False Pretense by Heather Day Gilbert is the final segment in (Book 4) A Murder in the Mountains Series.
Tess Spencer is wife to running-for-Prosecutor Thomas Spencer, mom of two, and works at the police station as Detective Zeke's "office" assistant. Her innate ability to deduce certain motivations of the criminal types often brings Zeke to discuss cases with her. This latest one presents a dramatic twist when a legendary "Mothman'' creature familiar to the area's folklore appears to one of the locals in the woods bordering her home just prior to a missing girl's last seen whereabouts. When the search for her lengthens, people can't help but wonder if the Mothman is responsible.
Written in first person, Heather brings Tess alive with her perceptions, empathy, devotion to her husband and children, and deep concerns for her beloved mother-in-law. I love the inter-action between her and Thomas - it's real, flirty, full of love and mutual respect. Tess is tough, but she's likewise fragile when it comes to threats to her family. The Mothman sighting is beyond strange but not far-fetched in that "he" appeared to the local woman who reported it - but what is "he" really?
It's a deadly, fantastical story where the motive is difficult to discover and makes operating under a "false pretense" a given. Once Tess realizes the source and reason for this deadly "game", the only mystery left concerns the reality of the Mothman. And he's definitely real.
False Pretense is the perfect conclusion to this series. I recommend you start at the beginning to understand Tess and her family's dynamic. It's a wonderful series for mystery lovers who enjoy "real" characters experiencing unusual situations that cause harm and require determined efforts for resolution. From the beginning, this series depicts the growth of family and friendships when prior pain has inhibited those crucial elements. I recommend A Murder in the Mountains Series from start to finish.
Father, you know the trials Heather's faced recently. You've made her tough and given her the strength she needs to continue to write the stories you have for her to tell. Please continue to bless her body, soul, and spirit, and give her all that she needs to do what you have for her. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.