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Switch
Mari Ellwyn and Derek Abernathy return to track a string of unsettling bank robberies. Their case takes a dark turn with the bizarre disappearance of a body from the local morgue, a mystery connected to the vanishing of the previous Medical Examiner, Dr. Camille Bota. Their investigation plunges them into the dangerous world of a multi-national organization involved in suspected fraud and fringe technology research. For Mari, the case ignites a personal quest, forcing her to confront the long-unresolved disappearance of her father, CIA operative Richard Ellwyn.
The deeper she digs, the more Mari realizes that both she and her father are inextricably linked to their lifelong nemesis, the notorious international crime boss Jacques Martel. The missing body and the secrets surrounding Dr. Bota become entangled with her father's shadowy past and Martel's deadly machinations. In a high-stakes collision of family secrets and criminal enterprise, Mari must confront her father and their shared enemy before they both become casualties in Martel's lethal game.
The deeper she digs, the more Mari realizes that both she and her father are inextricably linked to their lifelong nemesis, the notorious international crime boss Jacques Martel. The missing body and the secrets surrounding Dr. Bota become entangled with her father's shadowy past and Martel's deadly machinations. In a high-stakes collision of family secrets and criminal enterprise, Mari must confront her father and their shared enemy before they both become casualties in Martel's lethal game.
360 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 30, 2025
4 people are currently reading
34 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Towles
12 books165 followersLisa Towles is an award-winning crime novelist and a passionate speaker on the topics of fiction writing, creativity, and self care. She has eleven crime thrillers in print including Terror Bay - a psychological thriller published in November of 2023. Her previous thriller, Salt Island, was the winner of The BookFest, Pencraft, Readers Choice, Readers Favorite, and Literary Titan awards. The Ridders (November, 2022) won an American Fiction Award, and her psychological thriller Hot House (June 2022) was a #1 Amazon Kindle Bestseller. Lisa is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers and is deeply committed to supporting other writers. She is Board President of a Bay Area nonprofit (Bridgegood.org) and speaks frequently to groups of business leaders and writers about her platform Strategic Self Care. She has an MBA in IT Management and works full-time in the tech industry in the San Francisco Bay area. Learn more at www.lisatowles.com, strategicselfcare.blog, or follow Lisa on social media: linktr.ee/authortowles.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 7, 2025
By Ada Jenkins:
As a former CIA operative turned private investigator, Mari Ellwyn is well-acquainted with dangerous situations. Running E&A Investigations with her business partner, Derek Abernathy (an ex-homicide detective), she is tasked with catching the notoriously elusive mastermind behind numerous high-profile bank robberies. However, when Chief Medical Examiner, Dr. Camille Bota, goes missing, Mari is plunged into a dark, tangled web of secrets, lies, subterfuge, and murder.
Although Switch is the third installment in the E&A Investigations Thriller Series by Lisa Towles, it can easily be read as a standalone novel. Indeed, this intellectually stimulating, highly sophisticated story will most likely induce you to read the first two books in the series.
In a skillful balance of psychologically on-point characterization and a watertight plot that keeps you guessing at every turn, the reader is drawn into the high-stakes world of Mari Ellwyn. Working alongside others as a private investigator, Mari is a force to be reckoned with. She’s a strong female protagonist, capable of standing her ground under any circumstances. Recovering from injuries sustained during a recent attempt on her life, she is also a relatable character, which allows us to root for her as she unravels an increasingly complex case.
Building layer upon layer of intrigue—with one question leading to another—the plot branches out, creating a clever network of possibilities that keeps the reader guessing from one chapter to the next. Dual plotlines unfold side by side, with Mari attempting to ensnare the “phantom” bank robber (Traeger) on the one hand, while also attempting to get to the bottom of Camille’s disappearance and solve the mystery of the missing dead body. The author weaves these strands together with finesse, keeping the reader hovering in suspense as pieces of the puzzle start to come together.
What makes this book stand out is the way it draws upon real-life details, immersing us even further by adding a sense of authenticity to the plot. For example, the inclusion of technical forensic terms (such as “ligature marks” and “petechial hemorrhages”), combined with a copy of the Medical Examiner’s initial report, allows us, as readers, to feel as if we are experiencing this key development alongside Mari. Moreover, technological expertise, including knowledge around espionage, all relates back to real world information, making this a deeply engaging, contemporary novel.
A focus on criminal activities, investigations, fraud, and fringe technology research will make this a solid choice for fans of crime or technological thrillers. The swift pace and plot-focused structure—with many unexpected turning points and revelations along the way—will keep readers enthralled throughout. I also think that those who favor crime fiction will enjoy this story, due to the inclusion of forensic science alongside real-world investigative techniques.
Lisa Towles’ Switch is a gloriously compelling novel, guaranteed to hold the reader in its inimitable grasp from start to finish. This edge-of-your-seat techno-thriller is a prime example of addictive fiction at its best. Towles is a prolific storyteller, capable of combining a highly stratified, razor-sharp plot with simmering suspense and dramatic tension.
---------------------------------
By Demetria Head:
Switch, the third book in the E & A Investigations Thriller Series by Lisa Towles, is a technological thriller that blends action, technology, danger, and family trauma. In my opinion, this is a sophisticated and suspenseful thriller that also shares a lot of self-reflective moments. The main character is Marissa “Mari” Ellwyn, a former intelligence operative struggling with her past and present.
The book’s emotional tone is already set in the prologue, when Mari meets up with her estranged father, Richard Ellwyn, in Tortola, British Virgin Islands. She struggles with forgiving him after he abandoned her and her mother twenty years ago. I love how the setting and description of the Caribbean drastically contrast with the internal turmoil that Mari is feeling. Towles also creates tension and a back-and-forth power play between father and daughter. For example, Mari deliberately arrives early and lets Richard believe he’s a few minutes late; he wears a too-crisp blue suit, then she drops the bomb, “You’re a spy,” she says, to which he replies, “Yes. I am. What of it?” You can feel the tension in that entire exchange.
By the time readers get into the opening chapters, there’s already some sort of action going on. Doctors are working on Mari after she’s been pinned by a hit-and-run vehicle in Ventura. This scene takes readers through a raw and fragmented experience with Mari. We’re taken inside her body and disoriented mind, while she’s being intubated, surrounded by voices and antiseptic smells. It’s an extremely visceral scene that’s intensified by emotions when Mari recalls her mom’s abduction yet senses her presence, including the smell of her perfume. Towles used the perfect moment to soften the adrenaline just a bit by adding memory and meaning to this scene.
The best part of this story is when the conspiracies begin to unfold while Mari is back home, healing and working from bed. There’s nothing like receiving cryptic clues about a bullet casing that’s tied to a murder from long ago. Mari begins to question her father’s CIA past and this mysterious Jacques Martel. There’s a lot going on in the meat of the book with Mari watching Traeger on surveillance because he and his cronies are believed to be responsible for a slew of bank robberies.
Then there’s the awkward pathologist, Linus “Lin” Hagen, who works for Mari’s former childhood friend and medical examiner Camille Bota. He needs her help in a strange John Doe case. Then Mari finds out that Camille is missing and possibly in danger. So much unravels while Mari is trying to balance the big Traeger case, find a longtime friend, deal with family trauma and secrets, and heal all at once. She’s a very relatable character who reminds me of every woman who finds themselves powering through life as it comes at them in every direction.
Towles also develops a strong foundation early on with the tense and creepy scenes at the Ellwyn Estate, Mari’s tense exchange with Ivan from the FBI, and the near break-in of her home. It’s almost like she’s being watched, manipulated, and is one step behind in a much larger game. But that’s what makes this thriller so intense.
While I absolutely love technology and corporate espionage fused into a narrative, it may still overwhelm some readers who are not familiar with things such as quantum computing or high-level security leaks. Just adding a bit more clarity or even a summary to Mari’s internal dialogue would help readers to further understand the terminology and how this ties in to the high emotional stakes of the story.
Overall, Switch is well-written, and I enjoyed how Lisa Towles was able to balance Mari’s soul-searching with her intelligence-gathering abilities. It showcases a good balance of spy fiction, tech thriller, and family drama. Readers who enjoy books filled with raw emotion like Tana French, or tech thrills like Daniel Suarez’s books, or even the tension of a Jason Matthews novel, will definitely enjoy Switch.
As a former CIA operative turned private investigator, Mari Ellwyn is well-acquainted with dangerous situations. Running E&A Investigations with her business partner, Derek Abernathy (an ex-homicide detective), she is tasked with catching the notoriously elusive mastermind behind numerous high-profile bank robberies. However, when Chief Medical Examiner, Dr. Camille Bota, goes missing, Mari is plunged into a dark, tangled web of secrets, lies, subterfuge, and murder.
Although Switch is the third installment in the E&A Investigations Thriller Series by Lisa Towles, it can easily be read as a standalone novel. Indeed, this intellectually stimulating, highly sophisticated story will most likely induce you to read the first two books in the series.
In a skillful balance of psychologically on-point characterization and a watertight plot that keeps you guessing at every turn, the reader is drawn into the high-stakes world of Mari Ellwyn. Working alongside others as a private investigator, Mari is a force to be reckoned with. She’s a strong female protagonist, capable of standing her ground under any circumstances. Recovering from injuries sustained during a recent attempt on her life, she is also a relatable character, which allows us to root for her as she unravels an increasingly complex case.
Building layer upon layer of intrigue—with one question leading to another—the plot branches out, creating a clever network of possibilities that keeps the reader guessing from one chapter to the next. Dual plotlines unfold side by side, with Mari attempting to ensnare the “phantom” bank robber (Traeger) on the one hand, while also attempting to get to the bottom of Camille’s disappearance and solve the mystery of the missing dead body. The author weaves these strands together with finesse, keeping the reader hovering in suspense as pieces of the puzzle start to come together.
What makes this book stand out is the way it draws upon real-life details, immersing us even further by adding a sense of authenticity to the plot. For example, the inclusion of technical forensic terms (such as “ligature marks” and “petechial hemorrhages”), combined with a copy of the Medical Examiner’s initial report, allows us, as readers, to feel as if we are experiencing this key development alongside Mari. Moreover, technological expertise, including knowledge around espionage, all relates back to real world information, making this a deeply engaging, contemporary novel.
A focus on criminal activities, investigations, fraud, and fringe technology research will make this a solid choice for fans of crime or technological thrillers. The swift pace and plot-focused structure—with many unexpected turning points and revelations along the way—will keep readers enthralled throughout. I also think that those who favor crime fiction will enjoy this story, due to the inclusion of forensic science alongside real-world investigative techniques.
Lisa Towles’ Switch is a gloriously compelling novel, guaranteed to hold the reader in its inimitable grasp from start to finish. This edge-of-your-seat techno-thriller is a prime example of addictive fiction at its best. Towles is a prolific storyteller, capable of combining a highly stratified, razor-sharp plot with simmering suspense and dramatic tension.
---------------------------------
By Demetria Head:
Switch, the third book in the E & A Investigations Thriller Series by Lisa Towles, is a technological thriller that blends action, technology, danger, and family trauma. In my opinion, this is a sophisticated and suspenseful thriller that also shares a lot of self-reflective moments. The main character is Marissa “Mari” Ellwyn, a former intelligence operative struggling with her past and present.
The book’s emotional tone is already set in the prologue, when Mari meets up with her estranged father, Richard Ellwyn, in Tortola, British Virgin Islands. She struggles with forgiving him after he abandoned her and her mother twenty years ago. I love how the setting and description of the Caribbean drastically contrast with the internal turmoil that Mari is feeling. Towles also creates tension and a back-and-forth power play between father and daughter. For example, Mari deliberately arrives early and lets Richard believe he’s a few minutes late; he wears a too-crisp blue suit, then she drops the bomb, “You’re a spy,” she says, to which he replies, “Yes. I am. What of it?” You can feel the tension in that entire exchange.
By the time readers get into the opening chapters, there’s already some sort of action going on. Doctors are working on Mari after she’s been pinned by a hit-and-run vehicle in Ventura. This scene takes readers through a raw and fragmented experience with Mari. We’re taken inside her body and disoriented mind, while she’s being intubated, surrounded by voices and antiseptic smells. It’s an extremely visceral scene that’s intensified by emotions when Mari recalls her mom’s abduction yet senses her presence, including the smell of her perfume. Towles used the perfect moment to soften the adrenaline just a bit by adding memory and meaning to this scene.
The best part of this story is when the conspiracies begin to unfold while Mari is back home, healing and working from bed. There’s nothing like receiving cryptic clues about a bullet casing that’s tied to a murder from long ago. Mari begins to question her father’s CIA past and this mysterious Jacques Martel. There’s a lot going on in the meat of the book with Mari watching Traeger on surveillance because he and his cronies are believed to be responsible for a slew of bank robberies.
Then there’s the awkward pathologist, Linus “Lin” Hagen, who works for Mari’s former childhood friend and medical examiner Camille Bota. He needs her help in a strange John Doe case. Then Mari finds out that Camille is missing and possibly in danger. So much unravels while Mari is trying to balance the big Traeger case, find a longtime friend, deal with family trauma and secrets, and heal all at once. She’s a very relatable character who reminds me of every woman who finds themselves powering through life as it comes at them in every direction.
Towles also develops a strong foundation early on with the tense and creepy scenes at the Ellwyn Estate, Mari’s tense exchange with Ivan from the FBI, and the near break-in of her home. It’s almost like she’s being watched, manipulated, and is one step behind in a much larger game. But that’s what makes this thriller so intense.
While I absolutely love technology and corporate espionage fused into a narrative, it may still overwhelm some readers who are not familiar with things such as quantum computing or high-level security leaks. Just adding a bit more clarity or even a summary to Mari’s internal dialogue would help readers to further understand the terminology and how this ties in to the high emotional stakes of the story.
Overall, Switch is well-written, and I enjoyed how Lisa Towles was able to balance Mari’s soul-searching with her intelligence-gathering abilities. It showcases a good balance of spy fiction, tech thriller, and family drama. Readers who enjoy books filled with raw emotion like Tana French, or tech thrills like Daniel Suarez’s books, or even the tension of a Jason Matthews novel, will definitely enjoy Switch.
September 30, 2025
5+ Stars
Lisa Towles writes a masterful thrilling tale in Switch.
In Switch, the reader is brought into the lives of Marissa Ellwyn and Derek Abernathy, an investigative duo that has great chemistry and are the perfect complement for each other, especially in times of danger. I haven't read anything by this author before, and what a hidden gem. I enjoyed it so much, that I have now followed the author and look for more books to read. Switch is part of the E&A Investigations Thriller Series, and this is volume three. I am reading them out of order, but as soon as I can, I'm starting at book one. I just became a big fan of Lisa Towles and want to read whatever this author writes. This author has a grand imagination, and talent for showing the story. The book is a techno crime thriller, full of suspense, and intrigue. I like the how the minds work of Marissa and Derek. This is one of those books that deserve more than five stars, so it is definitely 5 plus stars, and if the others are just as good, Towles has a new reader for her work. Unpredictable, with twists all the way to the end. Enter in the secrets of the Proxix corporation, and its new quantum computer, referred to as Switch. The pace of the story is perfect for this story, and it keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. Each word is savored, looking for the next one, and anticipation of what comes next. Both thrilling and alluring, all the way to the end. Some of the pages, you end up reading slower than others, so not to miss anything. Switch is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews. I read this book to give my unbiased and honest review. Amy's Bookshelf Reviews recommends that anyone who reads this book, please be kind, and write a review.
Lisa Towles writes a masterful thrilling tale in Switch.
In Switch, the reader is brought into the lives of Marissa Ellwyn and Derek Abernathy, an investigative duo that has great chemistry and are the perfect complement for each other, especially in times of danger. I haven't read anything by this author before, and what a hidden gem. I enjoyed it so much, that I have now followed the author and look for more books to read. Switch is part of the E&A Investigations Thriller Series, and this is volume three. I am reading them out of order, but as soon as I can, I'm starting at book one. I just became a big fan of Lisa Towles and want to read whatever this author writes. This author has a grand imagination, and talent for showing the story. The book is a techno crime thriller, full of suspense, and intrigue. I like the how the minds work of Marissa and Derek. This is one of those books that deserve more than five stars, so it is definitely 5 plus stars, and if the others are just as good, Towles has a new reader for her work. Unpredictable, with twists all the way to the end. Enter in the secrets of the Proxix corporation, and its new quantum computer, referred to as Switch. The pace of the story is perfect for this story, and it keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. Each word is savored, looking for the next one, and anticipation of what comes next. Both thrilling and alluring, all the way to the end. Some of the pages, you end up reading slower than others, so not to miss anything. Switch is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews. I read this book to give my unbiased and honest review. Amy's Bookshelf Reviews recommends that anyone who reads this book, please be kind, and write a review.
October 3, 2025
A Fast-paced page turner that will keep you guessing
Lisa Towles’ Switch is a taut, high-stakes thriller that wastes no time plunging the reader into danger. From the very first chapter, we’re immersed in the fractured world of Mari Ellwyn, an investigator grappling with a violent hit-and-run, a missing mother, and a web of secrets tied to her enigmatic ex-CIA father. Towles crafts her narrative with cinematic intensity: hospital scenes pulse with urgency, while the eerie knocks in the family estate echo with psychological dread.
What makes this novel stand out is its layered tension. It isn’t just about chasing criminals; it’s about unraveling betrayal, confronting fractured family ties, and questioning the thin line between truth and manipulation. Towles writes her protagonist as both vulnerable and razor-sharp, creating a heroine readers can root for even as she navigates trauma and uncertainty. The supporting cast, including partners, suspects, and possible traitors, adds to the shifting ground beneath the reader’s feet.
Fans of thrillers will find much to love here: adrenaline-fueled sequences, morally ambiguous characters, and a steady escalation of stakes that leaves you second-guessing every motive. Switch doesn’t just tell a story, it traps you inside it, demanding you keep turning pages until the last reveal. A gripping, intelligent thriller not to be missed.
Lisa Towles’ Switch is a taut, high-stakes thriller that wastes no time plunging the reader into danger. From the very first chapter, we’re immersed in the fractured world of Mari Ellwyn, an investigator grappling with a violent hit-and-run, a missing mother, and a web of secrets tied to her enigmatic ex-CIA father. Towles crafts her narrative with cinematic intensity: hospital scenes pulse with urgency, while the eerie knocks in the family estate echo with psychological dread.
What makes this novel stand out is its layered tension. It isn’t just about chasing criminals; it’s about unraveling betrayal, confronting fractured family ties, and questioning the thin line between truth and manipulation. Towles writes her protagonist as both vulnerable and razor-sharp, creating a heroine readers can root for even as she navigates trauma and uncertainty. The supporting cast, including partners, suspects, and possible traitors, adds to the shifting ground beneath the reader’s feet.
Fans of thrillers will find much to love here: adrenaline-fueled sequences, morally ambiguous characters, and a steady escalation of stakes that leaves you second-guessing every motive. Switch doesn’t just tell a story, it traps you inside it, demanding you keep turning pages until the last reveal. A gripping, intelligent thriller not to be missed.
September 30, 2025
Switch is an intelligent, tightly written story with a rich atmosphere and simmering tension that kept me turning pages. Mari is a heroine you can’t help but root for—even when her choices are messy, they’re deeply human.
The cast is wonderfully multidimensional and diverse. Jazmin, in particular, shines as a sharp, ambitious character whose brilliance is entirely her own. Towles avoids tired tropes and instead gives us a portrayal that feels fresh and powerful. Duga’s multicultural background is handled with nuance and warmth, while Derek’s sharp-edged banter adds both humor and tension. Even the quieter moments—navigating post-breakup awkwardness or unexpected attraction—ring true and ground the story emotionally.
This is a thriller that delivers both adrenaline and depth. For readers who crave inclusive, character-driven stories with sharp dialogue and layered suspense, Switch is an absolute standout.
The cast is wonderfully multidimensional and diverse. Jazmin, in particular, shines as a sharp, ambitious character whose brilliance is entirely her own. Towles avoids tired tropes and instead gives us a portrayal that feels fresh and powerful. Duga’s multicultural background is handled with nuance and warmth, while Derek’s sharp-edged banter adds both humor and tension. Even the quieter moments—navigating post-breakup awkwardness or unexpected attraction—ring true and ground the story emotionally.
This is a thriller that delivers both adrenaline and depth. For readers who crave inclusive, character-driven stories with sharp dialogue and layered suspense, Switch is an absolute standout.
October 24, 2025
Lisa Towles does it again with the third installment of her E&A Investigations series, Switch. This is a fast-paced thriller that checks all the boxes. Mari Ellwyn, our protagonist. finds herself recovering from a hit-and-run designed to kill her. The hit failed, but left her physically compromised as she tries to find out how and who killed the marketing director of a shady tech firm. Aside from her team, no one involved in this case is telling the truth. It’s more a question of the liars refusing to tell the truth because they are terrified that they will be next, or are they lying to set up Mari and her team to be eliminated before they find out too much? And then her arch-nemesis shows up, the man who shoots to kill.
September 30, 2025
The sign of a good series is that when it ends, you wish there was more. And in the case of Switch the final novel in Lisa Towles E&A trilogy, that is the case. Towles again displays great storytelling and intrigue as she moves the readers through page after page. Her plot ideas are always unique. And she is excellent at humanizing her characters. Lisa never disappoints.
October 6, 2025
Towles has the unique ability to spin a tale with more twists and turns than a rollercoaster. I always enjoy her novels and this one was an exciting way to cap her trilogy.
December 9, 2025
Okay this book was so intriguing! Hard to put down! This one will have you turning pages and forgetting your daily duties!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews