STARRED Review — Kirkus Reviews
The third book in the Detective Emily Hunter series is set for release on January 6th, 2026. The story follows Face of Greed (Anthony & Lefty Award nominee, Silver Falchion and Public Safety Writers Award winner) and River of Lies and this time it gets personal. Emily’s cop boyfriend, Brian Conner is caught up in a church bombng his is gravely wounded. If he survives, Emily worries if he’ll be the same man she loved. Soon other officers are targeted and Emily discovers a common thread and someone wants payback…
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING:
Illusion of Truth is a real deal police-eye view of the mean streets. Bosch and Ballard, make room for Emily Hunter. She’s brash, bold, but with a soul and a heart for justice.
—Reed Farrel Coleman, New York Times bestselling author
Rich in character and full of humanity, James L’Etoile’s writing shimmers with authenticity, with what Raymond Chandler called the “tangled woof” of real life. These are the procedurals that last: gritty, suspenseful and deeply satisfying.”
—Megan Abbott, New York Times bestselling author of El Dorado Drive
An absolutely relentless thriller… in ILLUSION OF TRUTH, we find Detective Emily Hunter at her very best: Smart, sharp, and willing to do whatever it takes to solve the case of a renegade bomber. With a frightening, ripped-from-the-headlines story of attacks on her fellow police, and a cast of characters with emotional depth, perseverance, and spouting the best cop talk, L’Etoile has penned another hit in this top-notch series.”
—J.T. Ellison, NYT bestselling author of LAST SEEN
“Emily Hunter is a wonderful character — smart, brave, soulful and resilient. I’ve long been a fan of this series from the start, and ILLUSION OF TRUTH may be the most compelling installment yet. It was — pardon the pun — an explosive read. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.”
— Alison Gaylin, Edgar Award-winning author of WE ARE WATCHING.
“A high-voltage, high-stakes police procedural, ILLUSION OF TRUTH is crisp and fast-paced, as cinematic as a Michael Mann thriller, fueled by startling forensic authenticity that buckles you right into the passenger seat with Detective Hunter. It’s also a case study of careful cluework, the courage of first responders (including our emotional first responders), and trauma. On full display here is the unique storytelling sensibility that’s made James L’Etoile’s books beloved among mystery readers: a badass, rock-solid investigation plot with precinct veracity, hostage negotiation expertise, and deep empathy. ILLUSION OF TRUTH is a remedy for cynicism, a throwdown to wake up and follow the clues, to pay attention, to believe in a better tomorrow. The world is unfair, yes, and it might feel broken sometimes, but, as Emily Hunter reminds us: ‘We’re all broken in one way or another. It’s how we put the pieces together that counts.'”
–Margot Douaihy, bestselling author of Scorched Grace, Blessed Water, and Divine Ruin
L’Etoile’s third procedural featuring Sacramento, Calif., police detective Emily Hunter (after River of Lies) is the series’ best yet. L’Etoile maintains nerve-jangling tension throughout while adding significant depth to Emily’s characterization. Fans of Alafair Burke’s Ellie Hatcher novels should check this out. Publishers Weekly
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James L'Etoile 