Tell No Lies – Lisa Hartley
I was fortunate to receive this novel as an Advance Reader Copy, in exchange for an objective review.
DS Caelan Small is back in this novel, set in England as she goes undercover to infiltrate the seedy underground of Edmonton. Two men have been found, both brutally murdered in unusual fashion, and one of them was identified as a copper. A large drug distributor has been jailed and another has seemingly taken his place? But who? And why were these men killed?
Meanwhile, Caelan’s roommate and lover, Nicky Sturgess, has seemingly returned from the dead after an undercover case of her own, unbeknownst to Caelan or Nik’s family who participated in her funeral. So Caelan struggles with this personal betrayal, as, forced to work with Nicky once again, she struggles to keep things professional.
Soon another copper goes missing, this one with familial connections to the jailed distributor, and Caelan searches for her, while her superiors are giving obtuse and conflicting orders. As Caelan infiltrates the drug ring, the final trap is set, leading to a stunning conclusion that is totally unexpected and one that I did not remotely see coming!
I struggled a bit with this novel, perhaps because the geography was unfamiliar to me, and because I have not read the first of he series, which undoubtedly sets the background of Caelan’s and Nicky’s relationship, and Nicky’s subsequent disappearance and presumed death. None the less, I look forward to the next book in the Caelan Samll series!
Tropical Delusions...... 