Longlisted for the McIlvanney Prize 2020

Quiet towns keep big secrets.

Private investigator Jessica Shaw is leading a quiet life in a Californian desert community, where she spends her days working low-level cases. But when a former resident asks Jessica to help her sister, Rue Hunter―a convicted murderer whose execution is days away―Jessica can’t resist the offer.

Rue doesn’t remember what happened the night two high school students were killed thirty years ago, but everybody in town is certain she’s guilty. As Jessica looks for answers, she finds that local rumors point one way and evidence points another. And nobody wants to face the truth. Meanwhile, Jessica can’t shake the feeling that someone is stalking her―now more than ever, she knows she can’t trust anyone.

As Jessica digs deeper, she encounters local secrets in unlikely places―including the police department itself. But the clock is ticking, and Jessica must find the truth fast―or Rue’s bad memory may be the death of them both.

Review

Praise for Bad Memory :

“The very best sort of detective fiction: gritty, real and gripping with a brilliantly-realized main character.” —Cass Green, Sunday Times bestselling author

“A fast-paced, perfectly plotted killer of a thriller with a fantastic female lead and a cracking premise.” —S.J.I. Holliday

“If you like your mysteries full of twists and turns then look no further than Bad Memory…I couldn’t put it down!” —Jane Isaac, author of A Deathly Silence

Praise for Thin Air :

“One of this year’s best new thrillers…” — Evening Standard

“You’ll find this one hard to put down.” — Daily Record

“Lisa Gray explodes onto the literary stage with this taut, edge-of-the-seat thriller, and her headstrong protagonist Jessica Shaw, reminiscent of Lee Child’s Jack Reacher, delivers a serious punch.” —Robert Dugoni, New York Times bestselling author

“Mazey Los Angeles noir for fans of Sara Gran. I’m liking it a lot.” —Ian Rankin, bestselling author of the Inspector Rebus series

“ Thin Air is an exciting whodunit that kept me guessing until the end. PI Jessica Shaw is so capable and strong, I couldn’t get enough of her!” —T.R. Ragan, bestselling author of the Lizzy Gardner series

“ Thin Air is an assured and fast-paced debut with a compelling central character and plenty of twists to keep you guessing until the very end.” —Victoria Selman, author of Blood for Blood

“An assured and explosive debut with a premise that grabs you by the throat and refuses to let go. The pace never drops as it hurtles to a stunning conclusion.” —Craig Robertson, author of The Photographer

“Smart, sassy, and adrenaline-fueled, this kick-ass debut is a must-read for thriller fans.” —Steph Broadribb, author of Deep Down Dead

“Lisa Gray’s thriller is so assured it’s hard to believe it’s a debut. It’s so fast-paced it should be pulled over for speeding!” —Douglas Skelton, author of The Janus Run

About the Author

Lisa Gray has been writing professionally for years, serving as the chief Scottish soccer writer at the Press Association and the books editor at the Daily Record Saturday Magazine. Lisa currently works as a journalist for the Daily Record and Sunday Mail. She is also the author of Thin Air. Learn more at www.lisagraywriter.com.