Twelve suspenseful stories from the author of the Willa Jansson and Laura Di Palma mystery series.

A killer’s using freezing weather and plenty of water to eliminate the city’s homeless population, and a lawyer must identify the culprit before her client’s arrested for the bizarre murders . . . An off-the-grid, clandestine meeting between an attorney and her recently acquitted lover takes a twisted turn . . . In 1918, as the flu pandemic decimates America, a nanny for a wealthy family is mistaken for dead, but that’s only the beginning of her troubles . . . On a quiet Oregon beach on Native American land, a couple is debating whether or not they should get married when a stranger interrupts them . . .

These are just a few of the mysterious tales in this collection that has “tight plotting, good characterizations, and page-turning suspense. . . . Matera [is] one of the best contemporary mystery novelists” (Booklist).

Praise for Lia Matera

“[A] welcome respite from the mystery-by-formula crowd.” —Kirkus Reviews on A Hard Bargain

“A satisfying blend of emotion, suspense and mystery.” —The Pittsburgh Press on The Good Fight

“[Matera’s] skill and literary flair are everywhere on display. Every word counts, and the pieces of the puzzle fit together with exhilarating precision.” —ABA Journal on Designer Crimes

“This fast-moving tale is peppered with eccentric characters, snappy dialogue and a creative plot.” —San Francisco Examiner & Chronicle on Star Witness

Short Stories