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A veteran Marine and an ex-convict find themselves on opposite sides of the law in this propulsive new thriller from award-nominated suspense master and "damn fine storyteller" Owen Laukkanen (Kirkus Reviews). Could your closest friend be a killer? When a body washes up outside Deception Cove, Washington, Jess Winslow-once a US Marine, now a trainee sheriff's deputy-is assigned to investigate. But when she realizes it's "Bad" Brock Boyd, a hometown celebrity lately fallen from grace, things become complicated. The last person seen with Boyd was her own boyfriend, Mason Burke. An ex-convict and newcomer in town, Mason is one of the only people who can understand Jess's haunting memories of her time in Afghanistan-and her love for Lucy, her devoted service dog. Finding one another in Deception Cove has been the best thing to happen to either of them in years. So Jess knows Mason could never be guilty of murder-doesn't she? As the facts of the case point ever more squarely at Mason, Jess must face that everything she thinks she knows about him might be wrong. A thrilling sequel to Deception Cove, and a heart-pounding adventure all its own, Lone Jack Trail pushes Jess and Mason to a shocking confrontation and will test everything they've come to love and trust in Deception Cove.
Featured Series
2 primary booksNeah Bay is a 2-book series with 2 primary works first released in 2019 with contributions by Owen Laukkanen.
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This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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“Deputy.” Hart held up his hand. Then he sighed. “Jess. You haven't worked a case this big before; I understand that. You've got a lot to learn, and sometimes I forget, but—”
“Sheriff—”
“But you're going to find,” Hart continued, talking over her interruption, “that cases like these, they're not generally head-scratchers. Most of the murders you'll see, they'll wrap up just about the way you expect them to. People get angry, they do something stupid. They, by and large, lack the capacity to cover it up.”
Jess made to speak again, but Hart wasn't having it. He held his hand up again, palm out toward her.
LONE JACK TRAIL
Deception Cove
He'd wondered, again, if he might not be better off turning himself in, putting his faith in the law and avoiding the possibility of further violence. But Mason knew he couldn't do it.
If he wanted his name cleared, he would have to do it himself. And he would have to do it in a way that ensured no more innocent people were hurt.
Deception Cove
Mason Burke wasn't a killer anymore. Jess simply couldn't see how he'd do it...she believed he hadn't killed Brock Boyd either, though in truth, on that count, she couldn't be as sure.
He killed before, didn't be? And didn't you already prove you're a piss-poor judge of a man's character? Wasn't your husband already the plain proof of that fact?
You need proof, she thought. Something concrete.
Deception Cove
LONE JACK TRAIL