The Perfect Liar (The Last Stand)

by Brenda Novak

Book Overview

Obsession leads to lies...When air force captain Luke Trussell opens his door one Sunday morning, he's shocked to find the police--and even more shocked when they charge him with rape. He knows he... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0778327248
• Release Date: August 2009
• Publisher: MIRA
• Length: 432 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.6" x 0.9" x 4.2"

Customer Reviews

Ms. Novak doesn't disappoint. Edgy drama.

I admit to being a Brenda Novak fan. In fact, I've read almost all her books. In this latest series set in Sacramento, three women, victims themselves, have banded together to form a victims charity defense for women facing similar situations. Book two, The Perfect Liar, is edgy and well written. As in the first book, the reader is aware who the antagonist is. Novak has a knack for keeping up the suspense and for showing the evil that lurks beneath the surface of her villains. Ava Bixby takes on the case of Kalyna Harter, a Ukranian immigrant and Air Force sergeant who claims to have been raped by Captain Luke Trussell. However, as Ava digs deep into the case, she wonders if she's defending the wrong person. Ava, the child of a dysfunctional family, has a thrice married father and a mother serving a prison sentence for attempted murder. In addition, she failed to act on a cry for help from one of her clients which ended badly. Ava is determined never to let that happen again, so she is prejudiced from the get-go against Captain Trussell even as she finds him disturbingly attractive. Novak delves into Ava's background as well as Kalnya's and some shocking details are revealed. Without revealing too much more, let me urge you to buy this book. The ending will surprise you. Highly recommended.

Suspense & Mystery

Brenda Novak is very good at suspense and story development. This book was about a pathological liar, who also happenned to be a murderer. I found myself absolutely fascinated with this character, who at times I felt sorry for, and at other times, I couldn't believe how she was able to rationalize her actions. Ms. Novak also seemlessly wove this new Last Stand Trilogy into the first Trilogy series about three women who are victims of violence or abuse themselves. As a way of healing themselves, they form a charity business that helps others who are victims themselves. I can say that the first series and this second book of the second series is just as mesmerizing as the previous four books! I had a hard time putting any of them down, they were so suspenseful!

Even More Engrossing Than The Perfect Couple

I could not tear myself away from this edgy, smart, riveting book. The villainess was the perfect combination of malice, cunning and deeply disturbing behavior. Many a gut twist resulted in empathy for the hero, as he dealt with the layered consequences of her attack with perfect lies. Devouring Brenda Novak novels is one of my happy addictions. And now, I'll begin the next book in the series... Knowing Brenda Novak, it won't be long before I finish it.

Wonderful book, wonderful series!

Just finished Brenda Novak's Perfect series. Three amazing books! Loved the characters and the story lines. Ms Novak has written 6 books in The Last Stand series, all of which are full of suspense and goosebump moments. I have read all of her books, and she never disappoints. Looking forward to her Hired Gun Series starting in August of 2010. Pick up any of her books. You will be glad you did!

exhilarating romantic suspense

At Travis Air Force Base in California, Captain Luke Trussell mourns the death of his bestf friend who died in Iraq with alcohol and love making with Sergeant Kalyna Harter of his flying squadron. He knows both were mistakes, but the latter proves ugly when two military police enlisted NCOs arrive the next morning informing him that Sergeant Harter accused him of rape; she spent several hours at Northbay medical Clinic and has bruises all over her body; none life threatening. He says she lies. Kalyna follows that up with asking victims' rights advocate Ava Bixby to help nail Luke with further evidence of his abusing women. Ava's inquiry proves Luke has no bad marks or hints of such until the rape accusation while Kalyna has a history. The advocate soon believes he is the victim and works to prove her theory although she hopes she is not rosy coloring the facts because she is falling in love with the captain. Kalyna is outraged when she perceives the betrayal and the look of love in Aava's eyes. This is an exhilarating romantic suspense with the obsessed villainess stealing the show from the lead couple as THE PERFECT LIAR. Readers will be fascinated with the obviously troubled Kalyna as she loves Luke, but her method to his heart may seem on the surface an odd approach; the audience will understand why the psychopath made the rape accusation.. Fans will enjoy Brenda Novak's latest Last Stand thriller. Harriet Klausner