Krimi & Thriller

**Title:** *Creation's Mojo***Author:** Salvatore Romano, Italian Painter and Writer*Creation's Mojo* is an extraordinary collection that blends the artistic and narrative talent of Salvatore Romano, a versatile Italian artist known for his captivating paintings and compelling stories. In this compilation, Romano guides us through a vibrant and surreal world, where his painterly skill and literary creativity intertwine in a unique union.The collection features three unpublished stories, each with its intricate plot and memorable characters. Romano transports readers to unexplored dimensions where imagination merges with reality, creating stories that capture the soul and stimulate the mind.Alongside the stories, *Creation's Mojo* provides an in-depth look into the author's paintings. Romano's artworks are a visual journey through vibrant colors, suggestive forms, and abstract concepts. Each brushstroke tells a story, and every detail invites exploration of new and fascinating worlds.Salvatore Romano, with his exceptional ability to paint with words and colors, invites the reader to experience a complete artistic journey. *Creation's Mojo* is a tribute to boundless creativity, an ode to the beauty of art in all its forms.This remarkable collection is also available in English and Japanese translations, expanding its reach to a global audience and sharing the magic of Romano's creations with readers around the world.

A new series for fans of M.C. Beaton, Agatha Christie, and Jessica Fletcher. When Daphne Noble leaves London for Mill-Upon-Mortlake, Somerset, she knows she'll face an uphill battle. For one thing, she wasn't born in the village, which means she'll be an outsider until she is buried in the churchyard. Secondly, the villagers aren't sure what to make of "London Girls," especially ones that work in shops instead of being respectably married! As Daphne tries to settle into English country life, a scandal plagues Somerset. Mr. Bell, her employer, has gone missing, and with him the idea of giving the sleepy Somerset town a modern village shop. As an outsider from Taunton, Bell's townie ways may have ruffled a few feathers, but surely no one would murder a man over trying to bring Mill-Upon-Mortlake into the 1890s. Would they? It's up to Daphne to prove herself useful in the eyes of the village, discover what has befallen Mr. Bell, keep her job, and silence the wagging tongues that claim the outsider must have had something to do with Bell's disappearance. But will Daphne's investigations make her seem indispensable? Or just inconvenient? Scandal Comes to Somerset is the first book in The Mill-Upon-Mortlake Cozy Historical Mystery Series by M. Culler. British Cozy mysteryHumor and heartLow-violenceVictorian/Edwardian Era

Turning the key in the lock of the lakeside cabin, Ally puts her finger to her lips as her boyfriend laughs softly. Tonight it's just the two of them. Later that night their broken bodies lie in the grass by the boathouse, the moonlight reflected in their unseeing eyes...When a young couple are found murdered by a remote holiday cabin, Agent Tori Hunter races to the scene: and is devastated to recognize Ally Mannion, a close friend's daughter, and her boyfriend Reed. Who would want to snatch away their innocent lives?The first thing Tori notices is a boat drifting out on the lake. Did someone witness the attack? But with the boat offering up no clues, interviewing Ally's heartbroken family Tori soon realizes that Ally and Reed broke in to the cabin. Were they hiding something? Or did the young couple see something they shouldn't?Then the body of a missing person from fourteen years ago is found at the bottom of another lake. He too was murdered. Convinced the two cases are linked, Tori uncovers a series of terrible crimes at the heart of the local community stretching back years: even to her own school days.To catch the killer Tori will need to question everything about people she's known her whole life. But how far will she have to go, before they strike again?This completely gripping and addictive crime thriller will have you up all night racing through the pages. Fans of Mary Stone, Gregg Olsen and Melinda Leigh won't be able to put down Their Lost Souls. Read what everyone's saying about Roger Stelljes: "This is a real page-turner and I literally have no nails left... This book kept me reading late into the night. A high-octane rollercoaster of a read. And for me the best in the series so far. Loved it!!!!!!" Goodreads reviewer, ¿¿¿¿¿ "An action-packed, heart-in-the-mouth captivating read... So many twists and turns. This was a cracking read... Truly had me hooked and I would happily recommend this story and series to others." Goodreads reviewer, ¿¿¿¿¿

Step into the shadowy corridors of NoSleep sensation Kyle Harrison's Very Dark Thoughts.A scientist analyzes audio from Mars that reveals mysterious screams. A young man takes a haunted plane flight. An unsettling life-sized doll hides a sinister secret. A man races against time to solve a series of twisted puzzles in a sadistic escape room. An arctic excavation unleashes an attack from an alternate dimension. A man seeks a supernatural wandering campfire in the woods.The tales in this collection serve as grim reminders that often the most terrifying horrors aren't waiting in the shadows but lurking within our own minds.Reader praise for the works of Kyle Harrison:"Perfect bedtime reading."-MRC"For the fans ... who like weird and wild, this anthology is sure to get your attention!"-SD"A great collection of horror and suspense-based short stories."-J"These are the kind of horror stories I love to read. Short, but creepy as hell."-CM

A Dark Christmas is set nine years after the events in The Siamese Connection. Martin's daughter Nina is now nine and his eighteen-year-old adopted Cambodian son Hon is a musical prodigy. The boy's amazing talent was instantly recognizable the first time he sat down on a piano bench. He is rehearsing for his first album to be followed by a world tour.As Christmas rapidly approaches, things become tense in the LaRue household and in the studio as Hon's mysterious French girlfriend Juliette arrives - commanding more and more of Hon's precious time.Tragedy strikes on Christmas Eve, bringing Martin and Ramonne together once again to face, perhaps, their greatest and most powerful modern enemy.The tale shifts back and forth between 1947 and present day. Ramonne and Jim Thompson end up doing battle with The Black Dragons when Ramonne reveals he has the Oracle.Back in the present - Ramonne knows the Japanese have contacted Martin. He reveals what he knows about the Black Dragons and The Oracle.Areeya is admitted to the hospital for the baby's birth. But she is kidnapped from the hospital and Ramonne and Martin trace her to the Hernando Cemetery where Muraki is prepared to make her a human sacrifice in his mad quest for immortality.

Blood on the Keyboard - The rise of the Anti-Hero.The Siamese Connection begins in Bangkok 1947, shortly after the end of WWII and the Axis occupation. The vampire, Ramonne, becomes involved in a quest for a mysterious artifact, "The Oracle," stolen and hidden during the war by the Japanese. He joins forces with famous American expat - Jim Thompson (before he was the 'silk king,' Thompson was an OSS agent.) Together they do battle with a secret Japanese paramilitary organization called the Black Dragons. It is revealed that the Japanese believe the Oracle possesses the power of immortality and that power could have meant invulnerability for the Japanese in the war.The story shifts to present-day Bangkok, where we find Martin and his pregnant wife Areeya and their adopted Cambodian son, Hon (9). Martin has a visitor - Toshiro Muraki. Muraki claims to be looking for Ramonne, whom Martin admits to knowing, but says he drowned eight years earlier. Muraki thought a terrorist bomb blew him up more recently. Martin debunks that. Muraki mentions Ramonne recently being involved in an incident in Cambodia, which also included Martin. The incident occurred near an orphanage Martin endows. He shows Martin a grainy picture of the Orphanage at a night. A man's face is seen reflected in the moonlight.Next Muraki shows Martin a photo of Ramonne and Jim Thompson from the Bamboo Bar's grand opening back in 1947. Ramonne appears to be the man in the photo of the Orphanage. Martin claims the photo must be a fake, but Muraki insists Ramonne hasn't changed since then, convinced Ramonne possesses something of great importance to them. Something powerful enough to grant Ramonne apparent immortality. Martin considers the claims absurd.The tale shifts back and forth between 1947 and present day. Ramonne and Jim Thompson end up doing battle with The Black Dragons when Ramonne reveals he has the Oracle.Back in the present - Ramonne knows the Japanese have contacted Martin. He reveals what he knows about the Black Dragons and The Oracle.Areeya is admitted to the hospital for the baby's birth. But she is kidnapped from the hospital and Ramonne and Martin trace her to the Hernando Cemetery where Muraki is prepared to make her a human sacrifice in his mad quest for immortality.

Inspired from the stories of about 4 or more Generations of Professional Wrestlers and from Icons like Nature Boy Ric Flair, Cerebral Assassin & The Game Triple H, Phenomenal One AJ Styles, Will Osprey, Maxwell Jacob Friedman, Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash, Brett Hart, the NWO, Four Horseman, Icon Sting, Kurt Angle, Samoa Joe, Eric Young, Beer Money Inc, America's Most Wanted, the Bullet Club and so many more who spent their entire life in Professional Wrestling, major thanks to those on the Indiependent Wrestling Circuits like Matt Cardona, Brian Myers, Steve Maclin and many more. Thanks to WCW, ECW, WWF/E, TNA/Impact Wrestling, ROH or Ring of Honour, NJPW or New Japan Professional Wrestling, AJPW or All Japan Professional Wrestling, AEW or All Elite Wrestling, AAA and CMLL Mexico as well as Continental Wrestling by Great Khali among many more Professional Wrestling Circuits and Promotions, major shoutout to Canadian Elite Wrestling Figures and Personalities like Chris Jericho, Christian Cage, Adam Copeland or Edge, Don Callis, to promoters like McMahon Family, Eric Bishoff, Jarrett Family, Khan Family, New Japan Management and Scott D'Amore among many more.

Do what's right? Or do what you're told? Chris Collins had it all. Great job as Deputy Director of the CIA, a loving wife at home, and a really nice boat until...It all went away in a flash. The CIA's best Deputy Director, Chris Collins had it all. And then came the case that made him go rogue. After his last successful bust ended with two gun-smuggling, drug-running, crooked politicians behind bars ... he thought he could close the file. But the higher-ups in the cartel had other plans. And before Collins knew it, he was headed south of the Southernmost Point in the Continental United States ... without a game plan, without the blessing of the CIA, on his own. (Except for Ned. There was always Ned.) Chris Collins just can't catch a break. Read all about it in the explosive beginning of the hit Chris Collins CIA Thriller series. You'll laugh some, you'll cry some, you'll hold your breath, and then you'll hope to hell he survives for another adventure. Readers of James Rollins, Matthew Reilly, and Mark Dawson will LOVE this series. Pick up a copy, put the phone on silent, and lock the door - this is going to be an all-nighter!

Flapper dresses, sidecar cocktails, and jazz: what more could a girl and her dog want?Minerva is thrilled at the chance to spend a week at the resort, managing a Gatsby-themed role-play event-and chilled when one of the players turns up dead. With a killer on the loose, everyone from the police chief to her overprotective boyfriend wants her to back off and go home.But Minerva can never resist the call of the past. When she hears the haunting echoes of not one but two long-forgotten crimes, she's more determined than ever not to abandon her guests. Unfortunately for her, someone else has joined the effort to discourage interference.And unlike the others, the murderer is not asking nicely.

For Eliza Crumb and her trusty beagle Mr. Tumnus, the past few months have been smooth sailing. But a storm breaks over their settled life when a hurricane washes the mayor's body ashore, and one of Eliza's best friends becomes the top suspect in his death.As if the seas weren't rough enough, the victim's even more obnoxious brother blows into town, asking questions and demanding satisfaction. He seems more interested in revenge than justice, and he's not particularly picky about where he gets it.To protect her friends and her home, Eliza will have to risk everything to bait a killer ... or sleep with the fishes.

She was a job... until she wasn't.I was only supposed to get close to her.Get intel on the Italian Mafia.Not get lost in her deep blue eyes.Not fall for her.I'm in too deep.I should run from this beauty.Mission abort!Mission abort!That's what I should've said.But I don't.And now, it's too late.I'm sleeping with the enemy.Falling deeper in love with the mob boss's sister.The job was simple.It should've been easy.Get in.Get the informationGet out.I know now... I'm in too deep.

Welcome to Poplar Knot, North Carolina, cast resort of spell raisers and deep bark secrets. Looking for a potion? Autumn Trelayne and her trusty familiar Gravy can whip up the best in town.Until someone dies after drinking one of those concoctions. Now Autumn is in a whole cauldron of trouble, while the real killer is out there brewing up their next murder. As if that weren't noxious enough, the Inquisitors throw themselves into the mix, including the one she never called back after their first and only date. Autumn is their prime suspect, and witch justice is never kind.Caught between a murderer and what might be an even worse fate, Autumn had better conjure up some answers fast. Before somebody gets her-and her little dog, too.Join Autumn for a bewitching blend of magic, mystery, and one opinionated min pin.

Step into the tumultuous world of the Mid-Eighteenth Century, a time of profound transformation and upheaval. In the quaint village of Hamble, a place where change creeps in slowly, Ironstone Jack, the local blacksmith, stumbles upon an unexpected encounter with a daring highwayman. From this fateful moment, a series of gripping adventures unfolds, each inhabited by a diverse cast of intriguing characters and brimming with unforeseen challenges.What hidden secrets lie within the heart of the woods, where the apothecary's wife ventures alone, seeking mysteries untold? And why does a peculiar rat incessantly haunt the windmill's shadows as if harbouring a cryptic request? As you traverse the pages of this tale, you'll also wonder if the eccentric Cruickshank will, once again, unwittingly send his cottage's roof soaring into the sky."The Adventures of Ironstone Jack", the first instalment in this enchanting series, introduces you to this enthralling world, blending adventure with a hint of mischievous humour. Delve into a realm where curiosity knows no bounds and where the unexpected waits just around the corner, inviting you to join in the excitement.

Deadly Downpour: A Eureka Springs Mystery by Myria Hopkins In the heart of the Ozark Mountains lies Eureka Springs, a picturesque town shrouded in mystery and Victorian charm. But beneath its scenic beauty, a deadly secret is about to unfold in Myria Hopkins' gripping novel, "Deadly Downpour." Detective Emma Larson, a native of Eureka Springs, finds herself embroiled in a perplexing case as a series of unexplained illnesses and deaths strike her beloved town following heavy rainfalls. With each drop of rain, fear and paranoia escalate among the townspeople, who suspect a lethal toxin hidden in the rainfall. As Emma delves deeper into the mystery, she confronts a web of small-town secrets, environmental enigmas, and historical puzzles. Her investigation leads her to a historic journal, revealing a long-forgotten tradition of "purifying rains," linked to a respected local figure and amateur historian, Mr. Harold. But what starts as a search for truth quickly spirals into a chilling discovery of delusion and danger. "Deadly Downpour" masterfully weaves elements of detective fiction, psychological thriller, and environmental mystery, set against the backdrop of Eureka Springs' stunning Victorian architecture and the natural peril of the Ozark Mountains. Hopkins explores the complex dynamics of family, community paranoia, and the haunting legacy of local lore. As the storm clouds gather, Emma races against time to unravel town's hidden secrets and confront the reality of nature's danger. Amidst the suspenseful narrative, the novel poignantly addresses themes of mental health awareness, the resilience of the human spirit, and the profound impact of interpersonal conflicts. Will Emma uncover the truth behind the mysterious deaths? Can she restore peace to a community fractured by mistrust and fear? "Deadly Downpour" is a compelling tale of mystery, resilience, and the enduring power of community healing. Join Detective Larson on her quest to unveil the truth in this weather-related mystery, where every clue leads to another twist, and every raindrop echoes the past's forgotten rituals. "Deadly Downpour" is a must-read for fans of intricate mysteries and deeply human stories.

Ramonne Delacroix - the enigma. 175 year old French vampire. Resident of the kingdom of Siam and modern-day Bangkok. Murderer with countless victims. Witness to history in three centuries... Hitman.He has acquired the journals of the historic journey that he made in 1858 with Henri Mohout to Southeast Asia. Seeking the source of his powers he plans a journey back to the ancient temples of Cambodia and a fateful encounter with Zhoupeng - the mighty devil who "turned him" so many years before. Ramonne vows to put an end to his reign of evil over the poor land.Martin Larue, rich expat whose life was changed forever by his encounters with the vampire, has taken his soul-searching a step further, and with his girlfriend Areeyah, has founded an orphanage and school in Cambodia. He rescued 12 orphans from a life of scraping through a giant rubbish heap outside Phnom Penh and took them to the hamlet of Siam Reap, outside the gates of the ancient temples of Angkor Wat. His 'brood' as Martin calls them, have become everything to him.However, Martin learns there is a serial killer in the area - preying on the native's superstitions and beheading its victims. Martin is horrified by the news as the killer's recent activities are cantered right where his school/orphanage is located.Ramonne arrives in Cambodia. Martin is relieved he's there - he needs a saviour.The battle between two powerful demons is a battle with dire consequences for the world. Zhoupeng, now not only drinks the blood of his victims but he has learned through studies of the ancient Khmer sorcerers texts, to consume their souls - allowing him to grow incredibly strong. His evil reign will soon know no bounds. If he is to defeat him, Ramonne must eventually rely on the sacrifice of 'one with ultimate innocence' -One of Martin's children must die...

Rory James is fond of a good red, but that's not why he's asking questions in the wineries of Heathcote. The Detective Sergeant is trying to bring a cold case back to life. But another body at Lady's Pass Run sets Rory on a collision course with not just the colleague who almost ruined his career, but history as well. It looks like the highly-prized vineyards are, once again, full of intrigue and dangerous plots. Why would someone kill for a Heathcote shiraz?.

Panic surges through her lungs as she feels the weight of the ocean above her. She frantically kicks her legs to try and reach the boat. But someone's grip is tightening around her ankles, and they won't let go until she's taken her final breath... As the sun rises over North Carolina's Outer Banks, eight sorority sisters gather on the docks, excited to start their reunion weekend with a diving excursion. But when only seven of them return to the boat alive, Detective Casey White is the first person to investigate. Confused as to why she's been called to what appears to be a tragic accident, her heart stops when she notices fresh hand-shaped bruises on the victim's ankles. Karol Witney was murdered. But with a crime scene and any evidence thirty feet underwater, Casey knows this will be her most challenging case yet. Determined to find the killer, Casey and her fiancé Jericho dive to the shipwreck where Karol was last seen exploring. But just as Casey discovers a piece of shocking evidence on the ocean floor, Jericho is attacked. The killer is still out there, and they're watching Casey's every move. As Jericho fights for his life, and another body washes up on the beach, Casey knows she has to dive again. Because she'll do anything to catch the killer, even if it means using herself as bait... An absolutely addictive crime thriller that you won't be able to stop reading! Fans of Robert Dugoni, Lisa Regan and Kendra Elliot will be totally hooked. Read what everyone's saying about B.R. Spangler: "Oh my God what a read!!!! I devoured this book in one sitting and finally turned the last page in the wee hours. Oh yes this book is that good!!!!... Heart-stopping... had me holding my breath. A nail-biting read that is full of twists and turns." Goodreads reviewer, ¿¿¿¿¿ "OMG WHAT A BOOK!!!... A real page-turner and rollercoaster... Cancel everything and curl up with this fantastic five star read... I LOVED IT!!!!" Goodreads reviewer, ¿¿¿¿¿

Nurse Kelsey Pinhero was hoping her husband's wire animals had sold well when she agreed to meet up with curiosity shop owner Harry Simm on her day off. In Mablethorpe on a cold frosty December Monday morning, Kelsey surprisingly found the shop door unlocked when her knocking went unanswered. She stepped inside to discover nobody about. She did a quick search of the shop and his small flat upstairs. No Harry. Heading for his workshop outside in the yard, she discovered him propped up against a wall dressed only in his underpants. Dead.

In a race against time, can they hunt down one child in the vastness of Africa?South African ex-security contractor Chrystal Booysen has officially retired to her family game stud farm after her last mission took a dark turn.Corruption-fighting magnate Curtis Wilson hires American private investigator Rowan Zackery to rescue his daughter. But Rowan is out of his depth in Africa, and he needs Chrystal's expertise. The longer Akina is missing, the more people presume she's dead. And he doesn't want to find yet another body...As they investigate, Chrystal grapples with the unsettling evidence that her estranged childhood friend, Mother Stella-Rose, is involved somehow in the disappearance of the children.Akina is in the clutches of Levi Louw, an unhinged and dangerous criminal who works for Mother Stella-Rose. Driven by greed and power, he'll do anything to make a profit.As they chase the elusive trail, can they save Akina, or will they be too late.

The wife. The mistress. Who will get their revenge?I was the other woman. The mistress. Everyone blamed Doctor Drew Devlin's death on me. And I've paid the price for loving the wrong man.Now, I have dark circles under my eyes because I can't sleep at night. I lost everything - friends, family, my home and even my freedom. Drew's devious wife Fern tore my whole world apart. And she thinks she's got away with murder.But she's wrong. It's time for revenge. For myself... and for my baby.Her new life on the windswept Cornish coast is about to come crashing down around her. I'm determined for everyone to find out the true story. Because now it's not just my life in danger, I've got to protect the doctor's daughter too.I know Fern will expect me to come after her - I'm certain she will have her own plan in place to stop me. After all, she's duped so many people before.But then again, Fern always did underestimate me. And by the time she realises, it'll be far too late for the doctor's wife...An absolutely addictive psychological thriller with twist after twist from the number one bestselling author of The Doctor's Wife. If you loved Behind Closed Doors, Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train then The Doctor's Mistress will keep you reading long into the night! What readers are saying about The Doctor's Wife series: 'OMG... binge read!... WOWZERS!... Curveballs that made my head just spin?!!... Deserves way more than 5 stars as it is a must-read book!' Heidi Lynn's Book Reviews, ¿¿¿¿¿ 'Wow!!!... Absolutely addictive and I read it in one sitting. I absolutely loved the cliff-hanging explosive twist at the end...! Kept me on the edge of my seat, biting my nails with my heart absolutely pounding throughout!... Practically every chapter ended with a cliff-hanger so no way could I put it down!! Absolutely hooked!!!... An absolutely heart-racing, unputdownable and addictive page-turner... I LOVED it.' Bookworm86, ¿¿¿¿¿

Peace reigns in October in the misty Malvern Hills, right in the Heart of England ... or does it? Just as Tamsin Kernick is settling down to enjoying training her clients' puppies and dogs and not solving murders, a dead body is found at the foot of the fire escape after a yoga class given by her gentle housemate, Emerald. Did the poor girl fall, or was she pushed? And why was this experienced forager showing symptoms of deadly mushroom poisoning?With some unsavoury things going on at the Health Shop, upheavals in the local Food for Free movement, and connections with racehorse-doping into the bargain, Tamsin finds herself facing real danger as she attempts to unravel the mystery. Can her faithful furry friends get to her rescue in time and sniff out the killer?Down Dog! is the entertaining third book in the Tamsin Kernick English Cozy Mysteries series. If you enjoy gripping mysteries which are hard to put down, delightful dogs, quirky characters, and the beauty of the English countryside in Autumn, you'll love Lucy Emblem's latest warmhearted story.

From the Dagger Award-winning "top notch thriller writer," a new novel of politics, religion, power, and a woman's search for her missing father's secrets (Simon Kernick, bestselling author of Relentless). A man lies bleeding on the roadside. Hidden in his clothing is a message to Sidney from her father-who has been missing for fourteen years . . . Practical and level-headed Sid doesn't believe in miracles. So she sets out on a search for her father that leads to his old friends from university-or at least, the two of them who are still around. One is the head of a religious cult. The other is an ambitious politician. And both have secrets they want to stay buried-secrets Sid will have to uncover before a killer strikes again . . . Praise for CJ Carver "A page-turning must read." -Booklist "Solid gold." -Lee Child, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of the Jack Reacher series "Exceptional." -Publishers Weekly (starred review)

In the year 2072, Leon is a gate operator for WormWhole Inc., the global leader in commerce and personal travel using the slipway network, a method of teleportation-like travel employed globally. As Leon prepares for an evening with his brother Dan, his life is turned upside down due to the loss of one of his commuters. Unable to reconcile the guilt over his self-perceived role in the tragedy, Leon's good-intentioned delve into how such a thing could happen quickly starts to unsettle his life. But in a moment of attempted heroism during a violent altercation, Leon sets in motion a series of events that leaves not only his own life, but the lives of his friends and family irreparably changed.

On the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, Jake McCluskie's wife, the doc, is brutally murdered by a powerful deity, igniting the fuse to a deity civil war that only McCluskie and his partner, Detective Frank Sigorlli, can stop.

What would you do if you were planning to kill your brother-but someone beat you to it? After former Olympic contender turned burn-out horse trainer Cillian Clarke is framed for the murder of his identical twin Christopher, a rising-star Virginia politician, Cillian is forced to go on the lam. But when someone from Christopher's past emerges and offers Cillian the chance to clear his name, Cillian is plunged headfirst into a sinister conspiracy that not only threatens the sanctity of democracy, but also promises to expose the devastating secret¿intertwining the brothers forever-the truth behind the death of a woman they both loved.

PI Maddie Landon receives an unexpected call from her former police partner-turned-attorney, pressuring her to help him investigate the murder of his friend's wife, Claire Stevenson. Though conflicted because they were once lovers and their affair ended badly, she reluctantly agrees to take on the case.As Maddie delves into Howie Stevenson's life, she's faced with a man who swears he's innocent, though the evidence against him is overwhelming. As Maddie peels back layers of deceit, she soon discovers her client is indebted to loan sharks. Was Claire collateral damage in a vicious game of retribution or did her troubled past come back to haunt her?While struggling with the investigation, Maddie grapples with demons of her own past-a tragedy of a horrific accident that claimed her adoptive parents. Though never wanting to search for her biological parents, she now realizes the keys to her present may lie in the past.In a world where the past casts a long, dark shadow, Maddie must unravel a web of lies to find the truth, and perhaps, mend the fragments of her own life.