Small-town lies. Big-time twists...
What's a jaded bartender to do when her imprisoned brother begs her to delve into their father's old murder conviction? How about peel back the lies, upend the fairy tales, and roil the populace of Lavitte-a sweet apple of a town with a wormy, festering core? That's what Allison Fennimore chooses. Despite her infamous surname and people's wilted memories, Allison sinks her teeth in and refuses to let go. She can practically taste the bitterness of that long-ago, twisted night when two teenagers-linked to her father by bad luck and a few strands of rope-wound up dead.
Ignoring the aggrieved local atmosphere, Allison stirs the pot, but every exposed lie makes the truth more elusive. Soon, a key source of information dies under questionable circumstances, and the dark edges of resentment coil around Allison like a slowly tightening noose. As revelations get ugly, she may wish she'd never ventured toward the forbidden fruit of truth.
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.