Thanks to critic Oline Cogdill for sharing her review of James L’Etoile’s Illusion of Truth. You can order a copy of it through The Poisoned Pen’s Webstore, https://bit.ly/4qtiJDE. Cogdill’s review was originally published in the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
Book review: Politics, revenge & the personal lives of detectives mix in superb ‘Illusion of Truth’
‘Illusion of Truth’ by James L’Etoile; Oceanview; $19.99; 392 pages
James L’Etoile’s authentic procedurals mix police work with politics, revenge and the personal lives of detectives.
The superb “Illusion of Truth,” L’Etoile’s third novel about detective Emily Hunter, moves at a brisk pace as it delves into various aspects of life in Sacramento, California.
On the personal side, Emily and police officer Brian Conner are in love, but their relationship stalls when she refuses to move in with him, as the commitment scares her. Their professional lives take a turn when a bomb goes off shortly after Brian and his partner arrive at a church, responding to a 911 call that’s later found to be fake. Both officers survive, but Brian is left with a traumatic brain injury. Unknown to Emily, Brian listed her as his next of kin and health care proxy. That’s a bigger commitment than moving in together, as now she is in charge of his future.
As Emily deals with Brian and her often-agitated mother, who is in a memory care center, she also is pulled into the investigation as more police officers are victims of bombings, lured to the scene by fake 911 calls. An ambitious politician uses the bombing to advance his anti-police agenda, hampering the investigation.
L’Etoile realistically shows how complicated police investigations can be. “Illusion of Truth” is filled with believable cops who are not perfect but devoted to the job. Conversation flows naturally as they use banter to relieve stress, even as they stay laser-focused.
L’Etoile keeps the labyrinthine plot tightly focused, while the police officers’ personal lives add a balance to the story. Emily’s strong personality and her respect for her colleagues work well. This is a series that keeps growing.