Seneca Murphy's life changed 8 years ago when her father, a beloved sheriff in her sleepy little town, was found drowned along with the body of a woman. Since then, locals attributed his death to a murder-suicide and blamed him for the drowning of three children, whose bodies were discovered lifeless in the same river just some months prior. Seneca always knew her father was innocent, but never had the means to remove the tarnish from his name. So, she dedicated her whole life to solving mysteries, hoping that one day, she could find the real perpetrator behind the murders her father was blamed for.
However, she doesn't need to look far when her next case sends her right back to that dreary little town to solve another murder... one that is eerily similar to the drownings that happened eight years ago. With the company of her bloodhound Atlas, her boy toy that seems to pop up at every crime scene, and his wheelchair-bound brother, both of who seem to have a dark past, she sets out to solve the case and clear her father's name once and for all. But it seems that the old killer is back, and this time, he's not just out for blood... He's out for Seneca.
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.