Former North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation agent Rachel Carver blames herself for the collateral death of an innocent woman in her last case. Unable to accept her superior's attempts to cover up the incident, she turned in her badge. But when a former partner asks her to consult on a new murder case, she reluctantly agrees, traveling to a small, remote mountain community, where she's tasked with leading a group of inexperienced detectives on a hunt for the killer. The trek has hardly begun when what seems to be the act of a loner proves to be much more as Rachel's team comes under attack—and a detective is killed in the fallout.Now that the stakes have risen, Rachel's old employers at the SBI step in to take over the investigation. But Rachel, convinced they are on the wrong track, continues to work the case alone. And just as she delves into the town's past, she discovers a secret history that connects the victims—one that makes her the target of a man...

Fans of J. T. Ellison and Tami Hoag will find a new favorite in J. R. Backlund's second installment of the Rachel Carver mysteries. Ex-SBI agent Rachel Carver's past comes back to haunt her as she uncovers a trail of murderous revenge—and a horrifying secret.Rachel Carver's career with the North Carolina Bureau of Investigation came to a shuddering halt after her last case led to the collateral death of an innocent woman and a shameful cover-up by her superiors, She's turned in her badge and is settling in to a new life as a legal investigator—but Rachel's past won't leave her alone. While on assignment for a prominent law firm, she uncovers a link between a recent grizzly murder and the case that ruined her career. The discovery is no coincidence. A hidden player is manipulating Rachel into uncovering the truth once and for all. And the stakes turn even deadlier when the killer strikes again. On the run and desperate for answers, she...