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Rachel Ryder #13
Killer Headline
Not yet published
Expected 13 Oct 26In small-town Georgia, digging into dangerous secrets can be deadly—and Detective Rachel Ryder is about to uncover them all.
Reporter Layla Rowe made enemies by asking the wrong questions in the right places. Now she's dead, her laptop is missing, and someone in Hamby, Georgia wants her final story buried with her.
Detective Rachel Ryder thought she knew every secret in her tight-knit community. But what Layla uncovered reveals a conspiracy that runs deeper than anyone imagined—forged documents, illegal land grabs, and a network of payoffs that reaches into the darkest corners of city hall.
But as Rachel gets closer to the truth, she realizes Layla wasn't just killed to stop a story. She was killed to send a message.
USA Today bestselling author Carolyn Ridder Aspenson is back with the thirteenth thrilling installment in the Rachel Ryder series. Perfect for fans of Tana French and Louise Penny who crave small-town secrets with deadly consequences.
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Praise for Carolyn Ridder Aspenson and the Rachel Ryder
"Detective Rachel Ryder is smart, tough, and fearless—readers will gladly follow her through every twist.” —LynDee Walker, Amazon Charts bestselling author of Fear No Truth
"Tight writing, unexpected twists, and the tough but vulnerable lead Detective Rachel Ryder will leave you eager to read the next book..." —Susan Hunter, author of Dangerous Habits
"Rachel Ryder is a new heroine on the suspense scene that you’ll want to engage with again and again." —Kimberly Charleston, Books Uplift
Reporter Layla Rowe made enemies by asking the wrong questions in the right places. Now she's dead, her laptop is missing, and someone in Hamby, Georgia wants her final story buried with her.
Detective Rachel Ryder thought she knew every secret in her tight-knit community. But what Layla uncovered reveals a conspiracy that runs deeper than anyone imagined—forged documents, illegal land grabs, and a network of payoffs that reaches into the darkest corners of city hall.
But as Rachel gets closer to the truth, she realizes Layla wasn't just killed to stop a story. She was killed to send a message.
USA Today bestselling author Carolyn Ridder Aspenson is back with the thirteenth thrilling installment in the Rachel Ryder series. Perfect for fans of Tana French and Louise Penny who crave small-town secrets with deadly consequences.
_______________________
Praise for Carolyn Ridder Aspenson and the Rachel Ryder
"Detective Rachel Ryder is smart, tough, and fearless—readers will gladly follow her through every twist.” —LynDee Walker, Amazon Charts bestselling author of Fear No Truth
"Tight writing, unexpected twists, and the tough but vulnerable lead Detective Rachel Ryder will leave you eager to read the next book..." —Susan Hunter, author of Dangerous Habits
"Rachel Ryder is a new heroine on the suspense scene that you’ll want to engage with again and again." —Kimberly Charleston, Books Uplift
293 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication October 13, 2026
About the author
Carolyn Ridder Aspenson
176 books563 followersUSA Today Bestselling Author Carolyn Ridder Aspenson writes cozy mysteries, thrillers, and paranormal women's fiction featuring strong female leads. Her stories shine through her dialogue, which readers have praised for being realistic and compelling.
A multiple number one bestseller on Amazon, her first novel, Unfinished Business, was a five-star Reader's Favorite, a Rone Award finalist, as well as a number one bestseller on both Amazon and Barnes and Noble. In 2021, she introduced readers to detective Rachel Ryder in Damaging Secrets, also a number one bestseller on Amazon. Overkill, the third book in the Rachel Ryder series, was one of Thrillerfix’s best thrillers of 2021.Reviews have praised her work as ‘compelling, and intense,’ and ‘read through the night, edge of your seat thrillers. Carolyn’s most recent Rachel Ryder novel, Deadly Means, has been submitted for an Edgar Award by her publisher, Severn River Publishing.
Prior to publishing, she worked as a journalist in the suburbs of Atlanta where her work appeared in multiple newspapers and magazines. She wrote a monthly featured column in Northside Woman magazine.
Writing is only one of Carolyn's passions. She is an avid dog lover and currently spoils an American Staffordshire terrier boxer mix. She lives in the mountains of North Georgia as an empty nester (who misses her kids terribly but loves having a lower grocery bill) with her husband, a cantankerous cat, and her very spoiled pup.
Connect with Carolyn via carolyn@carolynridderaspenson.com
A multiple number one bestseller on Amazon, her first novel, Unfinished Business, was a five-star Reader's Favorite, a Rone Award finalist, as well as a number one bestseller on both Amazon and Barnes and Noble. In 2021, she introduced readers to detective Rachel Ryder in Damaging Secrets, also a number one bestseller on Amazon. Overkill, the third book in the Rachel Ryder series, was one of Thrillerfix’s best thrillers of 2021.Reviews have praised her work as ‘compelling, and intense,’ and ‘read through the night, edge of your seat thrillers. Carolyn’s most recent Rachel Ryder novel, Deadly Means, has been submitted for an Edgar Award by her publisher, Severn River Publishing.
Prior to publishing, she worked as a journalist in the suburbs of Atlanta where her work appeared in multiple newspapers and magazines. She wrote a monthly featured column in Northside Woman magazine.
Writing is only one of Carolyn's passions. She is an avid dog lover and currently spoils an American Staffordshire terrier boxer mix. She lives in the mountains of North Georgia as an empty nester (who misses her kids terribly but loves having a lower grocery bill) with her husband, a cantankerous cat, and her very spoiled pup.
Connect with Carolyn via carolyn@carolynridderaspenson.com
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Enjoy the twists and turns of this murder mystery set in Hamby, Georgia.
I received an early look at book #13 in the “Rachel Ryder” series from “Severn River Publishing”. I was not familiar with the series and did not know what to expect, but I enjoyed the novel. I recommend starting with the first book, “Damaging Secrets,” to gain a deeper understanding of the characters and their backgrounds.
Reporter Layla Rowe made enemies among politicians and wealthy businessmen by asking dangerous questions. Now she is dead, her laptop is gone, and someone in Hamby, Georgia will do anything to keep her final story buried. As suspects multiply, a far darker motive begins to surface.
I received an early look at book #13 in the “Rachel Ryder” series from “Severn River Publishing”. I was not familiar with the series and did not know what to expect, but I enjoyed the novel. I recommend starting with the first book, “Damaging Secrets,” to gain a deeper understanding of the characters and their backgrounds.
Reporter Layla Rowe made enemies among politicians and wealthy businessmen by asking dangerous questions. Now she is dead, her laptop is gone, and someone in Hamby, Georgia will do anything to keep her final story buried. As suspects multiply, a far darker motive begins to surface.
September 18, 2026
Next book in the Rachel Ryder series. It is a police procedural that follows Detective Rachel Ryder and her partner. This book can be read as a stand alone, but it is helpful to read more of the series to gain some background on the cast of characters. This story centers on a murder of a local podcaster whose claim to fame is calling out locals on their misdeeds. Quick read and fits in well with the series.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews