Deception by Denise Mina

 

No one would have predicted it.  When Lochlan and Susie Harriot married, the predictions were for success.  Now, a few years later, they have a small daughter and Susie is a doctor while Lachlan is a stay at home dad and a writer.  Susie is a forensic psychologist and her job is writing reports for the courts after interviewing serious offenders, including killers.  Her most recent subject was Andrew Gow, who is imprisoned for killing five prostitutes.  

But things have gone horribly wrong.  After Dr. Harriot's review, she becomes involved with Gow.  The other staff at the hospital question if she has even become obsessed with him.  He marries a woman, Donna, who wrote to him and then formed a relationship with Andrew.  Susie seems upset about this relationship and when Andrew is eventually paroled and goes off with Donna, Susie's world collapses.  She loses her job because she has taken Andrew's files from the hospital and refuses to return them or even acknowledge that she has them.

Then the worst occurs.  Susie gets a phone call one day.  She tells Lachlan she is headed out for groceries but instead drives eight hours to the remote Scottish village where Andrew and Donna have gone.  Three hours after arriving, she is arrested in the local pub, covered in Andrew Gow's blood.  Donna is nowhere to be found but suspected to be dead along with Andrew.  Now Susie has been charged with Andrew's murder and is on trial.  She is convicted and sent to prison.

Lachlan isn't sure where all of this leaves him.  He doesn't believe Susie is guilty and is determined to prove her innocence.  But as he delves into Susie's world through her papers and computer, he starts to question everything he knows.  What is the truth about the murder of Andrew Gow?

This novel is one of Mina's earlier works.  The slow reveal of the things Lachlan finds out about his wife is one that will intrigue readers.  He finds out more than he ever wanted both about her relationship with a serial killer and her true feelings about her life with him and their daughter.  The resolution is satisfying.  This book is recommended for mystery readers.