The Drowned Woman: An absolutely unputdownable mystery and suspense thriller

CJ Lyons

Nov 2020 · Jericho and Wright Thrillers Book 2 · Bookouture

About this eBook

Her eyes fluttered open as the first splash of frigid water crashed through the open window beside her. She shook her head, startled to be awake—to be alive. She was in her car, in the river. She blinked, tried to focus. And then it came back to her. He’d tried to kill her…

One month since she lost her husband, Dr Leah Wright knows it’s time to return to her family home. Though the crime scene tape and blood stains are gone, she will never feel safe with her daughter there again. Receiving a call from Detective Luka Jericho to assist with a police investigation is a welcome distraction, until she sees the scene: a wife dead, another family ripped apart.

As Leah is the new head of the Crisis Intervention Center, Luka knows she can help him speak to the victim’s traumatized husband, who he suspects might have had something to do with his wife’s death. But when Leah interviews the woman who lives across the hall, they uncover evidence of a serial killer in their rural Pennsylvania town. The same person who claims responsibility for drowning Luka’s fiancée seventeen years ago…

With danger closer to home than ever before, Leah realises that to find the killer they may need to dig into Luka’s past. But the killer is already taunting Luka, promising to kill again. Is it already too late to save another innocent life?

Brilliantly suspenseful until the very last page, The Drowned Woman is perfect for fans of Karin Slaughter, Kendra Elliot and Tess Gerritsen. An addictive new thriller in the Jericho and Wright crime series from New York Times bestselling author CJ Lyons.

What readers say about The Drowned Woman:

“This is what a thriller should be! The tension is high and I found myself holding my breath a couple of times… action-packed and full of suspense… I didn't figure it out until right before the reveal.” Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

“Completely and utterly enthralling and impossible to put down. I have devoured this book in just one sitting… I have felt as though I have watched this one play out in front of me.” Little Miss Book Lover 86, 5 stars

“Oh My Gosh. I’m already excited to read the next book in the series! This was such an intricate, intriguing and suspenseful story! The twists and turns kept me guessing and on the edge of my seat. Definitely a ‘could not put down’ book!” Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

“What a book!! Grab this book for an intriguing read!!!” Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

“Reeled me in from the first chapter and didn’t let go till the end… the suspense kept me guessing until the end. I couldn’t put this book down till I finished it… I can’t wait to read the next book in this series.” Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

“Twisted and unexpected, the story draws the reader in for a page-turning story that demands to be read from start to finish in one sitting.” Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

“Wow CJ Lyons has done it again! The second instalment of the Wright/Jericho series is even better than the first. It had me gripped from the first page and I devoured it. I cannot wait for the next book.” Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

“Brilliant, captivating book… CJ Lyons knows how to start a book and right for the first page we have a murder… Can’t wait to see where this goes.” Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

Ratings and reviews

Thank you to Net Galley and CJ Lyons for the advanced copy in return for my honest review. This book is available on November 10th so be sure to pre-order or out a reminder in your calendar to order the day of! Leah, a doctor, recently left the ER to start as a consultant for the police department. Luka, a police officer, met Leah a year ago when he shot and killed the man who murdered her husband. Since then their personal and professional lives have become intertwined. This story has them both involved in the search for a serial killer who claims to have had a hand in Luka’s fiancée’s death, seventeen years prior. I will say that although I enjoyed this book, it is the second book in a series and having not had a chance to read the first book I felt as though I missed a lot of character development and story lines. Knowing this I would have read the first book (The Next Widow) so that I could feel a bit more connected to the characters. All that to say – this was a really great book! The author did an excellent job of keeping multiple story lines going at once and threading them throughout one another to keep the book moving. I am an avid reader and can usually figure out the ending, which can often take the fun out of reading. This book had me wondering from start to finish!

The Drowned Woman is the second instalment in the Jericho and Wright series and is another great addition to it. Fast paced and full of mystery and suspense, this is one series that you need to get on board with! This instalment picks up a month after the events in The Next Widow, with Dr Leah Wright and Detective Luka Jericho both still coming to terms with the everything that occurred. Their paths cross again, when Luka requests the help of Leah, as the new head of the Crisis Intervention Center, to assist him with his latest case. I really love the dynamics between Leah and Luka and CJ Lyons has done a fantastic job with their creation. My heart ached for Leah and her daughter Emily, as they continue to struggle with their grief, trying to move on from the tragedy that occurred in The Next Widow. There were many times I just wanted to reach into my Kindle and comfort them both. I really liked how this time around there was more focus on Luka’s past and how his current investigation blows wide open when details come to hand that it is the work of a serial killer, but not just any serial killer, this one is also claiming to be responsible for the death of Luka’s fiancé seventeen years earlier in what was thought to be a suicide. CJ Lyons is such a great storyteller and I am so glad that I have now come across her work. She really knows how to get her readers attention and she delivers on everything that I love so much about this genre. I hope at some point to read more of her previous works. Whilst The Drowned Woman can be read as a stand-alone, I do recommend you reading the first book, The Next Widow, before starting this one. This is to get the full background information on Leah and Luka, but most importantly if you don’t, you will be missing out on another outstanding read! The Drowned Woman is a fantastic read that will have you completely in its clutches from start to finish. Even though this is only the second book in the series, I am amazed at how quickly I have become attached to it and I can’t wait for the next instalment! It was a pleasure to read and review The Drowned Woman, which I highly recommend.

A woman is dead but was it an accident or murder!!Luka Jericho is a police detective in charge of the case. He’s also raising his nephew after the death of his sister. Leah Wright is a consultant for the police department after the murder of her husband. Edgy suspense full of twists and shocking revelations. It really does grab you from the very beginning. Just the perfect combination of medical and crime thriller. Nate and Emily’s friendship is one of the best parts of the story. “Yeah.” Nate glanced down the hall to where Luka and Ruby waited. “But I can’t ask Luka to fight my fights for me.” “Then it’s up to us.” Emily wrapped her arm in his. “We just have to be brave and strong.”