The Fifth Petal

by Brunonia Barry

First published 2017

A teenager dies under suspicious circumstances on Halloween night in Salem. Police Chief John Rafferty suspects the death connects to an unsolved triple homicide from 1989. Three young women, all descendants of accused Salem witches, were killed on Halloween that year in what became known as "The Goddess Murders." Rafferty works with his wife Towner Whitney, who reads lace patterns, and receives help from Callie Cahill, daughter of one of the original victims who has returned to town. The prime suspect was Rose Whelan, a respected local historian, but neither Rafferty nor Callie believes she committed murder or practiced witchcraft. As they dig deeper into the cold case, they must determine whether human vengeance or supernatural forces killed the women. Clearing Rose's name means confronting whatever evil struck Salem that night. The investigation forces them to uncover the truth before history repeats itself.

Genres: suspense, mystery, crime, thriller

Vibes: atmospheric, suspenseful, thought-provoking

Tropes: amateur-sleuth, supernatural-elements

Setting: Salem

Period: 1989, Halloween

683 pages · Hardcover · Thorndike Press Large Print

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