Tell No Lies

By: Gregg Hurwitz

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 12 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

"Another winner from a top-tier thriller writer." --Kirkus Reviews

Daniel Brasher left a high-paying job as a money manager to marry his community-organizer wife and do the work he loves, leading group counseling sessions with recently paroled ex-cons. Now he's about to start a private practice. But just before his last day on the job, Daniel finds an envelope in his department mailbox - one intended for someone else that was placed in his slot by accident. Inside it is an unsigned piece of paper, a note that says only "admit what you've done or you will bleed for it." along with a midnight deadline…which has passed. And the person to whom the envelope was addressed was found brutally murdered…

"A fast-paced roller coaster ride…well-written and extremely realistic." --Criminal Element

Soon, Daniel finds more warnings in his office mail, to people that the police cannot track down, and to victims that cannot be saved. Daniel's efforts, however, have alerted the killer to his involvement… and the next threat he receives is his own. Now, Daniel - with no clue what he's supposed to have done or to what action he must confess - must somehow appease, or outwit, a seemingly unstoppable killer. And time is running out…

"Menace, treachery, and intrigue have never been more exciting." --The Washington Post

©2013 Gregg Hurwitz (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“Simply brilliant. Tell No Lies is infinitely more than a thriller, yet thrilling to the last page. Psychologically rich and often beautiful...A true page turner in which every phrase, every character, every little incident counts. Stylish, elegant, and absolutely riveting! An unforgettable read.” --Anne Rice

“A great book for any reader who wants to be chilled and entertained at the same time.” --Suspense Magazine

“A rollercoaster ride that is going to make your stomach flip upside down two or three times before it's through...Equal parts thriller and mystery, Tell No Lies is built upon the finest elements of both genres.” --The Book Reporter

Just OK

The story was a little tedious. Scott Brick, although a good narrator, was probably not the best choice for this story. Three stars may be a little generous.

To drawn out

Scott brick was terrific! As always. Normally, I like twists and turns, but this novel had too many.

Murder in San Francisco

Daniel Brasher is the scion of a super-wealthy San Francisco family who is trying to sever his difficult, snooty mother's apron strings. Having walked away from the lucrative trade of managing the family fortune, he's now a psychologist working with violent ex-cons. Not that he's donned sackcloth and taken a vow of poverty - he still has his money, and as the book begins, he's making plans to start a private practice in a nice luxury office suite.

Much of the human interest involves his group of felons whom he meets with once a week as part of the terms of their parole. They are your usual assortment of poor, mostly non-white people who have made bad life choices, but each one has their little facets and secrets which are unveiled to give them a bit of added dimensionality. Much of the book takes place in their group counseling sessions, which of course turns out to be more significant when Daniel suspects that one of them is a killer.

Without spoiling anything, the killer is out to avenge a perceived injustice, and naturally Daniel turns out to be involved personally. Most of the plot moves in predictable fashion - you can tell when a "twist" is coming by how much of the book is left - but despite it being both somewhat formulaic and implausible (I really don't think the SFPD are going to keep asking a civilian who also happens to be the son of one of the city's most prominent families to keep coming to crime scenes where a serial killer may still be lurking about), I found it entertaining most of the way through. Only at the very end did it become so formulaic as to make me wish it had ended a chapter or two earlier.

Not a particularly thrilling thriller, but the plot moves nicely with a diverse range of characters, and being an expat Californian, I appreciated the San Francisco setting.

To Sir With Love?

Tell no lies is not bad - much better than other thrillers I've read (even by much more well known authors).

I almost put this book down early on, however, because I felt that it was sanctimonious. There seemed to be a hostile tone towards wealthy people that was hypocritical based on the actions of some of the characters. While this tone was very strong at first, it was moderated somewhat later on. I am not sure what the author was trying to say here (if anything) so I tended to ignore it.

The mystery was very good except for a few surprising clues that emerged towards the end that immediately ruled out suspects and made others fit. Also, I found the endings of the side story lines trite and saccharine. Overall though, the plot was well crafted and MOST characters were believable. I feel like this novel is worth reading if you have the time.You'll especially like this novel if you know details of San Francisco geography. Hurwitz has peaked my interest as an author.

No Lie: Good Thriller

When a group therapy patient turns up murdered, the counselor leading the group suspects the killer is another member. Group therapy as a device to develop character is certainly nothing new in movies, books, TV. Gregg Hurwitz takes a risk using it as the fulcrum for this serial killer thriller, the format having previously been mined so deeply. Turns out the group sessions are the best part of this book. Through the first few hours, I was ready to complain that there weren't enough group sessions, but by the end that was not at all the case.

What makes it work so well is that once the therapist begins to suspect someone in the group of being the killer, he has to conduct his sessions as if nothing is afoot. He can't tip his hand, he had to proceed as if he is only delving into their psyche as he was before the killings began. This allows Hurwitz to focus more on character development than plot, and that is almost always a positive difference maker in literature.

And the group therapy characters are good ones. They work in concert as a group in elevating the narration as well as the writing. In this reading, Scott Brick doesn't do that thing that we all don't like him doing -- he doesn't read too slowly. I still listened at 1.25 speed because he is nevertheless deliberate in his pace, but he doesn't get overly ponderous in tone.

But as much as I liked it, I went four stars instead of five because my initial (educated) guess as to motive and perp turned out to be right, from the very moment I heard the motive and perp first mentioned. It was too obviously telegraphed, especially the motive, although Hurwitz does throw us for a loop when it comes to perpetrator (which I will not hint at beyond that).

Excellent Narration kept me listening

The "thriller" part seemed to take a back seat to Mr. Hurwitz's patently obvious political views. Rich America-bad, bleeding heart-liberals-good. And it didn't work well in that Mr. Hurwitz hasn't a clue how "violent offenders" actually speak. It sounded like what a "privileged successful writer" would think they talk like...VERY STEREOTYPICAL!...which, in itself, is an insult to people of color, Hispanics, and Asians. (I've listened to violent, murderous criminals for decades and they don't talk anything close to the characters in this book...not even close.) And this "political slant" tainted what otherwise would have been a decent thriller. But for Mr. Brick's excellent narration, I would have returned the book...being sick of being lectured by the "so-called virtuous."

I enjoyed it

I don’t write many reviews. I was so invested in this book. I didn’t realize how much it was affecting me until my husband asked me why I was so crabby. I realized I was anxious bc I was at a point in the book where I didn’t know what was going to happen next, and there were so many possibilities. When a book emotionally affects you, you know it’s written well.

Buy it!

I almost did not buy this book because of some of the reviews I read. Since I just finished 2 other books by this author (which I loved) and love this narrator I went with my gut and bought it. I'm so glad I did! I loved it and listened to the whole thing in 4 days ! (and now I'm mad at myself because I finished it too fast!)
I do not usually review books but had share how wonderful I thought it was. I can't wait to read more of his stories.

Lots of twists, mostly unexpected

While this stands on its own as a good thriller, what I liked most about it was the tidbits of counseling wisdom, such as when Daniel confronts A-Dre with his own words. Powerful stuff! Wanted to quote that but it was all good.

Awesome again

This guy can write some great books!! I happen to also love the narrator-it makes a difference.