It has been years since Casey Maldonado visited her hometown, and the only reason she’s returning now is to get her brother Ricky out of jail, where he sits after being arrested for the brutal murder of Alicia McManus, his girlfriend of several months. Casey believes in her brother’s innocence, but proving that to the cops is a different matter altogether—especially since she has her own murder warrant to worry about. Perhaps even more frightening than the law is Casey’s confrontation with her personal demons: the home she shared with her late husband and son, the resentment of her mother, and even the presence of Eric, who wants to be more than just a friend.
As Casey and her ever-present companion, Death, investigate Alicia’s murder, it becomes clear that she was not who she claimed to be, from her name to her nonexistent past. Instead of a solid history, she left only questions when she died. Where did she come from? What secrets did she know? And, most importantly, who were the three people she spoke of when Death carried her away?
Casey must sort the truth from the elaborate fiction of Alicia’s life in order to clear Ricky’s name, but as she reveals the woman’s secrets, Casey begins to see just how alike their lives appear. Is Casey destined to an existence as empty and dark as Alicia’s, or can she overcome the tragedy of her past and move forward into a life worth living?
Download and start listening now!
"I enjoyed this book and the way Casey has developed, finally allowing herself to be open to a relationship with Eric. I have liked this series quite a bit, but I have to admit that I miss Stella Crown. I hope that Judy eventually does another Stella book."
— Georgiana (4 out of 5 stars)
“A woman with a dark past must confront her demons to save her brother from a murder charge…Having Death as her tipster makes sleuthing easier for Casey, whose latest adventure provides mystery, romance, and the hope that she’ll get her life back together.”
— Kirkus Reviews" Awesome until the very end....grrrr "
— Serena, 11/25/2013" Not as good as the first two books in the series. (Number three was also a little blah.) "
— Miki, 11/24/2013" Really enjoyed the book and the development of the characters - Death and Casey. Can't wait for the next installment of the series! "
— Valentina, 3/17/2013" The first two books in this series - The Grim Reaper - were much better than the last two. This one was only so-so. I was disappointed. "
— Miki, 1/3/2013Judy Clemens, author of the Grim Reaper mysteries and the Stella Crown mystery series, was born and raised a Mennonite and is still involved with the church. She lives in an old farmhouse with her family and their four housecats in rural Ohio, where she is pleased to see women in leadership in every aspect of the community.
Tavia Gilbert is an acclaimed narrator of more than four hundred full-cast and multivoice audiobooks for virtually every publisher in the industry. Named the 2018 Voice of Choice by Booklist magazine, she is also winner of the prestigious Audie Award for best narration. She has earned numerous Earphones Awards, a Voice Arts Award, and a Listen-Up Award. Audible.com has named her a Genre-Defining Narrator: Master of Memoir. In addition to voice acting, she is an accomplished producer, singer, and theater actor. She is also a producer, singer, photographer, and a writer, as well as the cofounder of a feminist publishing company, Animal Mineral.