Illusion of Truth - (A Detective Emily Hunter Mystery) by James L'Etoile (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Hunter becomes the hunted

Sacramento Detective Emily Hunter is exposed to inhumanity on a daily basis--it's the unfortunate baggage that comes with police work, and she's mostly learned how to shoulder the load. But it all turns personal when her fellow cop and boyfriend, Brian Conner, is caught in the blast of a targeted church bombing.

Brian is gravely injured, suffering a traumatic brain injury. But the attacks don't stop there--soon, more officers come under fire, and Emily searches for a connection. She and her partner, Javier Medina, discover that Brian and the other injured officers share a common past--a past that now has them targeted for payback.

Battling with heartbreak, Emily has to identify who's responsible for the string of attacks and stop them before there are more casualties. Will Brian ever be the same again? Already grappling with her mother's progressing Alzheimer's, Emily can't bear the thought of losing both of the people she loves most.

Though it feels impossible, Emily must stay focused on finding the criminals who uprooted her life--and making sure that justice is served.

Perfect for fans of Karin Slaughter and Michael Connelly

While the novels in the Detective Emily Hunter Mystery Series stand on their own and can be read in any order, the publication sequence is:

Face of Greed
River of Lies
Illusion of Truth

Review Quotes

"Everything you read police stories for is here, and much, much more." --Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review)

"Gritty, suspenseful, and deeply satisfying." --Megan Abbott, New York Times best-selling author of El Dorado Drive

"Illusion of Truth is a real deal police-eye view of the mean streets. Bosch and Ballard, make room for Emily Hunter. She's brash, bold, but with a soul and a heart for justice." --Reed Farrel Coleman, New York Times best-selling author of Blind To Midnight

"An absolutely relentless thriller . . . L'Etoile has penned another hit in this top-notch series." --J.T. Ellison, New York Times best-selling author of Last Seen

"An explosive read. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough." --Alison Gaylin, Edgar Award-winning author of We Are Watching

"Illusion of Truth is a high-voltage, high-stakes police procedural . . . fueled by startling forensic authenticity." --Margot Douaihy, best-selling author of Divine Ruin

"[Illusion of Truth] is the series' best yet. Fans of Alafair Burke's Ellie Hatcher novels should check this out." ----Publishers Weekly

"Gritty, suspenseful and deeply satisfying." --Megan Abbott, New York Times bestselling author of El Dorado Drive

Praise for the Detective Emily Hunter Mystery Series

"[River of Lies has] 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." --Karen Dionne, USA Today best-selling author

"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

"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

* "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)

"The award-winning James L'Etoile launches a compelling new series with a baffling home invasion mystery that packs an impressive one-two final punch! L'Etoile knows crime--and this gritty whodunnit bears testimony. I can't wait for book two!" --Wendy Corsi Staub, New York Times best-selling author

"James L'Etoile is such a talented and terrific storyteller! His real-life experience in the criminal justice system gives his compelling, high-stakes thrillers an authenticity that only a savvy insider can provide. You'll be turning the pages as fast as you can!"--Hank Phillippi Ryan, USA Today best-selling author

About the Author

James L' Etoile is a former associate warden in a maximum-security prison, hostage negotiator, facility captain, and director of California's state parole system, and he uses his twenty-nine years " behind bars" as an influence in his award-winning novels, short stories, and screenplays. His novels include Dead Drop, Black Label, At What Cost, Bury the Past, and Little River. Illusion of Truth is the third book in his Detective Emily Hunter Mystery Series, following the Lefty Award-nominated Face of Greed and River of Lies. L' Etoile lives with his wife outside of Sacramento, California. When he's not writing, you can find him working with his Corgi therapy dogs.