To The Bone
(2025)(The first book in the Pauline McCrory-Keegan Thriller series)
A novel by John Misak
A missing girl. An officer on the brink. A haunting journey that cuts straight to the bone.
Pauline McCrory-Keegan has never worn the detective’s shield, but she knows the job from the inside—first from the records department and then undercover, navigating the NYPD’s shadowy edges. Now, as her marriage to famed homicide detective John Keegan crumbles and her children feel worlds away, Pauline seeks solace in the serene waterfront town of St. Michaels, Maryland. But peace remains elusive.
When Pauline stumbles upon a desperate plea for help online—a twelve-year-old girl named Melissa Carver has vanished—she can’t ignore the call. Trading quiet docks for gritty streets, Pauline plunges into a world split by secrets. Melissa’s family is torn between privilege in Alexandria and struggle in Mount Vernon, their hidden truths casting long, twisting shadows. Every lead Pauline pursues threatens to entangle her further, forcing her to confront not only the darkness behind Melissa’s disappearance but her own wounded heart.
As she follows the trail, Pauline must rely on her undercover instincts and empathy, forging a path through stark contrasts of wealth and want, honesty and deceit. With each revelation, she’s pushed closer to the fractures in her own life—her strained marriage, the distance from her children, and the hollow places where trust once lived.
To The Bone thrusts readers into a tense, character-driven mystery set at the intersection of comfort and corruption. Perfect for fans of the John Keegan series and contemporary crime thrillers alike, this novel explores what happens when the line between professional duty and personal redemption blurs.
Can Pauline bring Melissa home and, in the process, piece her own life back together? The answers lie beneath the surface, waiting for those brave enough to face the truth—no matter how deep it cuts.
Genre: Mystery
Pauline McCrory-Keegan has never worn the detective’s shield, but she knows the job from the inside—first from the records department and then undercover, navigating the NYPD’s shadowy edges. Now, as her marriage to famed homicide detective John Keegan crumbles and her children feel worlds away, Pauline seeks solace in the serene waterfront town of St. Michaels, Maryland. But peace remains elusive.
When Pauline stumbles upon a desperate plea for help online—a twelve-year-old girl named Melissa Carver has vanished—she can’t ignore the call. Trading quiet docks for gritty streets, Pauline plunges into a world split by secrets. Melissa’s family is torn between privilege in Alexandria and struggle in Mount Vernon, their hidden truths casting long, twisting shadows. Every lead Pauline pursues threatens to entangle her further, forcing her to confront not only the darkness behind Melissa’s disappearance but her own wounded heart.
As she follows the trail, Pauline must rely on her undercover instincts and empathy, forging a path through stark contrasts of wealth and want, honesty and deceit. With each revelation, she’s pushed closer to the fractures in her own life—her strained marriage, the distance from her children, and the hollow places where trust once lived.
To The Bone thrusts readers into a tense, character-driven mystery set at the intersection of comfort and corruption. Perfect for fans of the John Keegan series and contemporary crime thrillers alike, this novel explores what happens when the line between professional duty and personal redemption blurs.
Can Pauline bring Melissa home and, in the process, piece her own life back together? The answers lie beneath the surface, waiting for those brave enough to face the truth—no matter how deep it cuts.
Genre: Mystery
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