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The reading guides for Worse than a Lie by Ben Crump are now available in the member library!
Whether you're reading solo, with a buddy, or as part of a book club, there's a deep-dive resource designed to help you get even more from this powerful legal thriller.
📖 Solo Deep-Dive Reader Kit
https://canva.link/g2c6zbv0wk6swuv
👥 Deep Dive Buddy Reader Kit
https://canva.link/q1lqnllg0okn52r
📚 Book Club Kit & Individual Book Club Member Reader Guide
https://canva.link/jy02pc814l7bx8b
Inside you'll find discussion questions, reading prompts, reflection activities, character analysis, theme trackers, and more to help you explore the novel's themes of justice, truth, power, and accountability.
Grab your kit, start reading, and get ready for some thought-provoking conversations!
Have you started Worse than a Lie yet? Let us know your first impressions in the comments! 📖✨
#TheFirstEditions #BookClub #WorseThanALie #BenCrump #BookDiscussion #ReaderCommunity #BookClubKit #ReadersOfInstagram
A Gripping Legal Thriller About Justice, Truth, and Power
What happens when the people sworn to protect the public become the very people who threaten it?
Worse than a Lie by Ben Crump is a powerful legal thriller that blends suspense, social commentary, and courtroom drama into a story that feels both timely and deeply personal. At its heart is a fight for justice that forces readers to confront difficult questions about race, power, corruption, and the stories society chooses to believe.
About the Book
On the historic night of November 4, 2008, as America celebrates the election of its first Black president, Hollis Montrose's life is shattered. A former Black police officer from suburban Chicago, Hollis is shot ten times during a traffic stop gone horribly wrong.
Against all odds, Hollis survives. But survival is only the beginning of his nightmare.
As law enforcement officials rush to shape the narrative, Hollis finds himself not only recovering from devastating injuries but also facing wrongful criminal charges and an unreasonable bail. Determined to uncover the truth is attorney Beau Lee Cooper, a lawyer whose lifelong passion for justice pushes him into one of the most dangerous cases of his career.
As Beau Lee and his team dig deeper, they discover that the truth may be far more complicated and far more dangerous than anyone imagined.
Discussion Themes
The Power of Narrative
One of the book's most compelling themes is how quickly public narratives are formed and accepted. Throughout the story, readers are asked to consider who controls the story, whose voices are amplified, and what happens when the truth conflicts with an official version of events.
Justice Versus the Legal System
The novel explores an important distinction between what is legal and what is just. Beau Lee's pursuit of justice highlights the challenges that can arise when institutions prioritize self-preservation over accountability.
Race, Identity, and Perception
Hollis's background as a former police officer creates fascinating layers within the story. The book invites discussion about race, authority, and how identity shapes the way people are treated by systems that are supposed to serve everyone equally.
Courage in the Face of Power
Whether it's Hollis fighting to reclaim his life or Beau Lee risking his career to uncover the truth, the novel examines the personal cost of standing up against powerful institutions.
Book Club Discussion Questions
How did your opinion of Hollis change throughout the novel?
What role does public perception play in shaping the outcome of the case?
Did you find the portrayal of law enforcement balanced and believable? Why or why not?
Which character's journey resonated with you most?
How does the setting of the 2008 presidential election impact the story's themes?
What does the title Worse than a Lie mean to you after finishing the book?
Were there moments where you questioned who was telling the truth?
How does the novel explore the difference between justice and revenge?
What conversations do you think the author hopes readers will have after finishing the book?
Would you recommend this book to your book club? Why or why not?
For Your Reading Journal
As you read, consider keeping track of:
Moments where official accounts conflict with personal testimony.
Examples of courage shown by different characters.
Scenes that made you question your assumptions.
Quotes that highlight the themes of truth, justice, and accountability.
How your perspective on the case evolves from beginning to end.
Download Your Reader Resources
Ready to dive deeper into Worse than a Lie?
📚 Free Members: Download your FREE Mini Starter Reader Kit, featuring discussion questions, reflection prompts, and reading notes to enhance your experience.
https://canva.link/fxibmdoln58ve0l
✨ The First Editions Members: Unlock the complete collection of premium reader resources, including the Deep Dive Book Club Kit, Solo Reader Guide, Buddy Read Companion, extended discussion questions, themed activities, and exclusive bonus content.
Visit the member library to download your resources and take your reading experience even further.
Join the Conversation
This thought-provoking legal thriller raises important questions about truth, justice, and the systems we trust. We can't wait to hear your thoughts.
Do you think the truth always wins or does the story people choose to believe matter more?
Pride Month is the perfect time to highlight these incredible books featuring LGBTQ+ characters and authors, but they're worth reading all year long. 🌈📚
This stack includes:
✨ Awakening of the Starborne by Louve-Ch
✨ The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune
✨ In Her Spotlight by Amy Spalding
✨ The Crack at the Heart of Everything by Fiona Fenn
✨ This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone
✨ International Relations by Zac Hammett
✨ The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones by Lex Croucher
✨ Gearbreakers by Zoe Hana Mikuta
✨ Aunt Tigress by Emily Yu-Xuan Qin
✨ Hollow by M.L. Burns
This stack includes everything from cozy fantasy and romantasy to sci-fi, contemporary romance, and dark fantasy, all featuring LGBTQ+ representation, queer authors, or both.
And if you're curious, the four I rave about the most from this stack are The House in the Cerulean Sea, This Is How You Lose the Time War, Hollow, and Awakening of the Starborne.
🏡 Cozy found family (The House in the Cerulean Sea)
⏳ Beautifully written sapphic sci-fi (This Is How You Lose the Time War)
🖤 Dark, emotional romance (Hollow)
✨ Epic traumantasy (Awakening of the Starborne)
I can’t wait to read the rest of these books.
Have you read any of these, or are any on your TBR? I'd love to hear your favorites and get even more queer book recommendations! 🌈💜
If you're reading this, that means you have this benefit! If you haven't already, please email info@deathbytbrbooks.com for eBooks of any or all of the following titles.
Hiding Lies
Twisted Tales to Tell in the Night: A Halloween Horror Anthology
Twisted Tales to Tell in the Night: Another Halloween Horror Anthology
Small Town Slasher (Woods Bay #1)
Thank you so much for supporting me as an author and Death by TBR Books! <3
Hello Friends, and Happy (late) Trans Joy Thursday*, but in reality, I know it's Friday. My sincerest apologies.
Yesterday was my wife's birthday, so we (Trans Joy Thursday style) celebrated by loading up OUR zoo, and taking them to THE zoo. It was a mildly, sunny, warm day, but we all stayed hydrated and had a blast. Our middle sweet boy loves animals - insects, reptiles, even dinosaurs - he loves them all, so he was living his best life. Photo of him taking in the critters for tax:
We had pizza, my wife opened presents, we played a (never-ending) round of Uno (I came in dead last, my 9 year-old made sure I was aware of that) and truly enjoyed celebrating Alisha on her special day.
On Wednesday, I also started my "staycation" for a week - I don't clock back in until Wednesday, June 17th at 3pm. This week will be filled with softball games for my daughter, my second Pride event at The Attic in Green Bay, WI TOMORROW from 9a-2p (I'll post the information below) and then some summer school starting for my daughter, as well. (Plus our weekly library trip.) All in all, a very busy staycation. Here's the details for the Write In Color event tomorrow at The Attic:
Authors, bookish vendors, giveaways and a special drink menu! Say less. I truly hope I get to see you all there! I'm unbelievably so excited for this event.
Also! Don't forget that Tuesday, June 16th, we'll have our inaugural Beyond The Rainbow chat with Dr. Kaila Story, author of The Rainbow Ain't Never Been Enuf: On The Myth of LGBTQ+ Solidarity from 12-1pm CST/1-2pm EST. I'll send out the link Sunday in our newsletter as a reminder. Join the Discord where we're discussing questions you'd like me to ask, details of the book you'd like me to talk about or anything that stood out to you regarding this book:
As we're crossing into the midway mark of Pride Month, I just wanted to remind you that we should be celebrating, protecting, and uplifting not only the LGBTQIA+ community, but other marginalized communities all year long. Advocacy is so important right now. If you'd like trans or queer book recs, please scroll through my Instagram feed, or other LGBTQIA+ bookish folx you follow to spark ideas.
Trans Joy, for me, also means living out loud, and proud, and that has taken me damn near 20 years to accomplish. I just wanted you to know, that if you're reading this, and can't come out, are questioning, or in a not safe environment to celebrate, I see you and I support you, and I get it. I was once where you are. It does get better. Keep your head up. Live for tomorrow until tomorrow becomes today. I'm celebrating you for you until you can do so safely. Pride is year 'round.
I truly hope your week is ending with lots of love, peace, clarity and JOY.
Until Sunday, friends,
With all my trans joy,
Sawyer Cole
Welcome to my BINDERY!!! Wow, that's kind of crazy to say, I'm not going to lie.
If you're here, WOW! It's crazy that anyone would want to click an extra button to listen to me ramble on about books or literally anything else, but I'm very glad you're here. I want to use this site to continue highlighting my favorite reads--especially westerns, but I also enjoy reading outside of the genre as well. Some of my most frequented genres are horror, historical romance, regular old historical fiction and I also dip my toes into the fantasy pool every once in a while.
Aside from reading for fun, I also read for work as a literary agent in training. I'd love to start sharing some insights into the agenting process, if y'all are interested in hearing about it! It's been a really eye-opening process and has definitely given me new insight on the publishing industry.
Anyway, all this to say I'm so glad you're here (if you are) and I can't wait to start sharing with you!
<3 ellen
On June 13th, Libro.fm is celebrating Audiobook Month with a global audiobook walk! Audiobooks are my favorite way to consume stories, and I am so excited to celebrate them on the 13th with a stroll. 🥳
Last week, I asked my Bindery community for their audiobook recommendations, and I wanted to share them and some of my favorites with you all in case you need some recs for the walk (or just want to add to your audiobook TBR!):
My Bindery community recommends:
@Sawyer loves Billy Porter’s Unprotected (narrated by the author)
@Readingwithlori loves Legendary by Stephanie Garber (narrated by Rebecca Soler) and The Survivor Wants to Die at the End by Adam Silvera (narrated by Frankie J. Alvarez, Kyla Garcia, and Anthony Rey Perez)
Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy (narrated by Cooper Mortlock, Katherine Littrell, Saskia Maarleveld, and Steve West)
Taste by Stanley Tucci (narrated by the author)
I recommend:
Legendary Frybread Drive-In edited by Cynthia Leitich Smith (narrated by Katie Anvil Rich, DeLanna Studi, Shaun Taylor-Corbett, Darrell Dennis, Elva Guerra, Erin Tripp, and Jordan Waunch) - A welcoming, sweeping collection of interconnected stories with Native pride, food, and love.
Field Guide for the Formerly Villainous by Autumn K. England (narrated by Dani Martineck) - A queer, heartwarming, and cozy fantasy filled with farmer's market trips and delicious treats.
The Children by Melissa Albert (narrated by Rebecca Lowman, Saskia Maarleveld, Kristen Sieh, Leslie Aleman, and Iggy Costello) - A twisty and haunting novel perfect for readers who love dark fairytales that feel like fever dreams.
Shim Jung Takes the Dive by Julia Riew (narrated by the author) - A hopeful, whimsical, and enchanting middle-grade fantasy with Korean folklore.
A Potion, A Powder, a Little Bit of Magic by Philip C. Stead (narrated by Daniel Henning) - A quirky, creative, and magical middle-grade tale.
Celestial Lights by Cecile Pin - A poignant, thoughtful, and charged yet peaceful literary fiction novel.
The Summer of Lost Things by Jenn Bennett (narrated by Allie Shae) - An addictive and adventurous treasure-hunt romance perfect for summertime.
What are you listening to this Saturday? 🎧🫶
Happy Friday! While I have you, I’ll throw in a friendly reminder that the July, August, and September selections for the Read Herring Book Club are live! We will be reading:
July: The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith (1955)
August: To Catch a Thief by David Dodge (1952)
September: The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett (1930)
Like and save the Instagram post here. Once we get to 1,000 followers, I am running a special giveaway. 😊
Psst, this was also a Cluesletter week! ICYMI, here’s a link.
This week’s reads:
The Heirs by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé (finished): A YA mystery in the vein of Knives Out! Really enjoyed the pacing, twists, and characterization in this one. Sometimes the seventeen-year-olds came off wiser (and more weathered) than their years but I found the mystery to be solid and the story overall very engaging.
Murder at the Spirit Lounge by Jess Kidd (currently reading): Almost finished with this one. I love Jess Kidd’s writing (as expected) and thoroughly admire Nora Breen. I have several theories for whodunnit—and why—so I am eagerly awaiting the big reveal.
Breakout by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon (currently reading): It’s apparently the summer of YA for me—this one follows a group of six rich teens as they spend spring break at a luxury resort, with disastrous consequences. I can’t wait to see what those consequences are.
This week’s book mail:
The Clock House Murders by Yukito Ayatsuji: An abandoned house with a haunting past, and a team of paranormal investigators trapped inside—only brilliant detective Shimada Kiyoshi can save them.
She Walks at Night by Seishi Yokomizo: Scruffy sleuth Kosuke Kindaichi is called to the home of the aristocratic Furugami family, where in the midst of the Musashino countryside and enclosed on all sides by a long earthen wall, a gruesome scandal is brewing.
Thank you, Pushkin Press for these gifted books!
Yours mysteriously,
Manon
Friends,
I'm sorry, I've been mostly absent recently. I've been covering for a colleague in my day job, and likely will be for sometime and I also am going through a major life event which I'm not quite ready to discuss publicly yet, but I'm doing what I can when I can, so I hope you'll remain patient with me. These next few months might be a little spotty.
If you missed my earlier announcement, I am on the hunt for our third book.
I have gotten some great pitches and submissions (and we've only just started looking).
I think a lot of that speaks to our reputation, both the reputation of Bindery, and specifically Boozhoo Books. We are publishing SOME BANGERS.
I picked up a story last night that is giving me a very similar feeling to the feeling I got when I read both What Feeds Below and Cracks: WOW. Wholly unique. I already told our acquisitions director that I THINK I MIGHT HAVE FOUND THE ONE.
The story was pitched as a horror and I don't think that's the right category and I don't think that really matters. I think this is what I want my imprint to be known for: Unique stories, told from voices that don't always get the chance to be heard. Unputtdownable stories. Consumable stories. Stories that come to life off the page.
I can't say much more than that on this public page. I will be sharing some plot points and more about the story to my paid members this weekend, so if you have been thinking about upgrading, not only do you get arcs of all our books and support this incredible imprint and mission- YOU GET THE SECRETS EARLY. Upgrade to $5 and hop in our exclusive paid members discord channel.
(I've also got a super secret What Feeds Below paid update coming this Sunday and the cover for Cracks is going to be available to paid members SOON!)
Thanks so much for supporting this imprint, y'all! It's because of you that these stories are coming to life.
Sickos! Yesterday, digital copies of A Complement of Scoundrels by S.V. Lockwood were delivered to Sicko+ subscribers and physical copies began shipping to Mega Sicko/Sicko Society members. If you got that email, you were among the members who joined before the 3/10/26 cutoff to receive those early copies. HUZZAH!
I found this gem in a pile of manuscripts last year and since then the whole team has been working on it daily, so this is a huge moment for everyone involved. And as I've said many times and will continue to say, this book and the Kist Reads publishing imprint only exists because this community exists and I'm forever grateful to every single one of you.
We're so happy to get this to you 3 months before its official release in September, which also means you have a very important role to play regarding its success!
Why We Chose It...
A Complement of Scoundrels is a high-stakes, female-led fantasy heist packed with elaborate schemes, betrayals, and sharp banter between its plucky crew. At its center is Myria Cadessa, a cunning thief determined to reclaim what was stolen from her. The world crackles with magic, flavored with touches of steampunk and Ancient Roman influence. The writing is remarkably polished, there's a constant sense of momentum and tension, and the whole thing is just so damn clever. Here's the back cover blurb for more on it:
There are many ways to bring down the man who betrayed you—and Myria Cadessa has thought of them all.
Cracking the Elysius Vault should’ve made Myria the richest thief in all Carintheum. Instead, it shattered her crew and left her rotting in jail while her double-crossing master walked away with everything that should’ve been hers.
But now she’s out, and it’s time to settle the score. Reunite her crew? A pleasure. Steal back everything her erstwhile leader took? And then some. She’ll just need to trick the king of all tricksters, with the law on her heels, and a troublesome new ally whose loyalties seem as conflicted as his feelings for Myria. It’s the most audacious heist she’s ever attempted, but she failed her crew once. This time, she’ll make it right—at any cost.
A Complement of Scoundrels is a bold, raucous journey through the underbelly of an empire where the devil’s rules reign, and morality, loyalty, and friendship are values few can afford. But where there’s a wit, there’s a way—and Myria has plenty of that.
As we prepared the book for publication, we also reached out to established fantasy authors for their thoughts.
John Gwynne said:
“I loved this. Starting with a heist and morphing into a revenge story; it's a terrific debut. Well-drawn, sympathetic characters lead the way, with an ensemble of rogues and a gallery of side characters, a beautifully constructed world and a villain to loathe. This is a book I would highly recommend. A lot of fun with an emotional punch.”
Nicholas Eames added:
"A stunningly imaginative debut. Lockwood’s prose is smart, sharp, and relentlessly charming. The city of Carintheum, from its vibrant streets to the seedy warrens of the grayside, is as colourful and compelling as the characters who inhabit it. I was hooked from the very first page, and I seriously doubt I’ll read a better book this year."
Those reactions from respected/beloved authors confirmed what I already knew; we have a certified banger on our hands. And now it's in your hands! I hope this slaps for you the same way it did for me and that you get caught up in all the impossible situations Myria and the crew keep finding themselves in. Most of all, I hope you have a great time.
A Few Ways You Can Help...
1. Read it and talk about it!
One of the biggest things you can do is simply share your experience. Post reading updates, share favorite characters, memorable quotes, best schemes, a twist that caught you off guard, or moments that made you laugh. If you post anything on socials feel free to tag me, S.V. Lockwood, and Bindery so we can celebrate alongside you.
2. Add it to your Goodreads/StoryGraph shelves
This is an underrated signal that readers are interested in a book before release. They help recommendation algorithms surface the book to new readers, give retailers and booksellers another data point that people are paying attention, and provide publishers (us) with an early indication of audience interest (I get a report on these numbers every month, they're important!). In short, it only takes a few seconds but it's one of the easiest ways to support a forthcoming release.
3. Leave an honest review
Once you've finished the book, consider leaving a rating or review on Goodreads, StoryGraph, Amazon or wherever you track your reading. And I mean it when I say "honest". I know not every book is for everyone and the goal here is to help readers decide whether this is a book they'll love. Thoughtful reviews help books find the right audience and they're one of the most valuable things you can do for an author.
4. Join the conversation
I've set up a buddy read forum in our Discord where we can share reactions, first impressions, theories, updates, etc.. I'd love to chat about this one with you and witness how you experience it for the first time.
5. Recommend it to a friend
If you're reading the book and think of someone who would love it, tell them about it! Word of mouth remains one of the most powerful forces in publishing and every recommendation helps the book reach readers who might otherwise never discover it.
What's Next?
We're continuing to build momentum toward publication day and there are even more exciting developments happening behind the scenes, including the development of the audiobook (we sold the audiobook rights to Tantor Media, one of the leading audiobook publishers in fantasy and science fiction!). We've nailed down the perfect narrator for it in Gabrielle Baker, and I can't f'n wait to hear the final product.
Thank you again for helping make all this possible and I can't wait to hear what you think.
"I have spent my entire life fighting to be seen, and I am not sure if I can continue much longer without anything to show for it."
GENRE: Historical Romantic Fantasy
RATING: 4.5/5
FORMAT: eBook & physical ARC
Tropes: Women in STEM, Bickering co-workers, falling in lover over letters, inspired by the 1900s Chicago
Overall Impression: Overall, I think this debut did an amazing job of blending all the different elements of the book, while keeping it light-hearted and a fun read. We somehow get to enjoy a journey of getting to know Josie & Reid, while understanding their standing in the world and how who they are as BIPOC individuals shaped them.
Review:
Letters from the Last Apothecary is for the people who enjoy epistolary novels, like Divine Rivals combined with the element of Academics that we see in Emily Wilde's books! I knew when I first heard of these two comp title, I'd need to read Letters from the Last Apothecary because I'm a HUGE fan of letters, footnotes and academics in Fiction books 🤭
And I wasn't wrong to be excited for it! I FLEW through this book. It's a Historical Romantic Fantasy with a little bit of Mystery and discussion of the different difficulties both of our MCs face as two BIPOC individuals. We also get to see how Josie faces being a women in the STEM field throughout the book and the barriers she faces overall. I think that is one of my favourite aspect to Letters from the Last Apothecary: the way we dive into a lot of social construct that are inspired by the 1900s Chicago setting and at the same time, we get to know both Reid and Josie through their POVs.
Bita manages to deliver all the different elements without overwhelming us as readers and we get to know both Reid and Josie, understand each of their own dreams and wants while also learning about the barriers they faced in society individually and painting a picture of the world they are in.
And, in terms of their Romance, I enjoyed their dynamic and thought it was a well done Slow-burn with them knowing each other through letters AND meeting in the apothecary, which then becomes a place that brings them together and keeps them there.
While I really enjoyed this book, the main reason it didn't get a full 5 star was because I did want to see a bit of development from the dynamic that Josie and Reid shared as co-workers to realising who they each were. I felt we got to spend more time with Josie on this than Reid and that impacted the flow of the Romance aspect for me.
I am so excited to read more by Bita and just adding here that I have seen Letters from the Last Apothecary described as cozy and I wouldn't call it cozy to me personally but more Charming (as Bita describes it) or Light Academia. This book is definitely slower paced but not cozy as it's got a lot of adventures and focuses on a lot of things that you wouldn't expect in a Cozy Fantasy book (it is definitely light-hearted with a few heavy topics).
I was provided a free advance reader copy and I’m sharing my honest thoughts.
Happy Friday! Ready for another round of faves? Be sure to share your faves in my Discord server as well.
My favorite book I read this week was One of the Boys by Victoria Zeller. Grace is a newly out trans girl in her senior year of high school. She had been on track to be recruited as a kicker for college football, but stopped playing to begin her transition. However, after her school's team has a rough start, the captains and coach ask her to return to the team, and she does.
My favorite kind of YA novel is the kind with big, messy feelings, and this book delivers. Friend feelings, romantic feelings, football feelings, family feelings.
I liked that Grace encountered people who were supportive, antagonistic, and even indifferent about her transition. Some parts were tough to read - there is quite a bit of verbal and physical transphobia. However, it felt very real to me. This book isn't set in a perfect world, it's set in a world where people have complex and even nonsensical feelings.
If you like football, you can tell that Zeller knows her stuff when it comes to the nuts and bolts of the game. If you don't, it's fine and you'll still know what's happening (this is me, lol).
I feel like this book went kind of under the radar when it should have been big on YA/queer bookstagram. I hope you'll pick it up!
My non-bookish fave this week is that it's pool season! Last year, my spouse installed a stock tank pool in our backyard and it's possibly the best money we've ever spent. It's looking like we're on track for a very hot summer, and I plan to be in the pool for as much of it as possible.
Bee's Books
Bailee Russo
Speculative fiction reader, writer, and reviewer | Anthropology & history scholar | Lover of delightfully weird books
Allen Not Ellen Reads
Ellen (allennotellen)
welcome y'all!! join me as we chat about westerns, romance, horror, and literally anything else that strikes my fancy
Tattooed Library
Emily
Welcome to the Tattooed Library! I'm Emily (ems.book.shelff), a bookish content creator on Youtube, Instagram, and Tiktok who quite literally lives, laughs, loves the library
House of Randall
Breanne Randall
Welcome to House of Randall - a realm of whimsy, chaos, and magic
Diva Down Books
Joe
Welcome to Diva Down Books! Here, you’ll get the inside scoop on what I’m reading and how I feel about it. One thing about me is that you’re going to get a brutally honest review. I’m happy to have you here!
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