Park City author Victoria Helen Stone to launch thriller “Bald-Faced Liar” on June 1

PARK CITY, Utah — Local author Victoria Helen Stone is set to celebrate the release of her latest suspense novel, “Bald-Faced Liar,” on Sunday, June 1, with an event at the Barnes & Noble in Kimball Junction. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., readers can meet the Park City-based novelist, grab a signed copy of her newest work, and enjoy a few extra touches—Stone will have bookmarks and chocolates on hand for visitors.

Though she splits her time between fictional worlds, Stone lives full-time in Park City since 2005.

“Every book I’ve written has been written here in Park City,” she said, noting that while she hasn’t featured the area directly in her works, it has provided an ideal setting for writing. “It’s just such a fantastic place to live… cozy during snowstorms, quiet enough to focus, and full of inspiration.”

“Bald-Faced Liar” marks Stone’s 10th suspense novel under her current name, though it’s far from her first foray into publishing.

Before adopting the pen name Victoria Helen Stone, she published 29 romance novels as Victoria Dahl. “Romance was my first love,” she said. “My mom had books all over the house growing up.”

Over time, and with a little nudging from a former editor, Stone made the leap into darker territory. “I’m only writing suspense now, basically because I write one book a year, and that’s a really nice schedule for me.”

“I’ve always loved reading both romance and suspense/horror. When I was writing two or three romance novels a year, I didn’t want to read other people’s romances while I was writing. So I read a lot more dark stuff during that time period. Those havebeen the two genres I love the most, and I think they’re flip sides of the same coin. They’re two of the most fundamental drivers in humans and mammals, right? It’s like survive and pair up.”

Her latest novel follows Elizabeth May, a traveling nurse with a habit of lying about every detail of her life—a coping mechanism rooted in a traumatic childhood. Elizabeth was caught up in a version of the Satanic Panic, a disturbing wave of moral hysteria that Stone researched in depth for the book. “It was just bonkers,” she said. “These kids were being led to say outrageous things during investigations. And none of it was real. It made me wonder what kind of damage that could do to a person long-term.”

Despite the dark origins of her protagonist’s trauma, Stone promises readers a nuanced and even humorous character. “Elizabeth uses humor as another self-defense mechanism,” Stone said. “And when a stalker begins exposing all of her carefully guarded lies, she’s forced to confront her past and figure out who’s behind it all.”

The novel is set in Santa Cruz, California, a setting Stone researched on location. “It wasn’t a hardship,” she laughed. “Taking a trip to the coast for work isn’t exactly tough duty.”

“Bald-Faced Liar” was selected for the Amazon First Reads program, which made it available for early digital download by Prime members beginning May 1. The official release is June 1.

Stone didn’t come to writing through the traditional path. Raised in the Midwest, she moved frequently during her childhood and went to college for marketing, not creative writing. Still, the desire to write novels was there from the beginning, thanks in large part to a household filled with books. “My mom was a big reader,” she said. “We didn’t have much, but we always had books around.”

After moving to Park City with her husband Stone stayed home with their two sons and began writing in earnest. That same year, she received her first publishing contract.

Her creative process is highly character-driven. “A book always starts with a person for me,” she said. “I get to know them deeply—what they’ve been through, how they think—and then the story grows from there.”

When she’s not writing, Stone enjoys hiking, snowshoeing, and exploring the outdoors. Though she’s not a skier, she said living in Park City is still ideal. “People always ask why I’d want to live here if I don’t ski, but I look around and think—who wouldn’t want to live here?”

Readers can dive into “Bald-faced liar” and explore her backlist of suspense titles, each one written from the quiet slopes and snowy comfort of her Park City home.

Stone’s book signing event takes place on Sunday, June 1 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Barnes & Noble in Kimball Junction. Readers are encouraged to stop by, chat with the author, and pick up a copy of her gripping new release.