Under a Silent Moon: A Novel

by Elizabeth Haynes

Overview

A New York Times bestselling author “gives puzzle fiends plenty to chew on” in this British police procedural introducing a female detective (New York Times Book Review).

In the crisp, early hours of an autumn morning, the police are called to investigate two deaths. The first is a suspected murder at a farm on the outskirts of a small village. A beautiful young woman has been found dead, her cottage drenched with blood. The second is a reported suicide at a nearby quarry. A car with a woman’s body inside was found at the bottom of the pit.

As Detective Inspector Louisa Smith and her team gather evidence, they discover a shocking link between the two cases and the two deaths—a bond that sealed their terrible fates one cold night, under a silent moon.

“If there’s anything Haynes excels at, it’s addictive, tension-filled reading.” —BookPage

“Perfect for fans of police procedurals and British mysteries.” —Library Journal

“Haynes debuts a promising procedural series featuring a strong lead character who could just become a genre stalwart.” —Booklist

“Best-selling author Elizabeth Haynes assembles a cast of memorable characters in this gripping murder mystery that combines police procedure with romantic desire.” —National Examiner

“It’s as impressive a book, in any genre, as you will read this year. . . . And the ending will leave you breathless.” —Bookreporter.com

“Like your novels racy? If so, this one will fit the bill. . . . A strong opening to what promises to be a strong series.” —New York Journal of Books

“A captivating tale of jealousy, madness and murder that readers won’t be able to put down.” —Romantic Times Book Reviews

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062276056
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	08/18/2023
Series:	Detective Chief Inspector Louisa Smith , #1
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	373
Sales rank:	326,745
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Elizabeth Haynes is a former police intelligence analyst, a civilian role that involves determining patterns in offending and criminal behavior. She is the New York Times bestselling author of Into the Darkest Corner, Dark Tide, Human Remains, and, most recently, Under a Silent Moon, the first installment of the Briarstone crime series.

Editorial Reviews

04/01/2014
Newly promoted DCI Louisa Smith's first case is a doozy—the brutal murder of Polly Leuchars in a posh village outside London. When a second body is discovered, a victim of a supposed suicide, Lou and her team hope for a quick solution of what they presume to be a case of a murder/suicide. As the team uncovers more evidence, they find that the answer is more complicated than first appears. Polly had occupied many beds and broken many hearts, so untangling the complex web of friends, lovers, and neighbors takes some time. As Lou tries to sort out the messiness of Polly's life, she faces complications in her own love life. Andy Hamilton, the DI assigned to her case, is also Lou's former lover. Despite being burned by her involvement with Andy, Lou is attracted to Jason Mercer, the police intelligence analyst. VERDICT Haynes (Into the Darkest Corner), a police intelligence analyst herself, weaves witness statements, phone records, and software information used by real police investigations into this dark tale of murder, sex, and lies. The first in a projected series is perfect for fans of police procedurals and British mysteries. [See Prepub Alert, 10/20/13.]—Lynnanne Pearson, Skokie P.L., IL

Library Journal

02/03/2014
Bestseller Haynes (Human Remains) ventures into new territory with mixed results in her fourth crime novel. In the English village of Morden, Det. Chief Insp. Louisa “Lou” Smith leads the Major Crimes team, which is looking into the bludgeoning death of groom Polly Leuchars and the subsequent suspicious death of Polly’s neighbor, Barbara Fletcher-Norman. The officers and analysts of “Op Nettle” (the name Ops Planning assigns the Leuchars murder case) uncover a trail of connections and motivations, including sexual entanglements among the suspects and police force. While most of the police procedural elements are strong (Haynes, a police intelligence analyst, provides faux Major Crimes case diagrams in an appendix), she’s less sure in her depictions of various emotional and physical relationships. A parallel investigation into one suspect’s long-term criminal activities is promising, but lacks a satisfactory resolution. Agent: Adrian Weston, Adrian Weston Literary Agency. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

Haynes has written romantic suspense novels and psychological thrillers, but Under a Silent Moon is her first police procedural and it’s quite a departure from anything she’s done before….Should give puzzle fiends plenty to chew on.” — New York Times Book Review

“If there’s anything Haynes excels at, it’s addictive, tension-filled reading.” — BookPage

“Perfect for fans of police procedurals and British mysteries.” — Library Journal

“Haynes debuts a promising procedural series featuring a strong lead character who could just become a genre stalwart.” — Booklist

“You’ll want to stay up all night reading Under a Silent Moon. Best-selling author Elizabeth Haynes assembles a cast of memorable characters in this gripping murder mystery that combines police procedure with romantic desire.” — National Examiner

“The first in a series of police procedural mysteries that undoubtedly will significantly increase her readership while retraining those who have been with her from the beginning….It’s as impressive a book, in any genre, as you will read this year….And the ending will leave you breathless.” — Bookreporter.com

“[A] gripping page-turner.” — Crimespree Magazine

“Like your novels racy? If so, this one will fit the bill….A strong opening to what promises to be a strong series.” — New York Journal of Books

“This is an edgy, suspenseful story that will keep you up late at night, but make sure your doors are locked.” — Suspense Magazine

“Haynes deftly weaves together the instructional style of most police procedurals with a taut, suspenseful mystery. It’s a captivating tale of jealousy, madness and murder that readers won’t be able to put down.” — Romantic Times Book Reviews, 4.5 stars

From the Publisher

[A] gripping page-turner.

Crimespree Magazine

Like your novels racy? If so, this one will fit the bill….A strong opening to what promises to be a strong series.

New York Journal of Books

The first in a series of police procedural mysteries that undoubtedly will significantly increase her readership while retraining those who have been with her from the beginning….It’s as impressive a book, in any genre, as you will read this year….And the ending will leave you breathless.

Bookreporter.com

You’ll want to stay up all night reading Under a Silent Moon. Best-selling author Elizabeth Haynes assembles a cast of memorable characters in this gripping murder mystery that combines police procedure with romantic desire.

National Examiner

This is an edgy, suspenseful story that will keep you up late at night, but make sure your doors are locked.

Suspense Magazine

Haynes debuts a promising procedural series featuring a strong lead character who could just become a genre stalwart.

Booklist

Haynes has written romantic suspense novels and psychological thrillers, but Under a Silent Moon is her first police procedural and it’s quite a departure from anything she’s done before….Should give puzzle fiends plenty to chew on.

New York Times Book Review

If there’s anything Haynes excels at, it’s addictive, tension-filled reading.

BookPage

Haynes debuts a promising procedural series featuring a strong lead character who could just become a genre stalwart.

Booklist

2014-02-06
Murder and sexual intrigue rock a small British village. The day after Halloween, the Briarstone police receive a hysterical phone call from Felicity Maitland, a farm owner in the village of Morden. She's found Polly Leuchars, a young family friend working as a stable groom, bloodied and lifeless in the cottage on the Maitland property. DCI Louisa "Lou" Smith of Major Crimes, who has the lead in the murder investigation, is dismayed when Andy Hamilton is put on the case too. She and Andy have had a brief liaison, and now she's uncomfortable around him and ambivalent about the polite overtures of senior analyst Jason Mercer. But Lou doesn't have much time to think about either man. The body of the Maitlands' neighbor Barbara Fletcher-Norman is found in a car that went over a quarry cliff. Even though Polly might have had an affair with Barbara's husband, Barbara's implication in Polly's murder seems a little too convenient. After all, Polly seems to have had affairs with half the villagers, including Felicity Maitland's daughter, Flora, and a shadowy, sexually compelling lover for whom Polly threw Flora over. Although Jason is on hand to provide more than analytical support, Lou can't fully take him up on his offer while she's pursuing a murder, a possible suicide and illegal business dealings. An open ending suggests a sequel for Lou and a consummated romance, although readers who've been hooked by the buildup might feel cheated of a stronger resolution this time. Police analyst Haynes (Into the Darkest Corner, 2013, etc.) includes official-looking documents and reports to add veracity to the dual cases, which would have been just as convincing and considerably peppier without the impersonal police blotterese.

Kirkus Reviews