Silvertip (Kelsey Holloway Mysteries Book 1)

A Murder in the Wild: Secrets Linger in the Pocosin Ruins

When the decomposed body of teacher Beth Jacobson is found at the Pocosin Mission Ruins in Shenandoah National Park, it sets off a chilling investigation with strange clues—suffocation as the cause of death, and claw-like gashes on her jacket that make no sense. Special Agent Kelsey Holloway is called in by the Investigative Services Branch, still battling the trauma of a deadly incident at Yosemite that left her questioning her own judgment.

As Kelsey digs deeper into Beth’s life and last known connections, the case grows darker and more tangled. A second victim. DNA traces from a bear species not native to the park. A local sheriff hungry for headlines. And the growing fear that the killer isn’t just hunting at random—he’s watching her.

With a haunting past creeping in and the line between predator and prey blurring, Kelsey races to unmask a sadistic killer hiding behind the trees—and the masks people wear.

Read Pocosin Ruins and uncover the secrets waiting in the shadows.

Excerpt from the book

Twenty-six eighth graders stood outside the portable, immersed in their phones, some stamping their feet while others huddled together trying to stay warm. They were attired in the flimsy sweatshirts and flip-flops that served as their public school uniforms.

Ten minutes after the warning bell had sounded, thirteen-year-old Sarah took the initiative to hurry down the wooden ramp, enter the school building, and head to the main office. Joan, office secretary, looked up when Sarah opened the door.

“We’re all standing outside Ms. Jacobson’s portable, and it’s really cold. She didn’t show up.”

“Really? OK, hold on a minute.” She handed a late pass to a student and then reached for the phone.

A call was made to the English department.

“Jeff, Beth hasn’t opened her portable. Have you heard anything?”

Jeff Miller, department resource teacher, cursed under his breath. “I haven’t heard a thing. I’ll open up. See if we have a sub available. Ring Beth’s home and see if she’s sick or something. You can call me on my cell if you hear anything.”

Joan put down the phone and looked up at Sarah.

“You can go back to the portable. We’ll get it opened up in a minute.”

Jeff grabbed his coat and hurried down the two flights of stairs to the exit door. He rushed among the other portables until he came to Number Eight and unlocked the door. “Sorry, guys,” he said to the students huddled outside the door. “I don’t know where Ms. Jacobson is. We’re calling her house.”

Students hurried into the room, unheated over the Thanksgiving break, dropped their backpacks on the floor, and took their seats, shivering.

“Oh my God, is it frickin’ cold in here or what?” said Noah, rubbing his hands together, his breath visible.

Jeff fiddled with the thermostat. “We’ll get this room warmed up in no time.”

His cell chimed. “Yes. Hold on, let me step outside.” He walked across the room and exited, phone to ear.

“No answer at her house. Do you think something’s happened?”

“I don’t know. She’s never done anything like this. Did you find me a sub?”

“Dave Blair is subbing for the math department, and he’s off first period. But you’ll probably need to have your department cover the rest of the day. It’s hard to get anybody right after a vacation.”

“Yeah. People won’t be too happy about giving up a planning period, but well, I’ll bring donuts tomorrow, and it will be all good.” He opened the portable door and looked at the class. “We’re still working on getting someone in here. Until then, you can study.”

“Study?” Mat laughed. “How can we study when our brains are frozen? And anyway, we’ve been on vacation. We don’t have anything to study.”

“You could read To Kill a Mockingbird,” said Mary. “That was our homework. Remember? I didn’t know how the trial was going to turn out. What did you think?”

Mat glared at her.

Ten minutes later, tall, lanky Dave Blair walked in.