Maxy Awards Winner – Best Mystery

“An intelligent, immersive police procedural that will leave you pining for another Jack Bailey novel.” –Best Thrillers

What if it happened to your daughter? At first Detective Jack Bailey wonders who would kill a nice guy like Todd Kaplan. But it doesn’t take long for Jack to realize Todd should’ve thought twice about what he did to several girls he dated. Was his murder justified?

Jack Bailey, small-town hard-boiled detective, must solve the crime, but his own unrelenting demons rising from his struggle with PTSD and buried family secrets complicate his task. Daily work at the station affords Jack distraction from the inner turmoil that penetrates his nights. Darkness brings unwanted memories, nightmares, and the realization he needs to face what happened ten years ago.

Through the searing Texas summer heat, Jack’s team of detectives works hard interrogating witnesses in an effort to discover Todd Kaplan’s true character. But it’s patrol cop, Denise Williams, who rises above her calling to assist in questioning a crucial witness. Smart and sassy, she holds her own with Jack’s moody temperament. All the while, a new romantic interest with a woman who is off limits proves problematic for Jack as he tries to make the right decision.

Was this small-town murder an act of justice or revenge? Only a parent who has tragically lost a child can hold the answer in their hearts. Jack understands. Only too well.