Impostor

An Alexander Gregory Thriller #1 (of 6)

By: L. J. Ross

Narrator: Hugh Dancy

ISBN: 9781464273872

Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press

Publication Date: 02/03/2026

Format: Paperback

My Rating: 5 Stars (ARC)

FEB 2026 MUST-READ BOOKS

From internationally bestselling author LJ Ross comes a tense, atmospheric thriller that explores how far we'll go to understand—and survive—the darkness around us.

In the remote hills of western Ireland, fear spreads as the locals struggle to make sense of a killer who is seemingly one of their own...

Dr. Alexander Gregory, a psychologist recovering from the collapse of a high-profile criminal profiling unit, wants nothing more than a quiet life to finally sit and think things through. But his rare ability to understand the minds of violent offenders makes him hard to ignore—especially when a small town is shaken by a brutal murder. Reluctantly pulled into the case, Gregory finds himself confronting not only a cunning predator, but the darker corners of his own mind.

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#Imposter

My Review

"IMPOSTOR" by L.J. Ross is a masterfully crafted psychological whodunit mystery thriller with emotional depth that captivates from the very first page. As the inaugural installment in the thrilling Dr. Alexander Gregory series, it introduces readers to the intricate world of forensic psychology.

The story unfolds in a quaint yet enigmatic rural town in Ireland, where Dr. Gregory, a brilliant yet reluctant psychologist, becomes embroiled in a chilling murder investigation.

With its suspenseful narrative, richly drawn characters, and superb storytelling, the novel weaves a gripping tale that keeps readers on the edge of their seats, exploring the dark corners of the human psyche amidst a backdrop of small-town intrigue. The story features dark, atmospheric suspense, exploring the mind of a cunning killer, an imposter, and the protagonist's own complex, troubled past.

A small town in Ireland.

A shocking murder.

A predator hiding in plain sight.

Highlights...

Series:

The Alexander Gregory Thrillers (Book #1 of 6)

Genre:

Psychological Thriller, Crime, Suspense, Mystery, Police Procedural

Main Character:

Dr. Alexander Gregory is a complex, intelligent, compassionate, and cautious forensic psychologist and profiler recovering from a high-profile case.

Setting:

Primarily in the remote hills of County Mayo, Ireland, with a contrasting backdrop of his London hospital life

Plot:

Gregory investigates a series of murders in a tight-knit community where a killer is hiding in plain sight.

Genre/Style:

Fast-paced crime thriller with dark humor and complex character development.

Themes:

Hidden secrets, community dynamics, motherhood, obsession, and confronting one's inner darkness

Context:

A departure from the author's popular DCI Ryan series (cop procedural).

Release:

The book is being released to U.S. audiences via Poisoned Pen Press on Feb 3, 2026

About...

The protagonist's quiet life is interrupted when a brutal murder shakes a small, tight-knit community in County Mayo, Ireland. A young mother is gruesomely murdered and left for her family to find, and the local police (Garda) are running out of time and leads. Gregory is reluctantly called in, as a consultant, by the town's mayor, Maggie Byrne, to provide a fresh perspective.

He believes that understanding a crime scene is less about fingerprints and more about understanding the "darkness within" a person's psyche.

Gregory clashes with the local authorities, who are convinced the killer is an outsider, while he suspects the murderer is likely someone within their own community. As he delves into the case, the lines between reality and his own past traumas begin to blur.

My thoughts...

I loved this book! IMPOSTOR is a smartly written, intriging psychological whodunit suspense thriller. Dr. Alexander Gregory is a fascinating character—a brilliant forensic psychologist with the rare ability to step inside the minds of violent offenders. Checks all my boxes.

The characters are divided between the protagonist's professional life in London and the small, insular community in Ballyfinny, County Mayo, where the investigation takes place.

There is a heavy weight of the past and recurring trauma with both the killer and the investigator, driven by events from their childhoods and previous professional failures. The book suggests that you cannot truly move forward until you confront the "ghosts" of your past.

The novel is INTENSE, a twist-filled whodunit that keeps readers guessing until the very end, concluding with a shocking cliffhanger. At its core, it examines the idea that people are rarely who they seem. Sometimes monsters can be hidden in plain sight. The narrative emphasizes that the true "darkness" is often internal rather than external.

Dr. Alexander Gregory is enigmatic. complex, haunted, and vulnerable, despite his professional "steely exterior," he is deeply affected by past trauma and tormented by vivid nightmares. He is very intuitive and possesses a "rare ability" to read people, even when he struggles to understand his own internal darkness.

The investigation not only focuses on solving a murder but also emphasizes the importance of navigating the "darkness surrounding us" and understanding the complexities of one's own mind. The narrative suggests that to truly grasp others' psychology, one must engage in an honest examination of one's own past traumas. Through Gregory's struggle with his previous professional scandal, the book underscores that the pursuit of justice often requires significant personal sacrifices, including feelings of guilt and isolation.

Themes..

~The Mask of Deception (The "Impostor")

~Small-Town Insularity and Secrets

~The Darkness of the Human Mind

~Past Trauma and Personal Demons

~Maternal Fixation and Family Ties

Motherhood is a central, often dark, theme throughout the narrative, from obsessive protection to maternal distortion.

The bleak, rainy Irish landscape mirrors Gregory’s own mental state—shadowy, damp, and full of hidden depths. The small town setting is atmospheric and eerie, both beautiful and suffocating, making it difficult to believe there may be a killer among them with an internal vs. eternal darkness vibe.

L.J. Ross's writing style is cinematic, vivid, and taut, making the Irish landscape feel like a character in its own right, drawing you in.

IMPOSTOR concludes with a shocking clever twist and a cliffhanger that sets the stage for Gregory's continued psychological evolution in Hysteria #2 (June 2, 2026) set amidst the spectacular Parisian landscape. (Definitely on my list. Sign me up!)

The series currently spans six books, including Bedlam, Mania, Panic, and Amnesia. This engrossing series promises a thrilling journey, keeping readers eagerly anticipating each new installment in the gripping saga.

Takeaway message...

The central takeaway is that true evil often hides behind a veneer of normalcy and familiarity, making the most dangerous threats those we refuse to recognize.

Title Significance...

As the title, IMPOSTOR, suggests, the novel explores the many "masks" people wear. Everyone carries a "killer inside" in a psychological sense—dark potential or secrets that they keep hidden from the world. The "impostor" element of the title refers not just to Gregory’s own self-doubt, but to a specific person in the town whose familial ties and background are not what they seem.

My first book by the author and based on this book, series, the author's impressive and remarkable background has been added to my favorite author list. I can hardly wait to explore the rest of the series and discover more of her incredible work!

Recs...

As I delve into the pages of the book, I can't help but draw parallels to another remarkable author whose work resonates deeply with me—Michael Robotham and his earlier work. A long-time favorite, this esteemed Australian international crime fiction writer has a remarkable talent for crafting intricate, psychologically rich characters, with emotional depth such as his Cyrus Haven and Joseph O'Loughlin series (favorite) that showcase his uncanny ability to explore the complexities of the human psyche, much like this author.

Fans of authors like Michael Robotham, Brian Freeman, Lisa Gardner, David Baldacci, William Kent Krueger, Louise Penny, and Karin Slaughter will undoubtedly find themselves captivated by this book, the author, and the series.

I hear the author's DCI Ryan Mystery Series is a little different vibe (more of a classic cop procedural), whereas the Alexander Gregory series appears to be more psychologically driven (as a psychiatrist, not a cop) as he operates as a consultant focusing on the WHY and the dark corners of the human mind rather than the HOW. (I like the WHY).

Very special thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for graciously sharing an advance reading copy in exchange for my honest thoughts and for the introduction of this talented author. Now I am ready for the next, please.

@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks

Pub Day: Feb 3, 2026

My Rating: 5 Stars

Feb Newsletter

Praise

"Complex and intriguing." ― Library Journal

"Tightly written and totally propulsive. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough."

―Brian Freeman, New York Times bestselling author of Photograph

"Everyone’s a suspect in LJ Ross’s IMPOSTER―a harrowing murder investigation set against the beautiful rural backdrop of Mayo County, Ireland. With sharp insight and emotional depth, Ross masterfully builds a suffocating small-town mystery that echoes the tension of a locked-room puzzle while delving into the darkest reaches of the serial killer psyche. Criminal profiler Alexander Gregory emerges as a fascinating addition to crime fiction."

―Hannah Morrissey, USA Today bestselling author of The Unlucky Ones

"Readers clear schedules for every LJ Ross release, and Impostor will be no exception. Launching a gripping new series with forensic psychologist Alexander Gregory, this smart, twisty thriller crackles with tension from start to finish. In Ross’s hands, however, Impostor is much more than Dr. Gregory's quest to solve a murder: it’s a compelling psychological exploration of buried secrets and dangerous obsession. I loved it."

―Gregg Olsen, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author

About the Author

LJ Ross is an international bestselling author whose books have sold more than ten million copies worldwide.

Her debut, Holy Island, was released in 2015 and became an instant international bestseller. Since then, more than thirty 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. Louise was shortlisted again in 2023 for the nineteenth novel in her DCI Ryan series, Bamburgh.

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. She was shortlisted again in 2024.

Louise was born in Northumberland. 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. Now, she writes full time and lives with her husband and two children in Northumberland.

To find out more about the many philanthropic ventures Louise has founded and sponsored through her publishing imprint, Dark Skies Publishing, please visit ‘Philanthropy’. WEBSITE