THIS VIOLENT HEART
Releasing, February 11th, 2025
Montlake (An Imprint of Amazon Publishing)
In this haunting journey into the confusion and desires of growing up, a therapist reluctantly returns to her hometown, where she revisits the memories that could reveal what really killed her best friend all those years ago.
Devon Mayes thought she was done with the small conservative town she once called home. She fled when she was eighteen after her best friend Summer took her own life, leaving Summer’s twin brother, Keaton, lost in his grief. But when tragedy strikes again, Devon has nowhere to turn but back to the place that first broke her heart.
Being back in Arkana means struggling with the old guilt that shrouds her bisexuality and her feelings for Keaton. There’s so much she’s still hiding from him―and so much of their shared past that’s now resurfacing.
It’s not long before Devon has reason to believe Summer’s tragic death wasn’t suicide after all. Summer had secrets, too…and she wasn’t the only one who didn’t want them exposed.
As Devon and Keaton piece together the mystery of what happened that fateful summer, they must reckon with their own truths before they can move forward. But one person will do whatever it takes to stop them.
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Goodreads Reviews
Advanced Praise for THIS VIOLENT HEART
“This Violent Heart follows a woman's struggle with identity, regret, and the unanswered questions she's carried ever since her best friend died as a teenager. Come for the chapters dripping in longing; stay for the sizzling love story and redemption arc.” ―Elle Marr, #1 Amazon Charts bestselling author of The Alone Time and Your Dark Secrets
“A sultry, immersive thriller about the impact of deception: the lies of religious fundamentalism, the lies our loved ones hide behind, and the lies we tell ourselves. Levy deftly explores the complexities of teenage love, burgeoning sexuality, spiritual trauma, and survivor's guilt―with enough suspense to keep you constantly on edge. This one's a scorcher.” ―Amy Suiter Clarke, author of Girl, 11 and Lay Your Body Down
“An utterly unputdownable read that hurts and heals in equal measure. This Violent Heart is not just a twisty thriller, but also a poignant, nuanced deep-dive into identity, sexuality, and belonging. With its dual timeline narrative and cleverly interspersed journal entries, tension and secrets build until the shocking truth is exposed. Powerful, intense, and wholly addictive.” ―Laurie Elizabeth Flynn, author of Till Death Do Us Part and The Girls Are All So Nice Here
“Sexy, addictive and riveting, This Violent Heart is a twisty mystery in which a damaged woman works to solve the mystery of her best friend’s death as a teenager, grappling with her own bisexuality as she does…this evocative thriller is a sizzling page turner you won’t want to miss!” ―Christina McDonald, USA Today bestselling author
“Filled with scenes that will make your heart race one second and break the next. Levy conquers the dual timeline with perfection, which cleverly unfolds as you beg for more. An unmissable story of acceptance, revenge, and redemption.” ―Jaime Lynn Hendricks, bestselling author of A Lovely Lie
“This Violent Heart is the kind of book you can't help staying up all night―maybe even under the covers with a flashlight―to finish. Simultaneously racy and romantic, Heather Levy's latest is the thrilling, twisty story of a young woman trying to embrace her identity and solve the mysteries of her past. Come for the hot sex, stay for the real insight into friendship, forgiveness, and the human heart. I loved it.” ―Julia Dahl, author of I Dreamed of Falling
"Heather Levy is one of my favorite authors. Her ability to explore important issues of identity while transporting the reader into an emotionally raw and viscerally suspenseful world is exceptional. THIS VIOLENT HEART wrapped my own heart in its fist, only unfurling at the very end of the astounding conclusion. With a beautifully flawed and determined heroine desperate to uncover the truth about her best friend's death and allow herself to be loved the way she deserves, Levy takes us on a stunning journey of self-acceptance and justice. Crackling with sensuality and thumping with pulse-pounding action, this striking read will stay with me for a very long time." ―Samantha M. Bailey, USA TODAY, Amazon Charts, and #1 international bestselling author of A FRIEND IN THE DARK
"Get ready for This Violent Heart, an explosive and well-crafted mystery wrapped in identity and love, and the effects long-held secrets can have on insurmountable guilt and grief. Levy’s storytelling delivers with a layered dual timeline and soulful voice that will leave you entirely gutted." ―Yasmin Angoe, Anthony-nominated and best-selling author of Her Name is Knight and Not What She Seems