A heart-stopping tale of family secrets, buried trauma, and the lengths a mother will go to save her child, even when that child might not want to be saved.

Cynthia Burrows thought she’d built the perfect life—successful law career, loving husband, beautiful daughter. But when eighteen-year-old Tori vanishes without a trace, Cynthia’s carefully constructed world begins to crumble.

The school says Tori was excused by family. Security footage shows her leaving with an older man. And the boy she was supposed to date? His name sends chills down Cynthia’s spine—Alexander Beaufort.

That’s impossible. Alexander Beaufort is the serial killer who destroyed Cynthia’s childhood, murdered her best friend, and forced her into witness protection twenty years ago. He’s supposed to be locked away forever.

But someone is playing a deadly game, leaving clues that drag Cynthia back to her darkest memories. With only three days to find her daughter, she must confront the monster from her past and the shocking secrets Tori has been hiding.

In this quiet suburban neighborhood, everyone has something to conceal. And some neighbors are more dangerous than others.

Praise for J.D. Barker

“J.D. Barker is a one-of-a-kind writer and that’s a rare and special thing. Stephen King comes to mind and Lee Child, John Sandford. All one-of-a-kinds. Don’t miss anything J.D. writes.”
—James Patterson, #1 International Bestselling Author

“A talented writer with a delightfully devious mind!”
—Jeffery Deaver, NY Times Bestselling Author

“I don’t say this lightly: J.D. Barker is a force to be reckoned with.”
—Tosca Lee, NY Times Bestselling Author

“JD Barker is an author to watch in the coming years.”
—Rolling Stone

“What sets Barker apart is his unique ability to blend genres seamlessly. His novels are a masterful fusion of horror, crime, mystery, science fiction, and the supernatural, creating a reading experience that is both thrilling and thought-provoking.”
—CULTR.com

“J. D. Barker is quickly becoming one of the best thriller writers working today.”
—Book Reporter.com

“Devilishly dark.”
— Library Journal

“Barker is a master wordsmith.”
— AudioBookReviewer.com

“Masterful storytelling.”
— Bookish

“J.D. Barker knows how to set a scene.”
— Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

“...on par with Stephen King, Joe Hill and especially, Dan Simmons. Riveting and relentless.”
— BookTrib

"J.D. Barker was born to write suspense thrillers."
—The Real Book Spy

“It is clear Barker is a name to watch.”
—The Horror Bookshelf

“Barker’s slight of literary hand is absolute genius. He builds tension and then rips the rug right out from under you, just to do it all over again.”
—Quitterstrip

“Mr. Barker may have begun by following in the footsteps of such literary royalty as Stephen King, Thomas Harris, and Dean Koontz, but he has blazed a unique path all his own.”
— Fresh Fiction

“J.D. Barker is quite frankly one of the best crime thriller writers out there who should be on everyone’s radar!”
— Novel Delights

“Barker is an award-winning writer who is the second coming of Thomas Harris.”
— Book Reporter.com

“Barker's mastery of character and dialogue is noteworthy.”
— Booklist

“Barker is the Mozart of thrillers!”
— GoodReads

“Barker is such a skilled and exciting writer, delivering a chilling, slow-build thriller, a final, jaw-dropping twist, and a cliffhanger ending that leaves readers dangling precariously by their fingertips.”
— Lancashire Evening Post

“Mr. Barker doesn't just tell a story, he paints pictures with his words.”
— BookBub

“If you haven't read any J.D. Barker, I strongly suggest you start now.”
— Goodreads