On a cold, stormy night in the midst of October, six people enter a hotel room. By dawn, only five remain. Five months earlier, McKenna Macintosh is introduced to Carter Ford and finds herself drawn into an unfamiliar, intoxicating world. As summer unfolds, their friendship deepens-yet unresolved tensions and secrets loom, entwining their lives in unexpected ways. When McKenna and Carter enter the hotel room that October night, everything they once knew has changed, and nothing will ever be the same again.

[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]