*Blurb:* "In the sleepy town of Ravenswood, secrets lurk in every shadow. Detective Kate McCord investigates a string of disappearances, only to discover a cryptic message at each scene: 'The shadows we keep are the lies we tell.' As Kate delves deeper, she unravels a web of deceit and ancient mysteries hidden beneath Ravenswood's idyllic facade. The truth threatens to destroy everything she thought she knew. With each new clue, Kate's own dark past begins to surface. Can she confront the shadows within herself to uncover the truth before the next victim vanishes? Dive into this gripping mystery, where the lines between truth and lies blur, and the shadows hide the deadliest secrets." *Genre:* Mystery, Thriller *Keywords:* Small-Town Mystery, Detective Fiction, Secretive Past, Ancient Mysteries, Cryptic Clues *Tagline:* "Some secrets are worth killing for."
Prologue
Ravenswood, 1995
Night descended upon Ravenswood like a shroud, casting long shadows across the small town. In a weathered cabin on the outskirts, eight-year-old Emily trembled beneath her blankets.
"Mommy, I saw something," Emily whispered, her voice barely audible.
Her mother's expression tightened, her eyes flicking toward the window. The wind whispered secrets through the trees, and the shadows seemed to twist and writhe.
"What did you see, sweetie?" her mother asked, her tone low and urgent.
Emily's eyes welled up with tears. "A shadow. It was watching us. It had eyes."
Her mother's gaze darted around the room, as if searching for something lurking just out of sight. "It's just your imagination, Emily. Go to sleep."
But Emily knew what she saw. And she knew the shadows didn't sleep.
As her mother's grip on her hand tightened, Emily felt a chill crawl up her spine. The shadows seemed to pulse with a life of their own, waiting for their moment to strike.
Suddenly, the lights flickered and died. The darkness closed in, suffocating.
"Mommy?" Emily whispered, panic rising.
Her mother's voice was barely audible. "I'm here, baby. Don't let the shadows get you."
But it was too late. The shadows had already begun to seep into Emily's soul
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