Lies They Tell Her by Kelly Utt

Laurel Dane's return to Appleman’s Gap was meant to be a respite. Following the death of her father, the town’s beloved police chief, Laurel, an FBI agent on leave from Washington DC, longs for solace and a break from her chaotic life. However, her homecoming is anything but peaceful when a carjacking incident leads to the disappearance of her best friend’s infant son, thrusting Laurel into an unexpected and heart-wrenching mystery.

As Laurel navigates the complexities of her hometown’s hidden pains and buried secrets, she is forced to confront her own past. The town she once knew as a child, filled with familiar faces and cherished memories, now poses challenges and questions at every turn. Her efforts to maintain distance from family dramas and the legacy of her father are complicated by the re-emergence of an old flame—the new police chief, and Laurel's ex-boyfriend, who seeks to protect her in ways she's not sure she needs or wants.

Lies They Tell Her weaves a tender story of a woman caught between the life she left behind and the life she's built for herself. As Laurel delves deeper into the mystery of the missing child, she also embarks on a personal journey of healing, confronting the wounds of loss, love, and belonging. The small-town setting of Appleman’s Gap, with its scenic beauty and tight-knit community, serves as the backdrop for Laurel’s quest for truth, offering a sanctuary where healing and forgiveness might just be possible.