An IndieNext Pick! “Gripping…Blanchard keeps the tension high.” – Associated Press 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 … 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.
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TRACE OF EVIL takes place in a small town in New York, called Burning Lake. The town tries to promote its reputation and tourism as being like Salem because it was known to have burned three witches there. Mostly, it’s a sleepy little town where nothing much happens. Except, there is more than a little evil lurking under the surface of the town. Natalie Lockhart is a newly minted detective on the police force and is tasked with finding out what happened to nine people who just vanished, dubbed the “Missing Nine.” In following clues, Natalie discovers a murder of a beloved teacher who had many secrets herself. The writing was mediocre. Although the ending was a surprise, most of the scenes and dialogue were very unrealistic. The plot was drawn out and became kind of “ho-hum’ to me. A lot of background information about the characters was just described in a short time, without really including it in the plot which would have held my interest better. This is the first in a series of books with this character, so fans of mystery with some suspense will enjoy this book and look forward to more in the series. However, the book was just not my cup of tea as it frequently put me to sleep instead of leading me to want to read more.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”