Bald-Faced Liar

A Novel

By: Victoria Helen Stone

Narrated by: Soneela Nankani

Living a lie becomes a matter of life and death for a woman hiding from her past in a novel of mounting psychological suspense by the bestselling author of Jane Doe and The Hook.

Traveling nurse Elizabeth May has a promising new home in Santa Cruz. And another new identity. It’s a pattern of reinvention for a woman escaping her traumatic childhood—and hiding from the decades of notoriety and destruction that followed. Invisibility has kept Elizabeth safe. Until now. After all these years, someone sees her for who she is.

Threat by threat, a vengeful stalker is dismantling Elizabeth’s carefully constructed lifetime of lies. And no one in her temporary circle can be trusted—not her fleeting new love interest, not the supportive friend she knows only from online forums, and certainly not the police. They’ve never been there for her.

As fear sharpens to terror, Elizabeth soon discovers something about her past that even she didn’t know. The revelation could finally set her on a path of healing and redemption. Or, now alone in the dark, it could be Elizabeth’s worst nightmare.

©2025 by Victoria Helen Stone. (P)2025 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“An original and riveting novel of psychological suspense, Bald-Faced Liar is a testament to author Victoria Helen stone’s authentic flair for the kind of narrative driven storytelling style that is ideal for thriller fiction. Especially and unreservedly recommended…”—Midwest Book Review

“Bald-Faced Liar is hysterically, mindblowingly great. There’s so much of this book that I loved, and by so much I mean everything. Characters, plot, theme, voice, world-building. Sinking down into Elizabeth’s world was so delightful. What a fun, exhilarating ride.”—Suzanne Brockmann, New York Times bestselling author

“I sat down to read just the first chapter and didn’t get up until I’d finished the book. Only Victoria Helen Stone could deliver a heroine so complex, so damaged, and so damned funny. Bald-Faced Liar is a whip-smart ride you won’t be able to put down.” —Deanna Raybourn, New York Times bestselling author of Killers of a Certain Age

3 stars

First, I love that Victoria labels everyone's race instead of just the people who aren’t white. This is how proper representation is done!!!

Bald-Faced Liar by Victoria Helen Stone is good. I did know very early on who not to trust and, because of that, had a hard time believing Elizabeth's assumptions. Also, there is an insane amount of internal dialogue. I'm starting to realize this isn't something I enjoy, as it's too easy to get caught up in one character’s beliefs. I enjoyed the tension and, once revealed, how everything was able to be done to Elizabeth. I also liked that her personality started off really funny before things turned dark.

Soneela Nankani is a good narrator, though I wish she had more range.

Good book!

I have liked all the books I’ve read by her so far and was excited to start this one. It didn’t disappoint! It starts off good and is enjoyable throughout! I did guess who the bad guy was but it was still fun and suspenseful. Would recommend and will be finishing the books I have left to read of hers.

Oooh... somebody's pants are on fire!

This was a really good book and a fast-paced page-turner.

Beth, Lizzie, Betty, or Betsy. They're all different names for the same woman, Elizabeth. Life hasn't been the same for Elizabeth since the age of five, when she spread a lie that sent a mother and father to jail, one brother to a foster home, and ruined the pursuit of a career in law for the other brother. It's been roughly thirty years, and she's still moving around, using different names and hiding. Lying comes very easily for her, given she's spent her entire life looking over her shoulder and staying out of the limelight. However, no matter how careful one is, there's always a slip up. Elizabeth can't afford a slip up. Unfortunately, one occurs. Now, she believes she's being stalked. Is she really, though, or has she simply lied so much that even she can't be sure?

This version is not the full book

This is a condensed version of the book and is highly edited and not worth buying

Hardly ever happens but DNF

The mystery element is definitely there, I couldn't figure out what was going on before I finished. I just couldn't make it through the repetitive, paranoid dialogues. The author does a good job if you're interested in that sort of writing. I did Google the ending after stopping in chapter 19 and it seemed like it would have been an ok ending if I could make it through. The whole premise of the Satanic Panic & the childhood were pretty confusing/sporadic but that may have been tied up at the end.

Not great

I was disappointed in this book. I only listened to the whole thing because I paid for it and you can’t return most books these days on Audible. Stupid.

I did not like this book.

I didn't like the "protagonist" or the "story." The plot twist was okay, but other than that, thumbs down for me. Not recommended.