Book critic Oline Cogdill recently reviewed James L’Etoile’s River of Lies for the South Florida Sun Sentinel, and shared the review with us. You can find signed copies through The Poisoned Pen’s Webstore. https://bit.ly/4jXvlR1
Book review: Homeless camps burn and politics simmers in ‘River of Lies’
‘River of Lies’ by James L’Etoile. Oceanview Publishing, 384 pages, $18.99
The politics of homelessness — from those who resent housing for the displaced in their neighborhood to developers who see that land as prime real estate — flows throughout “River of Lies,” the second novel in James L’Etoile’s new series about Sacramento police Detective Emily Hunter.
L’Etoile delivers a tightly packed police procedural with a strong current of believable action balanced by a close look at the personal lives of his characters.
Several homeless camps stretch out throughout Sacramento, a controversial situation throughout the city as residents complain about them. But lately arsonists have attacked three camps within a two-week period, destroying the meager possessions of the homeless, “the city’s forgotten shadows.”
The attacks have been exacerbated with many homeless physically attacked. Two men are murdered following arson at a major camp near the river that has more than 200 residents. But the victims are not the homeless — one is the former anti-homeless mayor, the other a social worker.
The investigation falls to Emily and her partner, Javier Medina, both of whom are immediately suspicious of who is behind the fires. The city orders the camp debris cleared, ruining the crime scene, then developers swoop in.
L’Etoile’s attention to the detectives’ personal lives adds context to “River of Lies.” As the police detectives continue their investigation, Emily is drawn to the plight of 8-year-old Willow, whose mother was injured during the attack by the arsonists. Emily also is dealing with trying to keep her mother safe as her mental health declines. The handsome Javier’s problem with his mother is different — she’s always trying to fix him up with a new woman; this time she might be right.
“River of Lies” takes readers through various Sacramento neighborhoods, focusing on the wealthy and the ordinary residents who make up the city. L’Etoile’s 2024 novel “Face of Greed” introduced Emily and her squad; this series should be around for quite a while.