3.5★s
Body Of Lies is the fourth and final book in the Gemma Woodstock series by award-winning Australian author, Sarah Bailey. A pub brawl, a fatal road accident with an unidentified victim, the corpse of that victim stolen from a hospital morgue, an abandoned newborn baby, and the stabbing murder of a hospital executive, all within twenty-four hours: some of these incidents are definitely related, but DS Gemma Woodstock, still on maternity leave, is on the scene of one, and knows they should be thoroughly but separately investigated.

With a severe staff shortage, her former boss in Smithson, DI Ken Jones seems eager for her input; Smithson DS Julian Everett is chagrined by her participation; her close friend, independent journalist, Candy Fyfe, wants information to guarantee her a scoop; and her partner Mac is sympathetic to her irresistible urge to get involved.

Of course there are things to consider: ten-year-old Ben is anxious for her safety at work; nine-month-old Scarlett needs care; and Mac has his own work keeping him busy, some of it requiring travel. But starting back in Smithson would stand her in good stead for a potential senior position coming up, Ben could stay in the same school, and she could be close to her father and his health issues. Do she and Mac want to settle in Smithson?

Jonesy agrees that Gemma can run a parallel investigation and share information with Everett, who will lead the case, which sort of works except that she is less than impressed by Everett’s methods and attention to detail. Then things get dangerous for Gemma and she is ordered to step back by Jonesy, and begged to do so by her dad and Mac. But Gemma is hooked by the stimulation the cases offer, and retreat isn’t in her nature: teaming up with Candy is an acceptable compromise.

With each case there are unanswered questions and a myriad of possible explanations and connections. There’s a lot of CCTV to trawl through, and DNA test results seem to take longer than they should. Some witnesses are inexplicably evasive, and others are very likely lying, but Gemma is determined to find the truth. Then a lab result reveals that people Gemma has always trusted implicitly have lied to her on a grand scale. What does it mean for the cases? And can she forgive the betrayal?

Bailey gives the reader an intriguing plot with quite a few twists and turns, although the truth, when revealed, does need the reader to don their disbelief suspenders, and does feel a bit like an overdone trope. Gemma is still a gutsy protagonist, even if most of her decisions are less impulsive and more responsible. Attending grisly scenes and prison interviews with Scarlett strapped to her front might also stretch the credibility a bit. A fitting conclusion to this excellent series.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Allen & Unwin.