"I was on the edge of my seat…It was a real nail-biting experience." - Alma Boucher for Readers' Favorite "It's a good read for those that enjoy a solid serial killer plotline with a diverse range of characters, with a similar feel to James Patterson novels." - Sharlene Almond for Reedsy Discovery "Once this attention-grabbing tale is picked up, Banks ensures there is no way it can be put down until the last word is read." - Sherry Galetka for The US Review of Books Public defender Chase Blanchard has been assigned the biggest case of his career. Jeremy Martin, his new client, is a local fisherman with a troubled past accused of murdering a young tourist in the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge on North Carolina's Outer Banks. As Chase begins to think his client couldn't possibly be innocent and pushes him to take a plea, Chief Ranger Brandon Maddox begins digging into the murder on his own and finds evidence that could exonerate Martin. Maddox's trust in the system is betrayed, however, when the lead detective on the case and prosecuting attorney try to bury the exculpatory evidence. Chase and Maddox begin to suspect a serial killer is at large in the community as more people turn up missing or dead. Unable to trust local authorities, the two form an unlikely alliance to find the real killer before time runs out for the next victim. CONTENT GUIDANCE: This novel contains instances of strong language, violence, and a brief mention of sexual assault.