Publication Date: June 1, 2025
Zodiac with a terrifying twist, in a taut thriller from author Mark Stevens about a reformed serial killer and the disgraced journalist he coaxes into finding the imposter trading on his name.
When a reporter dies in a shockingly familiar way, the media rushes to announce the return of the PDQ Killer. The city of Denver reels, but no one more than Harry Kugel. After all, he is the PDQ Killer—or was fifteen years ago. And he didn’t do this.
Still working to reform his ways, Harry won’t let some amateur murderer ride his twisted coattails and risk drawing the police back his way. To protect his legacy and quiet new life, he’ll have to expose the copycat. Without exposing himself.
Disgraced TV journalist Flynn Martin holds the key. After a botched hostage situation, she’ll do anything to revive her dying career—even hunt down a monster who executed one of her own.
Harry must convince Flynn to follow him into the heady world of a killer. But with the law closing in and a rival at large, he starts to feel the familiar pull of old urges…
Imitation may not be the sincerest form of criticism flattery if you happen to be a reformed serial killer.
Author Mark Stevens serves up a fascinating thriller in No Lie Lasts Forever. Harry Kugel secretly holds the title of PDQ Killer, so he knows the recent murder of a reporter was committed by someone else, in spite of what the media reports.
To expose the real killer, Harry anonymously reaches out to Flynn Martin, a broadcast journalist whose career has taken a nosedive because of a mistake. Her character is full of angst, but if anyone is motivated to find answers, it will be Flynn.
Her meticulous investigative work, however, also extends to determining the identity of her anonymous source who is struggling with the idea of serial killer retirement.
The fast-paced action alternates with plot twists to deliver a phenomenally unexpected conclusion.
No Lie Lasts Forever offers an intense thriller featuring a killer’s twisted sense of right and wrong.
The son of two librarians, Mark Stevens was raised in Lincoln, Massachusetts, and has worked as a reporter, as a national television news producer and in public relations. The Fireballer (Lake Union, 2023) was named Best Baseball Novel by Twin Bill Literary Magazine and named one of Best Baseball Books of the Year by Spitball Magazine.
His mystery novel Antler Dust was a Denver Post bestseller in 2007 and 2009. Buried by the Roan, Trapline, and Lake of Fire were all finalists for the Colorado Book Award (2012, 2015, and 2016, respectively). Trapline won the Colorado Book Award in 2016 and also received the best genre fiction award from Colorado Authors League.
Stevens has had short stories published by Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, Mystery Tribune, and in Denver Noir (Akashic Books, 2022). In September 2016, Stevens was named Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers’ Writer of the Year, and again in 2023. Stevens hosts a regular podcast for Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers and has served as president of the Rocky Mountain chapter for Mystery Writers of America. Stevens is also an avid reader and regularly shares his reviews.
Today, Stevens lives in Mancos, Colorado.
