From Alice Blanchard, the author of the New York Times Notable mystery novel Darkness Peering comes Trace of Evil, first in an evocative new series about a small New York town, its deeply held secrets, and the woman determined to uncover them, no matter what the cost.

There’s something wicked in Burning Lake....

Natalie Lockhart is a rookie detective in Burning Lake, New York, an isolated town known for its dark past. Tasked with uncovering the whereabouts of nine missing transients who have disappeared over the years, Natalie wrestles with the town’s troubled history - and the scars left by her sister’s unsolved murder years ago.

Then Daisy Buckner, a beloved schoolteacher, is found dead on her kitchen floor, and a suspect immediately comes to mind. But it’s not that simple. The suspect is in a coma, collapsed only hours after the teacher’s death, and it turns out Daisy had secrets of her own. Natalie knows there is more to the case, but as the investigation deepens, even she cannot predict the far-reaching consequences - for the victim, for the missing of Burning Lake, and for herself.

Praise for Trace of Evil:

“An airtight police procedural with deeply macabre elements...Trace of Evil delivers all elements without a single misstep.” (BookPage)

"Witchcraft, a brutal murder, and secrets buried in a sleepy town's past.... With Trace of Evil, Blanchard expertly weaves mystery and spine-tingling suspense into a tense, nail-biter of a thriller!" (J. D. Barker, international best-selling author of The Fourth Monkey)

"An interesting and credible community as a backdrop to the action, strong characterization and a powerful and unexpected denouement. It provides the delights of a traditional mystery but is set firmly in the present. I look forward to reading more in the series." (Ann Cleeves, best-selling author)