What if a large part of your past turned out to be a lie?

Detective Scott Drayco is already in the middle of a possible career-ending legal battle when word comes that his mother, who disappeared 30 years ago, is very much alive—and charged with murder. With Drayco’s father washing his hands of the matter and police convinced the woman is guilty, everyone tells Drayco he should just walk away.

But Drayco can’t leave it alone and becomes obsessed with uncovering the truth: is his mother really a killer? Why did she suddenly leave her husband and children to vanish without a trace? And where has she been all these years?

Drayco learns there are plenty of people who wanted the victim dead, including a shadowy stalker who seems to have a mysterious connection to Drayco’s mother. As he wades hip-deep into secrets, lies, and cons, Drayco begins to wonder if the case is all part of an elaborate scam...where the only one being fooled is Drayco himself.

“This labyrinthine novel is great for those who love to be as intellectually frenzied as the detectives in the stories they read. They’ll be eagerly flipping back to look for Lawson’s strategically placed clues.” - Library Journal

“A fast-paced whodunit, Lawson’s recent installment in the Scott Drayco mystery series...contains enough pleasantly unexpected surprises and meticulous details to deliver a fresh mystery. Lawson’s protagonist is greatly compelling.” - Publishers Weekly Booklife Prize