Episode 183: Diving Into Lynn Shannon’s Dangerous Lies

About This Episide

The Setup

Ten years sober, Megan Ingalls has rebuilt her life helping others overcome addiction, desperate to atone for her past. But the past isn’t finished with her. When threatening notes start arriving, it becomes clear someone hasn’t forgotten—or forgiven—her role in the tragic death of Oliver Taylor.

And Oliver’s brother? That’s police officer Jax Taylor, who blames Megan for destroying his family. When Megan is viciously assaulted, Jax is forced to reconsider everything he thought he knew. Despite their fraught history and his family’s fierce opposition, Jax becomes determined to protect her. As they work together to uncover who’s behind the threats, old secrets surface and longstanding grudges flare. The closer they get to the truth, the more complicated Jax’s feelings for Megan become.

What We Loved

A Relationship Forged Through Fire

Remember that ending from book one where Jax coldly declared, “She killed my brother”? Yeah, Shannon doesn’t let us forget it. The opening scene has Jax being downright mean to Megan when she reports the threats. He’s dismissive, skeptical, convinced she’s making it up. It’s painful to watch, but it sets up one of the most compelling enemies-to-lovers arcs we’ve read in a while.

What makes this romance work is how earned it feels. These two have every reason not to trust each other, yet circumstances force them together. The healing that happens—not just between them but within Jax’s entire family—is beautifully done.

Family Drama That Hits Hard

This book doesn’t shy away from the messy reality of grief and blame. Jax’s father is still consumed with anger over Oliver’s death, and his hostility toward Megan creates an impossible situation for Jax. He’s caught between protecting Megan and maintaining family loyalty, and Shannon captures that tension perfectly.

The scene where Wesley (remember him from the Triumph Over Adversity series?) finally gets brought into the sheriff’s office had us on the edge of our seats. The confrontation between family members, the accusations flying back and forth—it’s intense. And then there’s Megan’s grandfather, who equally despises Jax for the trouble he’s caused his granddaughter. Poor Jax couldn’t catch a break from either side.

A Mystery That Keeps You Guessing

One thing Shannon excels at in Dangerous Lies is the mystery itself. Unlike some romantic suspense where the whodunit feels secondary, this one had us genuinely stumped. Jax shares his theories throughout the investigation—what we jokingly called his “conspiracy theories”—and they actually threw us in different directions.

We loved how the police work felt real and methodical. As they eliminated suspects, the pool narrowed, but not in obvious ways. One of us figured it out during the coffee shop scene (you know the one—when Quentin asks Megan if she’s a murderer, which was absolutely brutal to witness). The other didn’t catch on until the phone calls about the mom being sick started coming in. Shannon does an excellent job of planting seeds without making them too obvious.

Suspense That Doesn’t Let Up

Let’s be real: after reading this book, we didn’t want to go outside in the dark alone. That first attack scene? Absolutely terrifying. And it’s not just one scary moment—the tension builds throughout the entire book.

The barn scene where they’re hiding and get shot at. The creepy setup by the boathouse that had us genuinely unsettled. The pond scene in the middle of winter (could you even imagine?). Every time we thought they could catch their breath, something else happened. Even relaxing in the backyard isn’t safe in this book!

And can we talk about the chase scenes? These characters are running through woods in the dark, and the descriptions are so vivid. Megan’s preferred exercise is yoga, and she’s definitely regretting not doing more cardio. The whole time we’re reading, we’re mentally screaming “Jax, hurry up!” because Shannon brilliantly cuts between perspectives at the most suspenseful moments.

Standout Moments (Minor Spoilers Ahead!)

The drone that somebody got for their birthday? We literally just finished the book and then opened that gift scene and thought, “Oh no, oh no they’re going to be everywhere now.”

And that decision to drive in the rain to do the stakeout? Classic horror movie moment where you’re yelling “Don’t go in the basement!” at the characters. Even Jax is thinking it’s not a good idea, and we’re like, “You think, Jax? Common sense, people!”

We also appreciated how the book explores Oliver’s last days and reveals what he was really doing. It gives Megan validation for what she’s been saying all along—she truly was just trying to help him.

A Story With Heart

Beyond the suspense and romance, Dangerous Lies tackles addiction and recovery in a way that feels authentic. Megan is a recovered addict, and Jax lost his brother to addiction. Shannon doesn’t simplify these complex issues. The coffee shop scene where Megan has to hear people still gossiping about her years later, with no evidence of wrongdoing but all the judgment in the world—that rang painfully true.

The healing Jax’s family experiences by the end, particularly with his father, felt earned and necessary. His dad needed to take that step for the whole family to move forward. And that moment when his mom suggests they have a family dinner but says it needs to just be them first? Perfect.

Our Ratings

Inspiration Level: ☕☕ Mocha
Mystery Level: ☕☕☕ Latte
Drama Level: ☕☕☕ Latte (maybe even three lattes!)
Romance Level: ☕☕ Mocha
Suspense Level: ☕☕☕ Triple Hot Latte

Overall LiteraryScape Rating: 3/3 Lassos

Final Thoughts

Dangerous Lies delivers everything we want in romantic suspense: a mystery that keeps us guessing, romance that feels earned, and enough suspense to make us check the backseat of our cars (seriously, Derek’s been telling us to do that forever, and now we finally are).

The book ends with a cliffhanger involving Dawson (who we really enjoyed in this story), setting up book three perfectly. Speaking of which, Broken Silence will be available March 22, 2026—mark your calendars!

We’re also incredibly curious about what’s next for Wesley. Will he be part of the Badge of Honor series, or will he get his own spinoff? After the growth he shows in this book, particularly his willingness to engage more with family, we’re invested in his journey.

Where to Find More

Want to explore more of Lynn Shannon’s Badge of Honor series? Visit her website at https://www.lynnshannon.com/badge-of-honor/ for more information about the series and her other books.

If you’re looking for a romantic suspense that will keep you up late turning pages (and maybe checking your locks a few extra times), Dangerous Lies is an absolute must-read. Just maybe don’t read it alone at night. We speak from experience.

Have you read Dangerous Lies? What did you think? When did you figure out the mystery? Let us know in the comments!