‘Not Who We Expected’ by Lisa Black. Kensington, 320 pages, $28
Finding a young woman who has gone off the grid isn’t the usual case for the Locard Institute, “a center for forensic research, training, and investigation” just outside Washington, D.C. But then mega-rock singer Billy Diamond isn’t the institute’s usual client in Lisa Black’s tightly coiled “Not Who We Expected.”
Crime expert Rachael Davies agrees to speak with Billy because she’s a huge fan and he’s promised “the kind of fee that could launch a new research study.” Plus, Rachael has a soft spot for missing children.
Despite being preoccupied with the chaos of preparing for his first solo tour after leaving his widely popular band, Chimera, Billy is worried that he can’t reach his normally level-headed daughter, Devon. The 19-year-old and her boyfriend, Carlos, have left Yale to join Today’s Enlightenment, a health retreat in rural Nevada not far from Reno. Devon, Billy explains, has avoided the usual trappings of being “a celebrity kid” — she concentrated on her studies, didn’t do drugs, and she typically doesn’t “trade” on her father’s fame.
At first, he worried because she didn’t return his calls. But that worry has gone into overdrive upon learning that Carlos’ body was found in the Truckee River.
Rachael can’t leave as she’s raising her late sister’s 2-year-old son, so she persuades her younger colleague, Ellie Carr, to go undercover at Today’s Enlightenment. Rachael believes Ellie will be able to more readily connect with Devon because she’s under 30.
As a former FBI agent, Ellie can take care of herself. At first, she doesn’t think the retreat is a cult, more of a low-rent “White Lotus” setting that’s “simply capitalizing on the American obsession with self-improvement and success,” led by the charismatic yet egotistical Galen. And Devon seems to be content, staying there voluntarily. But Ellie’s opinion begins to change the more time she spends at Today’s Enlightenment.
Black skillfully layers the tension in each chapter as Ellie learns more about the retreat’s attendees and their devotion to Galen, who seems to have no past other than what’s mentioned on the retreat’s website.
Black injects sturdy, involving pacing to this fourth novel about the crime experts at the Locard Institute. Although Rachael and Ellie are working separately in “Not Who We Expected,” their respect for each other and intelligence permeate the suspense-laden plot.
About the author
Lisa Black, who lives near Fort Myers, is the current president of the Mystery Writers of America’s Florida Chapter, which sponsors Sleuthfest, the annual writers’ conference. In the past, it has been held in South Florida, but this year’s Sleuthfest will be in St. Petersburg. Set for May 15 to 18 at the Hilton St. Petersburg Bayfront, Sleuthfest features an array of published authors, forensic experts, agents, marketing experts and publicists. Lisa Unger will be the guest of honor. Visit sleuthfest.com.