Tell Her No Lies by Kelly Irvin – Review

I’ve been asked a few times how I read so many books. Here’s the secret: audiobooks. Seriously, I couldn’t stay on top of my to-read list for blog post/review commitments if it weren’t for audiobooks. I just started reading them this last spring and don’t know what took me so long to get on the bandwagon. It’s so nice to pop earplugs in my ears during a long day at work and be entertained by a story. I know, I know, you’re thinking you can’t retain what you’re hearing or you can’t pay enough attention but if you haven’t yet, give it a try. You just might be surprised like I was.

About the Book

In Tell Her No Lies, a new romantic suspense novel, talented author Kelly Irvin explores the question of what makes a family—nature or nurture?—in a fast-paced race to the truth.

As children, Nina Fischer and her sister were plucked from foster care in Florida and brought to Texas by a wealthy uncle they’d never met after their mother went to prison for selling drugs. Now, as an adult, Nina loves her adopted father and wants to please him, but she’s chosen her own career path as a photographer and poet—choices state district court judge Geoffrey Fischer can’t appreciate. When she finds him murdered in his study on a night they’re home alone, she’s the prime suspect and has to prove her innocence or face her own prison term. Is she her mother’s daughter, after all?

The two men in her life want to help, each for their own reasons. Can she trust her on-again, off-again boyfriend, attorney Rick Zavala, whose political aspirations seem more important than Nina’s tragic loss? Can she trust her friend, photographer Aaron McClure, or will he use their friendship to break the biggest news story of his career?

While cleaning out her father’s things, Nina discovers a box of old letters and photos, revealing the secrets her father had been concealing for so long. When her biological mother makes an appearance at Geoffrey Fischer’s funeral and asks to be welcomed back into her daughters’ lives, Nina is even more determined to find the truth about her past. Following the evidence leads her on a journey of discovery about her father’s shocking masquerade as a law-abiding, family-loving Christian. Unlocking these secrets could prove deadly, but it’s the only way Nina will ever be able to trust love again.

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In My Opinion

Let’s face it, there are some books that just do not translate well to audiobook. Tell Her No Lies falls into that category mostly because of its many points of view and revolving characters. I had some difficulty keeping track of whose head I was supposed to be in a few times.

I loved Aaron, the guy who is steady and always there for Nina. I felt for him and his frustration with Rick (who definitely fit into the selfish jerk—and more—category). I never quite connected with Nina, who is the main focus of the book, though I wanted to.

While the suspense was a little bumpy and there were some intense moments, the scenes in between sometimes dragged. Yet overall, as a first romantic suspense from Kelly Irvin (who is best known for her Amish fiction), this is a decent story with some weaknesses but nothing that will prevent me from checking out what she produces next in this new-to-her genre. But I’ll probably read it instead of listen to the next time around.

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.