The Good Lie

Six teens murdered. A suspect behind bars. A desperate father. In a case this shadowy, the truth is easy to hide.

Psychiatrist Dr. Gwen Moore is an expert on killers. She's spent a decade treating California's most depraved predators and unlocking their motives--predators much like the notorious Bloody Heart serial killer, whose latest teenage victim escaped and then identified local high school teacher Randall Thompson as his captor. The case against Thompson as the Bloody Heart Killer is damning--and closed, as far as Gwen and the media are concerned. If not for one new development...

Defense attorney Robert Kavin is a still-traumatized father whose own son fell prey to the BH Killer. Convinced of Thompson's innocence, he steps in to represent him. Now Robert wants Gwen to interview the accused, create a psych profile of the killer and his victims, and help clear his client's name.

As Gwen and Robert grow closer and she dives deeper into the investigation, grave questions arise. So does Gwen's suspicion that Robert is hiding something--and that he might not be the only one with a secret.

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Published Jul 20, 2021

257 pages

Average rating: 7.43

461 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

Kati
Jan 01, 2026
6/10 stars
3.5⭐️ wow, lots of twists and turns! A bit dark and graphic, but overall a quick read that I couldn’t put down.
Sunita the reader 📖🌻🦋
Dec 22, 2025
7/10 stars
While this was predictable, it was still a good read. Being that he was a lawyer you’d assume that he’d know that it was a conflict of interest to work with a therapist you’ve had relations with. This should have sparked her intuition to kick in as they are both aware of their roles and responsibilities to their clients. It was already evident that Scott was lying. At one point I doubted he was kidnapped at all. Robert Kavin defending Randall Thompson was a dead giveaway. Because who defends the person who supposedly killed your son?? Also, his obsession with Gwen, the therapist and her clients, one in particular was also a dead giveaway. The ending was a bit off to me. I don’t get how or why they’re so drawn to each other. I enjoyed it nonetheless.
daph_78
Nov 14, 2025
6/10 stars
3.5
Maddie_0513
Oct 11, 2025
9/10 stars
I really enjoyed this book and the details of killers and their psychological thought process throughout the book. It was very well written but I did not see the ending coming! There’s so much movement of who did what and trying to figure out how Scott escaped (released). I really felt bad for Robert with all his loss in his life. To represent the “killer” of his son was a bold statement. Gwen is by far my favorite. She’s so smart and catches onto things right away, at least from what I thought. I don’t believe John was being truthful with Gwen. I’m sure he was smart enough to elude Gwen and drag her along thinking he hated his wife when he really enjoyed Gwen not knowing exactly what he was doing in his attic and instead used her suggestions to “fire the landscaper”.
HelloTanyaLyn
Jul 10, 2025
6/10 stars
Thanks to my friend @neka_rae for suggesting I read this book. We just finished a "Buddy Read for this - and it was super fun!

The Good Lie by A.R. Torre is a gripping psychological thriller that delves into the dark recesses of the human psyche, set against the glitz and glamour of Beverly Hills.

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