I enjoyed reading the first in Carol Potenza’s mystery series, String of Lies, and found I liked the second, Echo of Lies, just as much. Potenza writes of strong female protagonists who don’t need to be rescued—my kind of women.
The newest protagonist, Francie Cortez, lives alone on her family ranch after enduring a string of life-changing circumstances: the disappearance of her father, the breakup with her beau, and being drummed out of the physics department at her university based solely on her gender. While she’s out horseback riding, her life is shattered again when she sees something strange in the distance and goes to investigate. Her discovery sets up an intriguing murder mystery coupled with time travel and a burgeoning romance. This is a read-it-in-one-sitting book!
Potenza builds suspense on multiple levels, all flawlessly bound together to keep the reader avidly plugged in. I also liked the retro look of the cover as it reminded me of the old Nancy Drew and Trixie Beldon mysteries. A scientist herself, Potenza makes the improbable seem possible. I enjoyed the appendices to the novel as much as the novel itself.
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Echo of Lies (Tiny Mammoth Press, February 10, 2026) is available through:
Your local independent bookseller | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
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You can read my reviews of other books by Carol Potenza at:
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