Hidden away and decaying for decades, a cryptic mural holds deadly clues in this intoxicating mix of art, murder, and buried secrets, perfect for fans of Simone St. James.
It was a blood-curdling crime that rocked the town to its core, leaving some with permanent scars and others with deep regrets. A young girl had been brutally slain. Memories were beginning to fade, but during the renovation of the old parsonage, the murder rears its ugly head again when workers discover a time-ravaged portrait of the young victim. Conservator Annora Garde is hired by the local police to clean the painting and expose what lies buried within it.
Inspector Scott ‘Mac’ MacGowan is convinced the mural is a cryptic confession that will solve the cold case—but it’s looking more and more like someone will do whatever it takes to keep the past in the past. Together, Mac and Annora struggle to put the pieces of the puzzle together, in order to provide closure to surviving family members.
Toxic mold obscures blood-chilling clues, and the painting has an eerie life of its own. Annora is haunted by what she reveals, by the dirt she digs up, by her own tragic losses, and perhaps even by the young victim herself. As she closes in on the killer, the killer inches ever closer to her, and she will come face to face with a brutal truth: some murderers never come clean.
Genre: Mystery
It was a blood-curdling crime that rocked the town to its core, leaving some with permanent scars and others with deep regrets. A young girl had been brutally slain. Memories were beginning to fade, but during the renovation of the old parsonage, the murder rears its ugly head again when workers discover a time-ravaged portrait of the young victim. Conservator Annora Garde is hired by the local police to clean the painting and expose what lies buried within it.
Inspector Scott ‘Mac’ MacGowan is convinced the mural is a cryptic confession that will solve the cold case—but it’s looking more and more like someone will do whatever it takes to keep the past in the past. Together, Mac and Annora struggle to put the pieces of the puzzle together, in order to provide closure to surviving family members.
Toxic mold obscures blood-chilling clues, and the painting has an eerie life of its own. Annora is haunted by what she reveals, by the dirt she digs up, by her own tragic losses, and perhaps even by the young victim herself. As she closes in on the killer, the killer inches ever closer to her, and she will come face to face with a brutal truth: some murderers never come clean.
Genre: Mystery
Praise for this book
"Intriguing, compelling, atmospheric . . . I was hooked on A Cruel Light from the opening pages. Annora is a hugely sympathetic protagonist, one you would like to have for a friend. I was fascinated by the details of art conservation, and the concept of restoring a mural to discover the truth about a long-ago murder. MacMillan gives just enough detail to the process without slowing the story. The paranormal aspects are mesmerizing, and work well within the whodunit plot, coming full circle at the end. Mounting danger accompanies the growing attraction between Annora and the local police inspector which will delight lovers of romantic suspense. It did me. Best of all: the ending will bring a smile to any reader with a heart. More please!" - Melodie Campbell
"Cyndi MacMillan deftly peels away the layers of small town's secrets in this deliciously haunting Gothic mystery. An artful debut!" - Carol Goodman
"A Cruel Light is an innovative thriller somehow managing to turn a stationary work of art into a living, breathing character, writhing with secrets and suspense. Cyndi MacMillan so cleverly uses the meticulous restoration of a painted mural to uncover a decades old, unsolved murder case, keeping the reader hanging on with each newly revealed piece of the puzzle. At the same time MacMillan does an amazing job of highlighting the beautiful ruggedness of the Canadian landscape and the culture that exists within it. An inventive approach to the thriller novel, with beautifully detailed description, a fascinating small town on the brink of imploding, and a story that won't let you go." - Jessica Hamilton
"A unique twist on solving a murder with enough thrilling ups and downs to keep you turning the pages until the final curveball you won't see coming." - Leanne Kale Sparks
"Cyndi MacMillan deftly peels away the layers of small town's secrets in this deliciously haunting Gothic mystery. An artful debut!" - Carol Goodman
"A Cruel Light is an innovative thriller somehow managing to turn a stationary work of art into a living, breathing character, writhing with secrets and suspense. Cyndi MacMillan so cleverly uses the meticulous restoration of a painted mural to uncover a decades old, unsolved murder case, keeping the reader hanging on with each newly revealed piece of the puzzle. At the same time MacMillan does an amazing job of highlighting the beautiful ruggedness of the Canadian landscape and the culture that exists within it. An inventive approach to the thriller novel, with beautifully detailed description, a fascinating small town on the brink of imploding, and a story that won't let you go." - Jessica Hamilton
"A unique twist on solving a murder with enough thrilling ups and downs to keep you turning the pages until the final curveball you won't see coming." - Leanne Kale Sparks
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