[Ambys 2022: Mystery/Thriller Winner] Discovering a dead body just minutes from her cottage in the trees is the last thing Dray Dinley expects upon moving to the remote town of Hero. Being convinced by the town outcast and suspected murderer, Wells Walden, to join him in playing detective is even farther down that list, but here she is ignoring every red flag in the book. Dray thinks she finally found a spot to settle down and expand her freelance photography business, but instead stumbles upon a quiet town bursting with secrets. Unable to steer away from her desire to dig deeper, Dray follows Wells into a puzzle of stories dripping in danger, unexpected family connections, and years of manipulation. Despite Wells being at the center of it all, Dray can't fight the pull to stay by his side and sleuth her way to reveal the true story of Hero. [#1 in partnersincrime: June 2022, September/October 2021] [#1 in murdermystery: April/May 2021] [Wattpad Featured Story: Oct/Nov 2017]

Jas gives me a sympathetic look. She sighs heavily, long nails tapping against the wooden table, dodging the 'Missing' posters scattered all over the surface. "Maybe," she finally says, "Just maybe, he doesn't want to be found, Ava." I clench my jaw. "No. I refuse to believe that. He's not like that." "What do you know?" Jas snorts, finally withdrawing her hand from the table and turning back to look at me. "You don't even know him." xx Ford Wilson was in three out of four of Ava Jackson's classes. They had one mutual friend, did a project together once in sophomore year, and had the same lunch. When Ava's car had broke down, she had even ended up parked outside of Ford's house, asking for gas. In Ava's life, he was everywhere. And yet, she didn't notice him until he was nowhere to be found.