The Silent Dolls

A missing child. A chilling discovery in the wilderness. And a detective whose past may hold the key to a terrifying mystery.

Seven-year-old Penny Matthews has vanished in the Appalachian Mountains, leaving Detective Ellie Reeves with a daunting investigation. The rugged landscape offers countless places to conceal a crime, and worsening winter weather threatens to make the search even more dangerous.

Ellie soon discovers that Penny’s disappearance may be part of something far more sinister than an isolated abduction. Deep in the woods, investigators uncover evidence of a child’s death from years earlier, along with a distinctive wooden doll that raises disturbing questions about what has been happening in the mountains.

As Ellie examines the possibility of a connection between the two children, the investigation begins to expose a history of violence that may stretch back decades. New evidence suggests Penny could still be alive, but finding her means uncovering the identity of someone who has managed to remain hidden for years.

The case also forces Ellie to revisit painful experiences from her own childhood, creating a personal struggle that threatens to complicate her search for answers.

With a young girl’s survival at stake and a dangerous criminal still at large, Ellie must determine how the past and present are connected before another family suffers an unimaginable loss.

Rita Herron is an award-winning, USA Today bestselling novelist with a publishing career spanning more than 90 books. Her work includes crime fiction, romantic suspense, romantic comedy, and young adult novels.

Herron’s interest in mysteries began during childhood when she discovered the Trixie Belden books at age eight. Although she initially chose teaching as her profession, storytelling eventually became the focus of her career.

Her novels frequently explore danger, complicated relationships, and the secrets hidden within close-knit communities. She particularly enjoys writing atmospheric crime stories and suspense novels set against the backdrop of small Southern towns.

Readers can explore Rita Herron’s books and learn more about her at www.ritaherron.com.