WICKED is a gripping sequel set in the heart of Canada, where a determined detective and a forensic expert uncover a chilling conspiracy with nationwide implications, making it a must-read for fans of Gillian Flynn and Lisa Gardner. Detective Ryan Boone just can't let this case go. While the mystery behind the robbery and murders in Twisted was uncovered a few months back, there is still a very large loose thread that Boone desperately wishes to tie up. He convinces his superiors to allow him to travel to Ottawa, where he's uncovered a lead into a conspiracy that hints what happened in Toronto has nation-wide, and horrific, implications. Former detective Cora Porter has moved to forensics, but when a strange case involving a murder, a runaway, and a case of mistaken identity hits close to home, she squeezes her way into the investigation. It also doesn't help that a certain visiting detective has caught her eye, and is also willing to work with her on the case. Their suspect, Blaine Roche, always seems to be one step ahead of Ryan and Cora. What they don't know is that he's not just trying to evade arrest, but take down the conspiracy for his own purposes. Given he's already a wanted man, Blaine is willing to do whatever it takes to get revenge. He has nothing else to lose ... or so he thinks. Wicked picks up where Twisted left off, but in a new location and with several new twists. Edgy, haunting, and unputdownable, Wicked confirms that Maggie Giles is a master at crafting intricate webs of twists and lies. An intoxicating thriller, Wicked picks up the threads from Twisted as Detective Ryan Boone and a forensic specialist, Cora Porter, investigate a slew of murders connected to a rogue pharmaceutical company. Giles’s novel holds readers hostage as each new layer of complexity is revealed. A gripping read. -- -Kristin Kisska, Agatha award-nominated author of The Hint of Light Immersive and hard to put down, WICKED is a thrilling ride into the underbelly of a pharmaceutical gone wrong where the balance between right and wrong isn’t just blurry; it’s Wicked . -- -Tanya E. Williams, Historical Women's Fiction Author Maggie Giles is a Canadian author who writes suspenseful women's fiction and thrillers. Her debut novel, The Things We Lost, was named a 2023 distinguished favourite in Women's Fiction by the Independent Press Awards. She is a member of the International Thriller Writers and currently works in Marketing. Maggie dove into writing a novel head first despite having aphantasia, a condition where one lacks a visual imagination. She lives in Ontario with her mastiff-mix, Jolene, and spends most of her days enjoying the outdoors, from swimming to hiking to skiing in the winter. 1 BLAINE ROCHE The article on the local news page of the Ottawa Citizen beckoned him, trying to draw his attention away from surveillance. Blaine drummed his fingers against the glass table in the quaint corner café, eyes darting from the headline to the front door of the office building across the road. He'd kept an eye on the door for nearly twenty minutes now, having finished his coffee after only ten. She was taking her time today. He had been about to leave, thinking perhaps he'd missed her when the server sauntered by with a refill and the local news page. Blaine had declined both, but the young woman didn't acknowledge him. He wasn't surprised, having spotted the two white earbuds nearly hidden beneath her messy, purple hair. The paper wouldn't have been of interest to him if not for that one little word sticking out. Giving in to the temptation, he reached and grabbed the newspaper, flipping it flat and laying the article in front of him. HERON MAN ARRESTED IN CONNECTION WITH SANDY HILL MURDER A suspect has been charged with first-degree murder after top ACE Pharmaceutical investor was found dead in Sandy Hill condo. Police said Julie Kanner, 28, was found dead the morning of September 5 by her roommate. Rickie Hastings, 34, was arrested yesterday morning (September 9) at 11:50 a.m. Police won't say at this time how, or if, these two people are related. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Ottawa Police or Crime Stoppers. Blaine placed the paper down and reached for his phone, Googling Julie Kanner. Her LinkedIn page confirmed his suspicions. Julie wasn't just an investor; she was an employee of ACE pharmaceuticals. She had a connection to Solydexran. He put his phone away and looked back at the article, wondering if the infamous drug would make an appearance in this case or if it was all just a terrible coincidence. Before he could consider it further, the office door swung open and Doctor Miranda Konch emerged from within. Abandoning his coffee and leaving a crisp bill on the table, Blaine exited the café, quickly crossed the road, and fell into step behind her. He slipped his hood over his head. Miranda had disappe