She Lies In Wait

The discovery of a girl’s body in the woods from a disappearance 30 years earlier, leads to the investigation re-opening and focussing again on the 6 friends who were there on that night.

After 30 years a body is discovered in a hollow in the woods. It is identified as the remains of Aurora Jackson who disappeared in 1983.  The case was one that DCI Jonah Sheers remembers from the beginning of his police career. 

Fourteen-year-old Aurora’s disappearance caused tremendous publicity in 1983, but gradually the lengthy detailed searches were curtailed, the trail turned cold, and another case came to the fore.  The teenagers who were camping in the woods with Aurora, on the night of her disappearance have since gone onto build successful careers. The tragedy seemed to have matured them, and persuaded them to work hard, and toward specific goals. They were all older than Aurora by three years or so. They included her sister, Topaz with Topaz’s best friend, Coralie; and Jojo - a sensitive down-to-earth girl.  The males in the group were, Daniel Connor and Benners and an exciting newcomer to the group, Brett. 

The narrative alternates between events at the time of Aurora’s disappearance, including from the point of view of the detectives, under Jonah Sheens.  All the characters are revealed through their words, and actions including the police contingent. 

Gradually a picture forms mainly through the discovery of a stash of drugs in the hollow that contained the body.  Other suspects appear, but the central focus remains on the 6 original friends who maintained a sturdy relationship into adulthood.

Sex, alcohol and drugs play a major role in unrolling the tapestry of the past. There are more modern events to consider too. 

The characters gradually reveal their potential motives, and the final solution ties up all loose ends very nicely, and does so with a flourish.