points to her guilt- not her innocence. But, Sydney also sees the dubious way the investigation was handled. Was Grace guilty or innocent? Will Sydney’s documentary raise more questions than it answers? The ratings are through the roof, but has justice finally be done?
This brisk, and timely thriller, cleverly takes advantage of the current true crime documentary trend. Only in this case, there are a few hidden dangers our documentary filmmaker never counted on. Not only that, the secondary characters are all intertwined with Grace in surprising ways, exposing motives and resentments that never came out at the trial. But, niggling doubts linger about Grace’s innocence, while Sydney grapples with the magnitude of the documentary’s success against the personal risks she must take to find the truth.
The atmosphere is authentic and tense, nailing the true crime formula of these mega popular documentaries and crime shows with a realistic look at what goes on behind closed doors at the network studios. It also has the feel of a cold case, which is one of my very favorite mystery tropes. There are plenty of jaw dropping revelations, and a huge last minute twist, that left me breathless. I do hope this author writes fast, and is right this minute working on a follow up to this book!!
I’ve heard some great things about this author, but this is my first impression of his work. Needless, to say, it will not be the last. I will be looking up his other books, and impatiently awaiting his next release.
4 stars
June 5, 2018
4.5 stars! Oh wow - this was good!!!
This story follows Sidney Ryan, an up and coming filmmaker who specializes in true crime documentaries revolving around old murder cases. She takes on the case of Grace Sebold, an acquaintance from school who was convicted of murdering her fiancé while on vacation ten years prior. Grace has been sitting in a St. Lucian prison for the last decade claiming her innocence. Sidney is determined to uncover all details relating to the case and present them in a ten episode documentary series, similar to the Netflix special Making A Murderer.
This novel will have you flying through the pages, shocking you with twists and turns, making you scratch your head with frustration in guessing what actually happened. The characters are real, the suspense is addictive, the pace is perfect! I loved how the story was presented to include various interview segments, sections from the developing TV documentary episodes along with courtroom trial tidbits. It kept the story fresh and interesting throughout.
I loved Charlie Donlea’s previous novel, The Girl Who Was Taken. I am excited to say this follow up novel was fantastic and equally thrilling. I look forward to reading more from Donlea! I am a huge fan!
This was a Traveling Sister read which sparked some fantastic discussion. We had so many guesses and theories as to how this story would all come together. This book was a perfect choice and huge success for the Traveling Sisters as we all ended up really enjoying it! I love when that happens! To find this review, along with the other Traveling Sister reviews, please visit Brenda and Norma's fabulous blog at:
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com/2...
A big thank you to NetGalley, Kensington Books and Charlie Donlea for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!
This story follows Sidney Ryan, an up and coming filmmaker who specializes in true crime documentaries revolving around old murder cases. She takes on the case of Grace Sebold, an acquaintance from school who was convicted of murdering her fiancé while on vacation ten years prior. Grace has been sitting in a St. Lucian prison for the last decade claiming her innocence. Sidney is determined to uncover all details relating to the case and present them in a ten episode documentary series, similar to the Netflix special Making A Murderer.
This novel will have you flying through the pages, shocking you with twists and turns, making you scratch your head with frustration in guessing what actually happened. The characters are real, the suspense is addictive, the pace is perfect! I loved how the story was presented to include various interview segments, sections from the developing TV documentary episodes along with courtroom trial tidbits. It kept the story fresh and interesting throughout.
I loved Charlie Donlea’s previous novel, The Girl Who Was Taken. I am excited to say this follow up novel was fantastic and equally thrilling. I look forward to reading more from Donlea! I am a huge fan!
This was a Traveling Sister read which sparked some fantastic discussion. We had so many guesses and theories as to how this story would all come together. This book was a perfect choice and huge success for the Traveling Sisters as we all ended up really enjoying it! I love when that happens! To find this review, along with the other Traveling Sister reviews, please visit Brenda and Norma's fabulous blog at:
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com/2...
A big thank you to NetGalley, Kensington Books and Charlie Donlea for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!
January 31, 2020
Not bad Donlea... not bad at all!!! After having read Summit Lake by Charlie Donlea I became a fan quickly.
This is my second book I've read by this author and again have been very impressed by his talent and writing style!
Mr. Donlea has an excellent way of grabbing his readers from page one and taking them on one heck of a ride! I really really enjoyed this one! What I like most is his writing style. The use of symbolism and metaphors is ON point!
Sidney Ryan is a documentary producer. She finds inmates that have been convicted of a crime that appears they did not commit. Sidney has received many letters about a woman named Grace Sebold pleading her innocence. Sidney decides to look into Grace's case of killing her boyfriend in St. Lucia while on vacation with all of her friends. As Sidney starts investigating and producing her documentary on Grace... she finds that things start falling through the cracks. Nothing is adding up to what Grace and her friends/family are telling Sidney. Can Sidney find out the truth before it's too late?
Can I just say... I LOVED the documentary spice this added to the mix. I really enjoyed the characters as well and have to say that Gus stole my heart :). He was my fav!
And.... WOW can I just say the ending WAS the perfect icing on this cake!!!!
4.5 stars for me on this one! I loved it :)
Thank you to Kensington Books and Netgalley for the arc.
Published to GR: 4/28/18
Publication date: 5/29/18
This is my second book I've read by this author and again have been very impressed by his talent and writing style!
Mr. Donlea has an excellent way of grabbing his readers from page one and taking them on one heck of a ride! I really really enjoyed this one! What I like most is his writing style. The use of symbolism and metaphors is ON point!
Sidney Ryan is a documentary producer. She finds inmates that have been convicted of a crime that appears they did not commit. Sidney has received many letters about a woman named Grace Sebold pleading her innocence. Sidney decides to look into Grace's case of killing her boyfriend in St. Lucia while on vacation with all of her friends. As Sidney starts investigating and producing her documentary on Grace... she finds that things start falling through the cracks. Nothing is adding up to what Grace and her friends/family are telling Sidney. Can Sidney find out the truth before it's too late?
Can I just say... I LOVED the documentary spice this added to the mix. I really enjoyed the characters as well and have to say that Gus stole my heart :). He was my fav!
And.... WOW can I just say the ending WAS the perfect icing on this cake!!!!
4.5 stars for me on this one! I loved it :)
Thank you to Kensington Books and Netgalley for the arc.
Published to GR: 4/28/18
Publication date: 5/29/18
June 3, 2018
Looking for your next beach read? I think I've found it for you: Charlie Donlea's Don't Believe It. A unique storytelling style, full of twists and turns and surprises, this one will keep even the most jaded of thriller readers guessing at least a little bit.
Ten years ago, medical student Grace Sebold and her boyfriend Julian Crist were in St. Lucia, celebrating the wedding of two of Grace's closest friends. After being apart for most of their relationship, Grace and Julian were finally going to be in the same place, as they were both matched to the same residency program. But one night, Julian was murdered, and Grace was the prime suspect.
There was both physical and circumstantial evidence pointing to Grace as Julian's murderer, and it didn't take long for a jury in St. Lucia to convict her. Grace has spent 10 years in jail, pursuing every avenue to get the verdict overturned, all to no avail. But then her pleas pique the curiosity of Sidney Ryan, an up-and-coming documentary filmmaker whose previous work helped exonerate three criminals.
Even though Sidney remembered watching Grace's trial as it unfolded in the media and there seemed to be a preponderance of evidence, she feels there's more to Grace's pleas of innocence than simply wanting out of jail. The documentary she begins producing, The Girl of Sugar Beach, promises to explore the murder from all angles, and within a few weeks, after some eye-opening discoveries, it becomes the most watched documentary in television history.
Every week, the world is held in thrall by the documentary. As Sidney starts uncovering mishandled evidence, additional suspects, and what amounted to a conspiracy to convict Grace quickly all those years ago, she also finds some anomalies she can't quite explain. While the success of The Girl of Sugar Beach will allow Sidney to dictate the path of her career, she has to make a crucial decision: does she pursue ratings, or the truth? Will pursuing the former obscure the latter, and could it result in Julian's killer going (or continuing to go) free?
You can get more of a plot synopsis on Goodreads, Amazon, and other sites, but I'm going to stop now. I went into Don't Believe It almost completely blind to what the book was about, and I feel that was a pretty terrific decision.
This book grabbed me from the very first page. I had suspicions about would happen (I'm one of those thriller readers who suspects every character in a book), but Donlea kept flipping the script little by little, so I wasn't sure exactly what to expect. Even as new characters were being introduced, I wondered what the outcome would be, and while I don't know that I was completely satisfied, I like the premise that was hinted at.
I have never read any of Donlea's previous books, so I was really impressed with his storytelling. He took you into to the production of the documentary, and you watched information unfold as Sidney and her crew did. The narration shifted between the past and the present, between a few different characters—sometimes you're not even sure who is narrating.
I will say that there were a few plot threads that were introduced that didn't get explored, and I don't know if Donlea was purposely throwing in some red herrings to confuse the reader or if they just didn't get picked up. That was a little frustrating for me, because there were a few points I didn't understand.
Beyond that, I devoured Don't Believe It pretty quickly. I anticipate seeing lots of people doing the same this summer, whether on the beach, on the plane, or elsewhere. It's definitely a thriller worth diving into!
NetGalley and Kensington Books provided me an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making this available!
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com, or check out my list of the best books I read in 2017 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2018/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2017.html.
August 5, 2024
Don’t Believe It
by Charlie Donlea has a fascinating and complex plot filled with sleuthing. Sidney Ryan is producing a documentary that examines the case of Grace Sebold. She was on vacation in St. Lucia with friends and family, including her boyfriend, Julian. When he dies, she was accused and convicted of his murder ten years ago. Did she murder him or was she a victim of poor police work? That is the question that Sidney wants to answer via the documentary.
The book is mainly set in 2017 during the documentary time-frame. Besides joining Sidney on her research journey, readers get to read extracts from the weekly television documentary episodes.
Both the characters and the settings came to life in this novel. However, for me, the book felt somewhat slow and drawn out. Additionally, my main quibble was a disappointing ending that also left too many things unresolved. Will there be a second book that answers those questions?
Overall, this story is intriguing and thought-provoking. The author delivers a vivid story of life and drama, but the ending did not appeal to me.
Kensington Books provided a complimentary physical copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date was March 26, 2019.
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My 3.46 rounded to 3 stars review is coming soon.
The book is mainly set in 2017 during the documentary time-frame. Besides joining Sidney on her research journey, readers get to read extracts from the weekly television documentary episodes.
Both the characters and the settings came to life in this novel. However, for me, the book felt somewhat slow and drawn out. Additionally, my main quibble was a disappointing ending that also left too many things unresolved. Will there be a second book that answers those questions?
Overall, this story is intriguing and thought-provoking. The author delivers a vivid story of life and drama, but the ending did not appeal to me.
Kensington Books provided a complimentary physical copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date was March 26, 2019.
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My 3.46 rounded to 3 stars review is coming soon.
April 12, 2018
3.5
The premise sounds familiar-a documentary about someone accused of murder (and says she is innocent). I thought this one started off strong, with a high level of suspense, but quickly fades as the book progresses.
I was engaged for the first half of the book and wanted to know more- was Grace innocent? Sidney becomes convinced she is and starts producing a documentary (sound familiar)? The story becomes somewhat like a police procedural as she investigates and uncovers more clues and possible evidence. It is well-written, but the documentary aspect became tiresome and went on too long (in my opinion).
I was losing interest and then the twist brought the story back to life. In the end, I was left thinking it lacked plausibility.
I’m sure others will enjoy the documentary aspect more than I did and the mystery had me reading until the end.
Thank you to Netgalley/Publisher for my ARC
The premise sounds familiar-a documentary about someone accused of murder (and says she is innocent). I thought this one started off strong, with a high level of suspense, but quickly fades as the book progresses.
I was engaged for the first half of the book and wanted to know more- was Grace innocent? Sidney becomes convinced she is and starts producing a documentary (sound familiar)? The story becomes somewhat like a police procedural as she investigates and uncovers more clues and possible evidence. It is well-written, but the documentary aspect became tiresome and went on too long (in my opinion).
I was losing interest and then the twist brought the story back to life. In the end, I was left thinking it lacked plausibility.
I’m sure others will enjoy the documentary aspect more than I did and the mystery had me reading until the end.
Thank you to Netgalley/Publisher for my ARC
December 21, 2020
Julian Crist has made the hike up Gros Piton in St. Lucia, and set the scene for a beautiful proposal. The champagne is open, the flutes are chilled, the sun is setting...but he is killed before he can propose.
His girlfriend, Grace is convicted and is still proclaiming her innocence, 10 years later.
She, and a close friend, Ellie Reiser have been reaching out to filmmaker, Sidney Ryan for years, hoping that she would look into her case. As Sidney begins her research, she decides to film a documentary in “real time” and present to her audience whatever she finds, as she finds it...not knowing where her investigation will lead her.
Called “The Girl of Sugar Beach” it becomes the most watched documentary in television history, surpassing “The Making of a Murderer” and drawing in more fans than the podcast, “Serial”.
But, then, Sidney receives a letter which makes her wonder if she just helped a guilty woman be released from prison.
How should she end the “series”...should she reveal the letter and her latest findings? It is important that the ending be more satisfying than the endings of its predecessors. She has just three episodes left to film...
From page one till it’s TWISTY, SHOCKING conclusion, I was riveted.
I kept changing my mind on who I thought was guilty.
Prologue: In feature films, the director is God; in documentary films, God is the director” Alfred Hitchcock
BELIEVE IT! This needs to go straight to the top of your TBR list!
I would like to thank Netgalley, Kensington books and the author for the ARC I was provided in exchange for my CANDID review.
* This.was the first book I read by Charlie Donlea, before his characters Rory and Lane, from “Some Choose Darkness” and “The Suicide House” charged onto the scene!
His girlfriend, Grace is convicted and is still proclaiming her innocence, 10 years later.
She, and a close friend, Ellie Reiser have been reaching out to filmmaker, Sidney Ryan for years, hoping that she would look into her case. As Sidney begins her research, she decides to film a documentary in “real time” and present to her audience whatever she finds, as she finds it...not knowing where her investigation will lead her.
Called “The Girl of Sugar Beach” it becomes the most watched documentary in television history, surpassing “The Making of a Murderer” and drawing in more fans than the podcast, “Serial”.
But, then, Sidney receives a letter which makes her wonder if she just helped a guilty woman be released from prison.
How should she end the “series”...should she reveal the letter and her latest findings? It is important that the ending be more satisfying than the endings of its predecessors. She has just three episodes left to film...
From page one till it’s TWISTY, SHOCKING conclusion, I was riveted.
I kept changing my mind on who I thought was guilty.
Prologue: In feature films, the director is God; in documentary films, God is the director” Alfred Hitchcock
BELIEVE IT! This needs to go straight to the top of your TBR list!
I would like to thank Netgalley, Kensington books and the author for the ARC I was provided in exchange for my CANDID review.
* This.was the first book I read by Charlie Donlea, before his characters Rory and Lane, from “Some Choose Darkness” and “The Suicide House” charged onto the scene!
May 27, 2018
The last 40% of this book is mind-blowing—I had to go back and reread passages to make sure I read what I thought I did!!!
See my review here!
This is my first book by Charlie Donlea, and what a fantastic introduction to this author!!! This book already drew me in with the premise, but the writing and the way the story was executed kept me engaged until the very last page. This is a book that is fueled by the plot. Some thrillers take place mostly in the minds of the characters, but this book is action driven. There are no slow points—every single chapter is moving you towards the shocking conclusion. You’ll want to pay attention, because a LOT happens in this book!
10 years ago Grace Sebold was convicted of murdering her boyfriend…
Grace’s life was on the right track. Grace recently found out she was accepted in the medical residency she wanted in NYC with her boyfriend Julian, who is unbeknownst to her about to propose marriage to her at the top of a gorgeous bluff at Sugar Beach in St. Lucia. But before he can propose, Julian falls to an untimely death. Or was he pushed? The prosecution believes Grace was the one who pushed him, and they have a mountain of forensic evidence to back it up!
Grace claims she didn’t do it…
When documentary film-maker Sidney Ryan is hired by network television, she finds herself craving the independence and meaning of wrongful conviction cases she has worked on in the past. After reading years’ worth of letters from Grace and Grace’s best friend Ellie proclaiming her innocence and the issues with Grace’s case, Sidney gets the network to greenlight her investigation into Grace’s conviction for a real-time television docuseries. Sidney hopes to discover whether Grace is guilty, or whether she is a victim of a corrupt prosecution.
With evidence piling up, Sidney has a hit on her hands…
The public is enamored with the story of Grace Sebold, but as Sidney gets closer to the truth, she feels pressure by the network to deliver them the outcome they want. Sidney isn’t sure what the truth is, but she knows she has to deliver one slam-dunk of an ending! Can she find enough evidence to uncover the truth?
Reflection
This is truly un-put-downable by about 60% in. I raced home from work to finish it! This is an action-driven book, not a character-driven book. Similar to the documentary viewers, the readers is uncovering the evidence along with Sidney as she races to finish the 10-part docuseries as it is already filming. I found myself questioning everything along with Sidney. Did Grace do it? Or was she innocent all along? Donlea does a fantastic job of leaving the suggestion of either scenario there, even as evidence is uncovered.
I really enjoyed the scene breaks with the summary of the documentary episodes. All of the settings and characters were so vivid, and I could really envision the scenes of the documentary as I read them. I found myself curious about so many of the characters! We see them all the way a viewer might—with snippets of knowledge about their relationships to Grace, to Julian, and to each other. In the same way a detective uncovers evidence, we begin to hear multiple perspectives on Grace and Julian, and with each new lead the puzzle gets even more complicated.
Throughout the book there is the feeling that you are almost to the truth, if you can just put the right pieces together in the right way. I’m sure this is how Sidney, and the detectives, and even Grace’s loved ones feel. I think fans of true crime documentaries and series will love this aspect to the book! It’s a mystery for the reader to solve, because you get the information the same time Sidney does.
This was a traveling sisters read, and the first I've participated in where every sister really loved the book! We had an awesome time reading and discussing this one, and I think other readers will love it as well. I cannot wait to read more by this author!!!
Thank you to Kensington Books, Charlie Donlea, and to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
See my review here!
This is my first book by Charlie Donlea, and what a fantastic introduction to this author!!! This book already drew me in with the premise, but the writing and the way the story was executed kept me engaged until the very last page. This is a book that is fueled by the plot. Some thrillers take place mostly in the minds of the characters, but this book is action driven. There are no slow points—every single chapter is moving you towards the shocking conclusion. You’ll want to pay attention, because a LOT happens in this book!
10 years ago Grace Sebold was convicted of murdering her boyfriend…
Grace’s life was on the right track. Grace recently found out she was accepted in the medical residency she wanted in NYC with her boyfriend Julian, who is unbeknownst to her about to propose marriage to her at the top of a gorgeous bluff at Sugar Beach in St. Lucia. But before he can propose, Julian falls to an untimely death. Or was he pushed? The prosecution believes Grace was the one who pushed him, and they have a mountain of forensic evidence to back it up!
Grace claims she didn’t do it…
When documentary film-maker Sidney Ryan is hired by network television, she finds herself craving the independence and meaning of wrongful conviction cases she has worked on in the past. After reading years’ worth of letters from Grace and Grace’s best friend Ellie proclaiming her innocence and the issues with Grace’s case, Sidney gets the network to greenlight her investigation into Grace’s conviction for a real-time television docuseries. Sidney hopes to discover whether Grace is guilty, or whether she is a victim of a corrupt prosecution.
With evidence piling up, Sidney has a hit on her hands…
The public is enamored with the story of Grace Sebold, but as Sidney gets closer to the truth, she feels pressure by the network to deliver them the outcome they want. Sidney isn’t sure what the truth is, but she knows she has to deliver one slam-dunk of an ending! Can she find enough evidence to uncover the truth?
Reflection
This is truly un-put-downable by about 60% in. I raced home from work to finish it! This is an action-driven book, not a character-driven book. Similar to the documentary viewers, the readers is uncovering the evidence along with Sidney as she races to finish the 10-part docuseries as it is already filming. I found myself questioning everything along with Sidney. Did Grace do it? Or was she innocent all along? Donlea does a fantastic job of leaving the suggestion of either scenario there, even as evidence is uncovered.
I really enjoyed the scene breaks with the summary of the documentary episodes. All of the settings and characters were so vivid, and I could really envision the scenes of the documentary as I read them. I found myself curious about so many of the characters! We see them all the way a viewer might—with snippets of knowledge about their relationships to Grace, to Julian, and to each other. In the same way a detective uncovers evidence, we begin to hear multiple perspectives on Grace and Julian, and with each new lead the puzzle gets even more complicated.
Throughout the book there is the feeling that you are almost to the truth, if you can just put the right pieces together in the right way. I’m sure this is how Sidney, and the detectives, and even Grace’s loved ones feel. I think fans of true crime documentaries and series will love this aspect to the book! It’s a mystery for the reader to solve, because you get the information the same time Sidney does.
This was a traveling sisters read, and the first I've participated in where every sister really loved the book! We had an awesome time reading and discussing this one, and I think other readers will love it as well. I cannot wait to read more by this author!!!
Thank you to Kensington Books, Charlie Donlea, and to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 21, 2018
Sydney is an up and comer in the television business. She tackles legal cases with a questionable outcome. Her last three documentaries have proven that the innocent have been imprisoned, securing their releases. Grace Sebold has sat in prison in St. Lucia for the last ten years, convicted of the murder of her boyfriend. insisting all the while that she is innocent, she contacts Sidney. Sidney decides to investigate the case, and do so while making a new type of documentary. The audience will find out what she learns, as she herself learns it, good or bad.
Loved the way this was written, following the same format as that of the popular Serial or Making of a murderer. The book is divided, at least the first two thirds, into the investigating of evidence, interviewing those involved, and talking to Grace in prison. A rather unique inclusion, a retired detective who is in the hospital recovering from a leg amputation, he will become integral in the forming the conclusion of the case. It takes a big, unexpected twist towards the end, one I didn't see coming, and I had thought I had it all figured. Not!
ARC from Netgalley.
Loved the way this was written, following the same format as that of the popular Serial or Making of a murderer. The book is divided, at least the first two thirds, into the investigating of evidence, interviewing those involved, and talking to Grace in prison. A rather unique inclusion, a retired detective who is in the hospital recovering from a leg amputation, he will become integral in the forming the conclusion of the case. It takes a big, unexpected twist towards the end, one I didn't see coming, and I had thought I had it all figured. Not!
ARC from Netgalley.
January 11, 2021
Now here’s a book that kept me on my toes and in a state of constant surprise!
Sidney Ryan has made a bit of a name for herself after producing two documentaries that ended up exonerating two separate people from prison...found guilty of crimes they never committed.
When former classmate Grace Sebold reaches out to Sidney from a prison in St. Lucia, she is intrigued. She remembers hearing about the 10-year old case when Grace was accused, and ultimately convicted, of killing her boyfriend while at a destination wedding in St. Lucia. Grace never left the island, and instead ended up in a foreign prison.
Grace has maintained her innocence all of these years, and is reaching out to Sidney as her last resort. Sidney is able to get a deal with a TV network to produce a documentary about Grace. The Girl of Sugar Beach becomes a hit as Sidney starts looking into Grace’s case. The cool thing about the documentary? Each episode airs as close to real time as possible as Sidney talks to those involved in the case and uncovers evidence that might point to Grace’s innocence.
After finding negligence with the way the St. Lucia police handled the evidence, the case is reopened...but Sidney has absolutely no idea what she has stumbled into. Will she be any closer to the truth by the time the documentary finale is filmed?
A shoutout to Jayme for initially bringing author Charlie Donlea to my attention. This book has everything I’m looking for: an intriguing format (a few POVs, as well as actual excerpts of the documentary), a likable lead, questionable characters, and PLENTY of suspects!
If you’re like me and think you have everything figured out at one point, you’ll be wrong. If you think you finally got it right after a bit more speculation, you’ll be wrong. I did NOT see the ending coming.
I had a fantastic time buddy reading this one with Regina, and I’m so glad she brought it up as a contender. I will say that there is more than one reveal that we got right (or at least partially right...based on pure speculation). 👏 Our debrief was insightful. It would be interesting to go back and look for the clues we missed. 🧐 However, I, for one, can’t fathom any scenario where I would’ve figured it out unequivocally.
I’m a tad bit bummed there isn’t a sequel, but other than that...4.5 stars.
Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com
Sidney Ryan has made a bit of a name for herself after producing two documentaries that ended up exonerating two separate people from prison...found guilty of crimes they never committed.
When former classmate Grace Sebold reaches out to Sidney from a prison in St. Lucia, she is intrigued. She remembers hearing about the 10-year old case when Grace was accused, and ultimately convicted, of killing her boyfriend while at a destination wedding in St. Lucia. Grace never left the island, and instead ended up in a foreign prison.
Grace has maintained her innocence all of these years, and is reaching out to Sidney as her last resort. Sidney is able to get a deal with a TV network to produce a documentary about Grace. The Girl of Sugar Beach becomes a hit as Sidney starts looking into Grace’s case. The cool thing about the documentary? Each episode airs as close to real time as possible as Sidney talks to those involved in the case and uncovers evidence that might point to Grace’s innocence.
After finding negligence with the way the St. Lucia police handled the evidence, the case is reopened...but Sidney has absolutely no idea what she has stumbled into. Will she be any closer to the truth by the time the documentary finale is filmed?
A shoutout to Jayme for initially bringing author Charlie Donlea to my attention. This book has everything I’m looking for: an intriguing format (a few POVs, as well as actual excerpts of the documentary), a likable lead, questionable characters, and PLENTY of suspects!
If you’re like me and think you have everything figured out at one point, you’ll be wrong. If you think you finally got it right after a bit more speculation, you’ll be wrong. I did NOT see the ending coming.
I had a fantastic time buddy reading this one with Regina, and I’m so glad she brought it up as a contender. I will say that there is more than one reveal that we got right (or at least partially right...based on pure speculation). 👏 Our debrief was insightful. It would be interesting to go back and look for the clues we missed. 🧐 However, I, for one, can’t fathom any scenario where I would’ve figured it out unequivocally.
I’m a tad bit bummed there isn’t a sequel, but other than that...4.5 stars.
Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com
June 6, 2018
This contemporary mystery novel was IMPOSSIBLE for me to put down - I finished it in one evening. It's the fascinating story of a documentary maker digging to the bottom of a ten year old murder on St. Lucia in the Caribbean.
We open with a chilling retelling of the murder itself, high up on a cliff overlooking the ocean, from the point of view of the murderer. The murderer is lying in wait for Julian Crist, who was planning a romantic meeting up on the bluff with his girlfriend, Grace Sebold. When Julian's body is discovered, Grace is soon arrested and convicted of the murder. She's been in prison on St. Lucia for the last ten years.
In what amounts to a last-ditch effort to prove her innocence, Grace writes a pleading letter to documentary filmmaker Sidney Ryan, an old college friend, who's previously made a couple of documentaries re-examining questionable evidence that resulted in the release of prisoners. Sidney gets a lot of these desperate letters from prisoners and their families, but she sees something in Grace's case that captures her attention. So Sidney convinces her network to allow her to make a real-time documentary about Grace, with each weekly episode outlining her latest findings in re-examining the evidence and interviewing witnesses.
As Sidney begins researching and producing episodes, the evidence that there's been a miscarriage in justice mounts, and a few stunning episodes capture the nation's attention. The public begins to demand that the case be reopened and Grace released from prison. But then Sidney gets a mysterious letter, telling her that there are things about Grace's case that she doesn't know ...
Don't Believe It is a gripping story that pulls you right along to the end. There are some major red herrings here, and I thought the ending veered into far-fetched territory. But it was plausible enough that it didn't bug me, and I definitely enjoyed the ride. I give Charlie Donlea props for fooling me to the very end. Definitely a worthwhile read for those who enjoy mystery novels!
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher for review. Thanks!!
We open with a chilling retelling of the murder itself, high up on a cliff overlooking the ocean, from the point of view of the murderer. The murderer is lying in wait for Julian Crist, who was planning a romantic meeting up on the bluff with his girlfriend, Grace Sebold. When Julian's body is discovered, Grace is soon arrested and convicted of the murder. She's been in prison on St. Lucia for the last ten years.
In what amounts to a last-ditch effort to prove her innocence, Grace writes a pleading letter to documentary filmmaker Sidney Ryan, an old college friend, who's previously made a couple of documentaries re-examining questionable evidence that resulted in the release of prisoners. Sidney gets a lot of these desperate letters from prisoners and their families, but she sees something in Grace's case that captures her attention. So Sidney convinces her network to allow her to make a real-time documentary about Grace, with each weekly episode outlining her latest findings in re-examining the evidence and interviewing witnesses.
As Sidney begins researching and producing episodes, the evidence that there's been a miscarriage in justice mounts, and a few stunning episodes capture the nation's attention. The public begins to demand that the case be reopened and Grace released from prison. But then Sidney gets a mysterious letter, telling her that there are things about Grace's case that she doesn't know ...
Don't Believe It is a gripping story that pulls you right along to the end. There are some major red herrings here, and I thought the ending veered into far-fetched territory. But it was plausible enough that it didn't bug me, and I definitely enjoyed the ride. I give Charlie Donlea props for fooling me to the very end. Definitely a worthwhile read for those who enjoy mystery novels!
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher for review. Thanks!!
June 6, 2018
EXCERPT: The blood was a problem. I knew it as soon as I felt it spit across my face. It streamed from his hairline and ran along his jaw until it dribbled onto the granite bluff, first in sporadic red blots like the leading raindrops of a coming storm, and then in a continuous stream, as though a spigot had been plugged into the spot on his head where I had struck him and had opened wide. It was an error in judgment and strategy, which was a shame because up to now I had been perfect.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: 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.
MY THOUGHTS: WOW! Mr Donlea. Just WOW! You blew my socks off and rattled my bones. I thought I knew what was coming, but I was wrong. . . miles off base.
Now it has to be said that I am no great fan of true crime shows or reality television. I am, however, a great fan of Charlie Donlea and while I was a little reluctant about the subject matter, my love of this author's writing won out, and I am so very glad. I would have hated to have missed out on this read.
I don't want to give anything away here, but the closest I can come to describing Don’t Believe It, is that it's like a game of cat's cradle. . . did you ever play that? It looks complicated, needs more than one player and has bits of string twisted around one another to form an intricate pattern that, with one final twist, disappears.
It was great to see Dr Livia Cutty back in this novel, and I sincerely hope we meet Gus Morelli again.
Thank you to Kensington Books via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Don’t Believe It by Charlie Donlea for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system.
This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
ABOUT THIS BOOK: 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.
MY THOUGHTS: WOW! Mr Donlea. Just WOW! You blew my socks off and rattled my bones. I thought I knew what was coming, but I was wrong. . . miles off base.
Now it has to be said that I am no great fan of true crime shows or reality television. I am, however, a great fan of Charlie Donlea and while I was a little reluctant about the subject matter, my love of this author's writing won out, and I am so very glad. I would have hated to have missed out on this read.
I don't want to give anything away here, but the closest I can come to describing Don’t Believe It, is that it's like a game of cat's cradle. . . did you ever play that? It looks complicated, needs more than one player and has bits of string twisted around one another to form an intricate pattern that, with one final twist, disappears.
It was great to see Dr Livia Cutty back in this novel, and I sincerely hope we meet Gus Morelli again.
Thank you to Kensington Books via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Don’t Believe It by Charlie Donlea for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system.
This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
May 25, 2018
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!
My reviews can also be seen on my blog! www.jennifertarheelreader.com
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!
My reviews can also be seen on my blog! www.jennifertarheelreader.com
March 6, 2021
The third book of Charlie Donlea was ok. Your standard whodunit, but laced with office politics in the world of network tv. Now, I like a bit of escapism in my books and being confronted with said politics felt like I was just still at work, so that didn't work for me.
The story chugged along nicely though, but the end completely ruined it. The culprit was on my radar and I wasn't surprised when the identity got confirmed. But then !
After an extremely abrupt ending, leaving loose threads all over the place, those last few pages make me feel angry and cheated. Luckily, I've already read the next two books, or I would have skipped Charlie Donlea all together for the future.
The story chugged along nicely though, but the end completely ruined it. The culprit was on my radar and I wasn't surprised when the identity got confirmed. But then !
After an extremely abrupt ending, leaving loose threads all over the place, those last few pages make me feel angry and cheated. Luckily, I've already read the next two books, or I would have skipped Charlie Donlea all together for the future.
June 22, 2020
Don't Believe It was a Traveling Sister Group read.
Charlie Donlea boldly writes a well-layered entertaining fun story here with well-plotted twists and turns and he knows when to introduce characters just at the right time. I really liked the idea of the documentary being part of the story however for some of us in the group it did overshadow the mystery.
Some of us who read The Girl Who Was Taken was very happy to see a character from that story cross over to this one and loved how they fit into this story. Such a clever way to really pull us into the characters.
Charlie Donlea lead us down many different paths as the suspense grew with each one. We started branching off in different directions with our suspicious and guesses about what was going on. As we neared the end we found our way back together with some us picking up on different clues along the way till those last twists that some of us suspected and another that brought us all together dancing after reading it. We highly recommend not to miss this one or you will be saying I Don’t Believe I didn’t read it.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Kensington Books and Charlie Donlea for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review!
This is Traveling Sisters GR Reading Group Review. More Traveling Sisters reviews can be found on our blog
https://travelingsistersbookreviews.com
Charlie Donlea boldly writes a well-layered entertaining fun story here with well-plotted twists and turns and he knows when to introduce characters just at the right time. I really liked the idea of the documentary being part of the story however for some of us in the group it did overshadow the mystery.
Some of us who read The Girl Who Was Taken was very happy to see a character from that story cross over to this one and loved how they fit into this story. Such a clever way to really pull us into the characters.
Charlie Donlea lead us down many different paths as the suspense grew with each one. We started branching off in different directions with our suspicious and guesses about what was going on. As we neared the end we found our way back together with some us picking up on different clues along the way till those last twists that some of us suspected and another that brought us all together dancing after reading it. We highly recommend not to miss this one or you will be saying I Don’t Believe I didn’t read it.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Kensington Books and Charlie Donlea for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review!
This is Traveling Sisters GR Reading Group Review. More Traveling Sisters reviews can be found on our blog
https://travelingsistersbookreviews.com
February 12, 2023
4.5🌟: I never watch true crime documentaries, I even dislike them, but I have to face the fact: I absolutely love reading about characters producing them (podcasts or TV series)!
I just discovered Charlie Donlea with The Suicide House and couldn't wait to read another one of his books. Don't Believe It was just as good, even a bit better! My only complaint would be about an element of the ending that really bugged me, but I don't want to spoil anything. 🤐
I'm so glad that I discovered this amazing author! He writes just my type of thrillers so I plan on reading all of his other novels! 📚
I just discovered Charlie Donlea with The Suicide House and couldn't wait to read another one of his books. Don't Believe It was just as good, even a bit better! My only complaint would be about an element of the ending that really bugged me, but I don't want to spoil anything. 🤐
I'm so glad that I discovered this amazing author! He writes just my type of thrillers so I plan on reading all of his other novels! 📚
May 30, 2018
This is the perfect group read: you'll have plenty to discuss, lots of theories to share, suspicions to talk about... and you're probably wrong on all of them. Don't Believe It cemented Charlie Donlea's place on my must-read list. It's laid out in a unique way, sharing details about the making of a documentary interspersed with scenes from the finished product. It reads like you're really there watching it unfold, which ups the tension and keeps you on your toes. Imagine a documentary series that airs each episode right after it's completed: the viewers find things out right after the cast and crew does. There's no such thing as spoilers. It would be a risky format, and this book shows exactly why! Expect the unexpected.
For ten years, Grace Sebold has been in jail for the murder of her boyfriend in St. Lucia. It was big news for awhile in the States, the med student couple with such promising futures on a vacation that went terribly wrong. After she was found guilty, she faded into the background. She isn't giving up on her freedom though. She just needs help. She needs Sidney Ryan. A rising filmmaker, Sidney has already freed a few people by casting doubt on their conviction and making a documentary about it. Can she do the same for Grace?
Soon, the med student turned prisoner has America watching and rooting for her. The case has definite problems, and everything is being dug up. Sidney finds plenty of reasons for the case to be opened again. Just when Grace is set free, Sidney receives correspondence that tells her she has it wrong. That Grace should be spending the rest of her life behind bars. That she's responsible for the release of a ruthless killer. Could she have gotten her wrong?
I practically squealed when Livia Cutty from The Girl Who Was Taken made an appearance, adding to an already strong list of characters. Completely absorbing, twisted, and shocking, this book comes highly recommended from me with 4.5 stars! When I participate in group reads, it's not uncommon for some people to just not be a fan of the book. With this one, we all were! (Hello, Traveling Sisters!)
I received a copy of this book from Net Galley and Kensington Books, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.
For ten years, Grace Sebold has been in jail for the murder of her boyfriend in St. Lucia. It was big news for awhile in the States, the med student couple with such promising futures on a vacation that went terribly wrong. After she was found guilty, she faded into the background. She isn't giving up on her freedom though. She just needs help. She needs Sidney Ryan. A rising filmmaker, Sidney has already freed a few people by casting doubt on their conviction and making a documentary about it. Can she do the same for Grace?
Soon, the med student turned prisoner has America watching and rooting for her. The case has definite problems, and everything is being dug up. Sidney finds plenty of reasons for the case to be opened again. Just when Grace is set free, Sidney receives correspondence that tells her she has it wrong. That Grace should be spending the rest of her life behind bars. That she's responsible for the release of a ruthless killer. Could she have gotten her wrong?
I practically squealed when Livia Cutty from The Girl Who Was Taken made an appearance, adding to an already strong list of characters. Completely absorbing, twisted, and shocking, this book comes highly recommended from me with 4.5 stars! When I participate in group reads, it's not uncommon for some people to just not be a fan of the book. With this one, we all were! (Hello, Traveling Sisters!)
I received a copy of this book from Net Galley and Kensington Books, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.
July 18, 2018
3.5-3.75 Stars
Grace and Julian went for spring break to celebrate their friend’s wedding, but then Julian’s body was found and two days later, Grace was taken into the custody and charged with her boyfriend’s murder! Ten years later, Grace asked her old friend, Sidney, to help her with looking into her case. So Sidney started filming a documentary. But the thing is Sidney, herself, doesn’t know if Grace is innocent or guilty! So is Grace really innocent? Why is all evidence against her? Why is she in prison? If she’s innocent, so who is the killer and What was the motivation for killing him? And if she’s the guilty one, why did she kill her own boyfriend who intended propose to her that night?
Well, I enjoyed the story but it was a bit slow for my taste. It started off really good and I couldn’t put it down but then part three was really slow and I got bored a little but then it picked up again. So no it wasn’t a steady read for me but I should say somehow it surprised me (about after 65%). I liked the writing style, the plot, and the short chapters! It was my first read by this author but won’t be my last! Told in multiple POV, 3rd person. Overall, it was a good read and hope you enjoy it as well!
Thanks to Charlie Donlea, Netgalley and Kensington for the advanced digital copy in exchange an honest review.
Grace and Julian went for spring break to celebrate their friend’s wedding, but then Julian’s body was found and two days later, Grace was taken into the custody and charged with her boyfriend’s murder! Ten years later, Grace asked her old friend, Sidney, to help her with looking into her case. So Sidney started filming a documentary. But the thing is Sidney, herself, doesn’t know if Grace is innocent or guilty! So is Grace really innocent? Why is all evidence against her? Why is she in prison? If she’s innocent, so who is the killer and What was the motivation for killing him? And if she’s the guilty one, why did she kill her own boyfriend who intended propose to her that night?
Well, I enjoyed the story but it was a bit slow for my taste. It started off really good and I couldn’t put it down but then part three was really slow and I got bored a little but then it picked up again. So no it wasn’t a steady read for me but I should say somehow it surprised me (about after 65%). I liked the writing style, the plot, and the short chapters! It was my first read by this author but won’t be my last! Told in multiple POV, 3rd person. Overall, it was a good read and hope you enjoy it as well!
Thanks to Charlie Donlea, Netgalley and Kensington for the advanced digital copy in exchange an honest review.
June 12, 2018
4 twisty, thought provoking stars!
Wow oh wow! This was my first Charlie Donlea book and boy, was I impressed! Being a fan of true crime stories, the concept of this book was pure genius to me. Although not true crime, it certainly read like one and and kept me on the edge of my seat! In the little time I had to pick it up, I found it difficult to put down. The plot was fresh and I thoroughly enjoyed playing detective from the get-go. Just when I thought I MAYBE figured out what was going on, I was tossed back into confusion to re-think my theory. Don’t Believe It did that - a few times.
When all was revealed, it was a great, shocking surprise! What else could you want in a nice, twisted mystery? All I can say is that I would like more, Charlie Donlea! Highly recommended!
Thank you to NetGalley, Kensington Books and Charlie Donlea for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
Wow oh wow! This was my first Charlie Donlea book and boy, was I impressed! Being a fan of true crime stories, the concept of this book was pure genius to me. Although not true crime, it certainly read like one and and kept me on the edge of my seat! In the little time I had to pick it up, I found it difficult to put down. The plot was fresh and I thoroughly enjoyed playing detective from the get-go. Just when I thought I MAYBE figured out what was going on, I was tossed back into confusion to re-think my theory. Don’t Believe It did that - a few times.
When all was revealed, it was a great, shocking surprise! What else could you want in a nice, twisted mystery? All I can say is that I would like more, Charlie Donlea! Highly recommended!
Thank you to NetGalley, Kensington Books and Charlie Donlea for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
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