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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.

400 pages, Paperback

First published July 30, 2026

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About the author

L.J. Ross

42 books3,705 followers
LJ 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

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5 stars
799 (60%)
4 stars
340 (25%)
3 stars
155 (11%)
2 stars
26 (1%)
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11 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
Profile Image for Emily.
19 reviews1 follower
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.
151 reviews1 follower
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.
Profile Image for Jo.
65 reviews19 followers
August 3, 2026
My least favourite of all her books
Profile Image for Marie.
5,850 reviews56 followers
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.
296 reviews1 follower
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.
Profile Image for Mrs C E M Hicks.
80 reviews3 followers
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.
Profile Image for Christine Rennie.
3,114 reviews42 followers
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.
156 reviews
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.
Profile Image for Sandra Oldbury.
10 reviews
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!!
Profile Image for Books Data.
262 reviews3 followers
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.
12 reviews1 follower
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?
Profile Image for Monica Rosie.
20 reviews
August 6, 2026
3 starts 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.
Profile Image for Antonella Gramola-Sands.
582 reviews8 followers
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.
7 reviews
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.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
80 reviews
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!!!!
8 reviews
August 5, 2026
Not what I was expecting.

Sometimes this was slow to the point of rushing it to get somewhere and then, suddenly things happened all at once. Seemed disjointed to me and I would have preferred the last few chapters to have been longer or more of them. However, it was well written and a decent holiday read. Not up to the DCI Ryan books though.
32 reviews
August 7, 2026
Wonderful summer story and as with all LJ Ross’s books gives delicious descriptions of the area and a brilliant story line.

I also liked the subtle linkage with an earlier summer novel, the Cove. Heartwarming to see how the characters from that book have developed over time.

All of her books lend themselves to TV series like Vera or in the case on the Lizard a film!
29 reviews
August 7, 2026
Excellent holiday read.

Another interesting tale in the Cornwall set series. These books remind me of the great stories Mary Stewart wrote; romantic thrillers with believable characters. Louise has captured that spirit with all her novels, this one is no exception. Thoroughly enjoyable and highly recommended.
132 reviews2 followers
August 10, 2026
Great read

How I have missed L J Ross. Once again another brilliant book. This one has humour, romance and mystery. I just loved meeting Bryher Ethan and the wonderful Nell, the detectives were very funny and serious too.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an entertaining read with a good storyline too.
1 review
August 12, 2026
It's a lovely Summer read as are all the "Summer Suspense" books , this one was slightly less romantically themed compared to the previous book in the series which I found more appealing.
The atmosphere is gently created by the author, you feel instantly transported to the Cornish coast and easy pace of the locals.
Nice, relaxing read.
34 reviews
August 2, 2026
The Lizard

Another very good story from LJ Ross full of twists and turns but set in a spectacular landscape. I read this in three days from publication and really enjoyed it from cover to cover. Can’t wait for the next one.
1,171 reviews14 followers
August 3, 2026
Overall 4.5*
A very descriptive tale set in Cornwall again with brooding weather, a ship lost at sea and a love affair gone wrong with plenty more drama throughout. A great read at this time of year especially if you are on holiday . Good pace and definitely a page turner
Profile Image for Charlotte Oxenham.
169 reviews3 followers
August 3, 2026
A great addition to the Summer Suspense Series by LJ Ross! Suspense, adventure, romance and mystery all in one book! A great twist at the end and a great story overall!! Easy to read and very enjoyable ❤️
Profile Image for Chloe Scarlett.
56 reviews1 follower
August 10, 2026
A gorgeous, suspenseful, love filled little read.

Such a great little series. I've read all Ross' books and this one was great. Love the characters and the crossovers, I hope there's more.
Profile Image for Amy Appleby.
36 reviews
August 10, 2026
3 stars because I really like the author, but it was rather silly and far fetched.

The plus is that it is a nice easy read with some likeable characters, but overall the plot was ridiculous.

Not a patch on the DCI Ryan books.
102 reviews1 follower
August 11, 2026
A nice easy read for summer which was as expected. LJ Ross is a master at keeping you wanting more.The plot was however lacking her usual twists and turns and at some points felt a bit unplausable. I guessed early on why the love of her life had disappeared from Bryher’s life without explanation
Profile Image for Ana Neagu.
710 reviews3 followers
August 11, 2026
Another great summer suspense mystery! A nice mixture of police procedural, mystery and romance. The characters have an easy to follow development and the twists and turns are interesting.
Bryher is such an interesting FMC, a mature and balanced woman, which I really appreciate.
Profile Image for Carol Michael.
109 reviews3 followers
August 2, 2026
suspenseful

As always I love the stand alone books, this one was riveting and unputdownable, with a lot of humour, romance and suspense. Absolutely amazing ❤️🇦🇺
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews