by: Stacy Claflin
Series: Ariana Jones
Genre: Psychological Thriller/Domestic Thriller
Release Date: July 25, 2023
Even perfect neighborhoods have deadly secrets.
Ariana and Damon moved to the gated neighborhood of Rosy Hills to leave behind their traumatic pasts. Now they have their dream jobs and are part of a tight group of friends. All of that crumbles when their neighbor Rita disappears without a trace.
Now it looks like one of their own could be a killer. Ariana and Damon must figure out who it is, or they risk never finding Rita alive. If they don’t reach her in time, they could all end up dead…
Pain shot through the left side of Rita’s neck.
She moaned and rubbed the spot. Tried to turn her head.
More blinding agony.
She opened her eyes. Darkness. How long had she been asleep?
Was this a hangover? She and her boyfriend often acted like stupid teenagers and got drunk when they spent time together. It was idiotic, but at least it got her mind off her miserable marriage — the worst decision of her life. How had she not seen through Boone before the wedding?
Not that it mattered. Right now, she needed water and a handful of ibuprofen.
Rita sat up. Tried to, anyway. Something prevented her from getting up.
Ropes. They wrapped around her arms, just above her elbows, and at her knees. Fabric covered her eyes.
Gasping, she pulled it off.
The room was bright after having been blindfolded, but it was dim from the black curtains. Light streamed from above them, indicating it was daytime. The walls were as bare as the bed underneath her. Couldn’t see much more without sitting up.
Rita struggled to free herself from the ropes, but they were too tight and fastened out of her reach. She struggled for a better look around the room. Didn’t recognize it.
Where was she? How had she gotten here?
Everything came tumbling back.
Leaving the restaurant.
Seeing him.
She choked on air.
To think she’d once trusted that man.
What was he going to do with her? Why did he have her tied up here?
One thing was certain. She couldn’t afford to wait and find out.
There had to be a way out of the restraints, out of this room.
Rita struggled against the ropes. They burned, even through her clothes. Didn’t loosen.
Maybe she could twist them so the ties pulled to her reach. Then she could undo them and get out.
Run and be free.
She tugged on the rope. Pulled and twisted.
It didn’t budge. Too tight.
He really knew what he was doing.
But she was smarter.
She would get away. Make sure he never saw the outside of a prison cell.
Sweat broke out along her hairline as she fought to free herself. Her breathing grew ragged.
Click, click.
Rita froze. Lifted her head.
The doorknob jiggled.
She moaned and rubbed the spot. Tried to turn her head.
More blinding agony.
She opened her eyes. Darkness. How long had she been asleep?
Was this a hangover? She and her boyfriend often acted like stupid teenagers and got drunk when they spent time together. It was idiotic, but at least it got her mind off her miserable marriage — the worst decision of her life. How had she not seen through Boone before the wedding?
Not that it mattered. Right now, she needed water and a handful of ibuprofen.
Rita sat up. Tried to, anyway. Something prevented her from getting up.
Ropes. They wrapped around her arms, just above her elbows, and at her knees. Fabric covered her eyes.
Gasping, she pulled it off.
The room was bright after having been blindfolded, but it was dim from the black curtains. Light streamed from above them, indicating it was daytime. The walls were as bare as the bed underneath her. Couldn’t see much more without sitting up.
Rita struggled to free herself from the ropes, but they were too tight and fastened out of her reach. She struggled for a better look around the room. Didn’t recognize it.
Where was she? How had she gotten here?
Everything came tumbling back.
Leaving the restaurant.
Seeing him.
She choked on air.
To think she’d once trusted that man.
What was he going to do with her? Why did he have her tied up here?
One thing was certain. She couldn’t afford to wait and find out.
There had to be a way out of the restraints, out of this room.
Rita struggled against the ropes. They burned, even through her clothes. Didn’t loosen.
Maybe she could twist them so the ties pulled to her reach. Then she could undo them and get out.
Run and be free.
She tugged on the rope. Pulled and twisted.
It didn’t budge. Too tight.
He really knew what he was doing.
But she was smarter.
She would get away. Make sure he never saw the outside of a prison cell.
Sweat broke out along her hairline as she fought to free herself. Her breathing grew ragged.
Click, click.
Rita froze. Lifted her head.
The doorknob jiggled.
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The Ariana Jones Series:
Lie in Wait releases October 31, 2023
Her love for thrillers goes back to her early childhood when she fell in love with Unsolved Mysteries and America’s Most Wanted. When Stacy was five, she got mad at a babysitter who wouldn’t let her watch the evening news. These days, she spends her free time listening to true crime podcasts or watching documentaries on the subject.
She has been telling stories for as long as she can remember, and as child would often get into trouble for trying to convince friends her wild tales were true. Now she puts her creativity to better use by writing page-turning stories that leave readers begging for more.
Stacy occasionally dabbles in other genres, so as you peruse her library of works, you’ll find some romance and paranormal tales, all with strong suspense elements.
Places to find Stacy Claflin:
striking cover with the fire
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