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Toledo Blend
SMALL TOWN. BIG SECRET.
Ten years ago, Lauren McKinney—a girl-next-door turned country music star—was brutally slain, her broken body dumped in Toledo Bend Lake. In the turbulent aftermath, her stepfather was found guilty of her killing and consequently imprisoned ...
Now, the sleepy backwater town of Toledo Bend is fixing to memorialize the anniversary of Lauren's death with a live televised music event, and Mitch Brockette, the chief of police, is on tenterhooks. No one was closer to Lauren than Mitch, and the last thing he wants is his privacy being scrutinized under the media spotlight. Above all else, he craves a quiet life, but his desire for peace is about to be razed to the ground.
It's a sunny weekend in Louisiana, and the small lakeside town swelters in the summer heat. As Lauren's memorial gala gets underway, a stranger is found shot dead in the creek, and it's down to Mitch to solve the mystery. What follows next is a pulse-pounding hunt for the killer, one that rips open the town's old wounds and reaches all the way back to Lauren's murder.
Did they charge the wrong man? Has Lauren's killer been in town all along?
Faced with a raft of suspects and a maze of twists and turns, Mitch must unravel the painful events of yesteryear to uncover the truth. But his quest means unpacking his own worst fears, including finding the answer to the one question that has eaten away at him the past ten years ...
What really happened the night Lauren McKinney disappeared?
Ten years ago, Lauren McKinney—a girl-next-door turned country music star—was brutally slain, her broken body dumped in Toledo Bend Lake. In the turbulent aftermath, her stepfather was found guilty of her killing and consequently imprisoned ...
Now, the sleepy backwater town of Toledo Bend is fixing to memorialize the anniversary of Lauren's death with a live televised music event, and Mitch Brockette, the chief of police, is on tenterhooks. No one was closer to Lauren than Mitch, and the last thing he wants is his privacy being scrutinized under the media spotlight. Above all else, he craves a quiet life, but his desire for peace is about to be razed to the ground.
It's a sunny weekend in Louisiana, and the small lakeside town swelters in the summer heat. As Lauren's memorial gala gets underway, a stranger is found shot dead in the creek, and it's down to Mitch to solve the mystery. What follows next is a pulse-pounding hunt for the killer, one that rips open the town's old wounds and reaches all the way back to Lauren's murder.
Did they charge the wrong man? Has Lauren's killer been in town all along?
Faced with a raft of suspects and a maze of twists and turns, Mitch must unravel the painful events of yesteryear to uncover the truth. But his quest means unpacking his own worst fears, including finding the answer to the one question that has eaten away at him the past ten years ...
What really happened the night Lauren McKinney disappeared?
462 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 10, 2022
About the author
Keith Houghton
21 books276 followersMILLION SELLING AUTHOR of the Kindle bestselling Gabe Quinn Thriller Series and the Maggie Novak Thrillers, including Kindle Store #1 books KILLING HOPE and DON'T EVEN BREATHE, as well as psychological standalone thrillers CRASH, NO COMING BACK and BEFORE YOU LEAP - roller-coaster reads with totally unexpected twists and turns - published by Thomas & Mercer.
More than ONE MILLION Crime Thrillers Sold.
100,000+ Audiobooks Sold on Amazon and Audible.
12,000+ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Five-Star Reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, and Audible.
13 Kindle Store Number Ones and more than 140 individual category bestsellers.
Latest novel TOLEDO BEND is out NOW!
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 10, 2022
Wow what a read
Toledo Bend has it all, characters with character,it twists and bends like the Sabine River and the plot has more layers than a millefeuille cake with drama a plenty, grab a copy of this latest offering from Keith Houghton if is a truly amazing read.
Toledo Bend has it all, characters with character,it twists and bends like the Sabine River and the plot has more layers than a millefeuille cake with drama a plenty, grab a copy of this latest offering from Keith Houghton if is a truly amazing read.
December 7, 2022
Toledo Bend is my favorite fiction book of 2022. Why, you ask? It is a rollercoaster of twists and turns, done the right way—in the way only Keith Houghton can do. At each pass and turn I thought I knew who the killer was. I was so wrong.
The story unfolds with precision, beautiful poetic prose and description so vivid it felt like a motion picture. Read this book and go on a journey through the dusty back roads of Louisiana and Texas, with Police Chief Mitch as he solves the murder of his longtime lover, Lauren.
The story unfolds with precision, beautiful poetic prose and description so vivid it felt like a motion picture. Read this book and go on a journey through the dusty back roads of Louisiana and Texas, with Police Chief Mitch as he solves the murder of his longtime lover, Lauren.
December 9, 2022
Toledo Bend
OMG. This is a fantastic book
This is a book you won't want to put down. This is an exciting thriller. I really loved the ending. I highly recommend this book.
OMG. This is a fantastic book
This is a book you won't want to put down. This is an exciting thriller. I really loved the ending. I highly recommend this book.
November 24, 2022
Another great read
Another great read ,Lots of twists and turns keeps you from putting it down,Kieth keeps the suspense building right till the end
Another great read ,Lots of twists and turns keeps you from putting it down,Kieth keeps the suspense building right till the end
November 15, 2023
Ten years after Lauren McKinney's death, the two is still celebrating her life. Lauren was a real star and she left the town of Toledo Bend to fulfill her dreams of being a star. That is exactly what she did. But, she left Mitch, the man she loved when she was growing up.
Now, Mitch is the Chief of Police in this small town and he has never gotten over the lost of Lauren. But, what he is finding out on the 10th year anniversary of her death will uncover all the truths.
What happened the night Lauren McKinney disappeared? Why is an FBI Agent, Deveraux in town looking into the deaths of missing children? Could it have anything to do with Lauren's disappearance?
This one just keeps you guessing at every turn. When you think you have figured it out, it takes another one!
Now, Mitch is the Chief of Police in this small town and he has never gotten over the lost of Lauren. But, what he is finding out on the 10th year anniversary of her death will uncover all the truths.
What happened the night Lauren McKinney disappeared? Why is an FBI Agent, Deveraux in town looking into the deaths of missing children? Could it have anything to do with Lauren's disappearance?
This one just keeps you guessing at every turn. When you think you have figured it out, it takes another one!
July 22, 2025
If you like crime fiction, this one is for you! This book kept me guessing and questioning the entire way through! Just when you think you got it figured out….nope, guess again!
As a small town girl from Louisiana, and camping on Toledo Bend, this was a must read for me! I’d say the book didn’t start as strong as it finished, and holy cow, did it finish strong! It was one of those late night reads for me! I couldn’t put it down once it started getting good! I’ll definitely be adding more Keith Haughton books to my list!
As a small town girl from Louisiana, and camping on Toledo Bend, this was a must read for me! I’d say the book didn’t start as strong as it finished, and holy cow, did it finish strong! It was one of those late night reads for me! I couldn’t put it down once it started getting good! I’ll definitely be adding more Keith Haughton books to my list!
March 9, 2026
Good story, but …
The overall story is interesting, particularly for me, given that I live in NW Louisiana. However, it gets very strange, sick, and weird at about the 80% point of the book. Not sure I will take on another book by this author.
The overall story is interesting, particularly for me, given that I live in NW Louisiana. However, it gets very strange, sick, and weird at about the 80% point of the book. Not sure I will take on another book by this author.
January 8, 2023
Captivating
I enjoyed this book with all the twists and turns. Definitely kept me on the edge of my seat wondering who, where, when, how, & why. Very well written novel!
I enjoyed this book with all the twists and turns. Definitely kept me on the edge of my seat wondering who, where, when, how, & why. Very well written novel!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews