Hadley Carroll is looking forward to a rare, fun-filled weekend. Plans include a trip to the National Quilt Museum, time with friends and family, a birthday party, and watching a Hollywood film crew shoot an action scene in downtown Paducah. For once, life feels balanced. Then reality hits. As troubling news arrives from two people Hadley loves, a dangerous stunt goes horribly wrong-and the crimes that follow threaten to unravel the city that she now leads as mayor. With Paducah on the brink, Hadley and her trusted circle begin to track down the truth. But when someone close to her goes missing, the case turns deeply personal, pushing Hadley into unfamiliar territory where systems fail and certainty disappears. Calling on her partner, Detective Brandon Green, and private investigator Garrett Hunt, Hadley fights for justice-but this time, doing the right thing may not be enough. Proving a Negative is a tense, emotionally rich cozy mystery about leadership under strain, the power of Hollywood magic, the joys of family, and the frightening moment when you realize that even after giving your all, you could still fall short. Perfect for readers who enjoy:Cozies with depth and real-world stakes Strong, witty female protagonists who lead with empathy and intelligence Small-town mysteries where relationships matter as much as clues For readers who want more time with Hadley, see Quilt City Cookbook, a companion book narrated by Hadley herself.