” Mindy brilliantly paints this murder mystery using broad strokes of beautiful prose and a messy splatter of twists, giving readers a final product that is a impossible to put down.” – Michele G. Miller, author of bestselling series, From The Wreckage A rock sensation.A Hollywood starlet.A reclusive journalist.Murder.Accused of murdering his fiancé, Blake Collins drops from the radar. His chosen … journalist.
Murder.
Accused of murdering his fiancé, Blake Collins drops from the radar. His chosen sanctuary? The girl he left behind.
Katarina Soloway is the one person Blake trusts to uncover the facts, but the further they dig, the more twisted the truth becomes.
When paths cross, no one is safe. Horrors always leave a mark. The stain of truth may never come clean.
Do to the nature of this story, it is best read if you go into it blind. Beware of spoilers in reviews.
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This book starts out sweet and cute and dives in quickly. I was on a wild ride for sure as I read this mystery thriller. I loved the plot and the intense moments through out. The twists and turns had me in the edge of my seat. Mindy executed this book Perfectly. I was not expecting any of this but I was so pleasantly surprised. What a beautifully written book I can’t wait to read more by this author.Mindy Hayes
“Mindy brilliantly paints this murder mystery using broad strokes of beautiful prose and a messy splatter of twists, giving readers a final product that is impossible to put down.”
Stain is absolutely perfect!
Unforgettable, haunting, full of tension, twisted, heartbroken, tragically beautiful.
It will blow your mind!
*I voluntarily reviewed an advance complimentary copy of this book.*
Absolutely loved this story!! Love books that mess with my head and this had me guessing for the most part. I did work out a few of the twists but there were so many that took me by surprise too.
I was a little disappointed with how it all came together at the end and the aftermath of THE event. All that being said I thoroughly enjoyed the plot, the writing and the characters. The going back and forth in time made my head spin especially as it took a while to work out whose POV we were reading. I get why it needed to be that way at the end just during my journey it was distracting.
If you love psychology suspense / romance read it! You won’t be disappointed!!
My Rating: *****
Type: Standalone
Genre: Psychological Thriller, A Romantic Psychological Suspense
Narration: Multiple POV
Primary Characters: Kat & lake Collins
Source: Courtesy of Author/ Publisher – ARC
I voluntarily read an ARC of this book in exchange for honest review.
I signed up for this ARC because I was intrigued with the Blurb. This is my first time I read a book of Mindy Hayes, and it won’t be the last.
Katarina Soloway or Kat is a young journalist who lives in seclusion in her apartment. She is struggling to keep her past at bay and trying to lead her seclusive life day by day. Blake Collins is a rock star and is engaged to Hollywood sweetheart Scarlett. Kat and Blake were high school sweethearts and have parted ways.
Now after 10 years Blakes knocks on kat’s doorstep and enters her life again asking for help. He is accused of murdering his fiancé. In part one, story toggles between past and present about their teenage love and the current situation of both. I thought I had figured out the entire book when I finished part one except to know the murderer. However, part 2 and 3 totally threw me off. Didn’t except that twist at all. When I was reading things from others POV, I was literally on the edge.
“He had mystery, looks and Talent. A triple treat. The perfect combination or fatal Concoction”.
Last 2 parts were completely different than expected. I was unbelievably stunned. The suspense kept me on toes, and it didn’t get any better than that. As the story progress, Kat and Blake are trying to solve Blake’s ex-fiancée murder. However, Kat seems less inclined to help Blake because it’s been years since she’s seen Blake. He’s the guy who stole her heart and also broke her heart. Blake’s life can look great on social networks and magazine covers, but behind closed doors it’s very different.
“It appears that Tall Dark and Broody is already smitten with someone. I can’t imagine who”
The twists and turns of the plot kept me engaged throughout book. I was on the edge of my seat most of the time. I was addicted to this story after part one. Plot is fast paced. Nice storyline, great plot and captivating. I liked knowing the story from several POV. Hollywood starlett, Scarlett was perfect in this story. She was perfect example for when starts burn. I don’t want to tell more about her. Read and know for yourself.
Overall, Stain was a phenomenal read. Go ahead and enjoy this wild rollercoaster Romantic Psychological Suspense.
meander23.wordpress.com/2020/03/03/review-stain-by-mindy-hayes/
5 STARS
This book was the perfect fusion of psychological thriller with romantic suspense! Mindy Hayes is a new to me author and has written an absolute page-turner. I couldn’t get enough of the characters and loved the evolution of each of them from the past to the present. I am eager to read more from this author. The storytelling was EPIC and the ride it took me on was mind blowing!
Stain by Mindy Hayes will join the ranks of the BIBLIO-ARISTOCRACY!!!
This isn’t my first romantic psychological suspense read but it is my first Mindy Hayes read and she didn’t disappoint. The cover caught my eye first but it was the blurb that intrigued me and drew me in. I spent a lot of time reading this and thought I knew what was going on and ohhh how I was proven so wrong. I had plenty of confused, wtf, and omg moments. This book is anything but a simple fast read. I didn’t mind taking the time to read and absorb all the details of this story.
Rock sensation Blake and Katarina a reclusive journalist have a past together. Kat’s past is full of darkness that has made her life a living hell. Things get crazy once Blake shows up at her door after all these years and when he is the number one murder suspect in the death of his fiancee Scarlett, a Hollywood starlet. Kat’s unsure of what to believe so she tries to keep her distance from him while trying to help him lay low and figure out who murdered Scarlett. Blake wants nothing more then to be with Kat but he knows he has to take things slow and tread carefully because Kat is a special case per say.
A suspenseful read that really keeps you guessing. The story was very well written and full of interesting characters. A must read for those who love a good suspenseful romantic psychological book.
Absolutely stunning. Stain was a riveting, engrossing, unique story that held my attention and did not let go. This story was unlike anything I’ve ever read. With a cast of complex, unforgettable characters, twists and turns you won’t see coming in a storyline that will have you feverishly turning the pages to know more, this novel was well-written and layered and without a doubt one of my top reads for this year.
This was my first Mindy Hayes novel and it was an exceptional introduction to this author who will now be added to my must read list. This psychological romantic thriller was nothing like you would expect and will completely blow your mind. Told from varying POV and in both the past and present day you will be fully invested in this suspenseful tale, which will keep you guessing throughout and you will be unable to put it down.
Stain was a phenomenal read worthy of more than 5 stars. I loved it and would highly recommend it to all lovers of romantic suspense.
I’m finding it really hard to write this review because this book had so many twists and turns along with slaps in my face that I can’t even think straight. I never and I repeat never would’ve believed it would go the way it did. Job well done. The suspense and story telling made it an amazing page turner. It’s not often that a book leaves me down such a mysterious road with such unique characters.
This is the first book I’ve read of Mindy Hayes. I found her through NetGalley where I received this ARC. It was definitely different from what I normally read. It was written in parts as well as chapters. Each part of the book was written with a different character’s point of view.
Reading the first few sentences, I wasn’t sure I was going to like the writing. But I continued and became glued to this second chance story. Blake found himself in trouble and went to the one person he trusted most, his first love, Kat.
The first and sixth parts were written from the heroine, Katarina’s, POV. The story is shifting back in forth from the present to past events. I felt the love between Blake and Katarina in the early years. Such a beautiful young romance. But the present time is sad and depressing. Part one was definitely my favorite.
Part two and three are told in the present by two other characters, Imogen and Dara’s, point of views. Very strange. I’ll leave it there.
Part four we get the hero’s, Blake, point of view. It also switched between present and past events. My heart broke for them here. We get more answers and start to see what is going on in this twisted story. I wasn’t expecting it!
Part five is Scarlett’s POV. When I think I might could like her from Blake’s description of her softer side, Scarlett’s actions ruin it. Completely.
Part six we’re back to Kat’s POV. This finishes the book. I was not expecting the biggest twist from earlier and now we find out who did what.
So I definitely wasn’t able to figure out the details until they were disclosed. But I didn’t like the ending. So that’s why there is a 3.5 star rating.
Mindy Hayes writes well and kept the suspense going until reveal time. But I didn’t like, or couldn’t feel, the characters interactions at the end.