Synopsis

In a small town, the truth can’t always set you free…

When a second woman from a group of friends known as “the posse” is murdered in the woods near the New England enclave of Kendalton, FBI agent and profiler Gus Wheeler and his partner are called in to determine if this is a serial killing. He’s intrigued by a clue hidden on the a memorial picture of a teen who died 25 years ago.

Instead of helping with the investigation, the long-term friends stonewall the agents. But Gus can smell fear beneath their calm masks, fake smiles, and politely vague answers. Digging deeper, he discovers they are being terrorized by cyberstalking, spying, threats and mysterious break-ins. When a third member is hospitalized after a brutal attack, Gus suspects someone in the posse is the hunter instead of the hunted.

Is it the alpha leader Jules, her best friend Maria—married to the chief of police—outsider Mel, or weak link Lizzy? Or someone else bent on revenge? Time’s running out, and Gus’s life depends on his skill at determining who’s the best liar in town.

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Review

Sometimes secrets need to stay buried.

This small-town thriller will keep you guessing until the end. There is a multitude of characters, which were sometimes hard to keep straight, lies, deception, and half-truths.

The “posse” of women have known each other since high school, and are hiding a secret about the death of a classmate. Now they are being targeted, and a few of them are killed. Who is after them? I had my suspicions, but did not guess the correct person until close to the end. In fact, right before it was revealed. This character was never on my radar, but once the truth came out, I could see how this person would target the women and why.

This is a debut novel, and I feel that the author did a good job of developing the characters and the plot. I will say that Gus was definitely my favorite character. His passion for jazz, but working for the FBI to put food on the table, was an interesting combination. His partner, Vanessa, was a hoot as well, despite not always believing certain situations.

I believe this will be a series, and if so, I can’t wait to see what case Gus will be called to and if a certain relationship from this book will carry forward to the next.

We give this book 4 paws up.

About the Author

Author R. John Dingle lives on a quiet island off the coast of Maine with his wife, writing in a home that’s older than the country. His debut brings the full weight of atmosphere, character, and suspense. Big thanks to the folks who brought this title into the spotlight—it deserves it.

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