Compelling Debut Novel Better Off Guilty Explores the Tragic, Inevitable Conclusion of Embracing Toxic Relationships

Author Lindsey Lamar and WordCrafts Press are celebrating the release of Lamar’s debut novel, Better Off Guilty, which impacted retail on March 31, 2021. A tragic thriller set in the Windy City, Better Off Guilty explores themes of alienation, isolation, revenge, regret, and ultimately the redemption that can come from admitting guilt.

The story follows wealthy, beautiful Abril Hart who wants nothing more than to live a peaceful life with her family in Chicago. Unfortunately, Abril’s father’s family business gives her no room to do so. As a career arsonist, Abril realizes she may never win her peace. She feels she has no choice but to lead the double life she’s afraid of in order to provide for her family.

Abril’s plain, impoverished counterpart, Max Adara, returns to the private investigation force after losing years to a tragedy with domino-effect consequence and memories of abandonment. Max’s only chance to keep her fractured family afloat is to solve her cousin’s arson-murder case. But as strange accidents start befalling the investigation, Max senses that she might have been cast as a character in an insidious plot that puts her life in danger. To solve the case ahead of her, Max must fight to distinguish between reality and hoax, knowing that if she can’t, someone else will die too.

“I wrote Better Off Guilty to highlight unlikely toxic relationships and the downward spiral they can push you in,” Lamar says. “I classify Better Off Guilty as a thriller/tragedy because I wanted to embody how thrilling these relationships can be… until they become devastating.”

The novel is gaining appreciation from fans and critics alike, with The Independent Book Review calling it, “A standalone thriller [that is] a truly appealing read for fans of domestic noir as well as those who enjoy flawed and often unreliable narrators.” Reader comments include:
“She hooked me on her first line…and then I thought, ‘I’m kind of scared of this girl.'”
“Clever and raw. Lindsey knows how to gut check her reader.”
“(Lindsey’s) storytelling is a beautiful downward spiral.”
“Better Off Guilty reads unique and twisted. (Lindsey) has a keen mind for fiction suspense.”

About the Author

Lindsey Lamar is a twenty-three year old thriller writer from Austin, Texas. She prides herself on conflicted narrators and unapologetic twists.

Being a consultant by day, a writer by night, and a dog mom around the clock to her beagle mix, you’d assume she could juggle. (She can’t.) Lindsey is passionate about lifelong learning and marks Better Off Guilty as her first of many in the fiction space. She is also the author of the unpublished fiction work, Khiana.

With literature being her first love, her readers roll in at a close second. To keep up with Lindsey and find information about her upcoming novels, visit:
www.lindseywritesbooks.com