The 14 year old has been dead 30 years. Now the girl's case is reopened to find the murderer. So many years of interviews as well as the newer ones are very confusing as the police research everything in depth. A very entertaining story that I just could not out down and could not figure out until the end! Great first novel!! Loved it!

The characters in this story were GREAT! The storyline was gripping and fast paced which left me not being able to put it down. I can't wait for the next book in this series.

SHE LIES IN WAIT BY Gytha Lodge Thank you Netgally for this book. I really enjoyed this book. Has me guessing till the end. Drugs, Sex and murder. .

Aurora Jackson's body is unearthed after 30 years, forcing the investigation into her disappearance to reopen. The six "friends" she was with that night once again reflect on the events leading up to her disappearance and decide...who was responsible?

I really enjoyed this book as there was just enough against every member to believe that they might have had responsible or an accomplice to Aurora's murder. It is not often that I am unable to predict the way a book will end, so this one will stick out for awhile in my mind. It is a police procedural, so it can be a bit slow at times. Some of the leads they follow up on or the interviews seem frivolous while reading, but I felt like those moments passed rather quickly.

We start the book out knowing Aurora is dead, this isn't a spoiler or shocker in anyway. Throughout the book though, a bond is formed with young Aurora. This stuck out to me, as it's hard to really get attached to a character you know from page one is a goner. That being said, I still felt heartbroken at the events leading up to Aurora's death.

It appears this may turn into a series and if so I will definitely be on the lookout for book 2.

SHE LIES IN WAIT BY Gytha Lodge is is a great suspense novel. I had never read any of Lodge's' novels before but I will be on the hunt to read more from this great author.

Many thanks to NetGalley for my early review of She Lies in Wait in exchange for my honest review.

I am so excited for a new detective/murder/mystery series based out of the UK! Angela Marsons' Kim Stone series is one of my all time favorites, so when I saw that another new detective series was coming out that was also based in the UK, I knew I needed to get reading. Gytha Lodge's She Lies in Wait did not disappoint.

She Lies in Wait is about a group of 7 friends who go camping in 1983; the problem? Only 6 make it out the next morning. For 30 years, the police and Aurora's family wait for answers that they have convinced themselves they will likely never find. Then, one fall day three decades later, a young girl is camping with her family and stumbles across the remains of the girl that authorities have been looking for for 30 years. Throughout the book, we get to know all of the characters that were at the campground that night and try to weave through all of the different stories and timelines that are forced to be relived 30 years after the fact. No one can be trusted and no one can be ruled out. Because the survivors are all still friends, it's an immensely fragile situation to figure out who the killer actually is. That, and, you're waiting to figure out how Jonah Sheens - the lead detective in charge of the case and also a fellow classmate of all 6 remaining campers - is connected to the story and the friend group.

There were so many things I liked about this book - and lots of aspects that surprised me. I have a bad habit of going into cold case novels with a negative attitude, assuming the story will be boring because your characters aren't (likely) in any current, immediate danger. I've had a string of cold case books that have changed my opinion, so I went into this novel with high hopes - I am so glad I was not let down. Even with the team investigating a murder that was 30 years old, She Lies in Wait kept me on my toes, curious, and even a little anxious at times. It was great to see a cold case give me so many feelings!

I also loved getting to know Jonah's team a bit more. I love learning and reading about the dynamics of a team, especially an investigative team, so the insight into Jonah and his colleagues was something that I welcomed. Their stories didn't take away from the case - they enhanced it. The character development didn't go so in depth to bore you, but it did leave you with enough to want to know more - lots more.

Overall, this was an intense, thoughtful and sometimes, very sad read. There were parts that were gritty and a bit shocking, but those elements were never added just for shock factor- the tough topics were brought up with respect to the reader and the characters. I am super excited for the next Jonah Sheens novel!

3.5 stars

I do love when an author gets meta and mentions another book that's reminiscent of the one you are reading. In this case, the murder/drugs/sex/woods scenario had shades of The Secret History (Donna Tartt), which Lodge recognized and had one of her characters mention.

Speaking of characters, there were many - the 6 teenagers in the woods, one of whom did not survive; the police force investigating, of which there were 4 main detectives; a potentially troublesome teacher; and the various other players - family members, significant others, peripheral characters. Some of them were successful as red herrings and some brought out personal details in the lives of our detectives, but many were distracting, where I would have rather heard more about our main players. There were were also story lines that were dangled and left unexplored.

The ending was sad and dark, as you would expect a murder mystery to be, and all in all satisfying. I do think the book lost track of some of the main characters as it went on, only to have us see them again at the end - some tension might have been added if these had stayed at the forefront the entire time.

I do believe readers of Lodge will see this particular police department again as this book is labeled DCI Sheens #1. I would read another book with these characters, especially the lovable O'Malley.

One night in 1983, six school friends go camping in the forest and young Aurora Jackson is so excited to be able to tag along.

Thirty years later, a body is discovered. DCI Sheens is called to the scene, but he already knows what's waiting for him: Aurora Jackson, found at long last. And that's not all. The friends have all maintained their innocence, but the body is found in a hideaway only the six of them knew about.

I really enjoyed this book. It was very hard to put down, with some unexpected twists, and I definitely did not guess who had killed Aurora Jackson, that is for sure. Looking forward to more books from this author.

I really enjoyed this book. It was twisty and fun. The last book I read was more of a psychological book...so I was glad to jump into this as it’s more up my alley. It reminded me a lot of Tana French whom I love. What I’m about to say may sound like I didn’t enjoy this book, but it’s really only constructive criticism. There was a lot of characters in this story which at times did make it hard to really connect to anyone because as soon as you were really getting to know a character, it would jump to someone else and take me out of it a bit. I did really love the murder storyline and the investigation. I would recommend this to people who love Tana French and Ruth Ware in a heartbeat.

Gytha Lodge's debut novel is promising, but ultimately fell short for me.

There are so many characters--many of whom are given third-person narrator treatment for at least some of the book--and so many plot points, it seems like it would be almost impossible to give any of them full treatment. As a result, none of the characters were truly fleshed out. There were some attempts to give the main detectives, Sheens and Hanson, some backstory, but many of these details were dropped on the reader out of nowhere and subsequently not addressed much in the later parts of the book. Likewise, the many plot threads that Lodge tried to weave together, but the end left many of them hanging. I still have many questions, but I'm also left with the feeling that even answering those questions wouldn't add much to the overall plot... which begs the question, why introduce those plotlines in the first place?

Stylistically, I found the book very readable (and I admit I didn't totally guess the killer, though I won't go so far as to say I was surprised), but there were some quirks that bugged me here and there. Especially towards the beginning, Lodge had a habit of inserting many vague, ominous thoughts from the characters. For example, one characters thoughts back towards an "uncomfortable echo" from his own past. That echo is explained later in the book, but these attempts at foreshadowing felt clumsy to me, and a bit cheesy. Combined with many moments where I felt like the author was "telling" us about the characters (like when DCI Sheens's team was discussing his strengths and weaknesses as an obvious way of making the reader understand these things about Sheens's character), I couldn't really fall into it.

I would liken the author to Ruth Ware. Frankly, though, I'm not a huge Ruth Ware fan, so perhaps that's why I didn't quite fall into the book. Nonetheless, ultimately it was an enjoyable enough read and I will be curious to check out the author in the future. Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for an advance reader copy of this book.

This book was slow to start but soon picked up the pace. It is about a thirty year old cold case. That of the missing fourteen year old Aurora Jackson. This is a classic "who done it". The characters are well developed and believable. I loved the alternating chapters between past and present. I had no idea of who committed the crime. Was it one of six friends or a stranger? The mystery and suspense was incredible. When you find out what actually happened you will have not had a clue. Well written suspense with good police procedurals. I truly enjoyed this debut book. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a copy for review consideration.

Wow! This book will grab you from the beginning and it doesn't let go. The characters are complex and the plot is full of twists. Just when you think you have it figured out.... you don't. This is my first read from this author and I am hooked.

There is a lot going on in this book. Back story, side story, twists and turns. I enjoyed it, but it was bit hard to keep up with all of the side stories. That being said, the story did come together in the end, which for me I always like.

It looks like this will be the first in a series, so it will be interesting to see more.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.

A body is found at a wooded campsite, bones aged over decades, and Detective Sheens knows exactly whose body it is: Aurora Jackson, missing 30 years in that exact area. She was just 14, the youngest camping with the group of friends her sister hung out with.

Now the cold case must be re-opened. All of the then-teenagers who were camping that night are brought back to the area. There are so many details to cover again, statements to take, tests to run. Thirty years ago these teenagers told a story to the adults that was not quite the full story. Fearing for their own futures, they told a sanitized story.

The evidence recovered in the gravesite spins a tale of drugs, secrets, sex and murder.

Who really killed Aurora? Did the teenagers know? Did they conspire as a group? Did someone know the whole truth and hide what they had done from the others? Will Sheen finally get justice for Aurora?

This was an amazingly well-written tale, remarkable for a first foray. I will be watching for more books by this author, as Lodge spins a very well-crafted story that takes me to the edge of my seat, keeps me guessing and ultimately reveals an ending that I find quite satisfying.
#SheLiesInWait #NetGalley

4 stars

DCI Jonah Sheens is the inspector on the case. He was called in on his day off and was picked up by a very talkative DC Hanson. The report was one of “aged bones.” The pathologist gave Sheens a wide range of time during which the young girl could have died there. Sheens knows that it was thirty years earlier and these were the bones of Aurora Jackson who was one of seven teens who came to party, but only six came back: JoJo, Brett, Connor, Topaz (Aurora’s elder sister), Benner and Coralie.

Interestingly, Jonah went to school with these people. Jonah and Hanson and the balance of his team, DS Domnall O’Malley and DS Ben Lightman interview the teens who walked out of the camp that day, now thirty years later. They get a mixture of truth and lies, each seeming to put particular emphasis on someone else’s behavior.

And then there is the mysterious Mr. MacKenzie’s story.

The book is interspersed with small vignettes told from Aurora’s point of view in 1983. They are very interesting in highlighting the differences between what the adults are telling the police and what happened from Aurora’s viewpoint.

After an exciting chase, the police arrest not only the killer of Aurora, but also an arsonist and the killer of another person as well.

This book is the story of a time-consuming police investigation. People are lying. How to tell what the truth is? It raises interesting questions and viewpoints that would not have occurred to me. It speaks of the psychology behind the murders and the various motives, needs and wants of the different individuals. What makes a person need or want something specific? To what lengths will they go to achieve it? I liked DCI Sheens, although at times he doubted himself too much and seemed to go off in a fog. It got a little irritating how many times he would zone off. I liked Hanson, but her former boyfriend; wow, what a loser! O’Malley and Lightman were great. They each added to the investigation in their own ways. I liked that they seemed to have complimentary areas of “specialization.” Very well done, Ms. Lodge. What an excellent debut novel. I look for more of her writing in the future. I’ll certainly read it!

I want to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House/Random House for forwarding to me a copy of this great debut book to me so that I may read, enjoy and review it.

Very good book. I was reading as fast as I could to see who was guilty. I was so sad for Aurora, I remember what is was like to be that age and I really connected to her. Good mystery, definitely recommend!

This book keeps you guessing from start to finish! Character development was good, writing was ok. There were some things I had to go re-read because I wasn’t sure what I was seeing was correct, and in many cases it wasn’t. For example: “Hanson, I’d like you to follow Stavely covertly to find out where he go and stake out Stavely and find out if he visits anyone.”. Could use a bit more editing before release date, but otherwise I enjoyed the story. It’s a fun, easy read. Perfect for a cloudy day in front of a fire.


Disclaimer: I was given a free advance copy from NetGalley in return for my honest review.

DCI Jonah Sheens has been a cop for more than 30 years & heads up the station in Southampton. Between cases, management & meetings, days off are hard to come by. As the book opens he’s enjoying a rare chance to cycle in the hills until his phone rings. A body has been found near a campsite in New Forest. No clues, no witnesses. No problem. Jonah knows who it is.

Thirty years ago, he was a fresh faced newbie who joined the search for missing 14 year old Aurora Jackson. Her sister Topaz was camping with 5 of her friends, unhappy about being saddled with her baby sister. After a night of drinking, they crawled out of their tents to discover Aurora’s cold & empty sleeping bag. The alarm was raised & cops, friends & neighbours combed the area for days to no avail. The 6 teens were questioned endlessly but Aurora was never found.

In the present, Jonah mounts a new investigation after getting the autopsy results & his team of 3 detectives get to work. They can’t help but notice their boss is a tad antsy. For Jonah it’s not just another case. Turns out he went to school with these people although he was never one of them. They were the cool kids, the ones everyone wanted to emulate. As the investigation progresses, long suppressed memories come flooding back & Jonah begins to worry what his team might uncover.

That’s it for the plot. It’s best to go in knowing as little as possible so your jaw drops in all the right places. The story unfolds in 2 alternating time lines & both are engrossing. The past is narrated by Aurora & she’s a compelling character. Through her eyes we meet the 6 campers as teens & get caught up in all their angst, drama & petty jealousies. In the present we meet them again as they deal with Jonah. Some have changed, some haven’t. The difference is they may finally be ready to spill the secrets they’ve been keeping for 30 years.

I thoroughly enjoyed this. In some ways it reminded me of “Everything You Want Me to Be” by Mindy Mejia. There’s something about small towns & the intense relationships formed (or not) in high school. Everything is heightened because the world is so small at that point in a teen’s life. Each member of Topaz’s “golden” gang is integral to its survival & I’ll bet more than one of them will remind you of someone you knew at that age.

The detectives are also well portrayed & Jonah’s team are an interesting group. DC Juliette Hanson comes across as being wound a bit too tight & we gradually find out why. DS Domnall O’Malley is the calm voice of reason & experience, a deceptively low key guy who misses nothing. And then there’s DC Ben Lightman. Self contained & fastidious, he made me think of the old adage about still waters. I’m willing to bet there’s more to him than an analytical mind & pretty face. As for Jonah, he’s a decent man in a tight spot. You can’t help but sympathize with him as he struggles to maintain a professional distance in a case that is so personal. It’s clear he has some secrets of his own & I dreaded finding out what he was hiding.

But it’s Aurora who steals the show. I found her captivating, a girl on the cusp who comes across as so authentic you can almost hear her voice. She’s at the age where she’s letting go of childhood & plagued by the insecurities & shaky self esteem that afflict so many young girls. But she also has an ethereal quality that sets her apart & renders her completely unaware of her allure.

All is revealed by the end & Aurora can finally be laid to rest. And the 6 who were there that night will never be the same. As for Jonah…well, he has to deal with some ramifications of his own. It’s a book you’ll resent having to put this down & I look forward to book #2. Highly recommended.

P.S: BTW, beautiful cover art on both versions.

An enjoyable mystery centered around a group of wild teens, the disappearance of a girl and the discovery of a body 30 years later. I enjoyed all the characters, including DCI Jonah Sheen. I look forward to more stories featuring this character.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the advance reader copy, She Lies in Wait by Gytha Lodge, in exchange for an honest review. Oh did I love this book! There was so much suspense as a group of friends goes into the woods for a night of camping, fun, and drinking; and the next morning one of their group is missing. Fast forward thirty years, and the body is discovered very close to their camp site. I especially enjoyed the very capable but human police detectives being led by Detective Chief Inspector Jonah Sheens as they painstakingly reconstruct the crime and investigate without sleep and food to catch a killer (maybe one of the friends?). As Jonah leads his detectives to track down the stories from the suspects, I was riveted until the last page. The suspense kept building and did not disappoint; I will definitely continue to read this thrilling new series. Highly recommended.