Illusion of Truth

L’Etoile’s third procedural featuring Sacramento, Calif., police detective Emily Hunter (after River of Lies) is the series’ best yet. At the outset, Emily’s romantic relationship with her colleague Brian Conner is on the rocks after she declines to move in with him. The situation gets more fraught when Brian responds to a fake 911 call that lures him to a church, which the caller then bombs. When Emily reaches the hospital where Brian is being treated for a traumatic brain injury, she learns she’s been named his medical proxy, leaving his life in her hands. As she waits for Brian’s condition to improve, she tries to track down his attacker, with the help of her colleagues on the Sacramento PD. They initially link the bombing to California politician Rob Davis, a vocal opponent of the police, but the bomber’s further attempts on the lives of more cops suggests a desire for revenge that transcends politics. L’Etoile maintains nerve-jangling tension throughout while adding significant depth to Emily’s characterization as she grapples with Brian’s fate. Fans of Alafair Burke’s Ellie Hatcher novels should check this out. (Jan.)