Renowned for her addictive storytelling and masterful blend of suspense, romance, and small-town charm, Liliana Hart delivers another knockout with Dirty Dozen, the riveting twelfth chapter in the acclaimed J.J. Graves Mystery series. Hart's ability to weave complex mysteries with heart and grit shines in this thrilling tale, perfect for readers craving a high-stakes crime drama that lingers long after the final page.
In the bohemian heart of King George County, Virginia, coroner J.J. Graves and Sheriff Jack Lawson face a chilling case during Newcastle's Victorian festival. A brutal murder behind the Curtain Call theater unveils actress Juliet Dunnegan, savagely killed in her stage costume, her body a canvas of a killer's rage. As J.J. and Jack uncover a trail of staged corpses?each echoing the signatures of notorious serial killers like the Zodiac and BTK?they realize they're hunting a predator who craves the spotlight, orchestrating death as performance art. The discovery of a knife and bloody garments near the scene feels too convenient, hinting at a mind playing a deadly game.
The investigation spirals as connections emerge among the victims, all tied to the theater's tangled history of ambition and betrayal. Juliet's hidden pregnancy and her husband's secrets offer motives, but taunting letters and a shocking livestream reveal a rejected actor's vendetta, transforming murder into a warped bid for fame. When J.J.'s assistant, Lily, becomes the killer's final act, the stakes turn personal. With explosives rigged and a madman center stage, J.J. and Jack must outmaneuver a delusional showman who's written his own deadly encore. Will they rewrite his script in time, or become players in his tragic finale?
With her signature flair for pulse-racing suspense and richly drawn characters, Liliana Hart cements her status as a titan of the genre in Dirty Dozen. This electrifying mystery is a must-read for fans of forensic thrillers and intricate whodunits, delivering a story as unforgettable as the series that has captivated millions.
