Back in 1983 six friends go camping on an overnight, but only five return. Now, thirty years later, youngest camper, Aurora Jackson, is discovered in a hideaway that only the friends knew about. Detective Jonah Sheens is put on the cold case, but the case hits a little close to home as he personally knew all six of the group from school thirty years prior. As he begins to unravel the web spun by five lifelong friends, he uncovers more truths about that night than he could have even imagined. Did the group really have no idea how Aurora disappeared? Or will someone surface to shed some light on that fateful night?

Thank goodness I finally found a thriller that grabbed me right from the get go! It seemed like the last few thrillers I read didn't really thrill me, so this was a nice change of pace. I loved the back and forth perspective switching from the present day to Aurora on the day of the killing. Lodge perfectly crafted a gripping mystery that leads the reader on a winding path to figure out what happened to Aurora. Because there are so many characters, it could be easy to slough over some of their development, but Lodge does a phenomenal job of layering all of the characters, leaving the reader up in arms over who the killer should be. She tosses out bite-sized clues that keep the reader questioning who the murderer really is, and when we finally find out- it is a wait that is well worth it. This is a novel that I would recommend anyone looking to escape reality for a day or two because once you start, you won't want to put it down.

And bonus, it's the start of a new series featuring Detective Sheens!

She Lies in Wait by Gytha Lodge is a highly recommended police procedural and the start of a new series.

A body is found in Brinken Wood in England’s New Forest and it is identified as Aurora Jackson. Aurora went missing thirty years ago, on July 22, 1983, when she was out camping with a group of six other teens. At fourteen she was the youngest and really an outsider in the group that consisted of her sister, Topaz, and Topaz's friends. There was a lengthy search for her, or her body, but the case went cold. Jonah Sheens, who was new to the police force at that time, also knew the teens in question and was involved in the original search. Now Jonah is the DCI in charge and he remembers the original investigation and the tight-knit group of friends. He is determined to solve the case this time around.

She Lies in Wait is an engaging and interesting British police procedural and it held my attention throughout. The writing is great and the novel is well-paced and well-constructed. I appreciated the chapters alternating between the current day investigation and from Aurora's point-of-view during the day of her disappearance in 1983. It was compelling to follow the present day interviews and what the suspects, now in their 40s, remember from that night. The accounts of their actions contrasted or were confirmed by Aurora's narrative, and slowly a picture of the night begins to emerge. As in any investigation, there are a few false leads and twists to hold your attention. There is plenty of back story between these six adults who are now suspects again after thirty years.

The members of Sheen's investigative team are introduced in She Lies in Wait and they all are interesting characters. Lodge delves into some of the personal lives of her detectives while leaving plenty of room to develop them more fully in future additions to the series. She even had a few intriguing loose ends that will likely come into play in further stories, especially one involving DC Juliette Hanson.

This is a great start to a new series and I'm going to keep an eye out for the next book(s) in the series.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Penguin Random House.

http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2019/01/she-lies-in-wait.html
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2661314292
https://www.librarything.com/work/22184317/reviews/164187570
https://twitter.com/SheTreadsSoftly/status/1082014835729203206

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House and Gytha Lodge for an ARC ebook copy to review. As always, an honest review from me.

She Lies in Wait is quite an addictive read. This mystery captures my attention from the very beginning and didn’t let up. The author creates suspense in part by alternating chapters, between present day and the night Aurora died. As soon as we get another clue, we can’t be sure what’s the truth or a lie.

The book was especially suspenseful, because everyone had something to hide, even one of the police detectives. As a reader, I didn’t know who to trust, but also wanted to believe that everyone was innocent. The mystery and tension was great.

A few parts I found myself getting a little lost, but nothing that dramatically affected the story. Also I much preferred the friends as teenagers and the police as adults. The friends as adults weren’t as intriguing and tension filled as it could have been.

Overall, a really good book in the genre. I definitely recommend giving it a read!

Thank you so much to Random House Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book just wasn't doing it for me.  Six teenagers go camping in the woods with drugs and alcohol and only five of them return.  Not really all that surprising to me but I thought okay, maybe this will be a good book.  I was wrong.  Honestly I feel like this book was a rip off from other authors that I've read, just a little slower.  The beginning of this book intrigued me but the constant back and forth over a 30 year span confused the hell out of me.  I would quickly lose in the book which character it was talking about and at what point and time it was, even when the beginning of the chapter would tell me what date it was. And it just had sooo many slow spots. I honestly contemplated giving up at times but I powered through hoping it would get better and it never did. I guessed the murderer pretty early on so that kind of ruined the rest of the book for me because the whole book was based around finding out who killed the girl.

Another thing I didn't like was the characters with the exception of JoJo. I immediately liked her early on even though she didn't have a main role until the very end. All of the other characters drove me insane, in their present day role and their role from 30 years ago. Also the whole story behind the murder bored me. The most interesting part was that it took 30 freaking years to find the body and figure out who did it.

Thank you again to Random House Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book for my review.

Six teenage friends spend an overnight camping in the forest and in the morning, one of them is missing. Thirty years later, her remains are discovered, reopening a cold case that was never resolved.

This was more of a police procedural than a psychological thriller. Being that I prefer the latter, it was an ok read and an ok mystery but I was not overwhelmed one way or the other by it. There were multiple suspects and a resolution but no major twists or “aha” moments that had me on the edge of my seat. Still, not bad for the first in a series and definitely an author to keep an eye on.

Many thanks to Netgalley, Random House, and Gytha Lodge for my complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

It took me a while to get into this book, but once I did, I couldn’t put it down. This is a well-crafted mystery with good explorations of relationships and memories and how sneaky and manipulative people can be.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was not paid for this review.

I would first like to thank Netgalley and Random House for allowing me to read an advanced reader's copy of this novel for an honest review.



4.75 Stars



In 1983 smart,thoughtful,quiet and beautiful 14 year old Aurora disappears on a Summer camping trip with her older sister and her sister's friends. It's been thirty years and Aurora's body is finally found.



It's up to DCI Jonah Sheens to sift through the secrets that bind the friends after 30 years. Jonah was a casual acquaintance of the group all those years ago. More like an observer really. He always wondered what is was like to be in the popular group, to really know them but now that he is investigating them he is not all that impressed.



I love a good detective series and this novel is a perfect introduction to Sheens and his group of detectives. The novel did feel a bit long and it took me longer than it normally does to read this kind of novel. That being said I really enjoyed this ride, this mystery was well done even if I did figure it out rather quickly and the writing was tight. This will be a series I will be reading from now on.

She Lies in Wait by Gytha Lodge is a compelling first book in a new series featuring Detective Chief Inspector Jonah Sheens. This murder mystery reminded me in some ways of a Dateline episode and I definitely mean that in the best way possible!

The story is about a teen girl, Aurora, who goes missing after a night of partying in 1983. Thirty years later, the discovery of her body reopens a cold case and Jonah Sheens is put in charge of solving it. Back in 1983, Jonah was a young cop in the small town, he had known the teenagers—including Aurora—personally, even before taking part in the search. Now he’s determined to finally get to the truth of what happened that night. Sheens’s investigation brings the members of the camping party back to the forest, where they will be confronted once again with the events that left one of them dead.

I was captivated by the mystery and what happened to Aurora. It makes the story even more immediate and impactful by having us read part of the story from her perspective. She's only fourteen and had so much life to live and she seems to be a kind and intelligent girl. It's truly tragic what happens to her and I will give a warning there are some graphic scenes involving her, especially toward the end.

Overall, the character I was most engaged with was Hansen. She's also a bit of a mystery but the reader can tell she's smart and talented at her job. I hope she's even more of a feature in the next book in the series.

While not a perfect land, She Lies in Wait is an intriguing mystery that is a promising start to a new series.

Great book, interesting story. Loved the flashbacks to the camp, never expected the person who did it. Can’t wait for book 2.

Of all of the genres that I love, and I do love a lot, the one I find myself immersed in most often is police procedurals. Police Procedurals are a sub-genre of “Detective/Crime novels” and are told from the police point of view, often involving several, often unrelated cases that seemingly come together in the end. I give you this definition because She Lies in Wait is, honestly, a perfect example of a British police procedural done well.

Thirty years ago, six teenagers went camping in the woods. Only five of them would awaken the next morning. Now, the body of the sixth friend, Aurora, has been discovered in a “grave” in the woods and it is up to DCI Jonah Sheens and his murder squad to uncover the details of what really happened that horrible night, a night filled with too much booze, drugs, consensual and non-consensual sex. Was one of the campers the killer or was it someone who knew they and the drugs would be at the campsite? They aren’t talking which leaves only the 30-year old, decomposed body of Aurora to tell her tale.

She Lies in Wait is a slow burning, methodical detective story where every clue, every person, every detail is thoroughly looked at and discussed. This is not a “thriller” or a “suspense” novel, it is procedural where you – the reader – are along for the ride with the police as they go through their investigation. If you go into this book expecting “edge of your seat” excitement, then you will be slightly disappointed. If, like me, you love and adore well written, hard core detective books, then this will be a winner! Lodge has crafted a story that has a lot of back-story in these once-teens/now-adult characters who have remained unusually close for thirty years. In addition, DCI Sheens was on the peripheral edges of the group and appears to have a bit of history with them as well, something he would like to keep hidden from the remainder of his squad. His squad, in turn, are an interesting group. The two men are complete opposite of one another: one quiet and thoughtful, the other gregarious, and the newest member, a female, has a few secrets of her own. The intrigue of all of the characters helps to push the storyline along.

I really do hate for books to be compared to one another, but I often thought that She Lies in Wait was quite similar to Tana French’s Dublin Murder Squad series. No doubt fans of that series would disagree, but the writing is similar and, of course, the methodology of the squad itself is the same. In addition, the way that both authors sink into the personal lives of the characters and weave it into the main story felt familiar to each and it was something I enjoy in both series.

If you enjoy police procedurals, particularly British ones, then I highly recommend She Lies in Wait. If you like a good mystery, I think you will enjoy it as well.

Thank you to #Netgalley, #RandomHousePublishingGroup and @thegyth for my copy of She Lies in Wait which will be published in the US on January 8, 2019.

Had to push to get through this one so I am only rating it two stars. No major issues other than it was somewhat rudimentary. Did not get engaged and there didn't seem to be any real suspense.

One small irritation... I would like to suggest that things referenced in initials (in this case most job titles for example) be explained in full at least the first time used. This would be appreciated and especially helpful for readers who are not native to the setting.


Received a copy through NetGalley in return for an honest opinion.

Really solid debut novel. Kept me interested and guessing right up until the reveal. Interesting characters and storyline.

***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of SHE LIES IN WAIT by Gytha Lodge in exchange for my honest review.***

2.5 STARS

In 1983, Aurora goes camping with her older sister Topaz and four other teens. She goes missing and is never found. In 2013, her bones are found in an underground hideaway. Detective Jonah Sheens remembers the case from the start of his days with the police and now heads up the investigation.

When I saw the blurb for SHE LIES IN WAIT, I wanted to read the story so I was thrilled to be granted an ARC. Told in chapters from Aurora’s POV then and third person POV now, I had an idea who the culprit would be from nearly the beginning. It made sense in an unfortunately predictable way.

I struggled to connect with any characters other than Aurora, whose fourteen-year-old innocence compounds the tragedy of her murder. I remember being her age, hoping older kids would notice me, eager to show my maturity.

SHE LIES IN WAIT lacked the pace and tension I enjoy in a mystery or procedural, although the events leading up to Aurora’s disappearance and how the characters changed or didn’t change thirty years later made SHE LIES IN WAIT a book I finished in a day. I don’t think I’ll remember much about the story in a few days, once I’ve read my next book, but I’m very glad I had the opportunity to read it.

he book description of She Lies in Wait tells you all you need to know about the premise of the story. There is no doubt, it is an intriguing hook. What failed for me was the execution. What should have been a page turner, just didn't grab me. It seemed a struggle to continue on - everything seemed to take soooo long. I was quite frankly glad to be done with it.

We all have books that hit us at the wrong time, and maybe that was the case for me. I just didn't like it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House for giving me the opportunity to read an e-ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

Oh boy! I had such high hopes for this book, it sounded like the perfect thriller, but in the end it just didn't deliver. I thought it was very slow moving, and I just couldn't connect with the characters. It was a big struggle to get to the ending.

*Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for providing me with this ARC.

Well-drawn characters and an intriguing 30-year-old disappearance case make this a really enjoyable book. The lead detective in the cold case turned active suspicious death may have conflicts of interest that he fails to disclose. All the members of his staff also have issues which improve the story. The main focus is on a group of then teenagers, now adults, who participated in a wild camping trip during which one of their group disappeared. The discovery of her body now brings everyone back home for the investigation. The writing is skillful and clear, even with the bouncing back and forth between then and now. I did not solve the murder, which makes me like the book even more. Great job!

This was quite a fun read. I needed a book that was interesting, but that I could stop and start here and there and not get lost or confused. It was perfect.

The mix of characters were eclectic and delightful. It was easy to get to know the characters, yet I felt like I got a good perspective about who they were and what they offered to the story.

This novel switches back and forth between present day and the past, slowly unraveling what exactly happened in the woods all those years ago. I kept expecting to correctly guess what exactly Aurora. I thought I had figured out how she died and who did. I was wrong and even up until the end I had no idea how the story would unfold.

This is the first in a series and I look forward to what author, Gytha Lodge has to offer in future novels.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for allowing me an eARC to read and give my honest review!

She Lies In Wait is set to be released on January , 2019 so pre-order now! A 4 star read for me!

She Lies in Wait by Gytha Lodge is a novel about 6 teenagers who go on an overnight camping trip on a hot July night in the 1980's. They are carefree and enjoying a night of fun and drinking and hooking up. As the night turns into early morning they discover the youngest of their party, Aurora has gone missing. Police are notified and a search ensues without any results.

Some 30years later bones are uncovered at the same camp sight. The friends are once again brought together to relive that horrible night. Detective Chief Inspector Jonah Sheens is assigned the case. Not new to the specifics, as he was a young police officer back when the disappearance occurred, he knew the group friends including the missing Aurora,

As the group once again begins to retell their stories from years ago, secrets begin to come to light between the friends and soon it looks as if they are turning on each other. But why? And the Investigator himself has a dark hidden secret he has kept all these years.

This well written novel will keep the reader interested from the very first page, Easily readable and with fast paced dialogue it will keep you guessing until the end. I completely enjoyed Lodge's first novel and so will you.

She Lies in Wait arrives in bookstores on January 8. Thank you #NetGalley and #Random House for the advanced copy.

She Lies In Wait by Gytha Lodge was one of my most anticipating reads for December and although I enjoyed it, the story was very obvious and I figured out the killer at about 25%.

The story slowly unfolds to reveal what happened to Aurora some 30 years ago. It mostly alternates between Aurora's POV during that fateful night and the present, where DCI Jonah Sheens tries to solve the case.

I started enjoying police procedurals this year but this one didn't quite grab my attention. I sometimes found myself reading diagonally and skipping a page here and there and not much had happened.

I hate when I have to leave a bad review but this book had the potential to be so much more. I wish all the success to the author and sincerely hope other readers will be able to fully enjoy this novel. I look forward to the author's future work.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this ARC.

I rather enjoyed this first book in a new detective series.
I thought the characters were well fleshed out and the story was highly intriguing.

The book flips between the original crime (in 1983) using flashbacks through multiple POV as well as 30 years later through the grown up teens and detectives assigned.
I liked how things were revealed slow and that the view of guilt constantly changed with each new piece of evidence and/or memory.
I will definitely be pursuing this series as more are released..