Rumor of Evil
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A 16-year-old exchange student accused of witchcraft—dark circumstances and sick rumors lead to her brutal death, a cover-up, and more murders two decades later
Detectives Kirk Lucian and Mandy Wing are charged with investigating a reported suicide of a Cambridge woman in her backyard. The death came as a shock—the woman was considered a pillar of her community and was well-liked by everyone. After further investigation, the hanging appears staged. Once Kirk and Mandy’s suspicions are confirmed, they make a list of suspects.
Clues begin to connect the recent murder to the decades-old mysterious death of a beautiful 16-year-old Romany exchange student who perished when a treehouse she was sleeping in caught fire. The girl, Vadima Lupescu, had done “odd” things among her American peers that stirred up prejudices and suspicions, leading to her brutal death—and cover-up.
As Kirk and Mandy investigate the bizarre rumors—that Vadima had “gypsy powers” and put curses on those around her—they discover a cauldron of dark secrets. Will they uncover the true cause of this tangled web of deaths and horrors before it spirals out of control?
Perfect for fans of Stephen King and Tess Gerritsen
Praise
“New and excellent—a fine piece of work. Detectives Kirk Lucian and Mandy Wing are up there with the best. Very impressive.” —Lee Child, New York Times best-selling author
“All the right elements combine in this high-stakes drama. A masterful blend of dark and light and all the grays in between. There’s plenty of pulse-pounding jeopardy and classic on-the-run adventure to keep you reading right up to the end.” —Steve Berry, New York Times best-selling author
“Gary Braver is a storytelling master, and he delivers yet again in an expertly crafted novel that uses all the tools of the murder mystery trade—the clues and red herrings, the character motives and impulses, the plot twists and subplots and relentlessly rising tension—all to propel us toward a shocking and deeply satisfying conclusion. Start reading and you won't stop.”—William Martin, New York Times best-selling author
“Rumor of Evil tells a story that is tight with suspense and peopled with characters that engage from the first to the last page.” —Kathy Reichs, author of the Temperance Brennan thrillers, including The Bone Hacker
“Suspenseful and fast paced, with unexpected and shocking twists, this dark story is filled with flawed, all-too-human characters, tense family relationships, and a haunting conclusion. Highly recommended.” —Booklist
“‘Page-turner’ is an overused phrase for books, but then some really do rise to that description. Rumor of Evil undoubtedly is one of those page-turners. The race to the end throws in a few surprises and a result you might not see coming at a breathtaking pace.” —Bookreporter
“Braver skillfully alternates timelines in this unpredictable whodunit . . . Here’s hoping Kirk and Mandy are on the case again soon.” —Publishers Weekly
Praise for Gary Braver
“Gary Braver is one of the best thriller writers in America.” —Tess Gerritsen, New York Times best-selling author
“A fast, colorful suspense-adventure. The story races to a literally explosive climax that is better than [Peter] Benchley [Jaws, The Deep] at his best . . . Atlantis Fire blew me away. This is a fine thriller, seasoned with wit and sensibility.” —Stephen King, New York Times best-selling author
“[The Stone Circle] is a story stripped for action, and action is what it delivers.” —The Boston Globe
* “[Flashback is] an exceptional medical thriller . .. A mystery that is touching and believable.” —Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)
“[Flashback is] a dandy thriller…This elaborately plotted novel offers a potent hit of suspense.” —Entertainment Weekly