What do you think?
Rate this book
Summer Suspense Mysteries #5
The Lizard
Listening Length: 6 hours and 47 minutes
There’s nothing so deadly as the sea, and the man who survives it...
Bryher Enys is the proud owner of Cornwall's newest restaurant, Panorama.
When she isn't whipping up culinary feasts, she volunteers with the local lifeboat crew - a tight-knit team who regularly risk their lives to save others.
With no immediate plans to settle down, life is pretty much perfect.
Until one stormy night, when a distress signal shatters the calm. A luxury yacht is going down fast, and Bryher joins the rescue.
Too late to save the vessel, they search the raging seas for survivors – but find only one...
A man with no name, no memory and the power to turn her world upside down.
Suspense is peppered with romance and humour in this fast-paced mystery, set amidst the spectacular Cornish landscape.
There’s nothing so deadly as the sea, and the man who survives it...
Bryher Enys is the proud owner of Cornwall's newest restaurant, Panorama.
When she isn't whipping up culinary feasts, she volunteers with the local lifeboat crew - a tight-knit team who regularly risk their lives to save others.
With no immediate plans to settle down, life is pretty much perfect.
Until one stormy night, when a distress signal shatters the calm. A luxury yacht is going down fast, and Bryher joins the rescue.
Too late to save the vessel, they search the raging seas for survivors – but find only one...
A man with no name, no memory and the power to turn her world upside down.
Suspense is peppered with romance and humour in this fast-paced mystery, set amidst the spectacular Cornish landscape.
7 pages, Audible Audio
First published July 30, 2026
About the author
L.J. Ross
42 books3,754 followersLJ Ross is an internationally bestselling author, whose books have sold over 7 million copies worldwide.
Her debut, Holy Island, was released in 2015 and became an instant, international bestseller. Since then, a further eighteen of her novels have gone on to take the coveted #1 spot, some even before general release and whilst only available to ‘pre-order’. The Bookseller magazine has reported on Louise having topped the ‘Most Read’ and ‘Most Sold’ fiction charts, and she has garnered an army of loyal fans who love her atmospheric and addictive storytelling.
Her eleventh novel, The Infirmary, is a prequel story to the DCI Ryan series and is available as a major Audible Originals audio-drama starring Tom Bateman, Kevin Whately, Bertie Carvel, Hermione Norris and Alun Armstrong.
The first novel in her Alexander Gregory Thrillers series, Impostor, was shortlisted in the British Book Awards 2020: Crime & Thriller Book of the Year. The audiobook of Impostor, narrated by Hugh Dancy, was also selected as a finalist in the New York Festivals Radio Awards, Best Fiction Audiobook of the Year Category.
In May 2021, Louise was shortlisted for the prestigious Crime Writers’ Association ‘Dagger in the Library’ award, which recognises an author’s entire body of work having been consistently enjoyed by library borrowers around the United Kingdom, and an author’s longstanding support of libraries.
Louise was born in Northumberland, England. She studied undergraduate and postgraduate Law at King’s College, University of London and then abroad in Paris and Florence. She spent much of her working life in London, where she was a lawyer for a number of years until taking the decision to change career and pursue her dream to write. Now, she writes full time and lives with her husband and son in Northumberland and Edinburgh. She enjoys reading all manner of books, painting, travelling and spending time with family and friends.
To find out more about the many philanthropic ventures Louise has founded and sponsored through her publishing imprint, Dark Skies Publishing, please visit ‘Philanthropy’.
If you would like to connect with LJ Ross, she would be very happy to hear from you:
https://www.facebook.com/LJRossAuthor
https://twitter.com/ljross_author
www.lovesuspense.com
lj_ross@outlook.com
Her debut, Holy Island, was released in 2015 and became an instant, international bestseller. Since then, a further eighteen of her novels have gone on to take the coveted #1 spot, some even before general release and whilst only available to ‘pre-order’. The Bookseller magazine has reported on Louise having topped the ‘Most Read’ and ‘Most Sold’ fiction charts, and she has garnered an army of loyal fans who love her atmospheric and addictive storytelling.
Her eleventh novel, The Infirmary, is a prequel story to the DCI Ryan series and is available as a major Audible Originals audio-drama starring Tom Bateman, Kevin Whately, Bertie Carvel, Hermione Norris and Alun Armstrong.
The first novel in her Alexander Gregory Thrillers series, Impostor, was shortlisted in the British Book Awards 2020: Crime & Thriller Book of the Year. The audiobook of Impostor, narrated by Hugh Dancy, was also selected as a finalist in the New York Festivals Radio Awards, Best Fiction Audiobook of the Year Category.
In May 2021, Louise was shortlisted for the prestigious Crime Writers’ Association ‘Dagger in the Library’ award, which recognises an author’s entire body of work having been consistently enjoyed by library borrowers around the United Kingdom, and an author’s longstanding support of libraries.
Louise was born in Northumberland, England. She studied undergraduate and postgraduate Law at King’s College, University of London and then abroad in Paris and Florence. She spent much of her working life in London, where she was a lawyer for a number of years until taking the decision to change career and pursue her dream to write. Now, she writes full time and lives with her husband and son in Northumberland and Edinburgh. She enjoys reading all manner of books, painting, travelling and spending time with family and friends.
To find out more about the many philanthropic ventures Louise has founded and sponsored through her publishing imprint, Dark Skies Publishing, please visit ‘Philanthropy’.
If you would like to connect with LJ Ross, she would be very happy to hear from you:
https://www.facebook.com/LJRossAuthor
https://twitter.com/ljross_author
www.lovesuspense.com
lj_ross@outlook.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews
August 5, 2026
Underwhelmed
I am a huge LJR fan and have loved all her books. This one, however, left me a bit cold. Despite being a decent enough story, it never really grabbed me. It does prove she is human and that I am not a sycophant.
I am a huge LJR fan and have loved all her books. This one, however, left me a bit cold. Despite being a decent enough story, it never really grabbed me. It does prove she is human and that I am not a sycophant.
August 4, 2026
Deserved a one star, but I’m loyal to Miss LJ, so she earned another for that. But really, poor plot & writing, and just plain ridiculous at times.
August 13, 2026
The front cover gets a 4.5* because it's lovely.
Didn't love it. Didn't hate it.
A few errors in the writing... An alright story line but felt like there was definitely something missing. Maybe I prefer the "who done it" vibe...
Didn't love it. Didn't hate it.
A few errors in the writing... An alright story line but felt like there was definitely something missing. Maybe I prefer the "who done it" vibe...
August 16, 2026
3.5 stars, not the usual LJRoss read. It was very slow at the start and lacked real excitement.
August 3, 2026
My least favourite of all her books
August 19, 2026
This Summer Suspense Mysteries series is all encompassing in the warm glow of Cornwall. Read these and you want to be there. This #5 The Lizard follows a successful formula with great characters and a wholesome plot, full of suspense and a somewhat delayed love story. Well, it had to have one.
An individual saved from the sea when a large yacht gets into serious trouble and founders. He cannot remember anything not even his name, nor the beautiful woman Bryher Enys, a member of the lifeboat crew (apart from running a Michelin star restaurant) with whom he had a love affair when they lived in London (some coincidence, huh?) before he disappeared without trace or further contact. In the following two years Bryher has moved back to Cornwall and achieved huge success with The Panorama restaurant.
Whilst the stranger - they call him Patrick - needs help to carry on, hoping his memory will return, Bryher offers him a temporary job in her restaurant, strongly suspecting he was her lover of two years previous. Many characteristics remind her so much of him.
What occurs is a story of derring-do, suspense, MI6, secret service and the inevitable villains.
Definitely worth a punt. I hope that there will be another in this series.
An individual saved from the sea when a large yacht gets into serious trouble and founders. He cannot remember anything not even his name, nor the beautiful woman Bryher Enys, a member of the lifeboat crew (apart from running a Michelin star restaurant) with whom he had a love affair when they lived in London (some coincidence, huh?) before he disappeared without trace or further contact. In the following two years Bryher has moved back to Cornwall and achieved huge success with The Panorama restaurant.
Whilst the stranger - they call him Patrick - needs help to carry on, hoping his memory will return, Bryher offers him a temporary job in her restaurant, strongly suspecting he was her lover of two years previous. Many characteristics remind her so much of him.
What occurs is a story of derring-do, suspense, MI6, secret service and the inevitable villains.
Definitely worth a punt. I hope that there will be another in this series.
August 20, 2026
this book was INCREDIBLE!!! i LOVED this book so much!! i was so excited to dive back into the series with these characters and this book did NOT disappoint!!
the story from start to finish was so engaging and interesting i didn’t want to put it down!!!
the plot line was VERY twisty and i loved the story development through the story!!
this book was so fast paced and got straight to it from chapter 1!! i REALLY enjoyed this book!!!
i HIGHLY recommend it and i cannot WAIT to read more from LJ Ross!!!
the story from start to finish was so engaging and interesting i didn’t want to put it down!!!
the plot line was VERY twisty and i loved the story development through the story!!
this book was so fast paced and got straight to it from chapter 1!! i REALLY enjoyed this book!!!
i HIGHLY recommend it and i cannot WAIT to read more from LJ Ross!!!
September 7, 2026
3 stars is being generous. Not sure where the suspense was or any romance. It was more the Nell and Sophie show rather than the main characters. Might as well start reading from 50% in as it gets into second gear at 80%. And you still wouldn't miss much. The banter between Sophie and Alex was the best thing about the book.
A shame because the author started off so well, but the last few books she has written have been really shockingly disappointing. I feel she maybe needs to take a year or two away from writing and reread her first couple of books and then create better storylines instead of churning out half hearted ones every year. As she has a big loyal audience her books are generally highly rated but they aren't that good any more. I feel bad for anyone who paid more than 2.99 for this book.
A shame because the author started off so well, but the last few books she has written have been really shockingly disappointing. I feel she maybe needs to take a year or two away from writing and reread her first couple of books and then create better storylines instead of churning out half hearted ones every year. As she has a big loyal audience her books are generally highly rated but they aren't that good any more. I feel bad for anyone who paid more than 2.99 for this book.
September 2, 2026
CONTAINS SPOILERS
This is the 5th in the author's summer series, set in Cornwall, and definitely the worst, in fact a couple of times it nearly hit the wall.....2 years ago, Bryher was a professional chef, and whilst teaching in London she had a brief romance with a man called David, who's one of her students, until one day he suddenly leaves, with no explanation at all. She is devastated but rebuilds her life and when we meet her again in the present day, on the opening night of her new restaurant in Cornwall, her pager goes off, because, as well as being a top chef, she's also a lifeboat volunteer and, as with all of Ross's characters, is an all round super woman. The call is to a luxury yacht in trouble, but by the time the crew get there it's obvious there's not much left of the yacht, until a possible body is spotted in the water. Naturally Bryher is the one to launch herself and rescue the man, and I don't think I'm giving anything away by saying that she recognises him as her lost love. He's lost his memory though, so once he's recovered in hospital the police decide it's best to let him stay in the village, so Bryher, of course, gives him a job in her restaurant, while the police have asked her if she can gently coax some memories from him. And when the lifeboat is called out to another rescue, naturally he comes with them, despite having no training, though hey, guess who dives in to help Bryher when she gets into difficulties, rescues her, and then carries her back up the cliffside in his big strong arms. It gets more ludicrous as it goes on, and I not only suspended disbelief but basically threw it out of the window under a passing bus....I know these books are meant to be light reads and that's fine, but this one is so far-fetched it makes James Bond look believable. I had suspected the true nature of the Mystery Man's background, and when I discovered I was right the book nearly flew, but I carried on to see how much dafter it could get, and the final showdown is totally unconvincing, including members of the public turning up armed with rifles (licenced but still) to help the police, including shooting a suspect. As usual, the good characters are one stop short of sainthood, which is a cloying feature of all her books.
She's now signed a mega deal with Penguin, of which this is the first release, but to be honest I don't think a new author would get a book deal based on this book alone, but she's a guaranteed bestseller so they know they're onto a winner, fair enough and good for her. But I'd have thought Penguin could at least afford a proper proof reader, or someone to check the final proofs, as there are lots of extra words, and words missed out , and in one scene the character name changes to another character, who isn't even in that scene. The cover is lovely though.
This is definitely her weakest series, her best series is the DCI Ryan series (now in it's low 20s) but that too can be eye-rollingly unbelievable at times, and there's also the Alex Gregory series, featuring a psycho analyst who's basically a clone of Ryan, who appears occasionally, and seems to have authority all over the world.
4/10
This is the 5th in the author's summer series, set in Cornwall, and definitely the worst, in fact a couple of times it nearly hit the wall.....2 years ago, Bryher was a professional chef, and whilst teaching in London she had a brief romance with a man called David, who's one of her students, until one day he suddenly leaves, with no explanation at all. She is devastated but rebuilds her life and when we meet her again in the present day, on the opening night of her new restaurant in Cornwall, her pager goes off, because, as well as being a top chef, she's also a lifeboat volunteer and, as with all of Ross's characters, is an all round super woman. The call is to a luxury yacht in trouble, but by the time the crew get there it's obvious there's not much left of the yacht, until a possible body is spotted in the water. Naturally Bryher is the one to launch herself and rescue the man, and I don't think I'm giving anything away by saying that she recognises him as her lost love. He's lost his memory though, so once he's recovered in hospital the police decide it's best to let him stay in the village, so Bryher, of course, gives him a job in her restaurant, while the police have asked her if she can gently coax some memories from him. And when the lifeboat is called out to another rescue, naturally he comes with them, despite having no training, though hey, guess who dives in to help Bryher when she gets into difficulties, rescues her, and then carries her back up the cliffside in his big strong arms. It gets more ludicrous as it goes on, and I not only suspended disbelief but basically threw it out of the window under a passing bus....I know these books are meant to be light reads and that's fine, but this one is so far-fetched it makes James Bond look believable. I had suspected the true nature of the Mystery Man's background, and when I discovered I was right the book nearly flew, but I carried on to see how much dafter it could get, and the final showdown is totally unconvincing, including members of the public turning up armed with rifles (licenced but still) to help the police, including shooting a suspect. As usual, the good characters are one stop short of sainthood, which is a cloying feature of all her books.
She's now signed a mega deal with Penguin, of which this is the first release, but to be honest I don't think a new author would get a book deal based on this book alone, but she's a guaranteed bestseller so they know they're onto a winner, fair enough and good for her. But I'd have thought Penguin could at least afford a proper proof reader, or someone to check the final proofs, as there are lots of extra words, and words missed out , and in one scene the character name changes to another character, who isn't even in that scene. The cover is lovely though.
This is definitely her weakest series, her best series is the DCI Ryan series (now in it's low 20s) but that too can be eye-rollingly unbelievable at times, and there's also the Alex Gregory series, featuring a psycho analyst who's basically a clone of Ryan, who appears occasionally, and seems to have authority all over the world.
4/10
August 20, 2026
I have read all of the Summer Suspense Mysteries and really enjoy their Cornish based setting, with the rugged coastlines, sparkling seas and beautiful sunshine lending a serene backdrop to these mystery stories.
Whilst this can be read as a standalone novel, there are characters in this story who have appeared in the previous novels and if you read them in order it gives you extra details about the characters of the town that our main character Bryher meets along her journey.
We start The Lizard meeting Bryher, a chef training people to be executive chefs when she feels a connection to one of the students, leading to a hot and passionate romance that leaves her burnt.
Licking her wounds Bryher takes up a chef position in Cornwall near The Lizard peninsula and throws herself into her craft and her community, where she also volunteers for the local RNLI team.
I have visited The Lizard peninsula, full of high, dramatic cliffs and rough, wild and beautiful coast, so it was very easy to place myself with Bryher and the community. One night a call comes in that there has been a shipwreck with one person reported alive, the team race to get to them but Bryher realises she recognises them from her past.
The Lizard is another suspenseful page turner from LJ Ross, I loved returning to familiar characters and learning about a new member of the community and felt a lot of empathy for Bryher and her journey. It wasn't my favourite novel from the summer suspense series as at times I felt I had to suspend my belief a tad too far, but that's not to say I didn't enjoy it as I did, just the others in the series have felt more rooted in circumstances I could see myself in. Its a great summer read.
Whilst this can be read as a standalone novel, there are characters in this story who have appeared in the previous novels and if you read them in order it gives you extra details about the characters of the town that our main character Bryher meets along her journey.
We start The Lizard meeting Bryher, a chef training people to be executive chefs when she feels a connection to one of the students, leading to a hot and passionate romance that leaves her burnt.
Licking her wounds Bryher takes up a chef position in Cornwall near The Lizard peninsula and throws herself into her craft and her community, where she also volunteers for the local RNLI team.
I have visited The Lizard peninsula, full of high, dramatic cliffs and rough, wild and beautiful coast, so it was very easy to place myself with Bryher and the community. One night a call comes in that there has been a shipwreck with one person reported alive, the team race to get to them but Bryher realises she recognises them from her past.
The Lizard is another suspenseful page turner from LJ Ross, I loved returning to familiar characters and learning about a new member of the community and felt a lot of empathy for Bryher and her journey. It wasn't my favourite novel from the summer suspense series as at times I felt I had to suspend my belief a tad too far, but that's not to say I didn't enjoy it as I did, just the others in the series have felt more rooted in circumstances I could see myself in. Its a great summer read.
July 30, 2026
Victim or perpetrator?
What a fantastic return to the Cornwall series and some of our favourite characters, this time we get the addition of the lovely Bryher who returns for a fresh start. She rejoins the community and old friends, but she can never quite escape her past.
This is a twisted tale of secrets, corruption and true love with more than one couple finding their HEA. Returning to this series and it's unique cast is like returning to visit family, they welcome you with open arms, are a little quirky, slightly crazy but you enjoy every minute of their company. I listened to this on Audible.
What a fantastic return to the Cornwall series and some of our favourite characters, this time we get the addition of the lovely Bryher who returns for a fresh start. She rejoins the community and old friends, but she can never quite escape her past.
This is a twisted tale of secrets, corruption and true love with more than one couple finding their HEA. Returning to this series and it's unique cast is like returning to visit family, they welcome you with open arms, are a little quirky, slightly crazy but you enjoy every minute of their company. I listened to this on Audible.
August 1, 2026
Another enjoyable book by LJ Ross.
Bryher Enys has overcome a lot in life to get to where she is today. With the support of her close friends she is celebrating the opening of her own restaurant. As the evening draws to a close she, together with a number of other guests who are also lifeboat volunteers are called to a rescue. Too late to save the luxury yacht they search in vain for survivors. Bryher spots a body in the water and sets off to save them. Taken to the local hospital the survivor has no recollection of who he is or what he was doing on the yacht….but Bryher knows who he is.
Bryher Enys has overcome a lot in life to get to where she is today. With the support of her close friends she is celebrating the opening of her own restaurant. As the evening draws to a close she, together with a number of other guests who are also lifeboat volunteers are called to a rescue. Too late to save the luxury yacht they search in vain for survivors. Bryher spots a body in the water and sets off to save them. Taken to the local hospital the survivor has no recollection of who he is or what he was doing on the yacht….but Bryher knows who he is.
August 3, 2026
The Lizard
Absolutely brilliant LJ, I couldn’t put the “book” down. A great story, with characters popping up from the previous Summer Suspense Mysteries novels. I loved the story line, though I suspected about ‘David’. As usual LJ, thank you for being full of great stories which I’ll get to read in the coming months.
Absolutely brilliant LJ, I couldn’t put the “book” down. A great story, with characters popping up from the previous Summer Suspense Mysteries novels. I loved the story line, though I suspected about ‘David’. As usual LJ, thank you for being full of great stories which I’ll get to read in the coming months.
September 6, 2026
I was expecting a slightly more noir book, based off of the blurb and the tagline of a suspense mystery. This was more a romance book than anything else but it was perfectly readable. It would have benefited from a slightly slicker storyline and a bit more intrigue to make the reader feel like there really were stakes at risk. A bit more uncertainty as to whether the nameless man hauled out of the sea could be trusted would also helped to build more of the suspense vibe the tags were hinting at.
More than anything else, it would have benefited exponentially from better editing. The number of glaring typing errors (words being repeated, characters' names changing, misspellings) made you feel like you were reading a first draft rather than a published novel. It made the whole book feel like it was an adequate read that was rushed to print without any great care being taken to ensure it was a well written story they were publishing.
More than anything else, it would have benefited exponentially from better editing. The number of glaring typing errors (words being repeated, characters' names changing, misspellings) made you feel like you were reading a first draft rather than a published novel. It made the whole book feel like it was an adequate read that was rushed to print without any great care being taken to ensure it was a well written story they were publishing.
July 30, 2026
The Lizard by LJ Ross
The Lizard by L J Ross is book 5 ofThe Summer Suspense Mysteries and I downloaded it last night and finished it this afternoon.
One day I will manage to read Louise’s books more slowly, possibly!
I liked the characters, the location and the storyline and found the book easy to read,engrossing, engaging and entertaining.
Highly recommended.
The Lizard by L J Ross is book 5 ofThe Summer Suspense Mysteries and I downloaded it last night and finished it this afternoon.
One day I will manage to read Louise’s books more slowly, possibly!
I liked the characters, the location and the storyline and found the book easy to read,engrossing, engaging and entertaining.
Highly recommended.
August 3, 2026
I've been waiting since last summer for this book and it didn't disappoint. This is the latest installment in the Summer Suspense series and, as is usual for these stories set in Cornwall, Louise has crafted an intriguing mystery with her trademark smattering of romance between her main characters.
August 10, 2026
Loved it! Light hearted and fun. Such an easy read. Pure escapism.
September 13, 2026
2.5*
Started off well, but got very farcial especially towards the end.
Quite a few errors in the wording too, which should have been picked up by proofreaders.
Started off well, but got very farcial especially towards the end.
Quite a few errors in the wording too, which should have been picked up by proofreaders.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 30, 2026
Read it the day I got it
And wasn’t disappointed at all. Only sadness is I’ve got to wait for the next LJ Ross book!!
No pressure!!
And wasn’t disappointed at all. Only sadness is I’ve got to wait for the next LJ Ross book!!
No pressure!!
September 5, 2026
A very pleasant and enjoyable storyline with a little mystery mixed with a lot of romance, but maybe a little predictable at times.
August 24, 2026
The Summer Suspense Mysteries have a little bit of everything; a beautiful location, great characters and a mystery to solve. This storyline was interesting and a bit different to what I’ve read before which made it a great, engaging read. I loved it.
September 6, 2026
4.5⭐️
I’ve always enjoyed this series especially as easy holiday reads, but after The Haven I was worried they were only going downhill (I gave that one a 2 star after giving the others 4) but this was the redemption the series needed!
My favourite so far, The Lizard is full of twists and turns that genuinely had me gasping and I really enjoyed the new characters of Bryher and David as well as the old characters making fun cameos (I love Sophie and Alex please can we have an Alex central book 🙏)
Can’t wait to see what’s next and jump back into the DCI Ryan Mysteries too!
I’ve always enjoyed this series especially as easy holiday reads, but after The Haven I was worried they were only going downhill (I gave that one a 2 star after giving the others 4) but this was the redemption the series needed!
My favourite so far, The Lizard is full of twists and turns that genuinely had me gasping and I really enjoyed the new characters of Bryher and David as well as the old characters making fun cameos (I love Sophie and Alex please can we have an Alex central book 🙏)
Can’t wait to see what’s next and jump back into the DCI Ryan Mysteries too!
August 8, 2026
The Lizard: A Summer Suspense Mystery by LJ Ross is an atmospheric mystery thriller set against the dramatic coastline of Cornwall. It is the fifth novel in Ross’s Summer Suspense Mysteries series, following The Cove, The Creek, The Bay, and The Haven. Like the earlier books, it combines mystery, danger, romance, humor, and the distinctive beauty of the Cornish landscape. At the center of the story is Bryher Enys, a capable and independent woman whose seemingly settled life is suddenly transformed when she becomes involved in a dangerous nighttime rescue at sea.
Bryher has built a life that, from the outside, seems almost ideal. She is the proud owner of Cornwall’s newest restaurant, Panorama, a demanding achievement that reflects years of hard work and determination. Her professional life gives her purpose and independence, while her work with the local lifeboat crew provides another kind of fulfillment. Volunteering as part of a close-knit team that regularly risks its life to save others means that Bryher is no stranger to danger. She understands the power of the sea and knows that courage sometimes means putting yourself in harm’s way for someone you have never met.
Despite the intensity of her work, Bryher is content with her life. She has no immediate plans to settle down, and there is no obvious reason to believe that her carefully constructed routine will change. She has her restaurant, her community, her work with the lifeboat crew, and the freedom to live according to her own choices. This sense of stability makes what happens next all the more disruptive.
Everything changes on a stormy night when a distress signal comes through. A luxury yacht is in serious trouble and is sinking rapidly. For the lifeboat crew, there is no time to hesitate. Bryher joins the rescue effort and heads into the violent sea with the other volunteers. The situation is dangerous from the beginning: the weather is rough, the vessel has already gone down, and the chances of finding survivors appear bleak.
The rescue operation becomes a race against time. The crew searches the turbulent waters for anyone who might have survived the wreck. Their efforts ultimately produce an extraordinary discovery. They find one survivor—a man who should perhaps be dead but has somehow managed to remain alive after the disaster. Yet the discovery raises more questions than it answers.
The man has no name and no memory.
This is the central mystery that drives the story. A person has been pulled from the sea, but his identity is completely unknown. He cannot provide the information necessary to explain who he is, where he came from, or what happened aboard the yacht. His survival is therefore only the beginning of the mystery rather than its resolution.
For Bryher, the stranger's arrival is especially significant. What initially appears to be an act of rescue develops into something much more personal. The mysterious survivor has the capacity to turn her world upside down, and his presence begins to disturb the stable life she has created. The contrast is striking: Bryher is someone who knows exactly who she is and where she belongs, while the man she rescues does not even know his own identity.
This contrast gives the novel an important emotional dimension. The mystery is not simply about discovering what happened to a yacht or identifying an unknown survivor. It is also about identity, memory, trust, and the secrets that people carry. The man's amnesia creates an unusual situation in which neither the reader nor Bryher can easily determine whether he is simply an unfortunate victim or someone whose past contains a much more troubling story.
The sea itself becomes an important presence in the narrative. Ross uses the Cornish coastline not merely as a picturesque setting but as an environment capable of beauty and danger. The same landscape that attracts visitors and provides Bryher with the setting for her restaurant can become threatening when the weather changes. The storm and the wreck immediately establish the atmosphere of uncertainty that characterizes the story. The sea gives the novel a natural sense of isolation: once the yacht disappears beneath the waves, important evidence may disappear with it.
Bryher's role as both restaurateur and lifeboat volunteer also makes her an especially interesting protagonist. She is not introduced as a conventional detective investigating a crime. Her involvement begins with compassion and duty. She goes out because someone needs help. Yet once the survivor enters her life, she is pulled into a mystery that she did not seek.
This allows the story to explore the difference between saving someone and trusting someone. A person can be rescued physically while remaining emotionally and psychologically unknowable. Bryher has helped save the man's life, but she still has to determine whether he can be trusted. His lack of memory makes him vulnerable, but it also makes him mysterious. The absence of information creates a tension that can work in both directions: the man may be exactly what he appears to be, or his forgotten past may contain something capable of putting Bryher and others in danger.
As the story develops, the peaceful image of Bryher's life is therefore replaced by uncertainty. The restaurant, the lifeboat station, and the Cornish community become part of a larger web of questions. Ross's broader Summer Suspense Mysteries formula combines fast-moving mystery with romance and humor, and The Lizard continues that approach while placing the emotional relationship between Bryher and the mysterious survivor at the center of the story.
The title itself connects the story to its setting. The Lizard is a spectacular Cornish coastal area, and the novel uses the region's cliffs, sea, storms, and close-knit communities to create an atmosphere where beauty and danger exist side by side. Ross is known for using landscape as an important part of her mysteries, and Cornwall gives this particular story a strong sense of place.
Ultimately, The Lizard is a story about how quickly a person's sense of security can disappear. Bryher believes she has built a life she understands, only to discover that one night at sea can change everything. A stranger emerges from the darkness with no name, no memory, and an unknown past. His survival is a miracle, but it may also be the beginning of a much more dangerous mystery.
The novel's strongest appeal lies in this combination of coastal atmosphere, suspense, emotional uncertainty, and human connection. Bryher's courage places her at the heart of the action, while the mysterious survivor provides the unanswered question around which the story revolves. Readers are invited to wonder not only what happened to the yacht, but who this man really is and why his arrival has such profound consequences for Bryher.
In the end, The Lizard promises the kind of suspense that LJ Ross has become known for: a beautiful setting concealing darker secrets, ordinary people drawn into extraordinary danger, and relationships tested by circumstances they could never have anticipated. It is a story in which the sea brings both death and salvation—and in which the man who survives may prove to be far more dangerous, complicated, or important than anyone initially realizes.
Bryher has built a life that, from the outside, seems almost ideal. She is the proud owner of Cornwall’s newest restaurant, Panorama, a demanding achievement that reflects years of hard work and determination. Her professional life gives her purpose and independence, while her work with the local lifeboat crew provides another kind of fulfillment. Volunteering as part of a close-knit team that regularly risks its life to save others means that Bryher is no stranger to danger. She understands the power of the sea and knows that courage sometimes means putting yourself in harm’s way for someone you have never met.
Despite the intensity of her work, Bryher is content with her life. She has no immediate plans to settle down, and there is no obvious reason to believe that her carefully constructed routine will change. She has her restaurant, her community, her work with the lifeboat crew, and the freedom to live according to her own choices. This sense of stability makes what happens next all the more disruptive.
Everything changes on a stormy night when a distress signal comes through. A luxury yacht is in serious trouble and is sinking rapidly. For the lifeboat crew, there is no time to hesitate. Bryher joins the rescue effort and heads into the violent sea with the other volunteers. The situation is dangerous from the beginning: the weather is rough, the vessel has already gone down, and the chances of finding survivors appear bleak.
The rescue operation becomes a race against time. The crew searches the turbulent waters for anyone who might have survived the wreck. Their efforts ultimately produce an extraordinary discovery. They find one survivor—a man who should perhaps be dead but has somehow managed to remain alive after the disaster. Yet the discovery raises more questions than it answers.
The man has no name and no memory.
This is the central mystery that drives the story. A person has been pulled from the sea, but his identity is completely unknown. He cannot provide the information necessary to explain who he is, where he came from, or what happened aboard the yacht. His survival is therefore only the beginning of the mystery rather than its resolution.
For Bryher, the stranger's arrival is especially significant. What initially appears to be an act of rescue develops into something much more personal. The mysterious survivor has the capacity to turn her world upside down, and his presence begins to disturb the stable life she has created. The contrast is striking: Bryher is someone who knows exactly who she is and where she belongs, while the man she rescues does not even know his own identity.
This contrast gives the novel an important emotional dimension. The mystery is not simply about discovering what happened to a yacht or identifying an unknown survivor. It is also about identity, memory, trust, and the secrets that people carry. The man's amnesia creates an unusual situation in which neither the reader nor Bryher can easily determine whether he is simply an unfortunate victim or someone whose past contains a much more troubling story.
The sea itself becomes an important presence in the narrative. Ross uses the Cornish coastline not merely as a picturesque setting but as an environment capable of beauty and danger. The same landscape that attracts visitors and provides Bryher with the setting for her restaurant can become threatening when the weather changes. The storm and the wreck immediately establish the atmosphere of uncertainty that characterizes the story. The sea gives the novel a natural sense of isolation: once the yacht disappears beneath the waves, important evidence may disappear with it.
Bryher's role as both restaurateur and lifeboat volunteer also makes her an especially interesting protagonist. She is not introduced as a conventional detective investigating a crime. Her involvement begins with compassion and duty. She goes out because someone needs help. Yet once the survivor enters her life, she is pulled into a mystery that she did not seek.
This allows the story to explore the difference between saving someone and trusting someone. A person can be rescued physically while remaining emotionally and psychologically unknowable. Bryher has helped save the man's life, but she still has to determine whether he can be trusted. His lack of memory makes him vulnerable, but it also makes him mysterious. The absence of information creates a tension that can work in both directions: the man may be exactly what he appears to be, or his forgotten past may contain something capable of putting Bryher and others in danger.
As the story develops, the peaceful image of Bryher's life is therefore replaced by uncertainty. The restaurant, the lifeboat station, and the Cornish community become part of a larger web of questions. Ross's broader Summer Suspense Mysteries formula combines fast-moving mystery with romance and humor, and The Lizard continues that approach while placing the emotional relationship between Bryher and the mysterious survivor at the center of the story.
The title itself connects the story to its setting. The Lizard is a spectacular Cornish coastal area, and the novel uses the region's cliffs, sea, storms, and close-knit communities to create an atmosphere where beauty and danger exist side by side. Ross is known for using landscape as an important part of her mysteries, and Cornwall gives this particular story a strong sense of place.
Ultimately, The Lizard is a story about how quickly a person's sense of security can disappear. Bryher believes she has built a life she understands, only to discover that one night at sea can change everything. A stranger emerges from the darkness with no name, no memory, and an unknown past. His survival is a miracle, but it may also be the beginning of a much more dangerous mystery.
The novel's strongest appeal lies in this combination of coastal atmosphere, suspense, emotional uncertainty, and human connection. Bryher's courage places her at the heart of the action, while the mysterious survivor provides the unanswered question around which the story revolves. Readers are invited to wonder not only what happened to the yacht, but who this man really is and why his arrival has such profound consequences for Bryher.
In the end, The Lizard promises the kind of suspense that LJ Ross has become known for: a beautiful setting concealing darker secrets, ordinary people drawn into extraordinary danger, and relationships tested by circumstances they could never have anticipated. It is a story in which the sea brings both death and salvation—and in which the man who survives may prove to be far more dangerous, complicated, or important than anyone initially realizes.
September 2, 2026
Not my favourite
I am a big fan of the DCI Ryan books and have enjoyed the previous four Summer Mystery books, but I didn’t find this one as interesting.
I thought the plot was interesting and it started well but half way through I felt it lost its way.
Bryher’s early life was chaotic, no father, an absent addict for a mother, a series of foster homes but no-one who loved her. However, then she met Nell, who ran a beach side cafe and her life improved. She began to succeed at school, she was cooking and then teaching at a culinary school in London before moving back to Cornwall to open her own restaurant with the help of investors.
Bryher was also a volunteer member of the lifeboat crew and after her opening night at the restaurant, she was called out to go to a yacht in trouble. Strong winds, high tides and the proximity of rocks made it a difficult rescue, they only found one battered and bruised survivor, who strongly resembled the man, David, who had broken her heart in London. But this man had amnesia, no ID and no trace of him in police databases, he was a mystery. DI Sophie Keane wanted him to stay in the area, so she suggested to Bryher that she offer him a job in the kitchen and a place to live.
I was invested in the story to this point but then it seemed to go awry. I found the verbal sparring between DI Keane and PC Turner juvenile, not funny. I expected there to be more clashes between Bryher and her mother, I can’t think of any situation where an armed Royal Navy helicopter would be despatched at the informal request of a Police Constable. Overall, I thought the last few chapters were little rushed, explanations about everything that happened were not very detailed and the final chapter unexpected, for me at least.
I am a big fan of the DCI Ryan books and have enjoyed the previous four Summer Mystery books, but I didn’t find this one as interesting.
I thought the plot was interesting and it started well but half way through I felt it lost its way.
Bryher’s early life was chaotic, no father, an absent addict for a mother, a series of foster homes but no-one who loved her. However, then she met Nell, who ran a beach side cafe and her life improved. She began to succeed at school, she was cooking and then teaching at a culinary school in London before moving back to Cornwall to open her own restaurant with the help of investors.
Bryher was also a volunteer member of the lifeboat crew and after her opening night at the restaurant, she was called out to go to a yacht in trouble. Strong winds, high tides and the proximity of rocks made it a difficult rescue, they only found one battered and bruised survivor, who strongly resembled the man, David, who had broken her heart in London. But this man had amnesia, no ID and no trace of him in police databases, he was a mystery. DI Sophie Keane wanted him to stay in the area, so she suggested to Bryher that she offer him a job in the kitchen and a place to live.
I was invested in the story to this point but then it seemed to go awry. I found the verbal sparring between DI Keane and PC Turner juvenile, not funny. I expected there to be more clashes between Bryher and her mother, I can’t think of any situation where an armed Royal Navy helicopter would be despatched at the informal request of a Police Constable. Overall, I thought the last few chapters were little rushed, explanations about everything that happened were not very detailed and the final chapter unexpected, for me at least.
August 7, 2026
This is a 4.5 ⭐️ review as I am a dedicated fan of LJ Ross. I love this series of books and just find them so entertaining with the perfect balance of romance, suspense, compelling characters, all set in the most beautifully described setting. Each book introduces new characters, yet combines characters from previous books which give a lovely sense of familiarity yet moves the story on. I love the banter between DI Keane and PC Turner, there are lots of laughs in the books between them.
I dropped 1/2 star purely because the book is predictable and perhaps my least favourite out of the series. However, I absolutely love Ross’s writing and I will be waiting with bated breath for the next book. My only suggestion: please can you bring publication forward to July next year; in time for my summer holiday?
I dropped 1/2 star purely because the book is predictable and perhaps my least favourite out of the series. However, I absolutely love Ross’s writing and I will be waiting with bated breath for the next book. My only suggestion: please can you bring publication forward to July next year; in time for my summer holiday?
August 6, 2026
A thoroughly enjoyable addition to LJ Ross’s Cornish mystery series, The Lizard combines a gripping suspense plot with a wonderfully atmospheric setting. The wild beauty of the Cornish coast is brought vividly to life, and the lifeboat rescue at the heart of the story provides an immediate sense of drama. Bryher is a likeable and engaging protagonist, while the mystery surrounding the unidentified survivor keeps the pages turning. With plenty of twists, a touch of romance and a strong sense of place, this is an entertaining and immersive read that will appeal to fans of intriguing mysteries and compelling characters.
August 19, 2026
The Summer Suspense Mysteries series were all whodunnit’s, but this one wasn’t that. Big fan of LJ Ross but this has definitely got to be my least favourite. It was more like a romance than a mystery/ murder mystery. A few bits of grammar was wrong too, there were things what didn’t really make sense or didn’t add up, things were missing too.
The story on the whole was okay but if LJ Ross edited this book to be like the previous stories in the series, it could’ve be great.
Only good thing really is the front cover ☀️
The story on the whole was okay but if LJ Ross edited this book to be like the previous stories in the series, it could’ve be great.
Only good thing really is the front cover ☀️
September 13, 2026
The only redeeming quality of this book is that much like ripping off a plaster, it’s painful but over before you know it.
The somewhat intriguing premise is almost instantly overshadowed by cheap dialogue and a ridiculous plot line, demanding of readers an obscene amount of suspension of belief.
A tedious who-dunnit that feels like the illegitimate love child of the Notebook and a bad Reacher fan-fiction.
Personal lowlight is the corny to-and-fro between a country DI and her PC in the middle of a shootout with villains straight out of Johnny English.
The somewhat intriguing premise is almost instantly overshadowed by cheap dialogue and a ridiculous plot line, demanding of readers an obscene amount of suspension of belief.
A tedious who-dunnit that feels like the illegitimate love child of the Notebook and a bad Reacher fan-fiction.
Personal lowlight is the corny to-and-fro between a country DI and her PC in the middle of a shootout with villains straight out of Johnny English.
August 9, 2026
I enjoyed the story immensely but the plot was a bit thin.
She meets and enjoys the company of a man in London who promptly leaves her, then 2 years later rescues the same man on rocks on the Lizard. No way. Strange how she is RNLI trained as are all her friends. The writing as always was too goody goody, no one swears. Look forward to next LJR which I hope will be more down to earth. My mistake here was I gave it 5 stars before my review, should have been 3 stars.
She meets and enjoys the company of a man in London who promptly leaves her, then 2 years later rescues the same man on rocks on the Lizard. No way. Strange how she is RNLI trained as are all her friends. The writing as always was too goody goody, no one swears. Look forward to next LJR which I hope will be more down to earth. My mistake here was I gave it 5 stars before my review, should have been 3 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 1, 2026
as always! wonderful!!!
Sad to think it will be another year before there will be more. 🥺 The summer series is a favourite for sure! While they can be read individually they are better as a series where you can follow the brilliant sub story!!!! Can’t wait to see what happens next!!!!
Sad to think it will be another year before there will be more. 🥺 The summer series is a favourite for sure! While they can be read individually they are better as a series where you can follow the brilliant sub story!!!! Can’t wait to see what happens next!!!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews