A Dangerous Lie by Ellen Shapiro Book Review

About the Book:

With no means to afford a top-tier defense, Jason is left at the mercy of an overworked public defender.

Desperate for help, his mother turns to private investigator Maddie Landon, whose unexpected connection to Jason’s case brings her face-to-face with a troubled past.

As Maddie digs deeper, she uncovers a chilling link between Mia, Jason’s accuser, and two victims, drawing Maddie into a labyrinth of secrets and lies. With every step bringing her closer to the truth, danger closes in. Racing against time, Maddie must unravel a sinister conspiracy that threatens not only Jason’s future but both their lives.

Will the privileged world Jason has crossed win or will justice prevail?

My Review:

Shapiro provides a good balance of Maddie's private life and her work as a PI. She agrees to look into the facts of a young man accused of rape. As Maddie digs deeper, she irritates some powerful people and her work becomes dangerous. Maddie is helped by her boyfriend, Jesse. He seems much more capable than she is, giving her frequent insights and suggestions. It seems she is still growing into her profession.

While there is no graphic descriptions, the plot may contain triggers for some who have had similar experiences as there is description after the fact. Shapiro's writing style is good although I felt sometimes there was a bit too much description of action, such as where dishes were put rather than that they were just put away.

This is a good novel for readers who like one featuring a private investigator getting to the bottom of sexual accusations to find the truth.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

About the Author:

As a private investigator with more than thirty years of experience, Ellen Shapiro's professional expertise has brought an authenticity to her characters and the storylines she has created for her novels. Acting on her passion for writing, she enrolled in the Sarah Lawrence Writing Institute where she took courses in creative writing. Ellen has written articles in her field for both local and nationwide newspapers and is the author of seven mystery novels. Ellen is a member of Mystery Writers of America and resides in Scarsdale, New York.

Indies United Publishing House LLC, 334 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through BooksGoSocial. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)