The Texas Murder Files series has come full circle. Hidden (2020) introduced us to Austin investigative reporter Bailey Rhoads and detective Jacob Merritt. From the police scanner, Bailey gets wind of a murder—she comes to believe it was an assassination. The protagonists are on opposite sides of the fence, but ultimately, they work together to solve the crime. And fall in love—because Laura Griffin is the queen of romantic suspense.

Flight (2021) is the first Texas Murder Files story to be set on the fictional island of Lost Beach. Miranda Rhoads, Bailey’s sister, had a successful career as a forensic photographer, until she didn’t, hence her decision to relocate and become a wildlife photographer. She discovers a couple sleeping in a canoe; unfortunately, closer notice shows they’ve been murdered. Lost Beach detective Joel Breda works with Miranda to uncover the killer and they become close professionally and personally.

Miranda Rhoads’s life was turned upside and she escaped to Lost Beach. The heroine of Midnight Dunes (2022) has a similar backstory. A scandal upended Macey Burn’s television reporting career so she turned to her “first passion, documentary filmmaking,” in Lost Beach. Laura Griffin’s characters in the Texas Murder Files series often have parallel experiences. A woman is found dead in the sand dunes, and coincidentally, Macey is renting the woman’s apartment. Local detective Owen Breda is desperate to stem the Lost Beach crime wave. He and Macey work together to solve the crime and fall in love.

Griffin mixes up the formula in Deep Tide (2023). Barista owner and budding caterer Leyla Breda, sister to Joel and Owen, is not in law enforcement. She has a regular life, thank you very much, with one cast-iron rule: don’t date out-of-towners. Until she meets Sean Moran, who claims to be just another tourist, but the sister of two detectives spots his ankle holster straight off. Sean’s working undercover for the FBI. The villain is a soulless tech villain out of central casting. Sean and Leyla agree that she will get inside the villain’s fortress via a catering contract: it’s a decision made by equals.

This brings us to Liar’s Point (2024), the last Texas Murder File mystery. Two homicide detectives, Detective Nicole Lawson and her superior, Detective Emmet Davis, work together to solve the mystery of a body at Lighthouse Point. Emmet is Nicole’s professional rival as well as the person who has intrigued her romantically for years. Nicole’s dating life is mostly a flat-line—she’s less than pleased when she’s called back to work when she’s on her first date in months.

Is it the murders at Lost Beach over the past months that make all the locals a little nervous? Particularly single women in isolated venues, like yoga instructor Cassandra Miller? She’s finished a two-mile loop on the beach and she’s cooling down by walking slowly. Cassandra zeroes in on every detail of her surroundings, noticing a dad and his son playing with their dog, flying their remote-controlled airplane—normal fun activities. Her nervousness rises after the family group leaves: “Cassandra spied the solitary blue car again. Something about it needled her. She glanced around. Still no shell seekers or fishermen, and she gazed out at the churning surf.” The light is starting to fade but the blue car has a powerful hold on Cassandra.

Cassandra veered toward the car, unable to stay away. Jogging toward it, she studied the tinted windows, the dinged door. She caught sight of something hanging from the rearview mirror, and her heart lurched. A dream catcher. A small white feather dangled from the loop.



She jogged straight up to the door and looked through the window. Someone was asleep in the front seat. Long brown hair, pale arms.



Cassandra’s breath caught, and her stomach did a somersault. Panic gripped her as she noticed the flies.

Here we go again: two dead bodies, seemingly asleep in a canoe (Flight) and now a sleeping corpse in a remote car. It’s all-hands-on-deck at police headquarters. Who is the dead woman? Did she commit suicide? Was it a drug overdose? Cassandra is very affected by the woman’s death, particularly after the police announced, “We’re investigating this as a homicide.”

Nicole is in an awkward place from the onset of the investigation. Emmet is “calling the shots,” understandably since he’s her superior, but…the sexual tension between them is rising. Awkward. And Nicole, who’s been charged with tracking down leads, feels like her ideas are discounted. Nicole believes Cassandra “knows more than she’s revealing and may even hold the key to unlocking the case,” but her colleagues aren’t buying it. A woman’s intuition is not taught at the police academy. Then another dead body. Spoilers ahead.

A lawyer visits Lost Beach police headquarters.

Alex cleared his throat and scooted his chair forward. “Our intent was for Ms. Miller to give you a statement.”



“About what?”



“In her absence, I can’t get into too much detail,” Alex said. “But I can tell you she believes that both crimes may somehow be connected to her estranged husband.”



“Malcolm McVoy,” Emmet said.



Brady looked at him. “Who?”



“Cassandra’s husband.” Emmet shook his head. “I can’t believe it. Nicole totally called it.”



“What does Nicole have to do with this?” Owen asked. “I thought she was on leave?”



“She is.”

What a dust-up and turn-around. Nicole was right, her colleagues were wrong—can this investigation be saved? Will Nicole and Emmet find their way to each other? Read Liar’s Point and the books leading up to it. It’s guaranteed romantic suspense at its finest.

Detective Nicole Lawson is determined to turn her love life around. However, as she waits for her first date in months, a call comes in—someone has found a body at Lighthouse Point. When things don’t add up, the death is ruled a homicide.

Leading the investigation is Emmet Davis, the man she has secretly loved for years. When another suspicious death occurs, a pattern begins to emerge, which points to one place, and specifically, one person. It soon becomes evident that some people are not who they say, and whatever is going on reaches far beyond the borders of their beachside community.

Liar’s Point by Laura Griffin is good pick for readers looking for a quick escape. The premise is intriguing, the characters are okay, and the suspense keeps the reader interested. That being said, it feels like something one has seen many times before. The romance, the suspense, the character development all stayed on the surface. Depending on what the reader wants, this can be good or bad.

Usually, I prefer more depth and intensity in my mysteries, but I happened to pick this up at a moment when I needed something quick and light but still wanted mystery, and this fit the bill. While Liar’s Point is part of The Texas Murder Files series, I have only read some of them and had no problem following. I’m sure some of the characters had backstories I didn’t know, but I never felt lost.

The book contains some language and bedroom scenes. There is no way around the former, but I was able to skip the latter.

Lost Beach, Texas might have always been considered a sleepy town. However, a murder takes place and Detectives Nicole Lawson and Emmet Davis are handling the investigation. The pair lock horns more than once, although there is an underlying correct of attraction between them.

Identifying potential leads that yield meaningful results is akin to assembling a disorganized puzzle. While a lead may initially appear promising, it often proves to be inconclusive. Compounding this concern, the occurrence of another murder necessitates an intensified investigation by Nicole and Emmet to prevent further loss of life.

The Texas Murder Files series has captivated my attention from its inception, and Liar’s Point is no exception. The intricate plotline, characterized by its growing connection between Nicole and Emmet, adds another layer of depth to an already gripping narrative. The book’s rapid pace and palpable tension create an immersive reading experience that was difficult to resist. The author’s skillful weaving of romantic tension further enhances the overall enjoyment of the story. I eagerly anticipate the release of the next installment in this captivating series.

Many thanks to Berkley and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

I really enjoyed Liar's Point by Laura Griffin—it’s a gripping, well-paced mystery with plenty of twists to keep you engaged. The characters are well-developed, and the suspense builds nicely throughout the story. My only disappointment was realizing after the fact that this is the last book in a series! I wish I had known that going in, as I feel like I missed out on some of the backstory and character development from previous books. Still, it worked well as a standalone, and I would definitely recommend it to fans of suspenseful mysteries.

Fast-paced, entertaining with great characters. As Nicole investigates her latest case things aren't adding up, she doesn't trust the witness and other's are not telling the whole truth. When another seemingly accident happens Nicole knows she is close and need to convince those she works with of this fact. When her life is threatened the others quickly begin to add things up to solve the crimes.

Another winning installment in the Texas Murder Files series.

I was very pleased to see these two together after experiencing their attraction in the past.

The story was well paced and had me engaged from start to finish. The characters were on point and had me wanting more and more from them.

Short and sweet, I enjoyed this romantic mystery.

OMG, this series...

We finally have Nicole and Emmet's story! Though be warned, it is *very* slow burn--she's actually attempting (extremely unsuccessfully) to date someone else for a good chunk of the book, and of course the whole working together in a very small police department will always be an issue.

Or will it? ;) (No spoilers--read it yourself and find out!)

The suspense portion of the book is trademark Laura Griffin--very twisty, with things appearing one way when they are actually not as cut and dried as they look. I loved that Nicole's instincts were spot on, and that Emmet (mostly) trusts her instincts. The one (pretty huge) time he didn't, he was man enough to admit it and let everyone else know that she had been right all along.

I absolutely love where they are at the end of the book, both professionally and personally--fingers crossed we get more Texas Murder Files, but if we don't, I'll be content with where our characters are right now :)

Liar's Point is the 5th book in the series, but as always can be read as a standalone. But trust me, you really should read them all!

Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

Liar’s Point is the first book that I have read by Laura Griffin. It is the fifth book of her Texas Murder files series. It is my opinion that it can be read as a stand alone book. It is a great story. It has mystery, suspense, and romance. The two main characters Nicole and Emmet are detectives at the Lost Beach Police Department. A Jogger Cassandra Miller goes for her jog on the beach and discovers a vehicle sitting near lighthouse point. As she walks near the car she discovers Aubrey Lambert’s dead body in it. The LBPD gets called in to start working the case. Nicole has a gut feeling that their is something the witness Cassandra is hiding and about mid way in the story Danielle Ward who is a co-worker/friend of Cassandra Miller has a car accident and dies. Nicole continues to question Cassandra and her relationships with Aubrey and Danielle and wonders if and how she might be connected to these deaths. As far as Emmet and Nicole’s relationship they have worked together and been friends for years and their feelings grow and develop more for each other. Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read and review a ARC of this book.

Nicole is a detective in a small town. While out one night, she is called to a crime scene. When another crime is later committed, Nicole believes everything is connected.

Liar’s Point is the fifth book in The Texas Murder Files series. While this book is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone.

This book is told using multiple points of view. One of the viewpoints is Nicole. She wants more in her love life and work life. She has a competitive relationship with Emmett, another detective. He is another POV, and is working the case with Nicole.

Liar’s Point is a combination of mystery and romance. A fun and entertaining romantic suspense.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Texas Murder Files series has been a robust and well-rounded one, with compelling mysteries, memorable characters, and pretty good chemistry.

But I've been waiting for Nicole and Emmett.

When seemingly unrelated deaths start to pile up, new detective Nicole is put in charge of one, her friend and coworker, Emmett, another. However, Nicole is convinced that the burgeoning crime spree on their little island is all connected--to one of the witnesses from the first homicide. At first, Emmett isn't buying it. When Nicole is struck in a hit-and-run, he suddenly sees what she's been saying--and that her accident may very well have been a part of this new, scary whole.

Nicole and Emmett's relationship definitely takes a back burner in Liar's Point, which is fine--there are those sparks that have been a theme throughout the series. Unfortunately, the actual (finally!) consummation left a little bit to be, er, desired. Over all, I wouldn't have missed it, and I look forward to seeing the two of them as a couple in future Murder Files novels.

I’m always excited when Laura Griffin comes out with a new book because she is one of my favorite authors. She knows how to write intense, suspenseful stories that keep me quickly turning the pages to find out what will happen next.

Nicole and Emmett are the two main characters in her newest book, Liar’s Point. They are detectives working together on a case involving a murdered woman. Nicole and Emmett are dedicated and hard working and although they are attracted to each other, they are afraid to admit their feelings.

I loved everything about this story, especially Nicloe. Nicole is a fearless and dedicated detective. She has to work twice as hard as her male peers but is still treated differently because she is a woman. She has had a crush on Emmett since high school, but she is afraid to act on her attraction because it could ruin her career.

All the characters in this story are interesting, the plot is riveting and the writing is spot on. I enjoyed all of Emmett and Nicole’s interactions and felt the chemistry between them. This story kept me on the edge of my seat and I wasn’t sure who the murderer was until the very end.

When a woman is found in her car murdered, two homicide detectives have to figure out what really happened. Detective Nicole Lawson is annoyed with her job, being the only woman on the team, and her non-existent love life. She is trying to date the medical examiner, but they both have demanding jobs and are unable to have a date most of the time, without one running out the door.

When she is injured Emmett Davis, another detective, runs to her side and helps her get home. He also, just so happens to be the man she has secretly had a thing for for years. When Nicole gets benched, he knows that she isn't going to just sit on the sidelines no matter how much he wants her to. Her instincts are pushing them to go in another direction that they do not believe is where they should go. But when another person turns up dead, they realize that there could be more to the story than they originally thought.

Laura Griffin is great at weaving police procedural, crime, and romance into her books. She always gives just the right amount of suspense to keep us on the edge of our seats and wanting to know what happens next. I believe that the characters are very well written and that all of the secondary characters were just as important as the main. Liar's Point can be read as a standalone and you will not feel like you missed something; however, reading the series from the beginning gives you a better feeling of the series. I enjoyed this book and I am ready for the next in the series.

Received ARC in exchange for voluntary honest review from NetGalley.

Laura Griffin is back with another well-paced romantic suspense in Liar’s Point and the highly anticipated romance between detectives Nicole Lawson and Emmet Davis. The will-they-or-won’t-they is finally resolved as the two investigate what initially looks like a suicide but is ruled a homicide. During the course of the investigation, Nicole’s intuition tells her that another murder is related to the first and that both may be connected to a close-mouthed, mysterious yoga instructor who has recently come to the seaside town. While Nicole’s suspicions are ignored by her fellow detectives, this doesn’t stop her from continuing to pursue clues and even put herself in danger.

Nicole has always been one of my favorite characters in the series, hard-working, sometimes impetuous, keenly observant, and always striving to be recognized for her excellent work. In Liar’s Point she’s trying to capture the elusive dating life, having decided that her crush on Emmet would remain unrequited, but the coroner/doctor she’s seeing stands her up, indicating that he’s more of a workaholic than she is. When Nicole is injured during a hit-and-run, Emmet’s concern for her ushers their relationship into a new era.

Griffin is a reliable storyteller, especially adept at writing twisty mysteries and Liar’s Point is no different. It’s a very satisfying read with a good balance between the suspense and romance. The characters are layered and intriguing. The settings evocative.

While you could read Liar’s Point as a standalone, I would recommend reading the series because of the recurring characters and background. All of the books in the series have been well done and well worth adding to your TBR list if you’re a fan of romantic suspense.

Many thanks to the publisher and author for sending me a copy.

5 It Wasn’t Who I Thought It Was Going to Be Stars!!!

I had the distinct pleasure of both reading and listening to this book and it was one of the best experiences I’ve had. I’m a lover of everything Ms. Griffin writes and I especially love these interconnected books that take place in Lost Beach. I’ve become invested in all the members of the LBPD and we’ve finally got Nicole’s book.

Nicole is a woman that is so independent and solely focused on her career as a detective while maybe trying to have a love life. Except the man she’s dating isn’t the one she’s really interested in dating and he’s kind of off-limits. When a body is found at Lighthouse Point the investigation sets in motion a bunch of moving targets and as Nicole finds herself not leading the investigation but having to work closely with Emmet the man she’s wanted more than a working relationship with for a long time and it somewhat chaps her hide.

As the investigation goes into high gear, there are leads that have the PD turning in circles and there are leads that create more intrigue especially as more criminal activities start to look to be interconnected. Along the way, the man Nicole is dating the ME for Lost Beach, who appears to me to be somewhat removed from his feelings both for Nicole and the autopsies he’s performing.

As I listened to the book and read it simultaneously I was so captivated. It was all I could do to make it from one medium to another between driving to work while listening and reading during my lunch hour to getting home and reading some more. And let me tell you, I was flabbergasted at the “who done it” of this one. I was so sure I had it figured out!

Not only was the investigation wholly intriguing but watching Nicole and Emmet navigate their feelings for each other brought another fascinating part of this book. It was just the right addition to this mystery. We also got introduced to a couple of new secondary characters that I’m secretly hoping will bring us another book in this series.

Kudos to Ms. Griffin for writing an amazing book and to Teri Clark Linden for superb narration. She voiced all the characters so spectacularly. From beginning to end her narration held my complete attention every single time I pushed play!

If you are a follower of Griffin’s Texas Murder Files series, this is Nichole and Emmet’s story that has been a long time coming. The series allows you to catch up with the other characters without distracting from the current story. Nichole and Emmet are both solid characters with strong work ethics and big personalities. There is plenty of romance, sex, and drama to keep you turning pages to the end.

Another solid romantic suspense from Laura Griffin. It was well paced and interesting with a good balance between the investigation plot and the romance. It's part of the Texas Murder Files series but can be read as a stand alone.

This one was a bit unique in the series, since the main characters went from knowing each other in school, to coworkers, to friends, to lovers, and I really enjoyed their journey!

Detective Nicole Lawson is so sick of all work and no play. She loves her job, and she's great at it, but it's not exactly conducive to starting a relationship. She had actually been trying this time, with the county medical examiner, but he's also a workaholic and it never seems to work out. Not to mention no one can seem to make her feel the same things she feels around her fellow detective.

Emmet Davis is also a detective with the Lost Beach PD, and their small little beach town has had an unfortunate uptick in crimes recently, along with their growing population. When a woman turns up dead in her car, on the beach, he and Nicole are assigned to figure out what happened. It's not an easy task, and no one seems to be telling the truth.

Nicole and Emmet are working hard trying to solve the case, and trying not to give in to their mutual attraction. There's a lot at stake, for Nicole especially, starting a relationship with a colleague in her position. They have both always wanted each other, but neither knows that the other feels the same. It isn't until Nicole is injured during the investigation (sickbed scene, y'all!!) that she's willing to make a move.

I really enjoyed the mystery this time, and had fun trying to put the pieces together. Nicole had a strong hunch from the beginning about one witness being the key, but she couldn't figure out why. The others were skeptical on her theories, but she was right!

I always love a hero who is willing to change everything to be with his love, and Emmet is that type of hero, so I adored him. Nicole was strong, and smart, and eminently capable, and she was a wonderful heroine. I really liked this one a lot! I'm looking forward to what's next, now that the final Breda brother is back in town!

Laura Griffin brings forth another gripping mystery. Born and raised on the island of Lost Beach, Detective Nicole Lawson is always trying to make name for herself in the police department. When a body is discovered parked at the beach, Nicole instantly knows something isn't right. Her nemesis, Emmet Davis is assigned lead detective on the case and Nicole is crushed. Nicole is able to put aside her feelings and makes great strides in solving the case until she becomes a target. Can Emmet and Nicole work together to solve the case?

As with Laura Griffin’s past stories in this series, Liar’s Point was an engrossing combination of crime procedure and romance, that I breezed right through!

A jogger discovers a woman dead in her car, which appears to be an overdose. However, it turns out the woman was murdered. Nicole and her partner Emmett, as well as all the Lost Beach police force come together to find the killer.

I’ve been eager to read Nicole’s story since Midnight Dunes and Deep Tide where she contributed significantly to nailing down the killer. Nicole and Emmett have been circling around each other with chemistry and attraction brewing between them, so I was pleased to finally see them paired.

I really enjoyed getting back to Lost Beach, Texas, as I’ve gotten to know the small, tight-knit group of detectives and their families. Nicole is a persistent detective with good instincts, and I was thrilled to see her recognized as such. Her determination, constantly following up with the witnesses, and pursuing the evidence is what ultimately solved this case.

The story is part of a series, but it’s not necessary to read the previous stories to enjoy this one, as each features a separate couple and mystery that’s wrapped up by the end.

I alternately read and listened to an audio copy of Liar’s Point narrated by Teri Clark Linden. I’ve enjoyed many stories narrated by her! She expertly performed both male and female characters, bringing Nicole and Emmett, as well as the other characters, to life!

Thanks @Berkleypub and @DreamscapeMedia for my advanced copies. #BerkleyPartner #Berkley #DreamscapeMedia

I can’t believe this is book five in the series. And I know I mention this every time, but I use the word series loosely. All the books are set in the same universe and often the supporting characters were in a previous (or future) book, but there is no need to read books 1-4 to enjoy book 5. And if you like contemporary suspense, you will like this one. But you are rewarded for reading the other books as the characters from the previous books pop in and you get to see where life has taken them.

I always know there will be a HEA at the end, but the journey to get there is what I enjoy. The twists, the setbacks or hurdles for the couple and how they overcome danger. The author is so good at mixing the mystery and the romance into a balanced story.

Nicole and Emmet are likable from the start, while they are both flawed, it just adds to their charm. Nicole is a strong female character that is always trying to prove she is as good as the men around her. Emmet is the lead on the latest case and he is always trying to protect Nicole. Anyone can see how smitten they are but it takes them a while to catch on. There was a longer than normal slow burn to start this one, but the wait is worth it.

The tension of the case starts out low and builds as the story progresses with lots of action in the last part of the book.

I loved Teri Clark’s narration. She created distinct voices for both main characters and a few of the side characters. She made it so easy to listen and follow along. She depicted Nicole’s defensiveness and the emotions and tension as the story progressed.

Such a great read or listen for those that are fans of contemporary suspense.