The Spiral Thorn

A Crime Mystery Thriller

She couldn’t solve the first murder. Now it’s happening again.
A missing crown. A murdered queen. A detective haunted by the one case she couldn’t solve.

Once a rising-star detective, Alexis Carter lost everything after failing to solve the brutal murder of a hometown beauty queen.
Now she hides behind the bar at The Lantern, serving drinks and trying to forget the case that ruined her career.

Until another body turns up.
Same crown. Same spiral thorn carved into her chest.

Forced back into the spotlight she ran from, Alexis teams up with Leah Maxwell, a fearless journalist who knows Maplewood’s secrets run deeper than anyone admits. Together they dig into the town’s glossy façade—where ambition, jealousy, and small-town gossip can be deadly.

As the truth closes in, Alexis must confront the ghosts that destroyed her once before.
Because in Maplewood, the wrong person can be framed, the innocent can burn,
and some secrets should have stayed buried.

Fans of Gillian Flynn, Tana French, and Lisa Gardner will love The Spiral Thorn—a haunting small-town thriller where beauty turns deadly.

A four 1/2 star read/listen

The Spiral Thorn: A Crime Mystery Thriller, my fourth read from author J.R. Cloice. An enjoyable 4 hrs and 32 min/170-page read that I completed in one sitting. “I received a complementary Audible copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. I look forward to reading more from this author with The Perfect Vigilante: A Detective Mystery Thriller next on my TBR list! (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).