Dunmeyer, Bethel County: Population: 6,283
They were watched. They were chosen with purpose. They were given a part they hadn't auditioned for.
Beth-Ann Peters vanishes on a warm, spring night, leaving no witnesses and no evidence behind.
In a small town community, like Dunmeyer, your neighbors are often your closest friends and feel more like family. As additional teenagers begin to disappear, the whole town is thrown into a chaotic mess and no one knows who to trust. The closest of friends are becoming suspect and the tourists are met with resistance.
The sheriff is ill-equipped to deal with crimes much above drunken brawls at the local bar and reluctantly calls in backup from his old city's station. Local residents are beginning to doubt his ability to serve and protect and don't believe he is doing enough to find their girls until his daughter goes missing as well.
The entire town of Dunmeyer is stunned by the news except for one resident who, observing from afar, finds great satisfaction in the destruction they've caused and takes pride in creating their greatest masterpiece yet.
When Jane Madarang's neighbor Natalie kills herself and leaves behind cryptic instructions, it's up to Jane and her classmates to unearth deadly secrets.
*****
Natalie Driscoll is dead.
She threw herself out a window and left her neighbor Jane to unravel their town's darkest secrets. Following Natalie's instructions leads Jane to three other high school students who all have something to hide. The four of them must carry out Natalie's final errand while solving the mysteries written in her diary. But the secrets they unearth may be far more dangerous than what they ever imagined.
Content and/or trigger warning: This story contains scenes of suicide, violence and murder that may be triggering for some readers.
[[word count: 100,000-150,000 words]]