Burying the Lede

The fast-paced second entry in Lawson’s Trisha and Grayson romantic suspense series (after Above the Fold) returns to 1980s New York City. Freelance crime reporter Trisha Connell and FBI agent–turned–security specialist Edmund Grayson are an unconventional couple, but despite their 14-year age gap and extremely different backgrounds, both are smitten. Unfortunately, Trisha’s mysterious past is catching up with her. As an infant, she was abandoned at a church and taken in by a kindly priest. She’s also hiding a dark secret from Grayson: after a group of boys gang-raped her at age 14, she killed her assailants and then spent time in juvie. When a stalker starts sending her threatening notes filled with Bible verses and people with ties to her past turn up dead, she and Grayson must fight to stay alive—and together. Lawson continually ratchets up the tension, keeping readers in suspense as she unspools why Trisha is being targeted and by whom. Those who like their romantic mysteries on the gritty side will be on the edges of their seats. (July)