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Published Dec 2019
384 pages
Genre: Thrillers
Publication Information
From Alice Blanchard, the author of the New York Times Notable mystery novel Darkness Peering comes Trace of Evil, first in an evocative new series about a small New York town, its deeply held secrets, and the woman determined to uncover them, no matter what the cost.
There's something wicked in Burning Lake…
Natalie Lockhart is a rookie detective in Burning Lake, New York, an isolated town known for its dark past. Tasked with uncovering the whereabouts of nine missing transients who have disappeared over the years, Natalie wrestles with the town's troubled history – and the scars left by her sister's unsolved murder years ago.
Then Daisy Buckner, a beloved schoolteacher, is found dead on her kitchen floor, and a suspect immediately comes to mind. But it's not that simple. The suspect is in a coma, collapsed only hours after the teacher's death, and it turns out Daisy had secrets of her own. Natalie knows there is more to the case, but as the investigation deepens, even she cannot predict the far-reaching consequences – for the victim, for the missing of Burning Lake, and for herself.
"Blanchard indicates this is the first of many Lockhart mysteries to come—good news! [Trace of Evil is a] fast-paced, intricate, and atmospheric mystery that introduces a plucky, engaging detective." - Kirkus Reviews
"Flush with red herrings, Wiccan symbols, and disaffected teens, this book will appeal to fans of criminal investigations led by empowered women." - Publishers Weekly
"What seems an open-and-shut case becomes much more, with Blanchard carefully peeling away layers of history and deception before pulling off a shocking twist. Lockhart is a relatable new heroine on the police-procedural scene, and one who will appeal to readers of Tana French." - Booklist
"A powerful and unexpected denouement. I look forward to reading more in the series." – Ann Cleeves, bestselling author
"A tantalizing mystery with just the right amount of unsettling horror woven in." - Neal Griffin, LA Times best-selling author of the Newberg series
"Layered with old wounds, new secrets, and tension that starts on the first page and never lets up." - Kristen Lepionka, Shamus Award-winning author of the Roxane Wearymystery series
"Moody and atmospheric [...] the kind of tale that lingers long after you've raced through its twists and turns to the utterly gripping finale." – Owen Laukkanen, award-winning author of the Stevens & Windermere novels
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Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Alice Blanchard is the award-winning author of five novels. She has received a PEN Award, a New Letters Literary Award, a Centrum Artists-in-Residence Fellowship, and a Katherine Anne Porter Prize for Fiction. Her debut novel, Darkness Peering, was a New York Times' Notable Book and a Barnes & Noble Best Mystery book. Her work has been published in 17 countries.
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