Review: An Unreliable Truth (Desert Plains #3) by Victor Methos

        

Print Length: 349 pages

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer (August 17, 2021)

From Goodreads.com:  Two couples cut to bits near a canyon close to the Nevada border. The police pull over blood-soaked Arlo Ward not far from the site of the grisly murders; he fully cooperates with the officers, grinning through a remorseless confession dripping with gory detail. Investigators find no murder weapon, but young, awkward Arlo’s confession is signed, taped, and delivered.

Defense attorney Dylan Aster and his partner, Lily Ricci, are two rising legal stars. They’re hesitant about pursuing the Arlo Ward case, as it seems like a slam dunk for the prosecution—Arlo was covered in the victims’ DNA and admitted to everything. But the state psychiatrist shares the impossible with Dylan: Arlo Ward is likely innocent. The man is racked with delusional schizophrenia, seizing on these murders as an opportunity for macabre attention.

Dylan can’t resist. He and Lily take on Arlo as their client, but once the trial commences, it’s clear that the real secrets and lies are just beginning.

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My Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Let me begin by saying that you do not need to have read the first two books in the series in order to enjoy this one. The first two focused more on a different character (although these two did make an appearance in book number two, you aren't missing anything in their backstory by not reading it first).

There were moments in the courtroom where I felt the story got bogged down by all of the tedious details that tend to go into those types of things. These were scenes where I found myself losing interest in what was otherwise an engaging story. I also found certain aspects of the overall story to be a bit too.... unbelievable. One example of this being the fact that the prosecution would deliberately keep information from the defense team knowing that if it were found out it could be used to make them look bad in the eyes of the jury. Also the fact that no one seemed to be able to get medical records or anything on Arlo even though he was supposed to be on medication. 

Now that being said, there was a lot about this novel that I did enjoy. I enjoyed Dylan's struggle between what he wanted vs. what he thought was best in terms of his family life. I also applauded his desire to stand up for his client when Arlo wanted to fight him every step of the way. It was this story-line that I was most invested in, and honestly this story-line I was most surprised with.

And when I say I didn't see the twists in this one coming? Holy cow. Okay, I mean one I kind of thought was a possibility, but the other? I can only help but wonder if a mention of that outcome will find its way into future books or not. 

In case it wasn't clear before, I do enjoy this author, and I can't wait to read more from them! 

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

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                                                    An Unreliable Truth  is available from Amazon.com

                     (for free if you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited)