The Winterstone Murder: A Hardboiled Mystery where Poison Meets Biotech

Dr. Kep Woodhead isn't known for his people skills. He's known for his unmatched nose—literally. A brilliant forensic toxicologist with a supersensitive sense of smell and a reputation for being impossible to work with, he's the last person you'd expect to lead a federal investigation.

Bernadette Becker is on thin ice. After a botched federal sting left her career in ruins, this case is her last shot at redemption. When she's paired with Woodhead to solve the suspicious death of a graduate student at a prestigious university in Milwaukee, it's clear neither of them is thrilled about the arrangement.

The victim was found inside a 15th-century chapel on campus, a syringe sticking out of his arm—and a rare hallucinogen in his bloodstream. But this wasn't a drug overdose. It was murder.

As Woodhead and Becker dig deeper, they uncover a tangled web of academic rivalries, buried secrets, and a controversial research project involving invasive sea lampreys—creatures as slippery and dangerous as the people protecting them. With funding on the line and reputations at stake, nearly everyone involved had a reason to keep the victim quiet.

But the more pressure Becker and Woodhead apply, the more resistance they meet--from inside the university and beyond. Someone is watching their every move. And if they're not careful, the next body found in that chapel might be one of their own.

Smart, propulsive, and packed with forensic intrigue, The Winterstone Murder is the explosive first entry in the Woodhead & Becker Mystery Series. Perfect for fans of Patricia Cornwell, Kathy Reichs, and Tana French, this tightly plotted procedural introduces a dynamic new investigative duo in a world where science cuts through lies—and justice comes at a cost.

Start The Winterstone Murder today and follow two unforgettable investigators into a deadly academic underworld where truth is toxic, and secrets don't stay buried.

This book was originally published under the title Ceremony in August 2021.

"The Winterstone Murder is an intelligently wrought, involving and accomplished thriller. Highly recommended."

--Rose Auburn Writing & Reviews

"If you enjoy deftly woven storylines, quirky but relatable characters, and 'wow, didn't see that coming' twists and turns, then I strongly recommend The Winterstone Murder."

--D.F. Hart, author of the Vital Secrets series

"Becker and Woodhead are the new Booth and Brennan. For Kathy Reichs fans, The Winterstone Murder has all the twists and emotional punch to keep you up all night."

--Arleigh Jacobs, author of the Team Colt thriller series