Liar’s Point by Laura Griffin – Review & Excerpt
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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.
Review:
Liar’s Point by Laura Griffin is the 5th book in her fantastic Texas Murder Files series; which was another exciting mystery thriller in this series. I am a huge fan of Laura Griffin, as she is one of the best at murder, mystery, thrillers, and romance suspense. Detective Nicole Lawson, our heroine, is not too happy these days, as her boyfriend, a medical examiner, is always on the job; and she is always second fiddle to Emmett Davis, her rival on cases. Her chief sends her to Lighthouse Point, where a body was discovered in a car, in their town of Lost Beach, Texas. Nicole interviews the woman who discovered the car, who also knows who the victim is. Emmett is given the lead on this case, with Nicole working with him.
At first, they suspect it is suicide, but the medical examiner finds a few clues, and the case is changed to homicide. Nicole is very smart, independent and has no problem speaking her thoughts. She respects Emmet, and he also respects her, but there is a layer of tension between them, as Nicole feels because she is a woman, she is never the lead. Both Nicole and Emmett know that they each have feelings for each other, but not really allowed on the force; though as the case escalates, Emmett is determined to protect Nicole from possible danger.
The plot changes when another yoga instructor is found dead. Nicole is convinced that the instructor who found the body is a harboring secret, with a different pattern that the police team doesn’t think anything into her theory. When Nicole is hit by a car, that seemed to be aiming at her, Emmett decides to watch over her, as well as help solve the crime together. In a short time, Nicole and Emmet succumb to their feelings, with great chemistry between them. I also loved Nicole, who was doing an excellent job of getting clues, as she learns more during her investigations. I also loved Emmett, who knew he was falling hard for Nicole, and was determined to protect her.
What follows is an exciting, intriguing, suspenseful thriller that kept me on the edge throughout, especially as we raced to the climax. The last half of the book was extremely tense, I could not put the book down.
Liar’s Point was another excellent mystery in this series, which to no surprise, was very well written by Laura Griffin. The last half of the book was very exciting, as Nicole while unable to move around, discovers clues that will lead to the truths revealed by the yoga instructor, and the real murderer.
Laura Griffin once again, gives us a fantastic exciting suspenseful mystery, with a great romantic couple and wonderful secondary characters. If you enjoy murder mysteries, police procedurals, lots of intense action, suspense, with a touch of romance, you should read this book. If you have never read Laura Griffin, it’s time to start now, as she is an amazing writer for romance suspense.
Reviewed by Barb
Copy provided by Publisher
LIAR’S POINT by Laura Griffin
Berkley Paperback | On sale May 21, 2024
Excerpt
Nicole Lawson felt naked.
It wasn’t the minidress or the strappy sandals. It wasn’t even the weird slit that left the entire side of her thigh on display.
It was the Smith & Wesson .40 caliber pistol-or absence of it-that was making her feel exposed. She was so accustomed to those twenty-nine ounces riding on her hip, and the lack of weight was making her antsy as hell.
She checked her phone, then flipped it over.
Nicole glanced around the restaurant, which was wall-to-wall couples, of course. She’d never been in here before, and the decorations grated on her nerves. They were going for elegant, she knew-this was the Nautilus, after all-and it wasn’t like the place was covered in pink balloons. The bloodred rosebuds on every table looked nice, actually. Ditto for the votive candles that emitted a soft glow. Really, it was the glitter that was giving her hives, all those tiny gold hearts sprinkled across her table like pixie dust. Just the sight was making her feel even stupider than she already did in this ridiculous dress.
She checked her phone again.
For the first time ever she had a date on Valentine’s, and not just any date. Tonight was the date. She and David had gone out three times already. The last time had ended with intense kissing in his car, which definitely would have continued if he hadn’t been called into work. Nothing like being summoned to an autopsy to kill the mood.
He wanted to make it up to her, though. Those were his exact words when he’d invited her to this expensive restaurant. And so Nicole had squeezed herself into a low-cut black dress that gave her the illusion of boobs, borrowed her sister’s stilettos, and come here to meet him for dinner.
“Are we still waiting?”
Her server was back again with that pitying look that was almost as annoying as the glitter.
She smiled up at him. “We are.”
“And would you like some wine, perhaps? Maybe a cocktail?”
“I’m good.” She nodded at her half-finished water. “Thanks.”
He walked off, leaving her to her silent phone. No text, no voice message. She’d even checked her email, but zip.
Nicole looked around, sure people were staring at her. God, the white-haired couple behind her was already paying their bill.
Her phone vibrated on the table, and she snatched it up.
“Hello?”
“Where the hell are you?”
Not David. She closed her eyes.
“I’m out. Why?”
“Didn’t you get the call?” Emmet asked her, and she pictured him at the police station surrounded by the typical Saturday-night chaos.
“I’m off tonight.”
“Not anymore.”
Her phone beeped with an incoming call, and she checked the screen.
“Listen, that’s Denise. I have to go.” Nicole got off with Emmet and took the call.
“Hey, what’s up?”
“The chief asked me to reach you. He needs you at a scene.”
Damn it.
Nicole pushed her chair back and grabbed her purse. “Does he know I’m off tonight?”
“Yep.”
She unzipped her little black clutch and left a ten on the table. They were going to have to bus it, even though she hadn’t ordered anything.
“Well, what’s going on?”
“One sec,” Denise said, and cut over to another call. When things were busy, the Lost Beach PD receptionist doubled as a dispatcher. She was also the chief’s right hand, doing everything from managing his calendar to deflecting reporters who called in from time to time.
The front of the restaurant was packed with waiting couples. Nicole scanned the bar and the area around the hostess stand but didn’t see any tall, handsome doctors looking around for their date. It was 7:32. She’d officially been stood up.
“Nicole?”
“I’m here.” She squeezed past the people and pushed open the door. A cold gust hit her, and she stepped back.
“He needs you at Lighthouse Point right away. And keep it off the radio.”
“What’s going on?” she asked again.
“I’m not sure.”
“Well, what did he say?”
“He said, ‘I need Lawson at Lighthouse Point ASAP. Keep it off the radio.’ That’s all I have.”
Nicole hunched her head down, wishing for her leather jacket as she strode across the parking lot. It had filled in since she’d arrived.
“What’s your ETA?” Denise asked.
“I’ll be there in five.”
“Roger that.”
Excerpted from Liar’s Point by Laura Griffin Copyright © 2024 by Laura Griffin. Excerpted by permission of Berkley. All rights reserved.
