5-STAR REVIEW: ILLUSION OF TRUTH by James L’Etoile REVIEWER’S CHOICE! 🏆

A Detective Emily Hunter Mystery: Book 3
Publication Date: January 6, 2026

Illusion of Truth takes Emily by the throat when her cop boyfriend, Brian Conner, responds to a disturbance only to be lured into a church bombing. Seriously wounded, Emily worries if he survives, will he be the man she knew? One-by-one, other officers linked to a crime years earlier are targeted. Was it covered up? Was Brian part of it? Emily discovers truth depends on who’s left to tell the story.

Perfect for fans of Karin Slaughter and Michael Connelly

In a storyline that could be pulled from today’s headlines, police officers find themselves targeted by a series of bombs.

Author James L’Etoile delivers another installment of the Detective Emily Hunter series with Illusion of Truth. This time, the community she has sworn to protect has evolved into a danger zone.

With Emily’s boyfriend fighting for his life, she hits the streets looking for clues. From the high-tech delivery of the explosives to outspoken critics denouncing the value of law enforcement, the author keeps the tension level turned up.

Building on previous installments, Emily’s character continues to develop as a skilled detective known for her blunt, dogged approach. The rapport established within her team enables humor to illustrate their close-knit relationship.

Typically, it’s the police coming to the rescue. Who is going to save them from a revenge plot designed to eliminate the targets?

Illusion of Truth dives into danger, leaving Det. Hunter battling both personal and professional challenges.

James L’Etoile uses his twenty-nine years behind bars as an influence in his award-winning novels, short stories, and screenplays. He is a former associate warden in a maximum-security prison, a hostage negotiator, and director of California’s state parole system. His novels have been shortlisted or awarded the Lefty, Anthony, Silver Falchion, Macavity, and the Public Safety Writers Award. River of Lies and Sins of the Father are his most recent novels. Look for Illusion of Truth coming in 2026. James also serves as the Executive Vice President of Mystery Writers of America.

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