An irresistible mystery set in a thriving Montana town.
In Stone County, the biggest problems include neighborhood busybodies and unleashed dogs, and Sheriff Peter Elliott enjoys the prevailing sense of peace he’s worked hard to cultivate. “Nestled in the pine forests of the Moonlight Mountains, overlooking meandering Flint Creek and the valley it waters,” Anderson boasts a landscape that is as captivating as its residents are resourceful. Birdie Bradshaw might be relatively new to law enforcement and the community, but she’s got a lot invested in her recent career choice. When Birdie is hired as the new deputy in town, the police force is happy to help her acclimate to Anderson’s pace while she learns the ins and outs of the small town. She’s eager to take up a recent missing person case and her fresh perspective proves to be an asset. But Birdie has a secret that threatens her credibility within the department, the town’s mayor is constantly critical of Peter, and an attention-hungry newspaper reporter is stirring up a hornet’s nest, making the investigation even more challenging. If the histrionic reporter is right, Peter has more than one missing person on his hands, perhaps a string of them spanning many years. It begins to weigh on him that he might have overlooked something important in the past. If a serial kidnapper is on the loose in Anderson, it will take the entire town to uncover the identity and motives of the killer.
A novel that is both emotionally crushing and curiously uplifting, Innocence Slain is an irresistible mystery set in a thriving Montana town. Well-placed character callbacks enhance the depth and continuity of the charming world Kit Karson has crafted within The Anderson Chronicles. Peter’s crew has wonderful camaraderie, making the story engaging and endearing as they deal with everything from rowdy barflies to mischievous skunks. But when the perspective switches to Stacey, the woman who went missing, readers are sucked into a vortex of torment and fear, a heady mixture that will keep you glued to the page. Besides the increasing urgency of the case, this highly enjoyable story is fizzing with relationship drama between the primary characters, building more depth and complexity while laying the groundwork for endless future possibilities. The lovable county sheriff with his most loyal canine companion might lure you in, but a surprising hero will steal your heart. A wonderfully rustic psychological thriller, Innocence Slain is a fleet-footed novel where the gorgeous landscape just might be hiding the ugliest secret.
