Truth, Lies, and Second Dates

August 10, 2020
This standalone contemporary romance from Davidson (The Love Scam) is just as raucous and riveting as fans will expect. Snarky commercial pilot Ava Capp returns to Minnesota 10 years after the murder of her best friend, Danielle, only to discover, at the anniversary memorial service, that Danielle’s family believes Ava was the killer. To blow off steam, Ava heads to a bar, where she meets and makes out with a hunky stranger. The next morning she gets a call that the funeral home has been vandalized. Luckily, the stranger from the night before can corroborate Ava’s alibi—and he’s already on the scene in his role as the county medical examiner. Quirky Dr. Tom Baker is determined to solve Danielle’s cold case, and he’s willing to work with Ava to do it, though he can’t be sure that she is not the murderer—but that does nothing to douse their chemistry. The banter comes a mile a minute, as do the twists, though Davidson struggles to juggle the suspense with the romantic development, leading to some wonky pacing. Still, the mystery will keep readers turning pages, and Ava’s raunchy internal monologue creates plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. It’s a wild ride and, despite some turbulence along the way, the destination’s worth it. Agent: Ethan Ellenberg, Ethan Ellenberg Literary.