In 1983 seven teenagers went camping in the woods for a night of drinking and hooking up. Only six of them returned. Aurora Jackson stayed missing for 30 years, until her body was discovered not far from the campsite where she vanished, in a hidden area only the group of campers knew existed. DCI Jonah Sheens had been a young cop when Aurora disappeared, and now he feels he has a chance to finally figure out what really happened, but untangling this case will be very difficult. New suspects, new motives, and new evidence shed new light on old events, while loyalties and secrecy obscure the truth.

She Lies in Wait is a gripping police procedural told in alternating periods set in the present day and that fateful night in 1983. Gytha Lodge pulls the reader in with a fascinating cast of characters, including Juliette Hanson, Sheens’ newest recruit; Topaz Jackson, the older sister of Aurora; and Daniel Benham, one of the six campers whose involvement with the drug world complicates the mystery. Jonah Sheens is a likable protagonist who is determined to discover the truth, even as he struggles with demons from his own past. There are a diversity of personalities and motives, all adding layers to the plot. Lodge skillfully leads the reader through a maze of clues and suspects to the surprising truth of Aurora’s death.

She Lies in Wait marks the beginning of a new series featuring DCI Jonah Sheens and it should satisfy readers on the hunt for a thought-provoking, well-paced procedural grounded with strong characters. It will be interesting to discover what other adventures Lodge has in mind for future books.