Lille has heard all of the legends to tales of the magical carnival, Navaderah. When she hears that it has made an appearance in her town, she is all for it. Until she finds out that each year has a unique way of portraying the carnival. And this year, in order to enter the carnival must steal your soul. In order to enter you must take a card, and it must read enter, if not. You will be rejected. And that is what happens to Lille's Pappae.
After she enters, someone is murdered, and a nine year old girl is blamed for it. The reason? The real killer is taking other peoples' souls' and using them as covers. Soon the carnival is on lockdown. No one comes in, and no one leaves. Now, stuck with fourteen strangers trapped in the area of the park where Lille is, she must trust them, even though one of them could be the murderer.
A criminal mastermind makes a bold move against a wealthy client to put himself in a position to retire in comfort. He has no idea what he's up against when a young widow, desperate to make ends meet, sets her eyes on earning the bounty set on his head.
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Newly widowed housewife Melody Scott needs to earn some major cash, fast. When her bright and busy children learn that a priceless ruby bracelet has been stolen and a six-figure reward is being offered, they convince her to try to do what the police, museum security, and the best private investigators have failed to do. Working against them is a notorious thief who has met people from around the world, but who has never once encountered a woman like Melody Scott. When the sweet innocence of the Scott family clashes against criminal forces more dangerous than they ever imagined, Melody is all too aware that a mom's got to do what a mom's got to do to protect her family.
The Widow, Melody Scott is a 2021 Watty Award Winner!
Content Warning: This story does contain depictions of stalking behavior.