Review: Lying Blind: A Nan Vining Mystery #6 by Dianne Emley

Print Length: 224 pages

Publisher: Alibi (January 31, 2017)

From Goodreads.com: In a breathtaking infinity pool on a sprawling Pasadena estate, the naked body of a beautiful young woman floats facedown in a drift of rose petals blowing on the breeze. Police sergeant Jim Kissick responds instantly, pulling the dead victim from the water. When his longtime girlfriend, Detective Nan Vining, arrives on-scene, she’s full of questions, and not just about the Jane Doe. Why did the homeowner text Jim instead of calling 911? Jim’s explanation—that he’s simply an old friend of Teddy and Rebecca Sexton’s—doesn’t sit well with Nan. A survivor of a bizarre murder attempt herself, Nan’s instincts for deception are acute. She senses that they’re all hiding something—including Jim, which plunges a wedge deep into their once steadfast relationship.

Then a drought-ravaged lake in a bucolic Central California town reveals a grisly secret. Soon two local detectives arrive in Pasadena to interview Jim and his wealthy friends about a mysterious death from years back, and Nan realizes she has good reasons for her suspicions. Jim’s always been her rock, but suddenly he’s become a stranger. And once Nan identifies her Jane Doe, events careen out of control as darkness from the past threatens to consume the life that Nan has worked so hard to rebuild.

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My Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Let me begin my saying that although this is book number six in a series, you do not need to have read the previous books in order for this story to make sense. Yes, there are certain events from prior books mentioned, but that does not take away from the reader's ability to enjoy this story as a stand-alone.

Wow. What another phenomenal installment to this series! Every time I read one of her stories, I feel like it couldn't possibly be better than the last, and some how she manages to do just that. One of the great things about her stories is that they move at a steady pace, there are no little details thrown in that aren't needed to tie everything together. And her characters grow as each story continues (although in the case of this one, maybe not in a way long-time readers would prefer). 

I loved the way that the author was able to tie in a present day murder with a twenty-year old missing person's case. There were so many threads that interconnected everyone and everything to events of the past, and it was interesting to see how the author managed to tie them all together. There were many twists and surprises in this novel that kept me guessing right up until the shocking ending! 

Overall, I am sure this story will appeal to those who enjoy crime and thriller novels. I would read more from this author. 

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

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                                 Lying Blind is available from Amazon.com