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Mary Bush
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A Simple Lie: A Heart Stopping Psychological Thriller Kindle Edition

by Mary Bush (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 1,822 ratings
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Lying to get a job places a New York woman in the path of a deranged killer in this psychological thriller by the author of The Secrets We Bury.

Forced to give up her career as a dentist, and still unemployed a year later, Valentina Knight has finally run out of options. With foreclosure looming, she acts in desperation, lying to get a position as an assistant to the county medical examiner. Val’s relieved. She won’t be homeless. But she didn’t count on the lie trapping her in a dangerous game with a killer . . .

Val quickly becomes involved in the case of Francine Donohue, who disappeared from her neighborhood and is discovered dead six months later. The bizarre circumstances surrounding the murder are not the first of their kind. With the evidence pointing to a serial killer, and a calling card Val understands, she quickly gets sucked into the case.

As Val is pulled in further, the situation takes a darker turn. Someone is aware of the lie she told. Someone who is prepared to kill . . .

This fast-paced crime thriller will appeal to fans of authors like Fiona Barton, Teresa Driscoll, and Alice Feeney.
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    316 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Bloodhound Books
  5. Publication date
    November 27, 2019
  6. File size
    1561 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Lauren Ezzo, an Earphones Award-winning narrator, is a commercial voice talent and Chicago-based actor and graduate of Hope College. She has acted in Peppermint Creek Theatre Company's world premiere of Or You Could Kiss Me. Her narrations have placed her on several "Best of the Year" lists, including AudioFile's Best Audiobooks of the Year list. In 2018, she was part of a full cast of narrators nominated for the prestigious Audie Award for Best Original Work.



When not writing psychological and crime thrillers, Mary Bush makes her living as a professor of dentistry at the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine. She's also involved in forensic dentistry. In this capacity, she works on cases in which teeth are the main evidence. Mary has testified in murder trials as an expert witness, focusing on the admissibility of bite mark evidence in the US court system, including testimony on Capitol Hill regarding the need for scientific rigor in the courtroom. Her experiences have shown how truth is without a doubt, stranger than fiction. Mary has a number of published academic works, all with a forensic focus and has authored chapters in forensic nonfiction books. As an invited speaker, her talks center on forensic evidence and the cases she's been involved with. She currently lives in Buffalo, New York, with her husband and their exceptionally spoiled cat.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09C6M33JS
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bloodhound Books (November 27, 2019)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 27, 2019
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1561 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 316 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 1,822 ratings

About the author

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Mary Bush

Mary Bush

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When not writing psychological and crime thrillers, Mary makes her living as a professor of dentistry at the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine. She’s also involved in forensic dentistry. In this capacity, she works on cases in which teeth are the main evidence. Mary has testified in murder trials as an expert witness, focusing on the admissibility of bite mark evidence in the US court system, including testimony on Capitol Hill regarding the need for scientific rigor in the courtroom. Her experiences have shown how truth is without a doubt, stranger than fiction. Her debut novel, A Simple Lie, was a bronze medal winner for crime fiction in the 2020 Reader’s Favorite International Book Awards and a finalist in the 2020 Next Generation Indie Awards, thriller category

As an invited speaker, her talks center on forensic evidence and the cases she’s been involved with. She currently lives in Buffalo, New York with her husband and their exceptionally spoiled cat.

Find out more about Mary or just stop by and say hello at www.facebook.com/marybushauthor/ or www.intagram.com/marybushauthor/ She’d love to hear from you!

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
1,822 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Margo
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!
Reviewed in the United States on September 27, 2020
Verified Purchase
I can't say enough good things about this book. It was so captivating. The story was brilliant. I am absolutely amazed at the creative genius Mary Bush possesses. This is absolutely one of the best books I have read in quite some time and I read over 150 books a year. This is truly a heart stopping psychological thriller. The characters are brilliant but what is even more impressive is the deft intricacy of deceit that takes place. Truly impressive imagination. I loved this book and I look forward to more from this Author. If this is her first book then she has great things in her future.
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Tiffany
4.0 out of 5 stars A bit campy at points, but good
Reviewed in the United States on August 26, 2020
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3.5 Stars Rounded Up

Sensitivity warning: Descriptions of gore and scenarios that could make someone squeamish. Loads of instances where the Lord’s name is used in vain in some form or fashion.

This was interesting to me from page one. I had an immediate connection to Valentina and her plight in trying to find a job. The author painted a great picture regarding what brought Valentina to the desperate point of lying to get the job, as well as the pressure she felt trying to transition into a new career/keep up the lie.

I felt like this story had great pacing. However, some of it made me stretch my imagination. As Valentina got more involved in trying to help solve the murders (particularly one that hits close to home for her), it seemed to me like she was able to be a lot more involved than she logically should have been based on her position.

There was something unexpected that happened earlier on in the novel, and this led me to what I believed would be the twist. Because I knew what was going to happen, I didn’t fall prey to any red herrings. I wasn’t sure how a couple of the puzzle pieces would fit, but I did get the gist. The final explanation for everything was a little muddled for me. I understood what happened, but it seemed like a lot to digest and could be confusing if you’re not completely paying attention.

There are some issues with this novel. Overuse of italicized words for emphasis (for my taste anyway), and some issues with grammar/flow. I had to reread a couple sentences to make sure I was picking up what the author was throwing down. Also, not sure if this is intended to be a series, but I felt like a couple instances were set up to potentially go somewhere in terms of characters’ personal lives, but then were just dropped (e.g. Detective Gavin’s chapter with his wife where there was an insinuation of cheating, but then it was just never brought up again). And what was the deal with Dr. Blythe?

Despite having to suspend my disbelief at points, and despite the fact that the wrap-up felt a bit spastic to me, I still liked that there were so many layers to this story.
One person found this helpful
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mk
5.0 out of 5 stars Could not put it down
Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2023
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This book alone has re-sparked my interest in leisurely reading- I couldn’t put it down and quite frankly, it had the biggest plot twist I could’ve imagined. Something about the way Valentina was portrayed made her seem so real and relatable. Definitely worth the read !
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Dr Di
3.0 out of 5 stars Took longer to read than expected
Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2020
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The book is interesting but slow in several places. The plot was also a bit unrealistic. But the characters are colorful. I learned quite a bit about death investigators and Medical Examiners, which made those parts quite enjoyable.
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Sylvia J Dominick
4.0 out of 5 stars My review of A Simple Lie by Mary Bush
Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2020
Verified Purchase
I loved this psychological thriller, and Mary Bush, you have a very excited New fan! Taking place for the most part in Buffalo, New York and its surrounding areas was also a plus, since we are only a couple of hours away, and have traveled there often!
The main character, Val, was a dentist, until forced into finding a New career. She is hired to do investigations in a local morgue, to help determine the cause of death of any people who arrive at their door after death. This is a brand new experience for her, since she has no background in this area.
To say that each day is a new and challenging ordeal for her is putting it lightly!
There is enough hire to keep readers of thrillers hooked, and a plot that is so outlandish that it would take a genius to figure it out before the very end! I enjoyed everything about this book,and would recommend it to all to all of my friends who enjoy thrillers!
Mary Bush, you truly outdid yourself on this one, and I will be following you, anxiously awaiting your next work of art! Bravo to you, and thank you for writing my latest escape from the world in which we are now existing!
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Nan
5.0 out of 5 stars ENGAGING & BRILLIANT
Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2019
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Fans of psych-suspense, crime, and forensics will LOVE This novel.
This debut novel is one of the most engaging novels I’ve read this year. Mary Bush knocks it out of the (Orchard) Park. The book was set in area I am very familiar with and I know it enhanced how much I liked the book but it wouldn’t matter where it was set. The plots twists and turns will leave you breathless, the characters are absolutely brilliant and the end will have you picking your jaw off the floor.
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Crystal
5.0 out of 5 stars Must read!
Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2020
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Excellent book! Would have never known that this was a first book by the author. Could not put this book down. There is a twist at the end that I did not see coming. This is a must read. Well written, and keeps you on your toes. I can't wait to read the next one, (I hope there is one)!!
One person found this helpful
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Quiltingnana
4.0 out of 5 stars Loved this book, author is very captivating and keeps you wanting more to the end of the book.
Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2022
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The book was one that you can't put down. Mary Bush is a new author, but you would not know it I enjoyed this book and the Buffalo areas mentioned.
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Top reviews from other countries

book lover
5.0 out of 5 stars Great storyline
Reviewed in Canada on May 30, 2022
Verified Purchase
This book keeps you guessing to the end. Lots of twists and turns, and possibilities, but the ending is pretty unique.
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bigjannie
5.0 out of 5 stars Don't lie!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 18, 2019
Verified Purchase
Excellent read, one of those can't put down reads. Twists and turns. I'm always amazed by the high quality of reading material to be had via Kindle. For the price it's brilliant, just like this story.
One person found this helpful
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Adrian Lawrence
4.0 out of 5 stars Thoroughly recommended
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 29, 2020
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A worthy read that draws you into an engaging and twisty story line. The author appears to have a crafty way of encouraging the reader to suspect pretty much every character at some stage; I certainly did. It was compelling and the pages kept turning.
4 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customerjo
5.0 out of 5 stars Worth a read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 18, 2020
Verified Purchase
Very good first book, I enjoyed this and could not put down until the end. Hopefully these characters become a series, look forward to more from Mary Bush.
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Toneye
3.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant ending, not sure how we got there.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 4, 2020
Verified Purchase
The book started well, lost me in the middle and then hooked me back at the end. Unfortunately, I had no idea who three of the characters were but if I had then it would have been a 5 star rating.
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