Clearly Hidden

Why is novelist Pen Elliot's life being threatened over and over? There are a few suspects: her bitter ex-husband Peter and Joe, the abusive husband of a friend, who blames her for destroying his family. But what if the answer revolves around something larger and more global? Set in the seaside town of Falmouth, on scenic Cape Cod, the novel involves a romance as well as a coming out story of a young teen. It also asks how far would you go to protect those you love?



Praise for Clearly Hidden

"... On the surface...a straightforward mystery...but it is so much more than that. It is a novel about place, people, and the messiness of life; of the resiliency of the human spirit as it triumphs over adversity and fear. In addition, it is an engaging story that pulls the reader into the twists and turns of an investigation which is becoming progressively more urgent. A must-read which guarantees that you will be reading long into the night.-Birger Johnson, author of the Amy Lee Mysteries series




"...a wonderfully written page turner. The narrator, Pen Ellis, has a fighting spirit we could all use a little more of. When Pen Ellis is knocked down, she gets back up again. Faced with death threats and forced to deal with a daughter being bullied, she needs to dig deep to fight back...."-Ed Meek, author of Luck and High Tide




"... a taut, suspenseful, and fully satisfying thriller that keeps the reader engaged to the very last word. It's one of those unsettling tales that asks what would you do in this situation...strikes just the right balance of edge-of-the-seat action and heart-felt moments...."--Michael C. Keith, author Insomnia 11 and Pieces of Bones and Rags




Excerpt




A deep, gravelly voice said, "I know you're here, because I saw you come in the house." Echoing words she'd heard in a game long ago, he added, "Come out, come out, wherever you are!" He sounded like he was enjoying himself.

Pen had never been so scared in her life. Biting her lip, she tried to remember what Greta, her therapist, had taught her about relaxing: take a breath in to a count of seven, then let it out to the same count. She took in a deep breath and held it, afraid if she didn't do something she would panic. She could feel hysteria lurking right below the surface and that scared the bejeezus out of her.

After a few minutes of deep breathing, she started to feel more in control. She talked silently to herself. I can do this. If I stay here, I am safe. She willed it to be so as she took more slow breaths. There was a small plug-in light in the socket next to her, but she felt safer in the dark. Even though Finn has shown her that the light was undetectable from the outside room, she couldn't make herself turn it on. She knew there was a phone charger there, too, but as she checked her pockets for her phone, she felt her heart plummet as she remembered that she had left it upstairs next to her computer.

"Where the hell are you?" the same deep voice yelled with increased frustration. She could hear him now, rummaging throughout the house. It sounded like he was looking in closets, opening doors, then slamming them in frustration. She heard him in Aggie's room, then Galen's.