“Church keeps readers enthralled as her plot spins into violent territory, and successfully conceals a doozy of a twist that sends the series in an unexpected direction”
Fans of Janet Evanovich will enjoy meeting the freewheeling Jesse, and this debut gives an enticing hint of more adventures to come. Armchair travelers and foodies, rejoice!
“Church has penned a whip-smart, sarcastic, amateur sleuth and a tightly plotted story that’s perfect for fans of Ruth Ware, Catriona McPherson, and Darynda Jones. Readers will want to see Jesse again.”
“Murder on the Spanish Seas by Wendy Church is a riveting, whip-smart debut thriller from Polis Books that will keep you on your toes just as frequently as it keeps you in stitches.”
Gang-related murders cast a dark shadow over the city as a new player emerges in the deadly fentanyl trade. Maude Kaminski, technical analyst for the Chicago PD, takes her place on the task force created to end the bloody territory wars.
But Maude’s world is upended when a child’s backpack is discovered among the possessions of a dead homeless woman. The backpack belonged to Maude’s 2-year-old brother, Michael, and is the first trace of him since he was taken — since Maude let someone take him — over twenty years ago.
As Maude desperately searches for other signs of Michael she turns for help to her best friend, chef Sags Pfister, who harbors a dark past of her own. Long-buried secrets begin to surface, forcing Maude from behind her computer into undercover work and underneath the dark streets of Chicago, where she has to confront her deepest fears. How far would she go to protect her family?
Wendy Church is the author of the Jesse O’Hara and Shadows of Chicago Mysteries series. Her debut novel, Murder on the Spanish Seas, was named a Booklist’s Top Ten Debut Mystery/Thriller novels of 2023. Her latest book, Knife Skills, received a starred review from Kirkus.
Wendy’s novels are informed by her international travel and many careers; she’s been a bartender, tennis pro, management consultant, nonprofit CEO, PhD researcher, and dive bar cleaner. To sign up for her infrequent and poorly designed newsletter please fill in your email address below.
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Photo by Monica Depiesse
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