Publication Date: November 26, 2024
Facing the truth can be deadlier than facing the killer.
Ten days to keep a lie.
Ten plagues if you deny.
Ten ways to watch them die.
Five years ago, when Detective Jena Campbell put the Leviticus Killer behind bars, she locked her darkest secret away with him. Something never meant to surface. Something better left to rot with the madman who had destroyed so many lives.
When a strange man calling himself Azrael appears on social media with threats to unleash ten plagues, ten deaths, in ten days, unless Leviticus is released, Jena is forced to reopen that door and face her past.
Unable to share what she knows, she turns to the only man who can help her find Azrael before he kills again, the man she condemned. Jena quickly learns the only thing more terrifying than facing him, is facing herself.
When the governor’s teenage son disappears, Detective Jena Campbell takes on the case. It may be five years since she put the infamous Leviticus Killer behind bars, but it is never far from her mind.
That’s why the appearance of an online person named Azrael threatening to wreak havoc unless the Leviticus Killer is released immediately gets Jena’s attention.
Authors J.D. Barker and Christine Daigle deliver a psychological thriller that delves deep into the mindset of depravity in Heavy Are the Stones. Jena must face her biggest mistake to stop Azrael.
With top-notch action, the twists add a layer of suspense augmented by the virtual reality gaming aspect. The story alternates between Jena’s first-person perspective and chapters focusing on Jack, the missing teen. Interspersed throughout are social media posts and case notes that greatly enrich the storyline.
The writing style offers a fast-paced approach to an engaging storyline featuring a flawed main character and plenty of danger. It’s a step above typical police procedurals because the crimes are more in-depth than a run-of-the-mill shooting or stabbing. The deaths are well orchestrated as part of a bigger picture.
Heavy Are the Stones offers a fascinating face-off against a well-prepared adversary who will stop at nothing to achieve his goals.
J.D. Barker is the New York Times and international best-selling author of numerous novels, including DRACUL and the wildly popular 4MK series. He is currently collaborating with James Patterson. His books have been translated into two dozen languages, sold in more than 150 countries, and optioned for both film and television. Barker resides in coastal New Hampshire with his wife, Dayna, and their daughter, Ember.
A clinical neuropsychologist by day, Christine Daigle’s work includes brain-computer interface, translating brain signals into commands that can control technology. As a writer, her novel was selected for the Pitch Wars industry mentorship program. An anthology including her short fiction was a finalist for an Aurora Award. Her co-authored, pen-named work on Kindle Vella was consecutively one of the top 250 serials for several years. In addition to her writing, she also co-hosts the Writers, Ink podcast. She lives in Ontario with her husband, son, and mercurial cat.
