Police Deputy Tess Dane never thought that reporting to work one cool October morning would change her life forever. When her name is found scrawled at a gruesome crime scene, she is teamed up with her old partner, Detective Denny Haywood. As Tess and Denny work through the evidence left at the scene, a madman is busy at work, setting about his ultimate revenge. While Tess struggles to not only find the killer, but to also clear her name, they get a call. Another tortured body has been found. It’s now a race against time to catch a killer who will stop at nothing to finish his murderous plan. As the body count rises, the danger is getting closer to home. Can Tess and Denny catch him before it’s too late? "The best true-to-life cop story since Joseph Wambaugh" Rick Vade Bon Coeur, Forensic Investigation professor emeritus, COTC A.L. Hatcher holds bachelor's degrees in both forensic investigation and forensic pathology as well as an associate degree in veterinary technology. Because of her love of animals, she's been a registered veterinary technician for over 20 years. However, her passion for writing began in childhood when she would write her own short stories and picture books. Today, she spends her time caring for animals, reading, listening to true crime podcasts, and writing fiction about crime, suspense, and all things dark. She lives in the Midwest with her family, some chickens, and an ever-changing menagerie of pets.