A Season to Lie - (Detective Gemma Monroe Novels) by Emily Littlejohn (Paperback)

About the Book

Series title and numbering from publisher's website.

Book Synopsis

"Small town Colorado police detective Gemma Monroe is a human and fallible heroine I can't wait to meet again, and Littlejohn's prose is lyrical and gripping."--Deborah Crombie

In Emily Littlejohn's follow-up to her acclaimed debut Inherit the Bones, a twisted killer stalks his prey in the dead of winter.

On a cold dark night in February, as a blizzard shrieks through Cedar Valley, police officer and new mother Gemma Monroe responds to an anonymous report of a prowler at the local private high school, The Valley Academy. In her idyllic Colorado small town, Gemma expects the call was just a prank by a bored teenager.

But there in the snow lies the savaged body of a man whose presence in town was meant to be a secret. And a disturbing message left by his killer promises more death to come.

This is only the beginning . . .

Nothing is as it seems in Cedar Valley and stories, both fact and fiction, ensnare Gemma as her investigation moves from the halls of an elite academy to the forests that surround Cedar Valley.

Against a backdrop of bleak winter weather, stymied by those who would lie to protect what is dearest to them, Gemma hunts a ruthless killer before he strikes again in A Season to Lie.

Review Quotes

Praise for A Season to Lie:

"Colorado author Emily Littlejohn follows up her successful "Inherit the Bones" mystery with a nicely written sequel about Cedar Valley detective Gemma Monroe." Denver Post

"Lively...Readers will look forward to seeing more of this insightful and likable character." Publishers Weekly

"For readers who crave eccentricity, there is much to enjoy in the interactions of oddball teachers who can't get along, old friends whose relationship is a puzzle, even gangsters who land in the country and bring big-city headaches to Monroe's backwoods jurisdiction. The ending includes an unpredictable twist." Booklist

"Littlejohn revisits beloved characters... [and] she indicates clear potential for further development in Cedar Valley." Kirkus Reviews

"A satisfying procedural with colorful supporting characters, Littlejohn's second outing establishes her as a skilled plotter who keeps her story engaging." LitHub (Five Crime Must-Reads November 2017)

"A Season to Lie features a variety of quirky, colorful characters. A second murder complicates the plot and keeps readers guessing to the very end." Mystery Scene

Praise for Inherit the Bones:

"In her well-crafted debut, Emily Littlejohn skillfully captures life in a small town--and the insidious secret keeping that can come with it. Inherit the Bones is the perfect fall page-turner." Real Simple magazine

"Emily Littlejohn creates a colorful mix of circus lore, town intrigue, class privilege and police procedural. Add in a pregnant detective, always a favorite for me, and we have a definite winner." Raleigh News & Observer

"Monroe, a fantastic, fallibly human and fierce protagonist, soon realizes the case may even have roots as far back as the unsolved Woodsman child murders that have haunted the town for decades. Here's hoping this excellent debut from Colorado writer Emily Littlejohn is the first of many." Cleveland Plain-Dealer

"Littlejohn writes with assurance and skill. The story's plotting is sure-footed, and the characters are well developed and believable...Highly recommended." Library Journal (starred review, Debut of the Month)

"Engrossing...Littlejohn effectively captures the tensions of a community struggling with its demons while seeking to attract tourist dollars, and Gemma--six-months pregnant with her first child, uncertain of the future with her partner, and paired with a charming bad-boy cop she doesn't trust--is a compelling lead." Publishers Weekly

"If you read only one debut mystery this year, make it this one. Inherit the Bones is that good. Compelling writing, a stunning setting in a Colorado ski town, a plot that twists with surprises, and a police deputy who happens to be six-months pregnant--I loved all of it." Margaret Coel, author of The Man Who Fell From the Sky

About the Author

EMILY LITTLEJOHN was born and raised in southern California and now lives in Colorado. If she's not writing, reading, or working at the local public library, she's enjoying the mountains with her husband and sweet old dog. She has a deep love of horror stories, butter pecan ice cream, and road trips. A Season to Lie is her second novel, following Inherit the Bones.