Deadly Sanctuary: An addictive mystery crime thriller with gripping suspense

Shannon Hollinger

Sep 2025 · Scene Of The Crime Publications

About this ebook

She’s no stranger to trouble…

Deep in the heart of the untamed Florida Everglades lies a web of secrets, danger, and deceit. For FBI Agent Cassidy Knox, it’s the only home she’s ever known—one she vowed never to set foot in again. But after a harrowing confrontation with a serial killer, Cassidy finds herself with no choice but to return to the animal sanctuary of her youth. Grieving the recent death of her beloved grandfather, Butch, on top of her own trauma, she hopes for a brief respite to heal her wounds.

Only the swamp, where the past lurks just beneath the surface, has other plans. When a neighbor is found murdered, the suspicion surrounding her grandfather’s death intensifies, drawing Cassidy into a chilling investigation that threatens everything she holds dear. With old friendships rekindling and new betrayals surfacing, the lines between ally and enemy blur.

As Cassidy races against time to uncover the truth, she clashes against her inner demons—and the boy who once stole her heart. With danger lurking around every corner, the only thing she knows for sure is that she can’t trust anyone. Because the killer’s taking aim… and they have her in their sights.

Get ready to dive into a heart-pounding mystery where trust is a luxury and survival is a game of wits. A gripping, heart-racing thriller that will leave you breathless.

Ratings and reviews

i am already hooked on this book can't wait for the next installment. this definitely kept me on the edge of my bed reading and I loved that it's a female FBI agent that is one of the main characters and what she went through and how being back home is also helping her begin to heal from her traumatic experience. reconnecting with old friend Jake and how he has been truly helping behind the scenes to keep Sanctuary running and helped her grandfather out by taking him to appointments and taking care of the animals Definitely need to save this author as one of your new favorites

This is a brilliant book that I would recommend to anyone, especially those who love fast paced action thrillers. The story moves at a brisk pace and you very quickly become invested in the characters and the story. The book kept you guessing right until the end. I read through this book in about 2 days. Once you begin the book you don't want to put it down which is what you want from a good book.

Brilliant! Amazing! Totally addictive! I couldn't put this book down. I thought it was a stand alone books, but at the end I get even happier as there is more! can't wait!

About the author

With degrees in Crime Scene Technology and Physical Anthropology, Florida writer Shannon Hollinger hasn’t just seen the dark side of humanity—she’s been elbow deep inside of it! She’s an avid animal lover, reader, and hiker, and has been known to use her forensic skills to figure out who ate the last cookie in the house.

A multi-genre, Amazon charts best-selling author, Shannon writes psychological thrillers filled with jaw-dropping twists and shocking endings, the police procedural Chief Maggie Riley mysteries, where the darkness of the Maine wilderness is rivaled only by the deadly secrets it conceals, and the romantic suspense Cassidy Knox mystery thrillers, where the animals will steal your heart and the nights are as hot as the days.

Her novels have been translated into multiple languages, and her short fiction has appeared in Suspense Magazine, Mystery Weekly, and The Saturday Evening Post, among many other magazines and anthologies. 

Shannon is a member of the International Thriller Writers and the Short Mystery Fiction Society.

 

To keep current on book news and to enter monthly giveaways, sign up for Shannon’s newsletter through her website, www.shannonhollinger.com.

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