by Linda Norlander
Series: Sheriff Red Mysteries #4
Community rating: 4/5 from 1 rating.
A murder in the wings. A cold case resurrected. And a killer ready for an encore.
“There’s so much to admire in Red and so much beauty in Norlander’s moody descriptions of the Minnesota landscape…” —Kirkus Reviews
The curtain rises on Lykkins Lake’s community theater production of The Music Man—but the show turns deadly before the first line is spoken. During auditions, director Amanda Brodie spots someone on stage and bolts in fear. The next morning, her body surfaces in the dark waters beneath an abandoned railroad bridge.
Sheriff Red Hammergren’s investigation quickly leads to a chilling discovery: decades ago, Amanda’s sister was murdered in an unsolved case that shook the town. Now, Red suspects the two crimes are connected—and someone in the tight-knit theater troupe knows more than they’re letting on.
As the spotlight swings from center stage to long-buried secrets, Red races to uncover the truth. But the killer is already rehearsing their next move—and this time, the final act could be Red’s.
Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Mystery & Suspense
Tropes: Secrets and Betrayal, Grief/Loss, Murder
ISBN: 9781648757181
288 pages
Published: 2026-09-22
Publisher: Severn River Publishing