ARC Review: Liar's Point by Laura Griffin

Liar's Point
Author: Laura Griffin
Series: The Texas Murder File (Book 5)
Publication: Berkley (May 21, 2024)

Description: Two homicide detectives must separate the puzzling truth from a growing web of lies while investigating a murder victim’s friends and lovers in Lost Beach, Texas.

Detective Nicole Lawson is fed up with her job and nonexistent love life. Her first date in months gets cut short by an urgent call from the chief of police. A body has been discovered at Lighthouse Point, and the medical examiner finds an array of strange clues. When the death is ruled a homicide, the news quickly reverberates through Nicole’s beachside hometown.

The Lost Beach police department swings into high gear. Leading the investigation is Emmet Davis, a veteran detective who is Nicole’s fiercest rival at work and also the man she has secretly harbored feelings toward for years. With Emmet calling the shots, Nicole sets out to search for leads, starting with the enigmatic yoga instructor who first discovered the body. Nicole is certain the witness knows more than she’s revealing and may even hold the key to unlocking the case.

When another person turns up dead under suspicious circumstances, Nicole sees a bizarre pattern, but no one believes her theory. Under the gun to solve the case, Nicole must put aside her tumultuous feelings and work closely with Emmet to figure out who is targeting her beloved hometown . . . before she becomes a target herself.

My Thoughts: When a jogger finds a body on the beach a whole set of dangerous events unfold in this fifth book in the Texas Murder Files. Detectives Nicole Lawson and Emmet Davis get involved in the case.

The jogger seems strangely reluctant to be a witness and Nicole is sure she is keeping secrets. She's right. Cassandra Miller is on the run and fears that her abusive husband isn't far behind. She's sure that he wants her dead but she's afraid to trust anyone with her secrets. 

When Cassandra's boss at the yoga center dies in a suspicious car accident, Cassandra is even more sure that her husband has found her. 

Meanwhile, Nicole and Emmet are busy investigating the two deaths after determining that the first was not a suicide and the second was not the result of some health issue. Nicole and Emmet are also fighting an attraction that has been growing since they were teenagers. Ten years of working together hasn't made the attraction any less. But working together in a small police force is part of the problem. 

This was an excellent romantic suspense title with just enough action and just enough romance. 

Favorite Quote:

"I know you're pissed off at me," he said.

"You're very perceptive. Maybe you should be a detective."

He sighed.

Okay, so she was being immature. She knew that. But this whole situation infuriated her.

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.