It's another Fourth of July in Dacus, South Carolina, and the carnival fright house isn't impressing Avery's seven-year-old niece Emma. That is, until the leg falls off a mannequin posed with a chainsaw. Then even Emma recognizes the human leg bone protruding from the wizened limb. The next day, Avery joins her sister at a college picnic up on the mountain, but the festivities are interrupted when one of the faculty wives disappears off the waterfall. Now, between the owners of the fright house needing help in reopening for the high season and the new widower's even newer lady friend seeking legal protection of his financial interests, Avery has her work cut out for her. She finds herself following the money as she pieces together a very cold case―and a very cold-blooded murder… “A great regional series with heart, depth, and (in this case) helpful tips on protecting yourself against scams.” ― Charlotte Observer “Enough Southern eccentrics to satisfy the most devoted fans.” ― Kirkus Reviews “A very engaging and wonderfully imperfect heroine.” ― Mystery News Avery Andrews's small Southern hometown is where the heart is. But this big-city lawyer is about to enter a house of horrors… It's another Fourth of July in Dacus, South Carolina, and the carnival fright house isn't impressing Avery's seven-year-old niece Emma. That is, until the leg falls off a mannequin posed with a chainsaw. Then even Emma recognizes the human leg bone protruding from the wizened limb. The next day, Avery joins her sister at a college picnic up on the mountain, but the festivities are interrupted when one of the faculty wives disappears off the waterfall. Now, between the owners of the fright house needing help in reopening for the high season and the new widower's even newer lady friend seeking legal protection of his financial interests, Avery has her work cut out for her. She finds herself following the money as she pieces together a very cold case―and a very cold-blooded murder… "Enough Southern eccentrics to satisfy the most devoted fans."― Kirkus Reviews "A very engaging and wonderfully imperfect heroine."― Mystery News CATHY PICKENS , an attorney who specializes in complex civil litigation, currently teaches law and ethics at the McColl School of Business at Queens University of Charlotte. She grew up in South Carolina, where her family has lived for generations. She lives in Charlotte, North Carolina.