When psychologist Marguerite Pierce lands unannounced in Wisconsin, investigative journalist Leah Nash wants nothing to do with her desperate request: exonerate Marguerite's sister, Hannah, convicted of murdering her married lover. Leah's plate is full—her struggling small-town newspaper is hemorrhaging advertisers and her book deadline looms. But Marguerite's plea strikes a raw nerve.



Digging into the victim Matthew Ferguson's life, Leah uncovers a minefield of motives. His wife mourns with suspicious fervor. His sister nurses a decades-old grudge. A political rival seethes over ruined ambitions. The husband of Matthew's mistress can't hide his fury. But it's Hannah's own daughter who raises the sharpest questions. What secrets are worth killing to protect?



As Leah races to untangle the truth, her own life becomes increasingly chaotic. A fan's admiration becomes a dangerous fixation, her newspaper teeters on collapse, and a looming personal decision threatens to upend her relationship with partner David Cooper. The case forces Leah to confront the ghosts of her past—and the realization that her relentless pursuit of justice may come at the cost of her own future.



Contains mature themes.