Illusion of Truth by James L'Etoile
1/6/26; 430 pages
Oceanview Publishing
Detective Emily Hunter #3
Illusion of Truth by James L'Etoile is a very highly
recommended procedural and mystery. This is the third novel featuring
Detective Emily Hunter following Face of Greed and River of Lies. It can be enjoyed as a standalone procedural.
Two
explosions hit the police officers who responded to a false report of a
break-in at a church in Sacramento. Fellow cop and Detective Emily
Hunter's boyfriend, Sergeant Brian Conner, is caught in the blast and is
in serious condition. Emily and her partner Javier
Medina are investigating when Officer Clay Milton determines that bomb
components found at the scene can be traced to those in remote control
cars. Soon another bomb targets more officers with a similar m.o. While
Emily and Javier are trying to follow clues, City
Councilman Rob Davis, is inciting antagonism and riots against the
city’s police force. Emily must discover what incident from the past
ties all the officers together and now makes them all a target.
During the tension from the high pressure investigation, Emily is also dealing with Brian's health struggles and her mother’s progressing Alzheimer’s. Emily and Brian's relationship was facing a hurdle before his serious injuries, which may change everything. At the same time Javier is also facing some challenges in his relationship with his girlfriend. These story lines don't detract from the main plot, but do add depth and realism to the characters, helping their development as individuals.
The pace is fast and the plot feels realistic in this well-written intricate procedural/mystery that feels like it could be ripped from headlines today. The political ramifications and involvement of various government departments along the way add credulity to the plot which is intricate, twisty and intelligent. The pressure and tension are unrelenting as the investigation unfolds.
Part of the plot is inferred in the title. Illusory truth is when repeated exposure to false information leads people to believe it is true, even when recognized as false. We can be more likely to believe something if we've heard it repeated multiple times. There are numerous examples of this in the news today where people set critical thinking and fact-checking aside.
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