A Julia Gooden Mystery Series

A reporter searching for her kidnapped son must untangle the connection to her brother’s long-ago disappearance in this “sharp, breathless thriller” (Lisa Jackson, #1 New York Times bestselling author). Thirty years ago, Julia Gooden’s nine-year-old brother Ben was abducted from their shared room. Though she’s tried to recall any clue about what happened, she has no memory of that terrible night. Now a crime reporter at a Detroit newspaper, Julia tries to give others the closure she’s never found. Still, she lives in fear that whoever took her brother could come back. Nowhere seems safe—not even the secluded lake town where she plans to raise her children. And then, on the anniversary of Ben’s disappearance, Julia’s worst fears are realized when her two-year-old son, Will, is snatched from his bed.   Convinced that the crimes are related, Julia tries to piece together memories from her final day with Ben. Julia knows she has hours at best to find Will alive, but the deeper she digs, the more personal and terrifying the battle becomes. “A gripping story that I read in one night—I could not put it down.” —Debbie Howells, author of The Bones of You

A Detroit crime reporter goes up against a powerful mob boss—and her own painful past—in this “exciting and gritty” thriller (Kirkus Reviews). Scarred by a traumatic event in her childhood, Julia Gooden has learned to juggle different lives. A successful Detroit journalist, she covers the worst crimes in the city while raising her two young boys in the suburbs. Her marriage is also a balancing act. As she tries to reconnect with her husband, Assistant District Attorney David Tanner, she must also maintain professional boundaries.   David is about to bring crime boss Nick Rossi to trial on charges that include drug trafficking, illegal gambling, and bribery. But the story becomes much more urgent when a courthouse bomb claims several victims—including the prosecution’s key witness—and leaves David critically injured. Though Julia is certain that Rossi orchestrated the attack, the case against him is collapsing. With the help of Detroit Detective Raymond Navarro, she follows a trail of blackmail, payback, and political ambition. Julia has risked her career before, but this time innocent lives—including her children’s—hang in the balance. And justice may come too late to save what truly matters.

A Detroit crime reporter uncovers a kidnapping ring with ties to her troubled past in this mystery thriller by the author of Duplicity.   Crime reporter Julia Gooden had the kind of childhood some people never get over. Her conman father left when she was seven. Weeks later, her nine-year-old brother Ben disappeared. These days, Julia seems to have beaten the odds, finding happiness with her two sons and a blossoming relationship with detective Raymond Navarro.    But while investigating the death of a city councilman’s nephew, Julia comes across her estranged father—and her life is thrown into turmoil again. Despite decades without a lead, she’s never given up hope of finding her brother. Tying her father to her current investigation offers vital clues about what happened to Ben. But it also makes her a target. Now, to find the missing pieces of her past, Julia will have to risk the happy life she’s built.   “Effectively mixes gritty crime and involving domestic drama.”—Booklist

Crime writer Julia Gooden has just completed the most important story of her life—a book about her beloved brother’s childhood abduction and how she found his killer after thirty years. But that hasn’t taken her focus off her day job—especially with what looks to be a serial killer terrorizing the city. Female runners are being snatched off jogging trails, then slaughtered in abandoned churches.   As Julia begins investigating, with help from Detective Raymond Navarro, she realizes just how personal this case has become. The murders, planned and executed with uncanny precision, are of women who share traits with Julia. Now he’s contacting her directly, insisting things will get much worse unless Julia makes him famous through her writing.   But no matter how skillfully she plays along, her opponent’s ultimate goal is clear. And only by unraveling the threads that link a killer’s twisted mind to her own dark past can Julia prevent herself from becoming his final victim . . .   Praise for Worth Killing For   “This exciting third installment in the series effectively mixes gritty crime and involving domestic drama.” —Booklist   “A complex, highly suspenseful tale of murder, revenge, and redemption.” —Kirkus Reviews   “Fans are certain to enjoy the complex plot and Julia and Ray’s evolving relationship.” —Publishers Weekly