More twists than a bag of Twizzles. Every time you have it figured out, you realize you don't. But when you get to the end, you see that you had all the clues all along. The author was just two steps ahead and never let you catch up. LOVED it. This is my second Nichols novel and it won't be the last one I read. I'm officially a fan. ( )

After her husband is murdered, novelist Kara Dolan is consumed by grief. After she is videotaped losing control in a supermarket and attacking a display of his favourite cereal as well as workers, her stepmother insists she see a Psychiatrist. She does reluctantly and the meds he prescribed at least help her to sleep. But weird things begin to happen and she’s not sure if it’s the combination of the meds and all the alcohol she is consuming or a fan angry she isn’t writing or perhaps it’s linked to whoever or whatever was responsible for her husband’s murder and she is now also being targeted.

It took me a while to get into The Unreliables by Katherine Nichols but when it began to pick up. it really took off. The story is told in the first person by Kara and many of her actions seem absurd at best. But the fast pacing of the story with Nichols’ use of dialogue and short paragraphs kept the story moving quickly, keeping the reader engaged despite some of Kara’s questionable choices. Overall, a very interesting and compelling story.

I’d like to thank LibraryThing Early Reviewers for the opportunity to read this book. ( )

It took me some time to get into this one, partly because I didn't like the MC much.
The beginning was stiff and constructed. Kara, the MC, frets constantly about nothing at all. I didn't feel her grief about the loss of her husband - which is one of the pivotal plot points and supposed to set the whole story off – for one second throughout the book.
Some of the things she talks about are very condescending – mental health issues are described in a ridiculing way – and then: as if only fiction writers could make up things and lie convincingly? Some actions of the writing class/group are downright intrusive – a more or less forced meeting to 'cure' a member of the group from suicidal ideation and be more positive? No, thank you.
After about halfway into the book, the story picks up speed and the characters become a little more authentic. I liked the 'psychiatrist' plot part a lot, especially at the end – which was entertaining, but again – quite unbelieveable. 3,25*.
I received this book via LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program - Thanks, LT! - in exchange for an honest review. ( )

Thank you to Library Thing for allowing me to read a PDF copy of this novel which is part women's fiction, part mystery.
The story is told in first person by the protagonist, bestselling author Kara Dolan. She's hard to connect with at first. Devastated by the death of her husband, Michael, in a senseless, random shooting, Kara wallows in guilt and self-pity, numbing her pain with alcohol and pills. In the opening scene, she has a meltdown in a grocery store, attacking a cereal display and several store employees. (The reader later learns that was Michael's favorite brand of cereal, and, because she'd forgotten to buy it, he'd gone out to purchase some the night he was killed.)
Someone made a video of her meltdown that goes viral, which is detrimental to Kara's public image and career, leading to more wallowing and self-medicating. She starts getting creepy hate mail from former fans who have turned on her.
Her stepmother, Barb, suggests that Kara see a psychiatrist. Dr. Riley comes highly recommended by Tiffany, a woman who recently joined Barb's tennis team. But the medication Dr. Riley prescribes makes Kara worse instead of better, and she feels she is losing her grip on sanity. Dr. Riley asks some unusual questions about Kara's grieving process and writing career.
Kara also starts hallucinating and having conversations with Garnet Rivers, her alter-ego, the badass heroine of her novels.
Kara's agent recommended she teach a two-week writing workshop at the local recreation center. The class is filled with interesting students with interesting stories. I wasn't sure what it had to do with the plot, though, except to show Kara becoming more productive and caring about others. I was glad to see the author bring the students/newfound friends back at the end.
The story gets more interesting, and the pace picks up when reporter Lucas Montgomery contacts Kara. He claims he was working on a story with Michael about the clinic for homeless veterans where Michael volunteered his time. Evidently, Michael had uncovered some information about the devastating effects of PTSD drugs the clinic has administered. And now it appears that Michael's killing may not have been random. Unfortunately, other potential witnesses to Michael's findings are either dead or incapacitated, so Lucas asks Kara to go through Michael's things and help him find the information he needs for the story.
Kara has to start taking a more active role in life, becoming more like Garnet, to figure out who she can trust and solve her husband's murder.
The writing is very good, with subtle humor and some clever turns of phrases. I also enjoyed Kara's elderly neighbor, Ira, and his guard dog, Rex. Recommended. ( )

This is a suspense novel that follows a recently widowed novelist, as she unravels in a mess of grief, alcohol, psychiatric medications, and sabotage! The story is quite engaging, but allowances need to be made for some elements of the plot that weren’t great. The latter include the bad guys’ scheme, and the protagonist’s lack of action regarding clues or her safety despite the threats and her fears. And her husband had a box at the office with very non-work-related contents, which is perplexing to me.
Thank you to the author and publisher for the complimentary copy of this book; my review is an honest one. ( )