Secrets From A Serial Killer

Shadow Bay #1

by J.C. Moore, Jen Fee (Editor)

Two women dead. A third gone without a trace. And the clock is ticking.

Chief of Police Shauna Peterson thought she knew her small town. But when a third young woman vanishes—and the latest body turns up, stitched with red thread—everything changes.

The killer is methodical. Bold. Watching. And he's only just begun.

Now Shauna is in a race against time to stop a predator closing in on everything she loves. The state wants her sidelined. The town wants someone to blame.

And her daughter Emma? She’s hiding secrets—and getting dangerously close to the truth.

The killer wants Shauna’s attention.
And he knows exactly how to get it.

340 pages, Paperback

Published June 23, 2025

About the author

J.C. Moore writes suspense-driven thrillers rooted in character, consequence, and the damage left behind when secrets refuse to stay buried. His stories focus on ordinary people pushed into extraordinary situations, where loyalty is tested, violence has weight, and every decision leaves a mark.

Before turning to fiction, Moore worked a wide range of jobs, including bartender, IT tech, touring musician, horse farm manager, and restaurant owner. His music has appeared in television and film, but storytelling is now his full focus.

Moore is the author of the Shadow Bay Thriller series and the Frank Mallory novels, both set in tight communities where familiarity can be as dangerous as the unknown. His characters are not heroes or monsters. They are people under pressure, shaped by loss, love, and hard choices.

He lives in upstate New York with his partner and their small but fierce dog, where long roads disappear into the woods and the landscape continues to shape the stories he tells.

Visit him at jcmooreauthor.com

Reviews

[Momsliteraryhaven · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a mom of a teenager this book definitely got to me. It was a very emotional read of a mom trying to keep her daughter safe while her daughter thinks she is being overbearing the whole time.

Seeing chapters from the serial killer's point of view was interesting. I was definitely not expecting the ending.

[Bailey (Myveinsbleedink) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a contradiction for me. I liked it but there were so many inconsistencies that really frustrated me that the overtook the good. There were repetitive situations, like verbatim, a couple of chapters later. At times I felt as though I was missing a chunk of the story. One second Shauna and her daughter Emma were talking and they seemed to have reached middle ground and were understanding each other and then the next page Emma is sending Shauna brutal text messages about hating her. I just felt like I missed something in between when Shauna hadn't done anything in the story for the behaviour. AND my biggest one, in the book its talked about how Shauna had Emma at 17 years old. Then farther into the book Shauna talks about her age at 43. The math isn't mathing and it may not seem like a big deal but it just solidified my feelings about the book and how something didn't totally jive with me. But I did enjoy the story's premise and I felt big emotions during parts of the book. So it wasn't a total write off. Author states it's his first psychological thriller, so I'm definitely willing to move through the series and see if the writing evolves and the inconsistencies are addressed.

[Elena J · Rating 5 out of 5]

J.C. Moore’s Secrets From A Serial Killer is a pulse-pounding small-town thriller where every secret bleeds and every clue cuts closer to home.

When Chief of Police Shauna Peterson finds her quiet town unraveling two women dead, a third vanished, and a killer leaving victims stitched with red thread the case becomes terrifyingly personal. As the state sidelines her and panic grips her community, Shauna must face the unthinkable: the predator may be stalking the people she loves most.

Taut, emotional, and relentlessly suspenseful, Secrets From A Serial Killer blends the procedural grit of C.J. Box, the psychological intensity of Freida McFadden, and the emotional stakes of James Patterson. Moore delivers a chilling cat-and-mouse mystery wrapped in the heartbreak of a mother forced to outthink a monster who knows her better than anyone.

This isn’t just a whodunit it’s a story about how far a mother will go to protect the truth when the killer is always one step ahead.

[Visionary Impart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Secrets From A Serial Killer is a gripping, fast-paced thriller that pulls you in from the first chilling page and never lets go. J.C. Moore masterfully builds tension, blending a relentless investigation with deeply personal stakes that make every chapter feel urgent. Chief Shauna Peterson is a compelling, believable protagonist strong, vulnerable, and determined while the small-town setting adds an eerie sense of claustrophobia and suspicion. The killer is unsettlingly intelligent, the twists are sharp, and the emotional tension surrounding Shauna and her daughter elevates the story beyond a standard crime novel. Dark, suspenseful, and expertly paced, this is a haunting read that will keep readers guessing until the final reveal.

[Diana Fletcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Secrets From A Serial Killer is a tense small town thriller where nothing stays hidden for long. When two women are found dead and a third disappears, Chief of Police Shauna Peterson realizes her quiet community is harboring something far more dangerous than anyone imagined.
As the bodies reveal a chilling pattern, Shauna races against time to stop a methodical killer who is always one step ahead. With state officials questioning her authority and the town desperate for answers, the pressure mounts and the threat edges closer to home.

[Mark Bagley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

This book is part thriller, part horror, part police procedural, part mystery, and completely well written.

The characters are compelling with the strengths and weaknesses common to us all. The scenery is cold and forbidding adding to the horror aspect. I see no flaws and hope this series lasts a long time.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping thriller that hooked me from the very first page. The constant sense of being watched kept the tension high, and just when I thought I knew where things were going, the story proved me wrong. It’s unsettling, fast-paced, and impossible to put down. A great read for anyone who loves suspense that lingers long after the final page.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A real thriller

I read this book in hours. I love the way this author writes and I’m going to follow along reading the next book in this series. I like the main character and her daughter, their relationship is very real. This is a story about a serial killer yes, and I could not figure out who it was. Even though I tried.

[Dee Cash · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fooled Me

I seldom am fooled when it comes to figuring out who the bad guy is. But this time I was nowhere near knowing. However the serial killer did infer there were possibly others. I guess we will have to read the next book to know for sure.

[Jorge]

Good read

Although a lot of the prose was stilted specially when it was the serial killer's the story was gripping and the character development was excellent. The battle between mother and daughter was perfect.

[Katie Knight · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book 16 of 2026. February. Kindle( free from either Kindle First read or Bookbub)

Easy- fast read. Hits different as a mother of a teenager girl. I'll read more from the Shadow Bay thriller series.

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of repeated stuff. Ending kind of sucked.

[Sue Mansfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

thrilling

Best book I have read for ages,and I read a lot of books. Couldn’t put it down and looking forward to book 2!

[Allison Maples · Rating 2 out of 5]

The whole story felt very sterile and repetitive. The writing style was driving me insane with all the incomplete and run-on sentences. Definitely glad this book was free, I just regret the download.

[Luis Moreno · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh. Please thank me, I read it, so you don’t have to. The only reason I read through was to see if I was right about who the killer was. I was. I’m sure the author put a lot of time into this, but….