Truth (Stewart)

Twenty-six years ago, just before a series of brutal murders rocked the idyllic town of Bowers Inlet, Cassie Burke lost her family and nearly her own life to a transient. Back then, Cassie was a scared kid; now, she's a homicide cop. Back then, the suspect was caught and convicted and died in prison. But now the killing has started again, and all signs indicate that the Bayside Strangler has come back for more. With too many victims and too few suspects, Cassie has her hands full investigating the case while working through the old trauma it has brought to the surface. Luckily, FBI agent Rick Cisco is dispatched to lend support. Together, Cassie and Rick must uncover the link between the dark past and the dangerous present to bring this small town's long nightmare to an end. "The author's flair for complex characterization makes…the book's professional-turned-personal relationships at least as intriguing and enjoyable as its subtle suspense."

Two children who mysteriously disappeared many years ago are the last thing on Lorna Temple's mind when she returns to her Pennsylvania hometown to sell the old family property in the wake of her parents' passing. But instead of memories, the fields where Lorna grew up yield something utterly chilling. Years ago, Lorna's nine-year-old best friend Melinda Eagan mysteriously disappeared, followed shortly after by her older brother. Now it turns out that Jason's bones have been moldering on the Temples' land for two decades. When Lorna's enquiries to the local police are only met with hostility, she enlists the help of ex-private eye T.J. Dawson to dig up the dirt of the past and see what lies beneath. But the mystery-and the grave-turns out to be much bigger than the Eagan case, and the killer is still at large. "Takes a tough look at a small community and the secrets kept hidden…Stewart's characters are rich and the intrigue compelling. A terrific way to spend some leisure hours."

When her father was charged as a serial killer, Nina Madden and her stepmother became pariahs in their small Maryland town. Though Nina never believed the hideous accusations, evidence led to her father's conviction. When her father died in prison, Nina left Stone River and never looked back. But she couldn't shake the lingering doubts. More than sixteen years later, the doubts resurface when a new series of murders plague Stone River. And Nina isn't the only one disturbed by the resemblance of these murders to the past. Wes Powell, the cop who pursued the original case, can't ignore the eerie similarities between the crimes or their harrowing implications. Drawn back into the mystery, Nina and Wes will cross paths on their dangerous quest-and find themselves in the crosshairs of a bloodthirsty predator. "Malignant secrets abound in this latest chiller from suspense maven Stewart. The questions and intrigue build to a fever pitch."

True-crime writer Regan Landry has followed several explosive stories but none more challenging than that of convict Lester Barnes, a rapist and murderer, who persuades the intrepid author to reinvestigate his case. When Regan and FBI Special Agent Mitch Peyton oblige, they discover a startling number of irregularities-including a crucial DNA mismatch. Their vigorous efforts secure Barnes' parole. Shortly after his release, however, the ex-con vanishes, and a month later, a series of nightmarish, sexually motivated slayings plagues North Carolina's Outer Banks. Fearing the unthinkable, Mitch, Regan, and the FBI sweep in to confront the unspeakable: the horrifying possibility that they have set free a monster with an insatiable appetite for death and a ruthless determination to never again be caged. "Regan's charm and the novel's fast pace will keep readers turning the pages." "[This] fast-paced story holds readers with investigative detail. The fourth in a solid series." "This cut-from-the-headlines plot takes a sharp turn into fear, guilt, and horror. Stewart continues to grow as a spinner of intricate tales of murder and mayhem."