Patient Among Trusted Lies: a Noir Psychological Domestic Crime Thriller

A former homicide detective seeking solace in the quiet Idaho town of Cedar Hollow thought his past was buried. But when his wife, Harriet, a criminal psychologist's patient, begins to unravel with disturbing flashbacks of a brutal crime witnessed the night of her hit-and-run, Marcus Archer's tranquil world shatters. Could these fragmented memories be real, or are they figments of a traumatized mind? As Marcus delves deeper, two chilling threads emerge: a missing person case in distant Pinebrook and anonymous letters warning Harriet that "some truths kill." Sheriff Lucas Carter, earnest yet evasive, offers help while guarding his own dark secrets connected to the missing girl. Meanwhile, Harriet's former therapist, the enigmatic Diana Caldwell, casts a long shadow, her loyalties shrouded in doubt. Marcus battles his own resurfacing PTSD, forcing him to question everything, especially Harriet's increasingly vivid and unsettling recollections. What if the woman he loves is not just a victim, but a key player in a deadly game? His investigation plunges him into a labyrinth of tampered evidence, clandestine files, and the unsettling resurgence of Harriet's obsessive compulsions, including a disturbing collection of victims' items. Could her fragile psyche be manipulating him from within? Just when Marcus thinks he's piecing together the puzzle, a mid-story revelation exposes Diana's calculated deception, steering suspicion towards Lucas. But as Lucas's hidden criminal ties are exposed, a horrifying discovery in Harriet's art room reveals a trophy from the first victim, suggesting a far more sinister truth. The climactic turn will leave you breathless as Marcus unearths his own devastating connection to that fateful hit-and-run, the event that shattered not only a life but the very foundation of his marriage. Harriet's "memories" are not just flashbacks; they are a carefully constructed confession, a macabre art therapy forcing Marcus to confront his buried guilt. In a final, shocking twist, the full, terrifying picture comes into focus, revealing a web of lies and manipulations far more intricate and deadly than Marcus could have ever imagined. Uncover the darkness within the quiet corners of Cedar Hollow. Start Reading Now to confront the chilling truth and decide who is truly the patient among trusted lies.