New York Times Bestseller!Kevin Ryan is a writer in the much-maligned genre of true crime who desperately needs a devious, over-the-top story for the subject of his next book. How else can he keep his wife Valerie’s roots dyed and keep himself from handing out taco samples at the local supermarket? When Kevin isn’t Googling himself or spot checking his books’ stock at stores around the country or … around the country or online, he’s bringing the hazards (ie, criminals and other crazies) of his job home to wife Val and twin daughters Taylor and Hayley. Kevin is on the hunt for the big one, the story that could break him out of the mid-list and onto the bestseller lists. And then there’s a knock at the door–a story finds him…
A distraught 20-year old Jett Carter shows up at the Ryan house because her mother and sister are imprisoned—perhaps if Kevin writes their story and reveals the truth, he might help exonerate them. The Carters’ tale is the perfect white-trash-attempted-murder-love-triangle that Kevin’s editor will love and his fans will devour. He begins to write “Love You to Death.” Then on a beautiful summer day, the wheels of homicide are set in motion and Kevin’s own story begins to eclipse the crime he is chronicling. When his #1 fan is murdered and another body turns up, the Ryans’ life in Port Gamble and all that Kevin holds dear is in jeopardy. Somewhere in “Love You to Death” and within the “bunch of low rent losers” he’s interviewing is the killer.
PRAISE for Shocking True Story:
Bestselling crime writer Gregg Olsen’s tour-de-force entwines narratives in hypnotic fashion. A uniquely riveting drama, an emotional roller-coaster, SHOCKING TRUE STORY erases all lines between truth and fiction. A spell-binding must-read!
Julia Spencer-Fleming, Edgar finalist and author of I SHALL NOT WANT
A lovingly detailed, hilarious descent into the dark heart of the Real America, Gregg Olsen’s Shocking True Story picks up where the supermarket tabloids and daytime TV leave off. But somehow, his grotesque and driven characters end up beyond laughter: endearing, recognizable, as deadly as a knife in the throat. A funny, frightening, very moving book.
Marc Lecard, author of the acclaimed VINNIE’S HEAD and TINY LITTLE TROUBLES
SHOCKING TRUE STORY is a sly, seductive thriller that grips you from the first page and refuses to let go. Gregg Olsen is a natural born storyteller with a flair for dead-on dialogue and laugh-out-loud satire.
Jason Starr author of THE FOLLOWER
With his keen eye and ear for how real people live today, Gregg Olsen manages to be simultaneously wickedly funny and good-hearted. SHOCKING TRUE STORY is a very witty, cleverly-constructed novel and absolutely delicious read.
Kathrine “KK” Beck, novelist and two-time Edgar nominee
Olsen’s unique voice propels this humorous exploration of some truly quirky lives, deaths and excuses. Gregg’s talent is not only making the reader laugh-out-loud, but hooking us into the story and having us care deeply about the characters as the absurd unfolds.
Toni McGee Causey, author of Bobby Faye’s Very, Very, Very Bad Day
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Just didn’t involve me
I got through half of it and gave up. It was tedious and not at all believable.
poorly constructed and hard to follow and not very informative
It seemed to have a slow start but then became very interesting.
Fiction. Beware.
I just couldn’t get into this story. Wanted so much to like it, but finally gave it up.
To slow, after 10 chapters I was still not into the book.
A real white knuckle multi storytelling noval
I couldn’t get into this book, I ended up deleting it not long after starting it
I have read a number of his books. This was my least favorite. Somehow, I had difficulty in connecting with the characters. I also figured out who did it too early. I
Just didn’t catch my interest. Slow read.
I have every book that he has written and can’t find one that I didn’t thoroughly enjoy.
I kept having to remind myself that this was a work of FICTION! I got into the story so much that I really believed the author’s first-hand account of what happened. Great story!
This one kept my attention, I did think the ending was a little obvious, but there were still enough twists to keep me reading.
Love most of his books , but this one was just ok
Really enjoyed the story within a story style of this book.
I thought this was a real true story, amazed to see how it wasn’t but yet it was so good! Truly funny!