The Lemon Twist - by Élan Les Vies

About the Book

A life in free fall, a fractured memory, and a chilling SOS are all Iris Sailor has to find her estranged sister in a misty Northern California cove.

Book Synopsis

"My name...is Sam Sailor. Like the others...I am trapped here. And will die here."

In 1984, Iris Sailor's brutal fall on the ice unravels everything--her memory, doping secret, and figure skating career. Dumped by her coach/boyfriend and banned from competing, Iris finds herself utterly alone, wishing there was some way she could reconnect with her estranged sister, Sam.

When she returns home after her fall from grace, she finds an old postcard tucked alongside the rest of her mail. Strangely, the card advertising Nova Bay is postmarked September 14, 1981--the same day Sam disappeared. As she's about to chuck it in the trash, Iris realizes there's only one word scribbled on the back: HELP.

Tracing clues to a briny Northern California cove, Iris discovers a series of cassette tapes left behind by Sam, who narrates the story of her disappearance three years before. To uncover Sam's fate--and reclaim her own--Iris must piece together fractured memories and let go of the past before her sister and future are lost forever. But will she sink or swim under waves of crippling fear and dark family secrets?

Review Quotes

"Dark and edgy, mysterious and beautiful, The Lemon Twist will have you questioning everything from page one. Nothing and no one are who they seem in the peculiar compound that is Nova Bay. Be ready for your next favorite binge-read!" --T. L. Finlay, author of Girls Without Tears

"Evocative, immersive, and quietly haunting, this novel weaves a story of love, loss, and the lingering weight of the past. With prose that pulls you under and a mystery that unfolds like a forgotten memory, it's a story that lingers long after the final page!" --Amanda Luciano, bookstagrammer @bibli0saurus

About the Author

Élan Les Vies is a Californian author of mysteries and thrillers. His writing is shaped by the duality of his upbringing, split between a coastal suburb and a Kumeyaay reservation in the Southwest. He is also known by his stage name, The Coyote, and is recognized for his eclectic 1960s sound and nostalgic Californian brand. Élan currently lives between San Diego and Paris, France, with his wife, Clémence, and his dog, Sam.