A.F. Brady - Once A Liar

In this electrifying psychological thriller, a high-powered sociopath meets his reckoning when he’s accused of the brutal murder of his mistress.

Did he kill Charlie Doyle? And if he didn’t...who did?

Peter Caine, a cutthroat Manhattan defense attorney, worked ruthlessly to become the best at his job. On the surface, he is charming and handsome, but inside he is cold and heartless. He fights without remorse to acquit murderers, pedophiles and rapists.

When Charlie Doyle, the daughter of the Manhattan DA—and Peter’s former lover—is murdered, Peter’s world is quickly sent into a tailspin. He becomes the prime suspect as the DA, a professional enemy of Peter’s, embarks on a witch hunt to avenge his daughter’s death, stopping at nothing to ensure Peter is found guilty of the murder.

In the challenge of his career and his life, Peter races against the clock to prove his innocence. As the evidence mounts against him, he’s forced to begin unraveling his own dark web of lies and confront the sins of his past. But the truth of who killed Charlie Doyle is more twisted and sinister than anyone could have imagined...

A.F. BRADYis a New York state–licensed mental health counselor/psychotherapist. She resides in New York with her husband and their family. She is the author of The Blind .

Also By A.F. Brady

The Blind

Once a Liar

A.F. Brady

Copyright

An imprint of HarperCollins Publishers Ltd

1 London Bridge Street

London SE1 9GF

First published in Great Britain by HQ in 2019

Copyright © A.F. Brady 2019

A.F. Brady asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins.

Ebook Edition © January 2019 ISBN: 9781474083119

Praise for A.F. Brady’s The Blind

“Brady’s fast-paced, riveting psychological chiller will wow suspense and thriller lovers alike. Brilliant character study and superior writing make this an outstanding debut.”

—Library Journal, starred review

“[C]omplex, intricately plotted... This psychological thriller grabs the reader and doesn’t let go until the truth about Richard’s past is finally revealed.”

—Publishers Weekly

“Brady’s entertaining debut is told in the wry voice of Sam, who uses black humor to hide an undercurrent of pain.... A satisfying, darkly funny tale of redemption.”

—Kirkus Reviews

“Dark, moody, and fascinatingly flawed describe Brady’s...protagonist.... A suspenseful look at our weaknesses and ability to forgive.”

—Booklist

“Sometimes stark and often startling, The Blind asks important questions about the arbitrary lines we draw between the sane and “crazy” members of our society. Along the way, this quick-paced debut novel pulls its reader into a web of deceit, recrimination and, ultimately, redemption.”

—Miranda Beverly-Whittemore, New York Times bestselling author of Bittersweet and June

“Madness is at the heart of A.F. Brady’s gritty, gripping The Blind, in which a psychologist navigates her own inner demons while attempting to care for her patients...with devastating results.... Sly, dark, and completely enthralling, The Blind is a knockout debut.”

—Kimberly Belle, national bestselling author of The Marriage Lie and Three Days Missing

“A propulsive, compelling debut. The main character, Sam, is complex, damaged and sympathetic. You won’t soon forget this gripping psychological read.”

—A. J. Banner, bestselling author of The Good Neighbor and The Twilight Wife

“A page-turner that had me holding my breath until the last page.”

—Catherine McKenzie, bestselling author of Hidden and Fractured

“Smart, raw and intense, this is a nail-biting debut.”

—Anna Snoekstra, author of Only Daughter

For the unforgiven

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Booklist

Title Page

Copyright

Praise

Dedication

Quote

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Reader’s Guide

Questions for Discussion

Extract

About the Publisher

“He who fights with monsters should see to it that he himself does not become a monster.”

Friedrich Nietzsche, Beyond Good and Evil , Aphorism 146

Claire and I are sitting in the back of a black car, each looking out our separate windows. I see in the window’s reflection that Claire has her hands clasped nervously in her lap, the strap of her handbag wrapped around her wrist. I methodically clench and unclench my fists. Claire reaches over my lap to lay her hand on my thigh, and I feel her looking at me with her sympathetic eyes, hoping I will offer her comfort. I readjust my sunglasses and fluff my pocket square.

As the driver turns onto Madison Avenue, a line of similar black cars appears with curbside doors swung open, and Manhattan’s elite filing out onto the sidewalk. The burgundy awning offers little solace beneath the heavy afternoon sun, and sweaty husbands usher their second and third wives inside the building. I hear Claire whisper, “You ready for this?” as I open the door and hold a steady hand for her to take when she steps out of the car. I can’t respond.

We are walking quickly down the carpeted aisle of the funeral home, nearly hip checking acquaintances out of the way. I don’t want to talk to anyone. I haven’t said a word since we left the house; there’s nothing I know how to say. Claire is much more gracious than I am, and she’s looking back over her shoulder to coo hellos and whisper apologies.