The Witch’s Orchard

Sullivan debuts with a mesmerizing mystery that blends small-town secrets with ominous folklore. Ten years after Molly Andrews vanishes, her brother hires private investigator Annie Gore to reopen the cold case. Most locals believe Molly’s fate is linked to that of two other girls who were abducted around the same time; an eerie applehead doll was left at the scene of each disappearance. As Annie sifts for secrets among the tight-lipped citizens of the economically depressed Appalachian town of Quartz Creek, N.C., her knowledge of the region and experience as a former Air Force special investigator help her gain the locals’ trust. But when she discovers Molly’s strangled corpse, and then a young girl is abducted during a church festival just days later, she begins to suspect a disturbing link between the kidnappings, a respected pillar of the community, and a recent meth lab fire in an abandoned factory. The truth runs deeper and darker than Annie could’ve imagined, and she’s eventually forced to confront demons of her own. Delivering intrigue, atmosphere, and well-shaded characters with the efficiency of a seasoned pro, Sullivan knocks it out of the park on her first try. Here’s hoping Annie Gore is back in action soon. (Aug.)