A Jimmy Vega Mystery Series

A Latino detective in upstate New York must turn to an immigrant rights activist to solve a murder in “this timely and engrossing” crime thriller (Publishers Weekly).   When a body is discovered in a reservoir north of New York City, it ignites a baffling and disturbing murder investigation. The victim is young, female and Hispanic. In her purse, police find a photo of a baby. Where is the child? Is she alive? And what about the disturbing note found at the scene? “Go back to your country. You don’t belong here.”   Homicide detective Jimmy Vega knows how hard it can be to walk the razor-thin line of acceptance in a place like Lake Holly, NY. Reluctantly turning to Adele Figueroa, a passionate defender of immigrants’ rights, Vega must confront his small town’s darkest secrets and deepest obsessions—before they savagely tear apart the world he’s sworn to defend.

A Latino detective in upstate New York investigates a murder among the town’s immigrant community in this “fascinating, multidimensional” crime thriller (Publishers Weekly).   A split-second decision thrusts Detective Jimmy Vega into the epicenter of a disturbing case when the body of a newborn is found near an immigrant community center in upscale Lake Holly, NY. As he behins his investigation, the cold-bloodedness of the crime and the innocence of the victim torment Vega.   In a community gripped by fear of deportation, Vega needs the help of his girlfriend, immigrant activist Adele Figueroa, to gain people’s trust. But Adele is acting strangely, consumed by a secret that threatens to tear them apart. When the case takes a personal turn, both Vega and Adele discover that Lake Holly’s tranquil façade hides a terror of monstrous proportions—and a killer who is ready to strike again. Now Vega and Adele must forge a new level of trust in order to protect the most vulnerable members of their community.   “A tremendous talent.”—Lee Child

“A tremendous talent.”—Lee Child In this powerful novel from award-winning author Suzanne Chazin, a tense stand-off between a Hispanic police officer and an undocumented immigrant leads to the shooting death of one, the shattered life of the other, and the shocking connection between them. . . On a clear, moonlit night in December, police detective Jimmy Vega races to the scene of a reported home invasion in an upscale New York community. As Vega arrives, he spots a Hispanic man who fits the description of the armed intruder, running from the victim’s estate. Vega chases him into the woods. When the suspect refuses to surrender—and reaches into his pocket—Vega has only seconds to make a life-or-death decision. What begins as a tragic mistake takes an even darker turn when Vega uncovers disturbing links between the dead man and his own mother’s brutal, unsolved murder. Vega’s need for answers propels him back to his old Bronx neighborhood, where he is viewed as a disgraced cop, not a homegrown hero. It also puts him at odds with his girlfriend, Adele Figueroa, head of a local immigrant center, who must weigh her own doubts about his behavior. When a shocking piece of evidence surfaces, it becomes clear that someone doesn’t want Vega to put all the pieces together—and is willing to do whatever it takes to bury the truth. Only by risking everything will Vega be able to find justice, redemption, and the most elusive goal of all: the ability to forgive himself. NO WITNESS BUT THE MOON “Chazin delivers a complex, suspenseful story, with the grace of a ballerina and the impact of a boxer’s fist.” —William Kent Krueger "A terrific mystery that keeps on surprising right to the end. Don't miss this series." —Robert Dugoni “Get ready for a roller coaster of emotions as you plow through this tense, timely novel.” —Julia Dahl   A BLOSSOM OF BRIGHT LIGHT “A literary mystery at its finest—captivating, smart, romantic, and impossible to put down.” —Jacqueline Sheehan “A compulsively readable police procedural that builds to the pace of a thriller with an explosive ending.” —Hallie Ephron   LAND OF CAREFUL SHADOWS "This is everything a great suspense novel should be. First rate and highly recommended.” —Lee Child “What a wonderful read! Suspenseful, involving, peopled with colorful, engaging characters. . . This fine novel will touch your heart.” —Julia Spencer-Fleming

“A tremendous talent.”—Lee Child   A blond-haired, blue-eyed teenager from a prominent family vanishes after teaching English to a group of immigrants. Suspicion falls on the men she was tutoring, inflaming tensions in the close-knit, picturesque community of Lake Holly, NY. For Detective Jimmy Vega, more is at stake than just keeping the peace. His girlfriend, Adele, heads the community center where the girl was last seen. Now all she’s worked for is at risk.   After a murder suspect’s surrender goes horribly wrong, Vega gets tossed into a grunt detail that quickly turns into a political minefield. A powerful, charismatic leader will stop at nothing to cleave the town in two. But Vega uncovers even darker forces at play. And no matter which way he turns, every step could cost him his job, his town, his family—even his life.   Acclaim for Suzanne Chazin and Her Novels   “Chazin holds the reader from beginning to end.”—Suspense Magazine   “Top-notch storytelling, appealing characters, and a timely controversy guarantee energetic book discussions.”—Booklist   “Nail-biting . . . A tense page-turner.”—Publishers Weekly

A long-buried family secret and a chance encounter with an estranged sibling force police detective Jimmy Vega to confront his deepest fears in this gripping new mystery by award-winning author Suzanne Chazin . . .   It's spring in Lake Holly, New York, a time of hope and renewal. But not for immigrants in this picturesque upstate town. Raids and deportations are on the rise, spurring fear throughout the community.   Tensions reach the boiling point when the district attorney’s beautiful young bride is found hanging in her flooded basement, an apparent victim of suicide. But is she, wonders Vega? If so, where is her undocumented immigrant maid? Is she a missing witness, afraid to come forward? Or an accessory to murder?   Vega gets more help than he bargained for when Immigration and Customs Enforcement sends an investigator to help find—and likely deport—the maid. It’s Vega’s half-sister Michelle, the child who caused his father to leave his mother. Now an ICE agent, Michelle tangles with Vega and his girlfriend, immigrant activist Adele Figueroa. The law is the law, Michelle reminds Vega. And yet, his heart tells him he needs to dig deeper, not just into the case but into his past, to a childhood terror only Michelle can unlock.   While Vega searches for the demon from his youth, he discovers one uncomfortably close by, erecting a scheme of monstrous proportions. It’s a race against the clock with lives on the line. And a choice Vega never thought he’d have to make: Obey the law. Or obey his conscience. There’s no margin for error . . .