Book Review: No Lie Lasts Forever by Mark Stevens

I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.

No Lie Lasts Forever by Mark Stevens

Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Genre: Thriller, Mystery

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer (June 1, 2025)

Length: 457 pages

Author Information: Website

I went into No Lie Lasts Forever not entirely sure what to expect, since crime thrillers are not my usual genre and Mark Stevens is a new author to me. But I ended up having a blast with this punchy, fast-paced novel. What set it apart for me is its angle on the familiar hunt-for-a-serial-killer narrative, reading like a police procedural in many ways, except we’re following the investigation through the eyes of a journalist rather than a detective. I really appreciated this perspective, which added a gritty urgency to the story, especially when combined with the sharp, no-nonsense prose.

The book follows Flynn Martin, an ambitious journalist at a Denver news station whose circumstances unexpectedly take a nosedive when her live, on-air involvement in a high-profile hostage situation goes horribly wrong. The fallout of that tragedy leaves her disgraced and on the verge of losing her job. Desperate for a shot at redemption, Flynn is willing to do anything to ensure she’s not remembered for her one catastrophic mistake. An opportunity arises when a fellow reporter is found murdered under suspicious circumstances, and Flynn suddenly finds herself at the center of a case that could make or break her career.

As more information about the victim surfaces, the gruesome details bear an eerie resemblance to the work of the PDQ Killer, a serial murderer who terrorized Denver by killing three women before vanishing without a trace fifteen years ago. The possibility of his return sends shockwaves through the city, leading to renewed efforts by the police to try to find and capture him. But only one person knows the truth. Harry Kugel, the real PDQ killer, knows he didn’t commit this latest murder, and is furious that someone else may be killing in his name. At the risk of upending his newly constructed and reformed life, he reaches out anonymously to Flynn, offering a deal she can’t refuse.

What really worked for me was the writing. Stevens’ propulsive prose is characterized by short sentences and just enough detail to ground the characters and setting without slowing things down. The dialogue is the same way, snappy and natural. It’s a style that’s perfect for this set up, and the book does a great job immersing the reader in Flynn’s world of investigative journalism—the urgency of chasing leads, digging for facts, and constantly racing the clock. The book does take a little time to establish its foundations, with the opening chapters heavy on character introductions, but once Flynn is contacted by Harry, the pacing kicks into high gear and doesn’t let up.

Speaking of which, the alternating perspectives between our two POVs create a complex sort of tension. For one, we already know who the real PDQ is, as Harry is right there in plain view, his every thought and action made known to the reader. But it’s the anticipation of when and how he’ll be caught that is the driving force here, just as much as Flynn’s pursuit of the truth behind this latest copycat killing. The novel isn’t so much a whodunit as it is a cat-and-mouse game, with both characters circling each other carefully, each holding onto something the other needs.

Harry Kugel is disturbingly well-drawn. He is a monster, but avoids becoming a cliché due to his darkly compelling voice. In him, Stevens has created an introspective if delusional sociopath who genuinely believes he’s moved on from his violent past. Meticulously careful, he knows he’s lucky to have avoided capture and that his current life of normalcy is his reward for the good behavior he’s exhibited for the last fifteen years. Of course, this is shattered the moment he discovers someone else has, well, framed him, and only by turning back to the darkness can he preserve the fantasy he has built for himself. As for Flynn, a tough but flawed protagonist whose independent streak sometimes gets the better of her, she can be difficult to sympathize with especially in the beginning when her stubborn refusal to follow instructions inevitably leads to disaster. She only has herself to blame for many of her mistakes, but she does eventually grow more cautious and measured while maintaining her tenacity.

My final take? No Lie Lasts Forever definitely surpassed my expectations. I found it more interesting than your average serial-killer thriller in that it was more a psychological conflict than a puzzle for the reader to solve. This was my first time reading Mark Stevens, but I will be curious to see what he does next.