— "Patricia Rice writes stories with so much attention to detail the characters truly seem to come to life." Booklist

The past rarely gives second chances—and neither do killers

Damien Sutter fled his abusive family and the decaying village of Gravesyde at age twenty, abandoning his first love without a second look back. Fifteen years later, he's a respected solicitor, returning only to sell his inherited property, never expecting to find the best part of his childhood still unmarried—and believing him capable of treachery.

Despite her humiliating spinsterhood, fiery Brydie Calhoun refuses to marry any man who doesn't appreciate her spirited temperament. Nor should she be forced to pair with someone possessing fewer wits than her own. But when her childhood sweetheart returns, Brydie is forced to deal with the devil... and his troubled past.

Alarmed that a traveling camp of political and religious zealots will cause difficulty in selling his inheritance, Damien approaches them, only to watch in horror as his estranged mother is shot before his eyes. After another murderous attack on a prominent citizen, it becomes clear that the town he despises is under siege. With Brydie in his reach again—and possibly in danger—he can't walk away this time.

Damien and Brydie must unravel a tangled tale of rivalry and greed before tragedy strikes again. Can they confront his past and stop the killer before it's too late for reconciliation—or even survival?

GRAVESYDE VILLAGE MYSTERY BOOKS

Book #1 The Villain's Fatal Plot

Book #2 The Scoundrel's Deadly Deed