I’m thrilled to bring you an excerpt from J.T. Ellison’s newest thriller, Lie To Me.
Follow along the excerpt tour beginning in August, with long excerpts in consecutive order at each tour stop, followed by a review tour beginning on 9/5, release day!
Now on to the excerpt from Lie To Me:
He switched to the investment account. This one was much more complicated, with multiple sub-accounts, separate ones for tax and investments, the latter loaded with high-performing stocks, puts and lets and shorts. There was even one account with a separate money manager who essentially did day-trading on a variety of stocks and bonds for their well-managed portfolio. He thought it a waste, thought they should use Ivy, but Sutton had put her foot down. Money and friendship never, ever mix.
He kept scrolling. He was surprised by the balance of the managed account, much more than he’d expected.
It took him an hour to find the pattern of withdrawals, because she varied up the time of the money and the amount, and made cryptic notes in the withdrawal slips. But when all was said and done, there was at least $50,000 unaccounted for.
It wasn’t a huge sum. Truly, he could probably explain it away as incidentals, money Sutton had spent on clothes, or things for the house.
But something in him said no, mate, this is it, this is something.
He printed out the spreadsheet he’d built with all the withdrawals and their corresponding dates in it, then shut off the computer. He was barely out of the office when the phone rang.
He glanced at the caller ID. Ivy.
He grabbed the phone, ignoring his fumbling desperation. Depressed the talk button and practically shouted, “Have you heard from her?”
Ivy’s voice was smoky and low. He could hear a din in the background. She was at a conference, somewhere is Texas. Sutton had been invited—Sutton was always invited, Ivy thought the different locales good for research—but Ethan knew she’d declined this trip, saying she wasn’t in the mood to travel. She hadn’t been in the mood for much of anything lately.
“Ethan? I can’t hardly hear you.”
“I said, do you know where she is?”
“No, I don’t. There’s been no word, and her accounts are turned off. You still haven’t heard from her? Where could she have gone?”
“What do you mean, her accounts are turned off?”
“It looks like she committed social media suicide.”
“I thought she’d done that ages ago.”
“Oh. Maybe she had, I don’t keep up with Facebook like I should. Where could she be?”
“I don’t know, but I’ve been searching our bank accounts, and there’s some money missing. The note she left… Ivy, I don’t know if she’s run away or if she’s hurt herself.”
An intake of breath. “Have you called the police?”
“No. They won’t do anything, you know that. Not so soon.”
“Ethan, you need to talk to them.”
“Don’t take this the wrong way, but do you think I need to speak with a lawyer first? I assure you, I haven’t done anything wrong. There’s nothing to protect myself from. But the moment I call them, you know how this is going to look.”
To her credit, Ivy didn’t slam down the phone. Her voice got mean and tight. “Swear to me right now, Ethan Montclair, that you have not done something to my best friend.”
“My God, Ivy, of course I didn’t. I love Sutton. I’d never hurt her. I’m scared, okay? And embarrassed. I know how the world thinks. The minute I call them…”
She sighed. “They will look at you. The husband is—”
“Always the first person the police look at. I know. But I’m not worried about that. I haven’t done anything wrong. I swear. I was only thinking, just in case, a sounding board wouldn’t be a horrible idea.”
“The police may see things differently. Didn’t you guys have dinner a few months ago with Joel Robinson?”
“He’s not just a lawyer, Ivy, he’s a well-known criminal defense attorney. Wouldn’t hiring Joel look bad? I was thinking just a regular guy.”
“What, you thought you’d talk to the man who drew up the contracts on your house? Look, you’re a British national, even though you have a visa. You’re a public figure. Your wife is missing. No matter what, when you involve the police, they are going to take apart your lives. If you’re going to talk to anyone, Robinson is the best choice. Trust me.”
“Okay. I’ll call him. I promise. It’s only…”
More noise, the fever pitch growing louder, then a sudden silence. Ivy’s voice echoed. “Sorry, it’s madness here. I’m coming home right now.”
“I don’t know if there’s anything you can do to help, Ivy. I don’t need—”
“Stop it. Of course you need help. You two always need help. I’ll be there as soon as I can. Hang tight, okay?”
He couldn’t help himself, he was so grateful. Ivy was always better at handling Sutton than he was. His eyes closed and said, “Okay. Travel safely. And Ivy? Thank you.”
About LIE TO ME
- Hardcover: 384 pages
- Publisher: MIRA (September 5, 2017)
Domestic noir at its best. Readers will devour this stunning page-turner about the disintegration of a marriage as grief, jealousy, betrayal and murder destroy the facade of the perfect literary couple. New York Times bestselling author J.T. Ellison takes her exceptional writing to a new level with this breakout novel.
They built a life on lies
Sutton and Ethan Montclair’s idyllic life is not as it appears. They seem made for each other, but the truth is ugly. Consumed by professional and personal betrayals and financial woes, the two both love and hate each other. As tensions mount, Sutton disappears, leaving behind a note saying not to look for her.
Ethan finds himself the target of vicious gossip as friends, family and the media speculate on what really happened to Sutton Montclair. As the police investigate, the lies the couple have been spinning for years quickly unravel. Is Ethan a killer? Is he being set up? Did Sutton hate him enough to kill the child she never wanted and then herself? The path to the answers is full of twists that will leave the reader breathless.
“LIE TO ME twists you up, throws you into nail-biting action and unexpected revelations. Belt yourself in for this roller coaster ride.”–Catherine Coulter, #1 New York Times bestselling author of ENIGMA
“LIE TO ME brilliantly combines a domestic noir thriller with a searing portrait of two writers trapped in a web of lies, betrayals, and murder. Sharply written and masterfully plotted, full of hard truths about the creative life and modern marriage, Ellison has written her finest novel- a breakout page-turner certain to win her a wide audience.” -Jeff Abbott, New York Times bestselling author of BLAME
Find LIE TO ME
Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads
About J.T. Ellison
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author J.T. Ellison writes standalone domestic noir and psychological thriller series, the latter starring Nashville Homicide Lt. Taylor Jackson and medical examiner Dr. Samantha Owens, and pens the international thriller series “A Brit in the FBI” with #1 New York Timesbestselling author Catherine Coulter. Cohost of the Emmy Award-winning show, A Word on Words, Ellison lives in Nashville
Connect with J.T. Ellison
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
Giveaway
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J.T. Ellison’s TLC Book Tours Excerpt TOUR STOPS for Lie To Me:
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Thanks for featuring this excerpt for the tour!
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Thank you so much for featuring LIE TO ME! It’s been an honor – I really appreciate it. Hope you and your readers love the book – no lie!
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