What Lies Beneath

Lancaster Falls, Book 1

De: RJ Scott

Narrado por: Sean Crisden

In the hottest summer on record, Iron Lake reservoir is emptying, revealing secrets that were intended to stay hidden beneath the water.

Best-selling horror writer Chris Lassiter struggles for inspiration and he's close to never writing again. His life has become an endless loop of nothing but empty pages, personal appearances, and a marketing machine that is systematically destroying his muse. In a desperate attempt to force Chris to complete unfinished manuscripts his agent buys a remote cabin. All Chris has to do is hide away and write, but he's lost his muse, and not even he can make stories appear from thin air.

Sawyer Wiseman left town for Chicago, chasing the excitement and potential of being a big city cop, rising the ranks, and making his mark. A case gone horribly wrong draws him back to Lancaster Falls. Working for the tiny police department in the town he'd been running from, digging into cold cases and police corruption, he spends his day's healing, and his nights hoping the nightmares of his last case leave him alone.

Contains mature themes.

©2019 RJ Scott (P)2019 Tantor

A very intriguing thriller with a cliffhanger

I can be short about this: this book is a very captivating narrative of all the things that lie beneath the everyday surface goings on in a small town. The love story between Chris snd Sawyer sounds a bit bloodless, a bit like "oh yes I have to somehow write that in". The emphasis is definitely on the unravelling crime plot. The book ends on a cliffhanger, and I'm very curious to hear how it all unfolds and if the relationship between Chris and Sawyer develops a bit more.
The narrator is not my favourite. After a while listening his voice becomes a bit of a drone.

Good Book ... Great Audio!

I thoroughly enjoyed he book when I read it a while back so when the audio became available on Audible I couldn't resist. Any time I enjoy a book and then find the audio (especially when it is narrated by Sean Crisden) I can't resist.

A thoroughly enjoyable mystery . . . but you have to read the other Lancaster Falls books to get the whole story!!!

Wow, great story and I can't wait for the next one

I reviewed this book when it was published in July 2019 and now, I've had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook, performed by the fantastic Sean Crisden. A great narrator can sometimes turn a mediocre book into one that is OK but a great narrator can also make a fantastic book even better and Sean Crisden has done just that.

Below is a copy of my original review from back in July. I loved this story then and I loved it all over again while I listened to it.

* * * * *
I knew before I started this book that it was the first in a trilogy. So, I didn't expect everything to be tied up and answered in What Lies Beneath. I'm not sure I would exactly classify it as a cliffhanger, but be warned that all questions aren't answered in this book. There is a HFN for the main couple in the story.

Now that I have that obligatory cliffhanger statement out of the way I have to emphasize how great this story is; maybe one of RJ's best books, and it's certainly a fantastic start to a new series. Whenever I read a book where one of the main characters is an author, I always have to wonder how much of the character comes from the real life of the book's author? I have no clue about this one.

Best-selling horror writer Chris Lassiter is suffering from writer's block. I follow RJ Scott pretty closely but I can't recall if she's ever mentioned suffering from this malady. In any case, Chris's problem is somewhat integral to the story and I found reading about his difficulty fascinating.

Sawyer Wiseman is originally from Lancaster Falls but he left to become a cop in Chicago. He returns to Lancaster Falls several years later and is now a Lieutenant on the local police force. We know that he's suffering because of something that happened in Chicago but it's a bit into the story before all is revealed.

RJ's books often have me dissolving into tears or sobs at some point but this one didn't and I still loved it. I think because the story was so suspenseful that the mystery and suspense was really my main focus and not so much the emotional stuff like is usual. Towards the end however, the familiar emotional reaction finally made itself known and the tears fell.

The mystery, actually multiple mysteries, is yet to be solved but reading the story of Chris and Sawyer's developing relationship and finally, their declaration of love, was just perfect. Enough loose threads of the story were tied up that I'm not dying from a typical cliffhanger feeling, but I surely can't wait to get my hands on the next book, Without a Trace.

A copy of this audiobook was provided to me but my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author/narrator.

***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions dot com***

So exciting

Man, this book had me hooked from beginning to end. RJ Scott did a fantastic job with everything. Sawyer and Chris had amazing chemistry from the start. Its easy to convey lust but there was more here than just sex. Their attraction and feelings for each other were obvious. The mystery was also well constructed as was the sub plots and supporting characters. I wish book two was already in audio because I can't wait to find out what happens next.

Absolutely loved this book

I do really like RJ Scott’s books but this one was exceptional. I have not listened to one of her books in a few months and when I did, I was blown away by her brilliance. I can’t wait to continue this story. Buy this book - you will not be disappointed. I always said that On A Rainy Afternoon was my favourite story by her but this one is right up there.

Good, 4.5, lots of focus on MCs and what they do

This is about a writer and a cop coming together in a realistic way. Each is focused on their work and not as much on each other because this is an actual crime novel over a romance novel with the crime almost hidden from the reader behind fun and games. It's enjoyable as an MM crime novel and I'll listen again. I like Sean Crisden's voice for this. It's purposely a cop's voice as brought to us in novels through time. Different inflections, but I think he sounds a lot like Bogart. I added other books to my wish list.

Took a long time!

I struggled with the characters attraction at first, but I was finally convinced, and have just purchased the 2nd book of what seems to be a trilogy. Narration I loved. 🤠

loved it - need more !!!

Would I listen to it again: absolutely ✔
Did the story keep me engaged: completely ✔
Was I invested in the characters: totally ✔

📖 This book had me hooked from Chapter 1. It was the fastest 5 hours I can remember and I wish it had been longer. The characters are engaging, the pace was good and the plot is intriguing. I wish RJ would write the actual story Chris is writing .. his words were giving me chills.

🎧🎧 Sean Crisden is among my favorite narrators. He's a master storyteller and his rhythm, cadence of voice, the way he builds tension and makes clear what is inner monologue, are all present as he brings 'What Lies Beneath' to life. Each character had his own voice and personality which comes through in the narration and I was completely immersed in the story. 👍👍

I'm diving straight into book 2. 😊

An amazing story

I got to tell you I was captivated by as soon as I heard the first sentence. I love Sean crisden but I also loved the way rj’s words just made sense being spoken by his voice. I’mm really sad that we don’t know what happened to KC yet.

LOVED IT

I love a good plot driven book with secondary romance. As always Sean was excellent. I will be getting the other audio's on this series.