Summary

River of Lies features an intricate web of deceit that the detectives must unravel one strand at a time.

5-STAR REVIEW: RIVER OF LIES by James L’Etoile

About The Book

A Detective Emily Hunter Mystery: Book 2
Publication Date: January 7, 2025

Detective Emily Hunter must be the voice for the voiceless

The homeless camps spread throughout the city of Sacramento are a topic of heated debate among residents. They’re considered undesirable—a nuisance—an eyesore. But when the camps fall victim to a string of devastating arson attacks, Detective Emily Hunter and her partner, Javier Medina, dive into the investigation and become acquainted with the real people whose lives have been destroyed.

The attacks only begin to draw attention when two of the victims are identified as the city’s former anti-homeless mayor and a camp social worker—but rather than strengthening the push for justice, the movement to completely abolish the camps intensifies.

The investigation becomes politically charged when Emily discovers who stands to gain from burning the homeless out of their shelters. She struggles to balance the high-stakes investigation with caring for her Alzheimer’s-stricken mother, whose condition is rapidly deteriorating. The investigation uncovers an unlikely suspect and a reluctant witness standing between Emily and the shocking truth. Can Emily overcome resistance and her personal obstacles to halt the attacks?

Excerpt

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The Review

When murder and arson sweep through the Sacramento homeless camps, investigators must put together random clues to expose the culprit.

Author James L’Etoile delivers the second installment in the Detective Emily Hunter mystery series with River of Lies. While it can easily be read as a standalone, I recommend reading the books in sequence to see the character growth.

Emily and Javier have a great rapport that allows their characters to work well together. Their close friendship is apparent in the humorous exchanges, of which there are many. Emily takes her role seriously, but she continues to face a decision about placing her mother in a memory-care home. This adds to the overall appeal, making Emily’s struggles relatable.

On the surface, it appears that someone is targeting homeless camps. Factor in the body of a well-known politician, and Emily and Javier start poking around city government. It’s a high-octane investigation as the body count rises and pressure mounts to find the culprit.

With this series, the author has delivered an exceptional cast of characters. Both of the main characters have love interests, so time will tell whether those relationships will be made permanent.

River of Lies features an intricate web of deceit that the detectives must unravel one strand at a time.

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About The AuthorJames 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, and the Public Safety Writers Award. River of Lies is his most recent novel. Look for Sins of the Father and The Red List, coming soon. He is the host of Authors on the Air, served as a board member of his local Sister-in-Crime chapter, sits on the Mystery Writers of America national board, and serves as the Director of QueryFest at ThrillerFest for International Thriller Writers.

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Blog Tour Schedule

01/06 Jodys Bookish Haven RIVER OF LIES Showcase
01/07 dianas_books_cars_coffee RIVER OF LIES Riview
01/08 Books R Us RIVER OF LIES Interview
01/08 Books, Ramblings, and Tea RIVER OF LIES Showcase
01/09 Because I said so RIVER OF LIES Review
01/10 Guatemala Paula Loves to Read RIVER OF LIES Review
01/10 The Mystery of Writing RIVER OF LIES Guest post
01/11 Cassidys Bookshelves RIVER OF LIES Showcase
01/13 Country Mamas With Kids RIVER OF LIES Review
01/14 Ink. Readsalot RIVER OF LIES Showcase
01/15 Avonna Loves Genres RIVER OF LIES Review
01/16 darciahelle RIVER OF LIES Interview
01/17 Novels Alive RIVER OF LIES Review
01/19 Celticladys Reviews RIVER OF LIES Showcase
01/20 Colloquium RIVER OF LIES Guest post
01/21 Colloquium RIVER OF LIES Review
01/22 FullyBookedInKentucky RIVER OF LIES Review
01/24 Silvers Reviews RIVER OF LIES Showcase
01/28 411 on Books, Authors, And Publishing News RIVER OF LIES Showcase
01/29 Wall-to-wall Books RIVER OF LIES Review
01/31 Melissa As Blog RIVER OF LIES Review

REVIEW AUTHOR

Amy Wilson
Amy Wilson
My name is Amy W., and I am a book addict. I will never forget the day I came home from junior high school to find my mom waiting for me with one of the Harlequin novels from my stash. As she was gearing up for the "you shouldn't be reading this" lecture, I told her the characters get married in the end. I'm just glad she didn't find the Bertrice Small book hidden in my closet. I have diverse reading tastes, evident by the wide array of genres on my Kindle. As I made the transition to an e-reader, I found myself worrying that something could happen to it. As a result, I am now the proud owner of four Kindles -- all different kinds, but plenty of back-ups! "Fifty Shades of Grey" gets high marks on my favorites list -- not for character development or dialogue (definitely not!), but because it blazed new ground for those of us who believe provocative fiction is more than just an explicit cover. Sylvia Day, Lexie Blake, and Kristin Hannah are some of my favorite authors. Speaking of diverse tastes, I also enjoy Dean Koontz, Iris Johansen, and J.A. Konrath. I’m always ready to discover new-to-me authors, especially when I toss in a palate cleanser that is much different than what I would normally read. Give me something with a well-defined storyline, add some suspense (or spice), and I am a happy reader. Give me a happily ever after, and I am downright giddy.

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River of Lies features an intricate web of deceit that the detectives must unravel one strand at a time.5-STAR REVIEW: RIVER OF LIES by James L’Etoile