She Doesn't Have A Clue Review

Author: Jenny Elder Moke

Publisher: St. Martins Press

Release Day: Jan. 21 2025

Special thanks to St. Martins Press for a complimentary arc of this title. Opinions expressed are my own.

With a colorful cast of characters and a cellar full of wine, anything can happen―from murder to a second chance at love―in Jenny Elder Moke's half mystery, half romance adult debut set at a lavish destination wedding.

Review:

A destination wedding on a private island is the setting for Author Jenny Elder Moke's SHE DOESN'T HAVE A CLUE. I'm all in for a good mystery or romance, and a combo of the two is just up my alley. Add the fact that the heroine is a mystery author, and how could I resist?

When Mystery Author Kate Valentine receives an invitation to her ex-boyfriend's wedding to Rebecca Hempstead, she has no intention of attending. However, when the bride-to-be herself extends a special invitation, Kate is too curious to refuse. She'll attend the exclusive event, meet some important people, drink, eat and make merry. How hard can it be? How was she to know her secret crush Jake Hawkins would show up mistakenly placed as her plus-one? She can handle him up close and personal, right? Things are going just peachy until the bride is poisoned - a scene way too similar to a murder that occurs in one of Kate's books. Great! Now she's a murder suspect! Kate doesn't have a clue who did it, so it looks like she'll have to channel her book character's skills to solve the murder mystery and clear her name. Having Jake along for the ride won't hurt none!

SHE DOESN'T HAVE A CLUE is a sweet blend of a trapped room mystery and second-chance romance. Moke does a great job setting the scene with a number of characters offering several red herrings. It doesn't take long for the dirty secrets and smoldering resentments to start surfacing opening the pool of possible killers up to include almost everyone. While the pace may feel a bit slow for some readers, I applaud the author for taking time to build the suspense and romance. SHE DOESN'T HAVE A CLUE is a highly atmospheric, entertaining murder mystery that fans of mysteries and romcoms will enjoy.

Synopsis:

A high-end wedding on a private island off the coast of Seattle sounds like something out of a magazine. But for bestselling mystery author Kate Valentine, it’s more like a nightmare.

Why Kate agreed to attend her ex-fiancé’s wedding is its own enigma, but she’ll plaster on a fake smile for two nights, with the aid of free champagne, naturally. And because the groom happens to be her editor, she’ll try to finish a draft of her latest Loretta Starling mystery as a wedding gift. But when the bride is poisoned and Kate stumbles across a dead body, she finds herself in a real-life mystery that eerily echoes the plot of her latest novel. And the only person who seems willing to help Kate catch the killer is Jake Hawkins, aka: the Hostralian; aka: Kate’s biggest romantic regret.

As the wine flows and the weather threatens to hold every guest hostage, bitter resentments and long-held grudges surface amongst the colorful crowd. Anyone could be capable of murder, it seems. What would Loretta do? Unfortunately, Kate doesn’t have a clue.

Bonded In Death Review

Author: J.D. Robb

Series: In Death #60

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Release Day: Feb. 4, 2025

5 Exploding Stars!

Special thanks to St. Martin's Press for a complimentary arc of this title. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Review first published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine

The #1 New York Times bestselling author spins an epic tale of loyalty, treachery, murder, and the long shadow of war…

Review:

BONDED IN DEATH is the sixtieth book in Author J.D. Robb's futuristic police procedural series set in New York City during the 21st century. Homicide Lieutenant Eve Dallas, billionaire husband and entrepreneur Roarke and an eclectic assortment of friends and colleagues unite to fight crime and bring justice to victims and their families. As always, Robb excels at rendering a tautly plotted murder mystery featuring strong, vibrant characterizations and settings with a sprinkling of humor to lighten darker storylines.

A man in Rome receives an urgent phone call causing him to drop everything and travel to New York City with no explanation to his family. He gets in a waiting limo at the airport and soon thereafter, he's found dead in the backseat with no immediate cause of death indicated. Called to the scene, Lt. Dallas quickly becomes irritated at the lack of clues, especially when facial recognition fails to identify the limo driver and presumed killer. As Eve and her team dig deeper, facts emerge indicating the victim had a connection to the historic Urban Wars that occurred during a period of unrest in Europe over four decades earlier. Dallas turns to the only person she knows who lived through those Wars - Roarke's major domo, Summerset, who resides in the mansion and takes immense pleasure in irritating Eve with daily exchanges of banter. The shock and pain on Summerset's face upon hearing of Rossi's death tells Eve that he holds the key to solving the murder if she can convince him to share his secretive past. When it becomes clear someone is targeting old comrades, Summerset reluctantly tells a dark tale about an organization he swore allegiance to known as "The Twelve” - a group of confidants who secretly fought behind the scenes during the Urban Wars. With Summerset at the top of a "kill list", Eve and Roarke offer safe harbor in the mansion to the remaining members of The Twelve while Eve, Peabody and the rest of the police team search for an elusive killer. Can they unmask a mastermind of disguise before he kills again?

BONDED IN DEATH is THE In Death book I've been waiting for as I suspect is true of other fans of the series. The Urban Wars are mentioned in previous books with little to no information being revealed. It's been alluded to that Summerset's dark past is buried somewhere in the ashes of the Urban Wars, and readers are finally receiving the full story. Bringing the tale home to New York with safe shelter taking place in Roarke's mansion is brilliant on the part of the author as it brings people who knew, loved and worked with Summerset in his youth together in one place, allowing readers inside Eve’s at-home interview room as each remaining member relays their story. Flashbacks carry readers straight into the war zone enabling them to watch the horror of the ultimate betrayal play out firsthand. Robb expertly maneuvers characters and readers through connecting plot lines as intensity and urgency grow with frustrations at being unable to put a face to a suspected killer.

Author J.D. Robb is a brilliant storyteller who knows how to weave a fascinating, multi-faceted tale with characters readers love like family. I never tire of watching the cases play out through Eve's eyes as her mind is a fascinating place to be whether she's working a case or navigating the murky waters of wife and/or friendship rules. Character relationship development is always huge in these books, remaining the number one reason I recommend experiencing this series from the beginning - although each book stands alone with an intriguing murder case being investigated. I always look forward to the quirky banter between characters, especially Eve and Peabody, as well as the hilarious prose describing the vibrant dress and larger-than-life personalities of some characters. Pacing moves forward steadily with each revelation keeping characters and readers engaged.

Author J.D. Robb has rendered another excellent, immersive police procedural with strong, engaging characters and complex plot lines bearing the perfect blend of mystery, intrigue, romance and humor. I predict BONDED IN DEATH will be a favorite among long-time fans of the series. I also highly recommend it to those readers who enjoy a beautifully written and delivered murder mystery.

Synopsis:

His passport read Giovanni Rossi. But decades ago, during the Urban Wars, he was part of a small, secret organization called The Twelve. Responding to an urgent summons from an old compatriot, he landed in New York and eased into the waiting car. And died within minutes…

Lieutenant Eve Dallas finds the Rossi case frustrating. She’s got an elderly victim who’d just arrived from Rome; a widow who knows nothing about why he’d left; an as-yet unidentifiable weapon; and zero results on facial recognition. But when she finds a connection to the Urban Wars of the 2020s, she thinks Summerset―fiercely loyal, if somewhat grouchy, major-domo and the man who’d rescued her husband from the Dublin streets―may know something from his stint as a medic in Europe back then.

When Summerset learns of the crime, his shock and grief are clear―because, as he eventually reveals, he himself was one of The Twelve. It’s not a part of his past he likes to revisit. But now he must―not only to assist Eve’s investigation, but because a cryptic message from the killer has boasted that others of The Twelve have also died. Summerset is one of those who remain―and the murderous mission is yet to be fully accomplished…

Remember When Blog Tour with Review

Welcome to my stop on the REMEMBER WHEN Blog Tour! Check out my review & learn about the author below!

Author: Mary Balogh

Series: Ravenswood #4

Publisher: Berkley

Release Day: Jan. 7, 2025

Special thanks to Berkley Publishing for a complimentary copy of this title. Opinions expressed are my own.

#Berkley #BerkleyBookstagram #BerkleyPartners

Discover the beauty of second chances at love and life in this heartfelt new novel from New York Times bestselling author Mary Balogh.

Review:

REMEMBER WHEN, the fourth book in Author Mary Balogh's Ravenswood Series, highlights two characters facing midlife crisis's while deciding what to do with their remaining years. It's a book about self-discovery, second chances and choices. It's a sweet love story.

The Dowager Countess of Stratton, Clarissa Ware Greenfield, has returned home to Ravenswood after the last of her children left the nest, launching happy lives of their own. Clarissa seeks solitude in which to contemplate her life choices, both good and bad, and decide what to do as a soon-to-be fifty-year-old widow on her own for the first time in many years. Who is she now that she's no longer a wife and her children don't need her? Her thoughts turn to her childhood friend, Matthew Taylor, and what might have been if she'd made different choices all those years ago. Matthew left the country for ten long years after the death of his wife and newborn child, eventually returning to become the town's carpenter even though he's a gentleman's son. He's content with his low-key life and has no desire to claim his heritage. Clarissa hopes to resume a friendship of sorts with Matthew and uses the excuse of commissioning him to build a crib for her grandchild in order to speak with him. As talks about the crib turn to long walks around Ravenswood, a reconnection of hearts, souls and desires occurs leaving the two with a big decision. Neither knows what the future holds, but self-reflection reveals the answer...if they're brave enough to embrace it. 

Author Mary Balogh has rendered another heartfelt love story that tugs on readers' hearts with REMEMBER WHEN. As always, characters are well-developed and worthy of our empathy. The self-reflection/discovery journey traveled by both Matthew and Claire allows readers a front row seat to the turmoil and need for resolution felt by both characters. Strong support characters round out a cast filled with family and friends. Balogh honors the traditions and setting of the small-town time period, and I love that the main characters refuse to be cowered by expectations any longer.  Fans of second chance, mature relationship, heartfelt historical romance will enjoy this one!

  

Synopsis:

The Dowager Countess of Stratton, Clarissa Ware, née Greenfield, has just presented her younger daughter to the ton, and the rest of her life belongs only to herself. She returns to Ravenswood, intending to spend the summer alone there. But the summer has other plans for her.

Born a gentleman, Matthew Taylor has chosen to spend his life as the village carpenter. Growing up, he and Clarissa were close—dangerously so, considering his family’s modest fortune. As a young man, he never would have been a suitable match for the daughter of the wealthy Greenfields. Clarissa married Caleb Ware, the Earl of Stratton, so Matthew married another, though he was widowed soon after.

Now everything is different—Clarissa has already lived the life expected of her by society. And Matthew is as attractive and intriguing as he was when they were young. As their summer friendship deepens into romance, they stand together on the precipice of change—essentially the same man and woman they remember being back then, but with renewed passion and the potential to take their lives in an entirely new direction.

About the Author

Mary Balogh grew up in Wales and now lives with her husband, Robert, in Saskatchewan, Canada. She has written more than one hundred historical novels and novellas, more than forty of which have been New York Times bestsellers. They include the Bedwyn saga, the Simply quartet, the Huxtable quintet, the seven-part Survivors’ Club series, and the Westcott series.

Chain Reaction Review

Author: James Bryne

Series: Dez Limerick #3

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Release Day: Jan. 28, 2025

Special thanks to Minotaur Books for a complimentary arc of this title. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Review first published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine

Dez Limerick, a man of many skills and a murky past, faces the impossible—a skilled, deadly opponent who anticipates his every move.

Review:

CHAIN REACTION is the third book in the highly acclaimed Dez Limerick series and in my opinion, the best yet! Author James Byrne has firmly established himself as one of the top writers in the espionage thriller genre with this explosive, action-packed series featuring a dynamite character with deadly skills, keen mind, strong sense of right and wrong, and a wry sense of humor as well as a love of music and an eye for the ladies. Set aside your to-do list before starting this page burner. I promise you’ll find it impossible to put down.

Desmond Aloysius Limerick aka "Dez" is a larger-than-life former military "secret" trained as a highly skilled gatekeeper - now retired unless he's called upon to help a friend or innocent victim. His skill set doesn't mesh well within the confines of society's rules, and he's often found on the outskirts of events, silently observing, evaluating people and situations. Dez enjoys playing gigs with musicians when he has the opportunity and jumps at the chance to fill in with a band at the grand opening of the Liberty Center in New Jersey; however, he quickly finds himself in the middle of a Russian terrorist attack when the Center is sieged and thousands of lives endangered. Dez solicits the aid of a reluctant former adversary, Cat, a master thief, and with her aid and his wit and unique skills, they rush headfirst into the impossible task of defeating, or at the least waylaying, an army. A puzzling chain of events occur in the days following the attack that don't add up and being a numbers guy Dez's seriously disturbed when two plus two doesn't equal four. Evidence indicates Dez and others were lured to the convention center under false pretenses by someone as highly skilled as he is . . . but Dez only knew one person that fit the criteria and she's dead. Isn't she?

CHAIN REACTION is an blistering, high octane espionage thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat from cover to cover. Byrne brilliantly manipulates characters and readers through pages of revelations at a breakneck pace. Fans of the series will enjoy getting more insight into Dez's background even as they marvel at the extent of his inventive skills at turning everyday objects into deadly weapons and overcoming insurmountable odds--all with a slightly warped sense of humor. Support characters are well developed, including a couple of strong-headed women who could be worthy friends or formidable adversaries – the jury remains out on which one Dez can trust. Magnificently written and delivered, fans of high-action, high-stake espionage thrillers will enjoy CHAIN REACTION and this new, highly skilled hero "Dez" who’s a combo of Macgyver and Jack Reacher on steroids! This one would be sensational on the big screen!

Synopsis:

Desmond Aloysius Limerick ("Dez" to his friends and close personal enemies) is a man with a shadowy past, certain useful hard-won skills, and, if one digs deep enough, a reputation as a good man to have at your back. He was trained as a "gatekeeper"—he can open any door, keep it open as long as necessary, and control who does—and does not—go through. Now retired from his previous life, Dez still tries to keep his skills up to date.

Knocking around the country, picking up the occasional gig as a guitarist, Dez is contacted by a friend in urgent need of his musical skills. At his behest, Dez flies to the East Coast to a gig at the brand new massive complex, the Liberty Center. But he's barely landed before he finds himself in the midst of a terrorist attack, a group has taken over the whole center and thousands of hostage lives are in danger. With the semi-willing help of a talented thief, Dez takes on the impossible task of outfighting and outwitting a literal army. But that's just the beginning, as Dez learns he was actually lured there under false pretenses, by someone who knows more about Dez, his past and his skills than any living person should.

Murder Town Review

Author: Shelley Burr

Series: PI Lane Holland #2

Publisher: William Morrow

Release Day: Nov. 5, 2024

(First Published: Aug. 30, 2023)

Thanks to the publisher for a gifted copy of this title. Opinions expressed are my own.

Review published in The Big Thrill Magazine

For fans of Jane Harper and true crime, a dark and gripping thriller set in a small town in the Australian Outback, by the author of the international bestseller WAKE.

Review:

Australian Author Shelley Burr's sophomore novel, MURDER TOWN, is an intense, highly atmospheric thriller set in Rainer, Australia, a fictional small town whose only claim to fame is a series of horrific murders by the notorious serial killer, the Rainier Ripper, and his subsequent capture. Almost two decades later, desperate locals debate whether to allow a tourism company to promote the dark tragedy by spotlighting their dying town with the Ripper Trail Tour. Gemma Guillory, her police officer husband, and other locals are still traumatized by the events that occurred when the last victim of the killer died in Gemma's arms at her quaint tea shop. She fears publicity generated by the tour will open old wounds, spill secrets and rattle skeletons best left to rest. The choice is ripped from their hands when a tour representative is murdered in a manner closely resembling that of the Rainer Ripper, and the undercurrent of unrest rippling through their quiet town ignites in an inferno of fear and chaos. Gemma and her husband are pulled back into the nightmare along with a prisoner, former investigator and cold case expert Lane Holland. Once again, a killer is stalking their vulnerable town. With time running out, Gemma questions how well she knows her neighbors.

MURDER TOWN is the follow up to Burr's phenomenally successful first novel Wake, and while it stands alone, there is a crossover character featured in both books. Burr excels in setting highly immersive, atmospheric scenes that pull readers into the story utilizing sight, smell, touch, and sound while creating a keen sense of place. A steadily increasing pace is driven by an undertone of malice permeating the pages as readers and characters navigate a minefield of twists through a unique plot line that culminates in a final shocking reveal. Fans of classic murder mysteries, crime fiction, and thrillers will devour MURDER TOWN--the gripping story of a small-town community pushed to the edge.

Synopsis:

Gemma Guillory has lived in the Australian Outback enclave of Rainier her entire life. She knows the tiny, red-dust town’s ins and outs by heart, knows the people like they are her family, their quirks as if they were her own.

She also knows her once charming town is now remembered for one reason and one reason only. That three innocent people died there at the hands of a serial killer. The last stop on the Rainier Ripper’s trail of deaths fifteen years ago was her picturesque little tea shop. She knows that the consequences of catching the Ripper still haunt her policeman husband and their marriage to this day, and some of her neighbors are desperate enough to welcome a dark tourism company keen to cash in on Rainier’s notoriety as the “Murder Town.

When the tour guide is killed by a Ripper copycat on Gemma’s doorstep, the unease that has lurked quietly in the original killer’s wake explodes into the light, and Gemma is drawn into the investigation. Unbeknownst to her, so is a prisoner named Lane Holland, a former private investigator who earned a living cracking cold cases before he ran afoul of the law.

Gemma knows her town. She knows her people. Doesn't she?

The Crash Review

Author: Freida McFadden

Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press

Release Day: Jan. 28, 2025

Many thanks to the publisher for a gifted arc of this title. Opinions expressed are my own.

Review first published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine

The nightmare she’s running from is nothing compared to where she’s headed.

A gut-wrenching story of motherhood, survival, and twisted expectations, #1 New York Times bestselling author Freida McFadden delivers a snowbound thriller that will chill you to the bone.

Review:

Author Freida McFadden returns with another highly atmospheric thriller with the coming January 2025 release of THE CRASH. The highly acclaimed author of THE BOYFRIEND wastes no time in giving fans what they want - another intense, breathtaking, twisted thriller with a shocking ending no one will be able to predict. This book is a one-seater so find some alone time and settle in for a bumpy ride.

Eight months ago, Tegan went out with friends, met a charming, handsome stranger and made her first mistake. A few short weeks later, she's surprised to learn she's pregnant and after contacting the man from that night, she learns two things . . . the father, Simon, is a wealthy, married man who wants nothing to do with her or the baby, and he's willing to pay a ridiculous amount to keep her quiet in exchange for a nondisclosure agreement. The money will solve her financial woes, but something still nags at her about that night. Why can't she remember? Eight months later when Tegan and Simon meet for the final signing, his presence triggers vague memories of that night, driving her to refuse the money and make plans to seek refuge at her brother's house a couple of hours away. It's late when she begins the trip, and soon a blinding snowstorm causes her to lose control of her vehicle before crashing into a tree, stranding her in a deserted area in the freezing cold with a broken ankle and no way to go for help. When a man in a truck stops to offer help, her relief is short-lived as his size and demeanor frighten her, but she's out of options if she and her unborn baby are to survive. Hank takes Tegan to a cabin hidden away deep in the woods where she meets and bonds with his wife, Polly, a former nurse. With promises to take her to a hospital in the morning when the roads are clear, the mysterious couple settles Tegan in a bed in their basement. As time passes, Tegan begins to suspect that all is not right in this secluded cabin in the woods, and she fears for the life of her unborn child. Has she made her second and potentially fatal mistake?

THE CRASH is a complex, gut-wrenching, locked room style thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. Through past/present chapters of before and after “the crash,” readers are drawn into a deadly situation where it's impossible to figure out who can be trusted and who has ulterior motives. From beginning to end, all elements combine to set a deadly scene, driving an insanely suspenseful pace to a final unbelievable reveal. McFadden has cemented her place in the thriller genre as a writer who pushes characters and readers to the edge . . . before pushing them off with a shocker they never see coming. Support characters provide a choice of red herrings with motive who may want Tegan and her child out of the picture permanently. Readers are charged with deciphering the clues to figure out who the villain is before being blind sighted by the truth.

Intense, mesmerizing and heart stopping, THE CRASH is Author Freida McFadden at her best. Fans are going to devour this one in one sitting as I did. Highly recommended to fans of locked room mysteries and suspense thrillers.

Synopsis: 

Tegan is eight months pregnant, alone, and desperately wants to put her crumbling life in the rearview mirror. So she hits the road, planning to stay with her brother until she can figure out her next move. But she doesn’t realize she’s heading straight into a blizzard.

She never arrives at her destination.

Stranded in rural Maine with a dead car and broken ankle, Tegan worries she’s made a terrible mistake. Then a miracle she is rescued by a couple who offers her a room in their warm cabin until the snow clears.
 
But something isn’t right. Tegan believed she was waiting out the storm, but as time ticks by, she comes to realize she is in grave danger. This safe haven isn’t what she thought it was, and staying here may have been her most deadly mistake yet.

And now she must do whatever it takes to save herself—and her unborn child.

Meet the Author!

#1 New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Publisher's Weekly, and Amazon Charts bestselling author Freida McFadden is a practicing physician specializing in brain injury who has penned multiple Kindle bestselling psychological thrillers and medical humor novels. She lives with her family and possessed cat in a centuries-old three-story home overlooking the ocean, with staircases that creak and moan with each step, and nobody could hear you if you scream. Unless you scream really loudly, maybe.

https://www.freidamcfadden.com/

Mask Of The Deer Woman Review

Author: Laurie L. Dove

Publisher: Berkley

Release Day: Jan. 21, 2025

Special thanks to Berkley Publishing for a gifted arc of this title for review. Opinions expressed are my own. #BerkleyPartner #Berkley #BerkleyBookstagram

Reviewed for Mystery & Suspense Magazine

To find a missing young woman, the new tribal marshal must also find herself. 

Review:

MASK OF THE DEER WOMAN, the debut novel from Author Laurie L. Dove, explores the daily tragic realities faced by Indigenous People living on reservations - the hopelessness, despair, poverty, youth lost to addiction or big cities, rape of land and resources as well as the heartbreaking, ongoing epidemic of missing Indigenous Women who disappear from reservations yearly with little to no recognition or concern from the news media or law enforcement.

After the murder of her teenage daughter left her drowning in grief and guilt with no place to turn, ex-Chicago Detective Carrie Starr finally lands a job as tribal marshal for the new Bureau of Indian Affairs on the Oklahoma reservation where her father grew up. Hoping to be accepted home, her main priority is to investigate the cold cases of missing and murdered Indigenous Women others have deemed unworthy. The urgency and stakes increase when Chenoa Cloud, a local college girl researching the possibility of an endangered species of insects on a plot of reservation land, disappears with clues pointing towards a connection to past disappearances. As Carrie begins investigating, her own dark, haunting memories surface, leaving her lost in foggy hallucinations of the Deer Woman, a mystical Indian lore figure with a female body bearing a deer's antlers - one she recalls from her father's long-ago tales, but why is she repeatedly appearing to Carrie? As she digs deeper, Carrie begins uncovering widespread corruption among the town's leaders including a get rich scheme involving oil found on reservation land. . . the same land that may be an endangered species' habitat. It's up to Carrie to connect all the pieces of the puzzle before another girl disappears. Carrie failed to save her own daughter . . . she can't let these women down.

MASK OF THE DEER WOMAN is an intense, highly atmospheric story about the plight of a nation of people long ignored by authorities as well as the news media. Most of the story unfolds through Carrie's point of view, allowing readers to ride shotgun as she frantically searches for the missing women hoping to bring closure to grieving families while trying to keep a handle on her own sanity. Carrie's repeated hazy visions set a dire tone of malice, driving a steadily rising pace as she races the clock to find the missing college student before she too is lost. The author does a fantastic job offering up red herrings with plausible motive to keep readers guessing until the final climax and reveal. The magical realism element of Indian lore is beautifully written and incorporated into the story in a manner that enhances the plot line while driving the suspense. Characters and readers are left wondering if the deer woman is friend or foe.

Author Laurie L. Dove's debut novel, MASK OF THE DEER WOMAN, is the heartbreaking story of missing and murdered Indigenous women often ignored by law enforcement. It's the story of the difficulty faced by one woman in her search to find her place in a cruel, unaccepting world that took her daughter from her – to find a place of healing where she belongs when she's pulled between two vastly different worlds, neither of which welcome her. Intense and highly visual, MASK OF THE DEER WOMAN is for fans of mysteries, suspense and heartfelt stories with a touch of magical realism.

Synopsis:

At rock bottom following her daughter’s murder, ex-Chicago detective Carrie Starr has nowhere to go but back to her roots. Starr’s father never talked much about the reservation that raised him, but they need a new tribal marshal as much as Starr needs a place to call home. In the last decade, too many young women have disappeared from the rez. Some dead, others just… gone. Now, local college student Chenoa Cloud is missing, and Starr falls into an investigation that leaves her drowning in memories of her daughter—the girl she failed to save. Starr feels lost in this place she thought would welcome her. And when she catches a glimpse of a figure from her father’s stories, with the body of a woman and the antlers of a deer, Starr can’t shake the feeling that the fearsome spirit is watching her, following her. What she doesn’t know is whether Deer Woman is here to guide her or to seek vengeance for the lost daughters that Starr can never bring home.