Lost Lake

The disappearance of Sari Chesney, the assistant curator at Colorado’s Cedar Valley History Museum, from a remote camping site kick-starts Littlejohn’s gripping third mystery featuring Det. Gemma Moore (after 2017’s A Season to Lie). With a large fundraising gala coming up, Sari’s friends insist she wouldn’t have just vanished. But when Gemma investigates at the museum, she learns that a valuable historical diary has gone missing as well—and the gala is followed up with the murder of Sari’s boss. Gemma and her partner, Finn Nowlin, can’t agree on whether the cases are linked or not—in fact, the two can’t agree on much of anything. And when the police chief orders Gemma to also find out who on the department is leaking information to the press, an even bigger wedge is driven between the two detectives, as each suspects the other. Still, they must unite in their quest to chase down a killer. Though the killer’s motives may strain credulity, lyrical prose, a well-paced plot, and intriguing characters make this entry a winner. Agent: Pam Ahearn, Ahearn Agency. (Nov.)