Dr. Hardy moves from one death scene to another, and he and county deputies uncover links between the victims, eventually exposing a web of corruption that leads Detective Bruce Duffer to target local cocaine dealer Skeeter Richards, who is quickly expanding his territory. Meanwhile, Dale Gregory, a local contractor, is struggling with his wifes adulterous, narcissistic lifestyle. On the verge of financial ruin, Dale has no idea that his wife is planning his murder. Even so, she seems surprised when his remains are identified in the ashes of a suspicious house fire.
As Duffer and Dr. Hardy are propelled into a dangerous investigation with an outcome no one anticipates, the pair must rely on their instincts and a string of puzzling clues as they attempt to capture a killer before he strikes again.
Dr. Willoughby Hundley was trained at Virginia Commonwealth University’s medical college and now works as an emergency medicine physician. His first book, M-81 Emerging Doctors, gives insight into medical school training, while Ashes of Deception draws on his experiences as a local medical examiner. He lives in his hometown of Boydton, Virginia, with his wife, Lucy, and their dog.