Something sinister dwells in the shadows of Ottawa. Grief and fear grip the city as one by one, women within the local entertainment industry end up dead on the streets, posed with a bizarre signature. Someone is slipping a deadly poison into the drinks of musicians, models, and actresses. Confounded and convinced a woman is behind it all, the local police call in the International Crime Bureau’s expert on female killers: criminal profiler Alyssa Rawkesby, accompanied by her new rookie partner, Thayer Volikov.
Alyssa never thought she’d relate so strongly to a killer’s letter. But once she reads it, she knows there is no going back. Is Alyssa willing to destroy the peace she has found from her own demons in order to unravel the demented mind of who the media has named the Belladonna Killer? Is there any other way?
What does a nameless, faceless figure have against these victims? As grief and fear grips the city of Ottawa, Alyssa and Thayer must put side their differences and learn to become a team in order to find a woman spiraling into madness and murder.
Is Belladonna a sadistic monster or the result of something sinister Alyssa is all too familiar with? Will looking this killer in the eyes be like looking in the mirror or will Alyssa finally separate herself from her history? As time runs out to save other victims, Alyssa has to try not to unravel as the lines blur between what the killer truly is and the pieces of her own past.
About the author
Lavinia Thompson
I am a 31-year old author who wants to share the worlds inside my head with everyone. This is a journey I have been on for almost ten years now. The first book of my crime fiction series, “Beyond Dark”, will be self-published this fall.
The theme woven through my books is survival. We survive adversity, trauma, hardship and obstacles every day. I survived a decade of child abuse and domestic violence. I want fellow survivors to know they aren’t alone. You matter. It is okay to hit rock bottom, to fall, but we don’t need to unpack and live there. Writing is what helped me survive, and continues to do so. It has been my life-saving foundation while struggling with mental illness and PTSD. Now, I want the worlds inside my head to reach you.
Visit my website and blog for the latest updates: https://laviniathompson89.wixsite.com/laviniathompson
Our Review
( I found this brilliant story on the Substack Book Store. I am still learning the ropes there, but luckily, Amazon co.uk had a copy!)
Agent Alyssa Rawkesby, an unusual female detective, is sitting in her car, watching a crime scene. The crowd turn their attention to her, shouting questions about the victim, the fourth in the killer’s rampage.
She offers to take on the case, as she has a history of successfully finding serial killers. But will the addition of a new partner slow her down?
It didn’t take me long to realise that I was in for a treat with this book. Brilliantly written, the description, detail, pace and tension were immaculate, and it had a very eloquent killer.
I tore through this story, desperate to read more, and finished reading it in record time.
I sat and thought about this story for a long time, enjoying all the key moments.
I can heartily recommend this story and shall probably read it again in the near future…
Leave a Reply