The Girls in the Fire (Detective Harlow Durant, #2)

When the remains of a young woman are discovered on the edge of Saranac Lake in upstate New York, local law enforcement immediately call Detective Harlow Durant. When she arrives at the scene, she instantly knows this case will get under her skin. Lying just beyond the picturesque lake popular with families are the remains of a victim who has been burned. With little evidence remaining, Harlow begins scouring missing persons reports. The victim is identified as twenty-six-year-old Ellie Gordon—a fun-loving young woman who worked in the bookstore and enjoyed going out with friends. When her mother comes to ID the body, she reports her daughter’s gold crucifix missing and the hunt begins to locate it and any potential DNA evidence. But as Harlow starts to piece Ellie’s last movements together, another body is found, killed in exactly the same way. Witness statements identify a local man who was obsessed with both victims and when Harlow sees video evidence of him pawning the gold necklace, she thinks she has her man. But when he too winds up dead, Harlow has to start over. The only other link to the women is Gavin Croswell, one of the most powerful men in the town. But with a whole host of alibis, pinning the murders on him is almost impossible. Soon the case becomes personal when Harlow’s car is violently run off the road. Someone wants to warn her off and they will use anything they can to threaten her, even if it means exposing her twisted past. With time running out to find the killer, can Harlow face her darkest secret before another woman loses her life? As I walk further down the logging road, the faint smell of fire on the wind startles me. But it cant beit must be in my imagination. I pick up my pace, walking quicker. It cant all be in my mind. The glow, the thickening stink, it all hits me at once. My hand trembles as I reach for my phone, adrenaline already hitting my blood. Theres another body, a second victim in Saranac Lake. When the remains of a young woman are discovered on the edge of picturesque Saranac Lake, Detective Harlow Durant races to the scene. The area is already under watch after hikers discovered several bodies, stabbed to death in the national park. But as Harlow stares at the charred remnants of an innocent young life, she knows that this is a different killer with a very twisted motive. The victim is identified as twenty-six-year-old Ellie Gordona seemingly normal girl with no known enemies. But as Harlow begins to piece together the evidence, another body is discovered at the lake. The only connection, a man they used to date. But why would he want them dead? With a small community reeling in shock, Harlow knows time is running out to piece together the only lead she has before another woman loses her life. But soon she is confronted by a woman who brings her face to face with the secret she has spent her life running from. And when her car is violently run off the road, Harlow has to question whether this case has become too personal. Can Harlow come confront her demons to save another innocent life from being lost? And just how much is she prepared to sacrifice? From the bestselling author of Next Girl To Die comes a chilling serial killer thriller perfect for fans of Melinda Leigh, Kendra Elliot and Robert Dugonis Tracy Crosswhite series.