cover image The Lies Within

The Lies Within

Jane Isaac. Legend (IPG, dist.), $12.95 trade paper (288p) ISBN 978-1-78507-927-6

British author Isaac’s mesmerizing, harrowing third crime thriller featuring Det. Insp. Will Jackman (after Beneath the Ashes) focuses on the impact of the worst kind of loss—the murder of a child. The discovery of college student Jo Lamborne’s body in a Leicestershire country lane devastates her mother, Grace Daniels. Jackman is in the area on another case, sifting through evidence in Operation Ascott, two unsolved sexual assaults that have similarities to Jo’s attack. He and the other members of the Homicide and Major Incident Team have little to go on and no clue to the assailant’s identity. Worse yet, Grace learns much about her daughter’s life that’s new to her. As she sinks deeper into despair, a long-lost friend persuades Grace to investigate on her own—which leads to the uncovering of secrets from her own past and another murder. Isaac does a superb job of escalating the tension and dread, as the reader begins to recognize the psychological warfare unfolding on each page. (Sept.)