Stacy Claflin's Blog, page 2

Deadly Secrets and Lies

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This is an exciting multi-author bundle that will keep you turning the pages well into the night! Find your next favorite author today...

Watch Your Back by Stacy Claflin: Rosy Hills — with its peaceful ambiance and friendly neighbors — seems like the perfect place for Ariana and Damon to start over and heal from their pasts. But when their neighbor Rita disappears, they realize their new community may hide a killer…

One For Sorrow by Sarah A. Denzil: In a secure facility for psychiatric patients convicted of violent crimes, nurse Leah Smith grows close to a patient who committed a heinous murder as a child — and questions whether the girl may have been set up…

Lethal Dissection by Dobi Cross: A murder suspect for the dead body on her dissection table, spunky surgeon-to-be Zora Smyth races to find the truth. Then more bodies drop… A tense medical thriller.

Book of Secrets by D.F. Hart: A harrowing ordeal puts FBI profiler Nathan Thomas and girlfriend Bella Amsel face to face with pure evil. Little do they know – it’s only the beginning.

Deadly Pattern by N Gray: It was supposed to be a straightforward missing person case, but Dana finds herself in over her head when clues lead her to a prominent doctor whose patients await a sinister fate… Can her detective brother help her catch the killer before he strikes again?

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The PERFECT Thriller Paperback Giveaway!

All of these psychological thriller books have “Perfect” in the title — so it’s the perfect giveaway for thriller lovers!

One lucky winner will get all three of these paperbacks + some bookish stickers that I’m going to throw in!

The Perfect Death is my book, and that one will be signed!

About The Perfect Death by Stacy Claflin:

Within a sordid history full of deadly secrets, no one can be trusted—not even family.

No one is more mysterious than the reclusive Brannon family, descended from the town founders. When Claire, the eldest daughter and driven lawyer, is found dead from an apparent suicide, her free-spirited sister Kenzi rushes home determined to uncover the truth about this shocking act.

Still haunted by their fraught relationship, Kenzi must now care for Claire’s brooding teenage daughter Ember, who believes the family’s abandoned mansion hides sinister secrets. Strange occurrences in the home lead them to question whether someone—or something—wanted Claire dead and covered up the crime.

With the help of handsome, relentless detective Graham Felton, Kenzi and Ember begin unraveling the family’s hidden legacy and disturbing history of violence to uncover the chilling truth behind Claire’s demise. But will digging into the cryptic clues put them directly in the path of Claire’s killer and make them the next victims?

As they untangle twisted bonds of family loyalty and obsession, Kenzi and Ember, once strangers, forge new family connections. Together, they plunge into the chilling secrets hidden within the shadows of the neighborhood’s most tragic home.

About The Perfect Son by Freida McFadden:

“Mrs. Cass, we were hoping your son could answer a few questions about the girl who disappeared last night…”

Erika Cass has a perfect family and a perfect life. Until the evening when two detectives show up at her front door.

A high school girl has vanished from Erika’s quiet suburban neighborhood. The police suspect the worst–murder. And Erika’s teenage son, Liam, was the last person to see the girl alive.

Erika has always sensed something dark and disturbed in her seemingly perfect older child. She wants to believe he’s innocent, but as the evidence mounts, she can’t deny the truth–Liam may have done the unthinkable.

Now she must ask herself:

How far will she go to protect her son?

About The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose:

Sarah Morgan is a successful and powerful defense attorney in Washington D.C. As a named partner at her firm, life is going exactly how she planned. The same cannot be said for her husband, Adam. He’s a struggling writer who has had little success in his career and he tires of his and Sarah’s relationship as she is constantly working.

Out in the secluded woods, at the couple’s lake house, Adam engages in a passionate affair with Kelly Summers. But one morning everything changes. Kelly is found brutally stabbed to death and now, Sarah must take on her hardest case yet, defending her own husband, a man accused of murdering his mistress.

Enter the Giveawaya Rafflecopter giveaway

The post The PERFECT Thriller Paperback Giveaway! first appeared on Stacy Claflin, Author.

Signed thriller paperback giveaway!

Even perfect neighborhoods have deadly secrets.

Ariana and Damon moved to the gated neighborhood of Rosy Hills to leave behind their traumatic pasts. Now they have their dream jobs and are part of a tight group of friends. All of that crumbles when their neighbor Rita disappears without a trace.

Now it looks like one of their own could be a killer. Ariana and Damon must figure out who it is, or they risk never finding Rita alive. If they don’t reach her in time, they could all end up dead…

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

Special thanks to Xpresso Book Tours for hosting this giveaway and book blitz!

Excerpt

Margarita locked the front doors before heading to the back of the restaurant to set the alarm. Once the light blinked, she stepped outside and locked that door too.

The cool night air clung to her skin, a welcome contrast to the warm stickiness inside. She breathed in the fresh oxygen, willing it to clear the smells of sweat, alcohol, and Mexican food stuck in her nose.

With any luck, the house would be empty when she got there. A hot bath before falling asleep to some show sounded heavenly. That would get her mind off everything she didn’t want to think about, so she could start over the next day.

At least she had her business. The bar and grill was her life, bringing more joy than anything else. She loved the social scene. Whenever somebody in town wanted to party, they knew where to go because Rita made sure each time was the best, topping the one before it.

She drew in another deep breath before turning around to the dim parking lot behind the building.

The overhead light was out. Hadn’t they just changed that?

Rita made a mental note to have Javier check that in the morning, then she remote-unlocked her car. It beeped, the headlights illuminating the dark night.

Revealing a man in front of the Mercedes. 

Her heart leaped into her throat. She stepped back, gasping for air. 

“Hello, Rita,” he said, his familiar voice smooth and slow.

“What are you doing here?” she demanded. “You scared me half to death. I thought you were a killer.”

He laughed, a subtle cruelty underlying his tone. “This is the safest town in the state of Washington.”

“Doesn’t mean there’s no crime. Why are you here?” 

He stepped toward her, gravel crunching under his weight. “We need to talk.”

“Later. I’m exhausted.” She started toward her car. 

“This can’t wait.” His voice had an edge to it. He took a step closer.

“Stay where you are.”

He continued walking.

“I’m not joking,” she said, her voice shaking.

“Neither am I.”

The hairs on her neck stood on end. “You’re scaring me.”

“Good.”

Her knees turned to rubber. “Excuse me?”

“I’m not kidding around.” Now he was within an arm’s reach away.

She pulled out her phone from her purse. “I’m going to call the police if you don’t leave now.”

He laughed again, and this time the sound was terrifying.

Rita struggled to breathe normally. “This isn’t funny.”

“Never said it was.” He knocked the phone from her hand.

It flew into the long grass.

“You have to go.”

He chortled. “I don’t have to do anything.”

“Yes, you do.” She glanced to the side. “What’s that?”

“What?” He turned slightly.

She ran in the other direction.

Gravel crunched behind her.

“You shouldn’t have done that!” he shouted.

Rita pushed herself to go faster. The strappy heels dug into her flesh. 

Her right ankle twisted. She stumbled, reaching out to balance herself. Sharp pain shot from her ankle. 

Needed to keep going.

Rita’s foot hit a curb. The concrete jammed her toe, ripped the nail. She flew down, scraping her bare knees and palms on the sidewalk. 

She struggled up. Her toe, legs, and arms throbbed.

Fingers squeezed her arm. 

Rita screamed. 

He covered her mouth. “Shut up!”

She kicked, trying to dig her heels into his legs. Flailed her arms, elbowing his ribs.

He released his hold.

Rita bolted. Ankle wobbled. Her breath stuck in her throat from the pain.

Couldn’t give up.

She darted between trees and made her way to a nearby park. The moon barely gave her enough light. She struggled past the play area. Stopped behind a rock-climbing wall. Leaned against it. Gasped for air. 

Listened.

Looked around. No homes in sight. An empty school across the street. Businesses closed for the night. Empty lots waiting for new buildings.

“Rita, where are you?” he called.

She readied herself to run again.

His footsteps sounded close. “Ready or not, here I come.”

She held her breath. Waited.

Had to get the shoes off.

“Rita…” 

A shiver shot down her spine. 

“You can’t hide forever,” he said, now sounding farther away.

Stomach lurching, she peeked around the corner.

He neared the swings, his back to her.

She loosened the buckle on her right pump. It stuck. Resisted.

Footsteps grew closer.

Now he was heading her way.

She froze. Tried to fix her buckle. Fumbled.

“There you are!” 

Heart nearly giving out, she turned.

He stood halfway between the playground and her.

Rita leaped to her feet and ran. Her right shoe clung to her foot loosely the buckle not fully undone. Made it hard to remain steady. She kicked, trying to free herself from it. 

Finally lost it as she darted between bushes. Rough bark dug into her bare foot. Then concrete as she reached the sidewalk. Her hips protested the three-inch difference between her two feet, one shoed and the other not.

“Gotcha!” His arms wrapped around her middle. He squeezed. 

She struggled and kicked, barely able to breathe. “Help! I’m being—”

He covered her mouth.

She bit his finger.

He swore at her. Didn’t let go. Pulled her back toward the park.

Rita squirmed and flailed. Scratched at him. 

She wasn’t going down without a fight.

They flew to the ground. 

She landed with a hard thud. 

He crashed on top of her. 

She pushed and strained to get out from under him.

“This could’ve all been avoided,” he grunted. “I only wanted to talk.”

“Could’ve fooled me.” She tried to push him off.

“Don’t you see we’re meant for each other?”

Rita almost laughed at the irony of his words. “This is your way of winning me back?”

“You have to see the obvious.”

The truth was clearer now than before. But pointing that out wouldn’t do any good. Just needed to get away. Get her phone back and call the cops.

Had to think fast.

“You think we can work things out?” she asked, and stopped resisting.

“If you’re willing to change.” He loosened his hold. 

She bit back a sarcastic retort. Needed to get him to move off her. “What do you want me to do?”

“You have to stop flirting with guys at the bar, for starters,” he said, giving her more space.

Not enough to run. 

“Let’s talk about that,” she said. 

He rolled off her and started to say something.

Rita jumped up and ran.

He called after her.

She raced to the park. Through it. 

He screamed profanities at her, getting closer.

She yelled for help. For all the good that would do.

Her restaurant came into view. 

All she needed was to get to her car. Her fingerprint would start it. Thank God for technology. She’d lost her keys and purse somewhere along the way. Hadn’t even noticed when.

She reached her property.

Something hard struck the back of her head. 

Rita flew forward. Landed hard on the ground, her car just out of reach.

Another hit to the head.

Everything went black.

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Lady in Red: A page-turning suspense that will keep you up all night

When local children begin to vanish, Officer Alex Mercer is positive the cases are tied to recent threats against his family—especially since the first girl to go missing is his best friend’s daughter.

It all ties back to Alex. He’s sure of it.

The only solid link to the missing kids is a mysterious woman in a red dress. But that isn’t enough to go on, and Alex has orders to focus on another case. As if that will stop him.

He stumbles upon something so chilling, it finally provides the proof that he was right all along—the kidnappings are part of an elaborate worldwide scheme. And he and his family have landed on the bad guys’ radar.

Alex will stop at nothing to take down the dangerous criminal empire… if they don’t end him first.

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Alex Mercer didn’t start out with an interest in helping to find missing people, but it became a purpose and a calling. It all started with his daughter’s abduction…

He gave up his daughter years ago, but now he’ll risk his life to save hers.

Alex Mercer is no stranger to kidnappings. The emotional scars still run deep from his sister’s disappearance years earlier. His daughter Ariana remains safe long after her adoption, and he cherishes the few times a year he gets to see her. The joy is palpable when he takes her on their first one-on-one outing. At least until he pauses to answer a text and Ariana disappears…

Wracked with guilt and determined to find answers, Alex teams up with an unlikely ally at the police department. As the clues reveal a pattern of missing girls, the kidnapping case becomes a race against time to save Ariana. What cost is Alex willing to pay to keep his daughter alive?

Girl in Trouble is the first book in a series of thrilling stand-alone novels spun off from the USA Today bestselling Gone Trilogy. If you like heart-pounding suspense, page-turning action, and characters you’ll never forget, then you’ll love Stacy Claflin’s engrossing new series.

Read an excerpt here.

Read for FREE: Amazon | Kobo | Google | Apple | Nook

Then don’t miss a single book in this exciting series…

Alex Mercer Thrillers
Girl in Trouble
Turn Back Time
Little Lies
Against All Odds
Don’t Forget Me
Tainted Love
Take On Me
Danger Zone
Lady in Red
White Wedding
Careless Whisper
Never Surrender

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Cover Reveal: Lie in Wait (An Ariana Jones thriller)

The Ariana Jones psychological thriller saga continues! Can she help a vulnerable young woman escape a cult and two men who both think they own her? Find out in… Lie in Wait, the fifth book in this exciting new series!

Start with book #1, which is free on your favorite online retailer:

Even perfect neighborhoods have deadly secrets.

Ariana and Damon moved to the gated neighborhood of Rosy Hills to leave behind their traumatic pasts. Now they have their dream jobs and are part of a tight group of friends. All of that crumbles when their neighbor Rita disappears without a trace.

Now it looks like one of their own could be a killer. Ariana and Damon must figure out who it is, or they risk never finding Rita alive. If they don’t reach her in time, they could all end up dead…

Read an excerpt here.

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When you’re the son of an infamous serial killer, the police will always see you as a suspect…

Ariana and Damon thought it was bad enough that their home burned to the ground. But when bodies are unearthed on their property, the police pin them as suspects — and their world turns upside down.

Damon has always been haunted by his father’s past, but more than ever before, being Cal Jones’s son is an even bigger burden to bear. Worse yet, his wife is getting dragged through the mud along with him.

Can Damon prove their innocence, or will his father’s legacy finally destroy everything Damon and Ariana have worked so hard to build?

Read an excerpt here.

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How many secrets can one gated community hide?

Ariana and Damon have just started to rebuild their lives when more bones are found in their tight-knit neighborhood. These have nothing to do with the remains found earlier. 

That means one thing — another killer is roaming free. 

The police are investigating, but Ariana’s friend Maya has discovered startling clues that she can’t tell them. But when Ariana’s own family is in crisis, she can’t worry about what might be unraveling all around them… until the mystery proves too much to ignore and the only way to peace is to find answers.

A neighbor is lying about something. Ariana must hurry to get to the bottom of it before another life ends up on the line.

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A destination wedding is the idyllic escape. Except when there’s a murderer on the loose.

Ariana and Damon are thrilled for a getaway weekend to celebrate their friends’ new life together. Everything is smooth sailing until strange things start happening… Unexplained noises. People feeling watchful eyes when alone. Mysterious threats.

Then a member of the wedding party goes missing. 

Everybody must work together to find their friend. But who can they trust? Any of them could be behind the disappearance… or it could be someone who came without an invitation. Either way, they’re dealing with a desperate person who will stop at nothing to end the marriage before it even begins.

Ariana is determined to find answers before anyone else vanishes…

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Some secrets are better left alone…

The official blurb for this book is coming soon!*

*Keep an eye out for more details, or simply pre-order it so that it will be delivered to your e-reader as soon as it releases! And if you’re enjoying this series, you aren’t going to want to miss this fifth installment!

Pre-order links:

Amazon | Apple | Nook | Kobo | Other

(If you enjoy these books, you’ll love the Alex Mercer series, which this series spun off from!)

The post Cover Reveal: Lie in Wait (An Ariana Jones thriller) first appeared on Stacy Claflin, Author.

The Perfect Death: Cool down from the heat with this chilling tale!

Returning home might be the last thing she ever does…

Kenzi Bannon left her painful childhood behind for the glitz and glamour of California. But when her estranged sister commits suicide, she’s forced to return to her abandoned family house. Unexpectedly made guardian to her grieving teenaged niece, Kenzi becomes increasingly convinced her sister’s death was murder.

Devastated by shocking evidence proving Kenzi’s theory, the pair scour the ramshackle house for clues. But when eerie sounds echo through the hallways and the real killer comes after them, she must work fast to unmask the true culprit.

Can Kenzi and her niece get justice for her sister before they follow her into an early grave?

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Excerpt

It’s after midnight by the time we pull up to the road leading to my parents’ abandoned house. Ember and I are in Claire’s car, which we picked up at her office, and Richard in his truck.

The street is exactly as I remember it—well-kept with the enormous homes spread out far from each other. Many are tucked so far back, they can’t be seen from the road. My family’s house was the first built and is the last on the long street. It’s not hidden from view, but its immense backyard stretches farther than I was allowed to explore as a child.

I pull into the driveway. The structure looms in front of us, even bigger than my sister’s home. It didn’t seem too huge when I lived there. No, that isn’t true. I rarely had friends over because I was embarrassed by the size. I’ve just gotten used to a super-tiny living space since being on my own, which now makes my childhood home feel monstrous.

“It looks haunted,” Ember whispers.

“That’s because it’s dark outside and hasn’t been taken care of. All it needs is some TLC. But we’ll worry about that later. Let’s just get everything inside, then we’ll be free of Richard.” I rub my temples, trying to get rid of the headache that came back after reuniting with him.

“Can’t wait for that.” She opens her door.

I dig through my purse for the keychain and stare at the home before getting out. Old memories run through my mind, just as dusty as everything inside must be.

Richard slams the truck’s driver side door. “Let’s get this over with.”

“I couldn’t agree more.”

He glares at me.

I look back and forth between the house and the full vehicles. My body aches with exhaustion already, more from dealing with Richard’s complaints and bellows than the actual labor of packing up two lives. Only two bags are mine—just what I could carry on the plane with me. I still have to deal with my apartment and explaining this mess to my boss.

All I want to do is sleep. But that’s going to be a long time coming.

I march up the cracked walkway and try to ignore the overgrown lawn. As I get closer to the house, I notice peeling paint and thick layers of grime. It’s going to take more work than I imagined, and this is just the outside.

The top lock struggles against the key from so many years of disuse. After a few jiggles, it relents and unlocks. Then I repeat the process with the lock on the knob. It twists, and I open the door. It creaks in protest.

Out of habit, I reach for the light switch. But then I realize this place is probably without power. Doesn’t sound like anyone has been here since my parents moved out.

But the moment I flip the switch, light flickers on. Nearly all the furniture is covered, and the cloth is caked in dust. The floor is covered with old muddy footprints that will surely be challenging to get off. The large curved staircase in front of us is exactly as I remember it, though dusty, with its polished wood and ornate wooden railing. I remember running my hands over the carvings countless times as a child.

“You can stare later,” Richard snaps. “Help me get your stuff inside.”

Ember and I exchange a look before following him outside. We clear the car before moving on to the truck. There isn’t much left, as he already got a lot of it. Clearly, he’s as eager to be rid of us as we are of him.

Once it’s empty, he wipes his hands on his pants. “Looks like we’re done here.”

“What if there’s something we forgot?” Ember asks.

“Shouldn’t be.” He climbs into the driver’s seat.

Ember steps closer. “What if there is?”

“Then call me. Hand over your key.”

Her expression falls.

My heart breaks for her. She’s officially lost everything in less than twenty-four hours.

Richard extends his hand toward her.

She draws a ragged breath, removes a key from a chain, and hands it over.

“See you at the funeral.” He stuffs the key into a pocket. “Natasha will be in touch with the details.”

“Are you kidding me?” I press the door so he can’t shut it. “You’re going to plan it without Ember? Me? We’re Claire’s blood.”

“And I’m the husband. I’m in charge.” He slams the door, barely giving me time to jump out of the way.

“I hate him,” Ember mutters as he drives away.

“Can’t say I blame you, especially if he’s always like that.”

“Yep.”

I remote lock the Mercedes and put my arm around her. “Let’s get settled. I’ll call Natasha tomorrow and see if she can’t at least let you help with the memorial.”

Ember shrugs.

I guide her inside and close the door behind us. A small plume of dust puffs out.

“What now?” My niece leans against a pile of boxes.

“I think we should get some sleep. We’ll deal with all of this tomorrow.” I hand her a box marked with a star—the things she needs for tonight—then grab my two bags.

“Where?” She looks around.

“You could take your mom’s old room and I’ll take mine. Unless you don’t want to be in her room? Is that too much right now?”

Ember adjusts her hold on the box. “No, I think I’d like to be in her room.”

“Mine’s just next door, if you need me.”

“I remember.”

We make our way up the creaky stairs. I don’t recall them being so noisy. It sends a shiver down my spine, and the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. I silently chastise myself for being so creeped out. It’s the house I grew up in. Nothing more. It just needs some love.

Ember stops, and I nearly run into her.

“You okay?”

She looks around. “Did you hear that?”

I listen, only hearing our breathing. “Hear what?”

“I’m not sure. But it was something.”

“Like I said before, probably rodents. Nobody’s been here in a long time.”

Without a word, we make our way to the second floor. The entry has all the same paintings and statues that I remember. They fascinated me as a child, and I often played with the statues as if they were large, immobile dolls.

“You sure about that?” Ember asks.

“About what?”

She nods down the hall. “About nobody being here.”

I glance in the direction and notice spray paint on one wall. “You have got to be kidding me. Vandals broke in?” I swear. “Was your mom aware of that?”

Ember shrugs.

“We’re going to have to check out every square inch of this place. Or at least I am. You can get settled if you want.”

She puts down her box and steps closer. “I’m not leaving your side.”

Like I’m going to offer much protection if we find someone hiding somewhere. And that might not be out of the realm of possibility. The house is huge. Something like five thousand square feet. I remember my parents throwing that number around.

“Are you scared?” Ember looks at me with huge eyes, reminding me of when she was little.

I swallow and try to ignore my racing heart. “No.”

“Liar.”

“Let’s just do this. Whoever was in here is probably long gone.”

She jolts. “What if we find a dead body?”

“Thanks for putting that thought in my mind. We’re not going to find a dead body.”

“What if we do?”

Another chill runs down my spine. I drop my bags next to her box. “This isn’t a murder house. It’s our home. Your mom and I grew up here, and so did your grandparents, and so on, going back I don’t know how many generations.”

“They never told you?” she asks.

“If they did, I wasn’t listening. Come on. We need to check everything out so we can go to bed. I’m exhausted, and you must be too.”

“Not at the moment.” She moves even closer to me.

“It’s not a murder house.” I say it more for me than her. But then I recall going to therapy for having a friend my parents said was imaginary. Billa came to play when I was alone. She was real. Not imaginary, and not a ghost. The girl was just shy, and she didn’t want her parents to find out that she was sneaking out. Nothing weird about that.

Okay, now that I think about that as an adult, it is a little strange.

But that doesn’t make this a murder house. That would be even crazier than the day I’ve had.

“You okay, Aunt Kenzi?”

I snap my attention back to her. “Yeah, of course. This place just brings back a lot of memories. It’s weird.”

“Ghostly memories?”

“Nope.” I loop my arm around hers and head downstairs. “I’m going to prove to you that this is just a lonely, forgotten home. We’ll bring it back to life, and then you know what you’ll think of it as?”

“A bright, cheery murder house?”

“You need to stop watching scary movies and start—”

“I read far more scary books than watch movies, I’ll have you know.”

“Either way, you need a new hobby.” I look back and forth, trying to decide which way we should start. We can either start with the kitchen or the living room, then to all the rooms beyond.

“Everything looks normal here,” she says. “If someone broke in, it was probably in the back.”

“That’s true. All the other houses in the neighborhood are well-kept, so a broken window or whatever would probably be noticed right away.”

She stands straighter. “Let’s check the ballroom first. It has the biggest windows, so probably the easiest to break.”

“Sounds good to me.” I step off the last stair and turn right. We pass a sitting room with windows facing the front. Everything looks normal there—intact glass and covered furniture. I walk through the room, using my phone as a flashlight and look anywhere someone could be hiding.

“What are we going to do if we do find someone? Or a body?”

“Enough with the body talk, seriously. We’re not going to find anyone, but if we do, we’ll run and call the cops. You have a phone?”

She nods. “But I don’t know how long it’ll last. I can’t imagine Richard will keep paying for it.”

“I’m sure he won’t shut it off tonight.” I move to the hall and check the library. More dust and covered furniture, but nothing suspicious. Same with the ballroom and living room beyond that. We keep going and come to my dad’s office.

A boarded window.

Ember grabs my arm. “See? Someone was here!”

“And the situation was clearly taken care of.” I spin around and find spray paint on one wall and notice the old muddy footprints are thickest in this room. Some things from a shelf are spread out on the floor. “You don’t remember your mom ever mentioning this?”

She shakes her head no.

“Well, it’s fine. Whoever broke in is long gone.” We continue down the hall, checking rooms until we come to the kitchen.

Ember’s eyes light up. “Think there’s anything to eat? I’m starving.”

“This place has been empty for five years, except for the intruders.”

She frowns. “Never mind. I’m more tired than hungry, anyway.”

We go upstairs and check the bedrooms and other living areas, mostly just finding covered furniture and dust. The playroom has empty beer cans and candy wrappers, but nothing looks out of place—and more importantly, nobody’s inside.

Ember leans against a wall and gestures to the ceiling. “Are we going to check the third floor?”

“It’s more of an attic,” I point out but realize that like the other two floors, it’s massive. “Or at least, I’ve always thought of it as an attic. It wasn’t a living space when I was growing up. Technically it was built to be servant’s quarters, but I was never allowed up there. It’s storage space.”

She lifts a brow. “Grandpa never let me up there when I visited, either. We should check it out. If anywhere is likely to have a—”

“Don’t say it.” I march toward the door leading to the third floor before she can say ghost or dead body. I twist the knob, but it’s still locked after all these years. “It’s inaccessible. No need to worry.”

“Or all the more reason to worry.”

I shake my head.

“Unlock it.”

“I don’t have the key.”

She folds her arms. “Try the house key.”

“Look at this keyhole. It takes a skeleton key.”

“If you’re scared, I’ll try it.”

I’m not about to let her destroy the antique knob trying to get in the third floor. I gently press the key to the hole. “See? Not even close to a match.”

She stares at the door like it could bite her. “I’d feel better looking around up there.”

“It’s just filled with boxes. My parents always used it for storage.”

“In other words, for hiding things.” She gives me a knowing look.

“Yeah, like Christmas presents. Come on, let’s get some sleep.”

“Wait!”

I turn around. “What now?”

“We should at least try the door.”

I take a deep breath and gesture toward it. “Do the honors.”

“Really?” Her eyes widen.

“It’s always been locked and we don’t have the key. It’s probably somewhere in this house, but good luck finding it.”

She grabs the knob and turns it to the left and the right. Then she pulls on it with both hands. She repeats the process before giving up. “It’s not going to budge.”

“We’ll look in there another time. If we can’t get in, nobody else would have been able to either.”

“Isn’t there a basement?”

“Also locked. I already checked the knob when we passed the door.”

Her lips part. “That’s what that was? I thought it was a closet.”

I shake my head and turn toward our bedrooms.

“What’s down there?”

“Nothing,” I snap. “It’s locked. That’s all we need to know.”

She arches a brow. “Triggered much?”

I flash back to getting myself locked down there as a little girl and being scared of the loud machinery that looked like monsters ready to eat me. “We can check the third floor and basement another time, preferably when it’s light. Sound good?”

“I thought we didn’t have keys.”

“We don’t, but I have a few ideas where Dad hid them.”

“Okay.” She yawns. “I’m tired, anyway.”

“Sure you don’t want to crash in the same room tonight? I wouldn’t mind the company.”

Ember looks conflicted. “It’d make you feel better?”

“Yeah,” I say, even though it’s not me I’m worried about.

She shrugs. “Okay, sure. I can do that for you.”

“Thanks.” I grab my backpack and glance at my old bathroom. “Hopefully this place still has running water. I was surprised about the electricity.”

Ember glances down. “I think Mom always kept this place as a backup.”

“Backup?”

“To get away from Richard.”

It makes sense, given what little I’ve seen of the jerk. “Well, maybe we’re in luck and have water. Let’s get some sleep. We have a lot to do tomorrow.”

She runs her finger along the statue of a man holding a globe and looks at the thick layer of dust. “We have a lot of work to do for the whole summer.”

“That we do.” My gaze lands on the spray paint behind her. We’ll be lucky to make this place home before she starts school in the fall.

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And coming soon… book 5 in the series!

The post The Perfect Death: Cool down from the heat with this chilling tale! first appeared on Stacy Claflin, Author.

It’s Christmas in July: Read Seaside Christmas for only 99c!

If you’re ready to escape the heat, pick up Seaside Christmas for only 99c – for a limited time.

He can’t stand her. She thinks he’s crazy. Will their feelings stay etched in permanent ink?

Cruz Hunter has always stuck out in his small hometown. Now that he’s covered in tattoos, the residents peg him as even more of an outcast. It seems like the whole world is against his dream of opening a local tattoo parlor.

When he finally finds the perfect place for his new business, Cruz discovers a pastor and his daughter have already bought it. The only thing more irritating than the change in his plan is Talia, a beautiful and feisty argument in a dress. Cruz would like nothing more than to have her out of his life and his mind, but for some reason, she’s the only thing he can think about.

If Cruz and Talia can stop arguing long enough, opposites may do much more than attract.

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Excerpt

The snow glistened in the sun and crunched under Cruz Hunter’s boots as he walked toward the building that would soon be his.

“It’s perfect, yo.” He turned to Jake, his younger brother. “Wait until you see it up close.” This road had yet to be treated, so they had to park and walk a block.

Jake tightened his scarf. “Almost looks like a church.”

“It was—a long time ago. Then it was a restaurant before being abandoned.”

“It’s going to take some work.” Jake squinted.

“Not too much, dude.” Nothing was going to crush Cruz’s enthusiasm today. The old, brown building with peeling paint and weather-worn wood paneling was going to be his—just as soon as he signed the papers. “Mostly just the outside. It’s gonna be perfect for my tattoo parlor.”

“Well, you know I’ll help as much as I can.” Jake didn’t sound convinced.

“Don’t judge it ‘til you see the inside.” Cruz pulled up a leather sleeve and scratched his newest tattoo, the feet of a dragon which was part of a much larger work going up most of his arm.

“I won’t,” Jake promised.

Cruz’s pulse raced with each step as they neared the building. There wasn’t a person alive who could convince him it wasn’t the most beautiful building in existence. He’d wanted to open his tat shop for as long as he could remember, and with Kittle Falls being such a small town, it had taken a lot of work to convince the town council to even consider giving him permission to open a shop. They finally conceded when he found a property at the edge of town where no tourist would ever accidentally stumble upon it.

“It looks pretty cool,” Jake said. “How are we going to see inside?”

“Windows, man. Ever heard of ‘em?” Cruz laughed and gave his brother a playful shove.

“You mean those fancy glass things some buildings have?” Jake joked.

They finally reached the property line. Cruz took a deep breath, taking in the sight. “Isn’t she beautiful?”

“Um…”

Cruz stared at the solid structure. “You see hard work and a building as aged as old man Kittle himself—”

“Who’s long been dead,” Jake added.

“But I see opportunity. A dream fulfilled.” Cruz stared at the building a moment longer. “You ready to see her up close?”

“That’s why I’m here.”

Cruz took a step forward, but froze when the front door opened.

“Ghosts?” Jake asked.

Cruz held his breath, not sure of the answer. “Maybe it’s our lucky day,” Cruz said. “If the door’s unlocked, I can give you the grand tour.”

A slim, middle-aged man wearing black slacks and matching shiny shoes stepped out onto the porch. He appeared to be speaking to someone inside. A beautiful blonde about Cruz’s age, wearing a blue dress under a long, thick winter coat stepped out.

Jake turned to Cruz and arched an eyebrow. Cruz shook his head.

“What’s going on?” Jake whispered.

“I ain’t got nothin’.” Cruz took a deep breath of the chilled early-December air.

“Building inspectors?” Jake asked.

“Maybe.” Cruz frowned, watching the duo. They acted like they owned the place.

Finally, the guy closed the door and locked it, stuffing the key into his jacket pocket.

Cruz exchanged a worried glance with his brother as irritation set in. Something wasn’t right. He stepped forward, meeting the two of them at the bottom step.

“Greetings,” said the man. He smiled warmly at Cruz.

Cruz didn’t respond.

“Are you a neighbor?” asked the girl.

“You could say that,” Cruz said. “Who are you?”

The man smiled and held out his hand. “My name’s Pastor Allen Tisdale, and this is my daughter, Talia.”

She smiled sweetly and extended her hand, also.

Cruz flicked his head in acknowledgment, but ignored their extended hands. “What are you doing here?”

Jake stepped forward, taking Allen’s hand. “Excuse my brother. I’m Jake Hunter, and he’s Cruz. You must be new to Kittle Falls. Welcome.”

“Thank you,” Allen said. “Talia and I have bought this building. I understand it was a restaurant for a decade or so, but we’re going to restore it to a church.”

Cruz stared at him, unable to find words. That was probably a good thing, considering the words he would have chosen.

“You bought it?” Jake said, stepping closer to Cruz. Jake undoubtedly expected Cruz’s notorious temper to flare any moment.

“Yes, and we couldn’t be more thrilled.” Allen smiled kindly. “We’ve both had a challenging time with my wife’s recent passing, and this project is just what we need. That and a fresh, new start.”

“I’m sorry to hear about your wife,” Jake said, inching closer to Cruz. Soon, he’d be standing in front of him.

“You actually bought it?” Cruz asked. “Or you’re looking into buying it?”

Allen pulled out the keys. “We just picked these up from our realtor.”

“Laura Hoffman?” Cruz asked, clenching his fists.

“Yes. You know her?” asked Allen.

Cruz’s nostrils flared. “She’s the only one in town. And a backstabber, too.”

Talia stepped closer to her dad, tilting her head. Her gaze lingered on Cruz. “Is something wrong?”

“No,” Jake said. Then he turned and whispered to Cruz, “We’ll find you a better building. I’ll help.”

Cruz wanted to break something. Not only had Laura lied to him, so had the entire city council. After everything he’d gone through to get the approval—had it just been a farce? To shut him up? Kittle Falls was his town, too. He had every right to open a business anywhere he wanted. And he’d even been willing to go to the outskirts of town to keep the old fuddy-duddies happy.

“Is your brother okay?” Allen asked Jake.

“We thought he was going to buy the building,” Jake said.

Cruz spun around and marched down the road, not trusting his mouth. He knew it wasn’t Allen or Talia’s fault, and he didn’t want to take his rage out on them. He’d never been so angry in all his life, and now understood the expression ‘seeing red.’ That was exactly how he felt—his anger had overtaken every sense. It was all he could see, smell, feel, hear, and taste.

Cruz stormed toward his brother’s car, only vaguely aware of his brother speaking to the Tisdales. He wished he had his motorcycle, but he’d left it at Jake’s place knowing these back roads would be icy and dangerous. Now all he wanted to do was ride over to the city council and give them a piece of his mind.

Or had it been the realtor acting alone?

More than likely, they had decided this together. Everyone knew Cruz was going to buy the old church building. Why hadn’t Laura given him a heads up?

Cruz glanced back, seeing his brother still speaking with Allen and Talia. He pulled out his smart phone and found Laura’s number. It went to voice mail.

“Avoiding my calls, I see. Why didn’t you tell me the pastor was looking at—no, purchasing—the building? Did you think I couldn’t handle it? Because I could. What I can’t deal with is being lied to. Just be straight with me, that’s all I ask.” He hung up before he said something he’d regret. The last thing he needed was to say something inflammatory while being recorded.

He climbed into Jake’s car and slammed the door. His brother was still over there, chumming it up with the people who had crushed his dreams. Not that anyone would be able to keep Cruz Hunter down for long. He would find another building if he couldn’t find a way to get the church building—and he knew that was a long shot, considering Laura had managed to find a pastor to purchase and restore it. The city council had to love that.

Did he have any of their numbers? He scrolled through the long list of contacts, but didn’t see any. He’d mostly dealt with them in person and over email. Email. That was it. He went over to his email app and found the last discussion with them.

He wrote out the angriest, most vehement letter he could. It was ugly enough to make a grown man cry and a foul-mouthed sailor blush.

The driver’s side door opened and Jake sat, closing his door. “I know you’re upset, but that was kind of rude.”

“I don’t care.” He deleted the email for the same reasons he’d kept his voicemail to Laura short.

“They’re both really nice, and they didn’t even know anyone else was looking at the building.”

Cruz glared at his brother. “I can’t deal with niceties now. I’ve never been so furious in my entire life, and that’s saying something. Walking away was the best I could do.”

Jake nodded. “I get it, but it’s not their fault. I’ll help you find someplace else, okay?”

“That was the only place! It took me this long to get the city to agree to the church, and then they turned on me.”

“I know it’s hard to see now, but you can’t really blame them for giving it to a minister who wants to restore the building rather than someone who wants to turn into a tattoo shop.”

“I’m not an idiot, Jake. I get it. But I still have every right to punch something. Like Laura’s windshield.”

“Want me to take you to the club? They have a punching bag in the weight room.”

Cruz narrowed his eyes. “Just take me back to your place, yo. I need to go for a long ride on my bike. Gotta clear my head before I do anything else.”

“Swear your fist won’t meet anyone’s skin?” Jake asked.

Cruz glared at him.

“Just checking.” He turned the key in the ignition. “We’ll figure something out. If you want me to talk with the council, I will.”

“You have enough on your plate.”

“Hey, anything you need—I’ll help. I hope you know that.”

“Don’t get mushy on me,” growled Cruz.

Jake pulled onto the main road, which had been sanded and cleared of snow. “I’m serious. You’re more than a brother—you’re my best friend.”

“Should we pull over and sing ‘Kumbaya?’”

Jake snorted. “Never change, Cruz.” He turned up the radio. A popular song from their teen years played. “Remember when we used to sing this together?”

“Yep.” And that was the last thing Cruz wanted to think about. He, Jake, and their younger sister, Sophia, would dance around the house belting out the words. Sophia would usually use a hairbrush or flatiron as a microphone, but the two brothers would use anything. It had almost been a contest to see who could find the craziest object.

“Sophia actually sang it better than this girl,” Jake said.

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“How come you don’t ever want to talk about Sophia?” Jake asked.

“You’re going to bring that up now?” Cruz fumed. “I’m already holding back from destroying something. I don’t want it to be your face.”

“Have you even visited her grave?”

“It’s not the time! Shut it.”

Jake turned off the music and they rode the rest of the short drive in silence.

Why would his brother bring up Sophia now? Was this Jake’s idea of good timing?

They pulled into Jake’s driveway. Cruz got out and slammed the door before Jake had even come to a complete stop. He headed for his bike and pulled his helmet onto his head harder than necessary.

The front door opened and Tiffany stepped onto the porch, waving. Her belly stuck out from the coat she obviously couldn’t zip up. “I made fresh cookies. Want to come in, Cruz?”

He took a deep breath. “Can’t. Sorry, Tiff. Next time?”

It was time to clear his head, and he certainly couldn’t vent his anger in front of his expecting sister-in-law. She was already having a rough pregnancy and was supposed to avoid stress. He threw himself onto his motorcycle, started it, and waved before driving away.

~~~

Talia Tisdale shook her head as the two brothers drove away.  “Can you believe him? Storming off like that.”

Her dad patted her back. “I wouldn’t be happy about being lied to, either. Also, a hope deferred makes the heart sick.”

“True.” That reminded Talia of her own recent disappointments. “I can’t believe the realtor did that to him. She seemed so nice.”

“I don’t understand it myself.”

“Maybe we can do something nice for him. I don’t know what, but something to cheer him up.”

He shivered. “I like the way you think, but let’s get in the car first. I don’t know how you can wear a dress today.”

“All my warm stuff is still in boxes. I didn’t expect snow in California.”

“I tried to tell you when we were packing that the northern part of the state is chilly in the wintertime. And the locals keep saying this is going to be an especially harsh winter.”

They got into the car and he started it. “Do you want to eat at home or stop in somewhere?”

“I’m too way too tired to cook tonight.”

“Me, too. I saw a deli not far away. Does that sound good?”

“Sure.”

They drove just a few minutes before her dad pulled into a parking spot.

“I don’t think I’m going to get used to everything being within a ten-minute drive from any given point,” Talia said.

“It’s quaint, and I think we’ll adjust soon enough.”

Talia already missed their old suburb, which felt like a big city compared to this place. She missed her friends, but most of all, she missed her mom.

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The post It’s Christmas in July: Read Seaside Christmas for only 99c! first appeared on Stacy Claflin, Author.

COVER REVEAL: Grave Secrets (Brannon House #5)

The fifth book in the Brannon House series will be coming soon! I’ve been getting a LOT of requests for more books in this series, and I’ve been eager to get back to these characters since I temporarily paused the series…

I’m really excited to get back to this series!

If you haven’t started the Brannon House books yet, you can start the first book for FREE:

Book One: THE PERFECT DEATH

A deadly cover-up. A haunted house. Returning home might be the last thing she ever does.

Kenzi Bannon left her painful childhood behind for the glitz and glamour of California. But when her estranged sister commits suicide, she’s forced to return to her abandoned family house. Unexpectedly made guardian to her grieving teenaged niece, Kenzi becomes increasingly convinced her sister’s death was murder.

Devastated by shocking evidence proving Kenzi’s theory, the pair scour the ramshackle house for clues. But when eerie sounds echo through the hallways and the real killer comes after them, she must work fast to unmask the true culprit.

Can Kenzi and her niece get justice for her sister before they follow her into an early grave?

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Book Two: FAMILY SECRETS

Some questions are better left unasked.

Like whose blood is on the knife upstairs.

Kenzi Brannon’s life was turned upside down when she moved into her family’s abandoned home to raise her niece. Problems compound when her aging mother starts to remember things.

And clues the police find regarding the knife don’t match anything Kenzi knows about her family.

Things go from bad to worse when she and her niece discover something horrifying in their house. But not even that compares to the strange ways her mom is acting.

Can they get to the bottom of it all, or will their house—a local legend that goes bump in the night—and the family secrets destroy them all?

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Book Three: THE DARKEST GARDEN

How many secrets can one house hide?

Kenzi Brannon has always dreaded going down to the dark basement of the old Brannon house she grew up in. Now an adult, she’s returned home to find her apprehension has intensified. She avoids that locked door and the secrets beyond in hope that ignoring the problem will keep long-forgotten horrors buried.

A neighbor’s obsession with her house and history has rekindled Kenzi’s old fears. And reconnecting with someone from her past may force her to face what she’s been running from her entire life.

And that might not be the worst of it.

The garden her family is restoring could conceal something far more terrifying than anything inside the house. Something that could rip her newly found family apart.

Some people say the truth will set you free. Kenzi can’t help but feel that it will destroy everything.

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Book Four: SHATTERED PIECES

Most family ties are silken threads. Others are literally handcuffs.

Kenzi Brannon thinks most of her problems are behind her until she gets a call from the local jail. Her mother, a proven killer, is being released due to overcrowding. Blood takes care of blood, so there is no turning Regina away.

She returns to live at Brannon House.

A haunted house.

A house reputedly so cursed, some neighbors want it razed to the ground.

But her niece’s friends and the rest of the town would love to explore. And Halloween seems like the perfect time to open their doors to the community. Despite Regina promising to be on her best behavior, Kenzi has concerns her mother might do something to ruin the evening.

It turns out far worse than she feared.

With innocent lives on the line, Kenzi must put a stop to her mother’s maniacal actions—but first, she’ll have to find her.

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The post COVER REVEAL: Grave Secrets (Brannon House #5) first appeared on Stacy Claflin, Author.

New nail-biting suspense: Never Letting Go

A destination wedding is the idyllic escape. Except when there’s a murderer on the loose.

Ariana and Damon are thrilled for a getaway weekend to celebrate their friends’ new life together. Everything is smooth sailing until strange things start happening… Unexplained noises. People feeling watchful eyes when alone. Mysterious threats.

Then a member of the wedding party goes missing.

Everybody must work together to find their friend. But who can they trust? Any of them could be behind the disappearance… or it could be someone who came without an invitation. Either way, they’re dealing with a desperate person who will stop at nothing to end the marriage before it even begins.

Ariana is determined to find answers before anyone else vanishes…

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Other books in the series…

Even perfect neighborhoods have deadly secrets.

Ariana and Damon moved to the gated neighborhood of Rosy Hills to leave behind their traumatic pasts. Now they have their dream jobs and are part of a tight group of friends. All of that crumbles when their neighbor Rita disappears without a trace.

Now it looks like one of their own could be a killer. Ariana and Damon must figure out who it is, or they risk never finding Rita alive. If they don’t reach her in time, they could all end up dead…

Read an excerpt here.

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When you’re the son of an infamous serial killer, the police will always see you as a suspect…

Ariana and Damon thought it was bad enough that their home burned to the ground. But when bodies are unearthed on their property, the police pin them as suspects — and their world turns upside down.

Damon has always been haunted by his father’s past, but more than ever before, being Cal Jones’s son is an even bigger burden to bear. Worse yet, his wife is getting dragged through the mud along with him.

Can Damon prove their innocence, or will his father’s legacy finally destroy everything Damon and Ariana have worked so hard to build?

Read an excerpt here.

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How many secrets can one gated community hide?

Ariana and Damon have just started to rebuild their lives when more bones are found in their tight-knit neighborhood. These have nothing to do with the remains found earlier. 

That means one thing — another killer is roaming free. 

The police are investigating, but Ariana’s friend Maya has discovered startling clues that she can’t tell them. But when Ariana’s own family is in crisis, she can’t worry about what might be unraveling all around them… until the mystery proves too much to ignore and the only way to peace is to find answers.

A neighbor is lying about something. Ariana must hurry to get to the bottom of it before another life ends up on the line.

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Some secrets are better left alone…

The official blurb for this book is coming soon!*

*Keep an eye out for more details, or simply pre-order it so that it will be delivered to your e-reader as soon as it releases! And if you’re enjoying this series, you aren’t going to want to miss this fifth installment!

Pre-order links:

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The post New nail-biting suspense: Never Letting Go first appeared on Stacy Claflin, Author.

May’s Free Books & More

Do you love books?

… If yes, then you’re in just the right place to find plenty of those.

There are HUNDREDS of books in multiple genres. You’re sure to find several you’ll like. Find your new favorite author today!

Click the images below to be taken to your new books:

Don’t miss my paperback giveaway!

I also have ELEVEN free books!

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