The Lost Witness

In the shadows of an ally in Los Angeles, Detective Lena Gamble stands at a crossroads. For eight long months not a single murder case has come her way, her good name tarnished by city bosses and the dark politics of the LAPD.

But then fate deals her a hand from the cards of death. The body of a young woman—dismembered and tossed in the trash.

The only lead is delivered in secret. A mysterious courier, who drops off an envelope with a disturbing video clip. A glimpse into the murderer’s horrific world.

As Lena digs deeper, her path is fraught with whispers of a larger conspiracy. And with the body count rising, the LAPD brass and city bosses are watching and hoping for a misstep.

Yet Lena’s resolve never wavers. And when she unearths the killer’s lair—the knives, the blood, the dead girl’s clothing—she knows it’s a race against time.

She's caught in a labyrinth where every clue is a step closer to the truth, and every truth is a step closer to saving the lost witness.

Editorial Reviews

“Scorching. Deliciously twisted. Nothing is what it appears to be. Ellis succeeds masterfully in both playing fair and pulling surprise after surprise in a story that feels like a runaway car plunging down a mountain road full of switchbacks.”
—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

“Ellis serves up a killer crime tale with riveting characters and relentless twists.”
—Booklist, Starred Review

“Ellis's elaborate puzzle is a nail-biter to the final page. Great L.A. settings enhance this high-speed thriller. Recommended for all popular collections.”
—Library Journal

“Ellis piles on the Hollywood atmosphere and procedural detail, and the end revelation is expertly timed and genuinely shocking.”
—The Guardian (UK)