River of Lies
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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?
Perfect for fans of Michael Connelly and Karin Slaughter
Praise
Praise for the Emily Hunter Mystery Series
“River of Lies is a rich, gripping crime novel. James L’Etoile writes with a deep understanding of both human nature and investigative procedure, a combination that keeps the pages flying past.” —Lou Berney, Edgar Award-winning author of Double Barrel Bluff
“River of Lies is a tour de force thriller by a talented and observant storyteller. It shines a light on the American poor at the hands of political and financial powers that control their fates. Brooding, heartfelt, and powerful.” —T. Jefferson Parker, New York Times best-selling author of Desperation Reef
“River of Lies is a masterful blend of political intrigue and personal drama, weaving elements of true-life crime into a twisty, page-turning and compelling plot—with a climax and denouement that will shock you to the core. Enthusiastically recommended.” —Baron Birtcher, award-winning author of Knife River
“James L'Etoile's River of Lies is every bit as twisty, unexpected, and compelling as his first Emily Hunter detective mystery, with everything that I love in a police procedural in spades: a smart and intuitive lead detective, an equally intuitive partner, and a high-stakes, ripped-from-the-headlines case that will challenge them both. When the second book in a series is even better than the first, you know you're going to be following these characters for a very long time.” —Karen Dionne, USA Today best-selling author of The Marsh King's Daughter
* “Smart-mouthed, tough, pull-no-punches Emily will do whatever it takes to solve the case, and she and Javier keep investigating until they finally uncover the tragic, shocking truth. The suspenseful, twist-a-minute, fast-moving plot . . . make[s] this an outstanding must-read.” —Booklist (Starred Review)
“In Face of Greed, James L'Etoile gives us a Sacramento rarely seen in crime fiction. In a city without an identity, L'Etoile's Sacramento bursts with good cops and crooked cops, skinheads and tweakers, bad men and femme fatales. This helluva page turner has hella heart!” —Rachel Howzell Hall, best-selling author of We Lie Here
