The serenity of Bowers Inlet, New Jersey, has ended with
the discovery of a woman's body. The scene of the crime is
a mirror image to the same crimes that shocked this sleepy
town 26 years ago. At that time, the killer was known as
the Bayside Strangler. Is this a copy-cat or has the
original killer returned?
Cassie Burke was just a child during the earlier killings,
but she is now a police detective working on the case.
Chief of Police Craig Denver remembers the killings and is
the recipient of the written messages left by the current
killer. After more bodies are found, Denver calls the FBI
and Agent Rick Cisco arrives. The attacks get personal
after Cassie's cousin is almost killed. Not only does her
cousin resemble the other victims, but the attacker kept
repeating a particular name over and over again.
With the killings escalating and the safety of the
community in jeopardy, Denver follows up on a tip from the
daughter of a murdered true-crime author. Regan Landry
discovers messages in her father's research files that
eerily match the messages left for Chief Denver. She also
discovers lists that lead to the discovery of more unsolved
deaths. Are the messages written by the same person? Are
the other numerous unsolved deaths connected to the Bayside
Strangler? Chief Denver and Detective Burke may discover
that the crimes are shockingly personal and close to home.
COLD TRUTH is the first in a new suspense series from
Stewart. The descriptions throughout this story are so rich
in detail, I was immersed in the tense small town setting.
I'm looking forward to the next installments -- HARD TRUTH
(9/27/05), DARK TRUTH (10/25/05) and FINAL TRUTH (hardcover
6/6/06) -- with great anticipation.
Truth has deadly consequences.
Twenty-six years ago, even before a series of brutal
murders rocked the idyllic town of Bowers Inlet, Cassie
Burke lost her parents, her sister, and nearly her own life
to a transient befriended by her father. Back then, Cassie
was a scared kid--now she's a homicide cop. Back then, the
suspect was caught and convicted--he died in prison. But
now the killing has started again. And all signs indicate
that the Bayside Strangler has come back for more.
With too many victims and too few suspects, Cassie has her
hands full investigating the case, while working through
the old trauma it has brought to the surface. Luckily, FBI
agent Rick Cisco is dispatched to lend support. Together,
Cassie and Rick must uncover the link between the dark past
and the dangerous present to bring this small town's long
nightmare to an end. If they fail, an elusive fiend will
slip back into the shadows...to watch and wait--and kill
another day.
In matters of crime, there are many versions of the
truth.