Books
Cracks in the Wall
Parker Havenot, a former Philadelphia homicide detective, faces one of the most difficult challenges of his stellar career when a rare murder rocks his small town of Hampton Village, Connecticut.
At first, when Linda Phillips is found brutally murdered in her home on Mothers’ Day, 1992, it looks like an open-and-shut case. However, potential suspects multiply as the detective digs deeper and is finally left with only circumstantial evidence in the well-planned and executed crime, not enough for a reluctant prosecutor to chance losing the case.
Havenot has a hunch that Linda’s tragic death is the last link in a chain of events that began deep within her past. Months pass, and his relentless pursuit of the truth produces no other leads but uncovers a side of the quiet, rural town that surprises the seasoned homicide detective but those surprises cannot match the final twists in the story. Will the trail grow cold before Parker can identify the killer?
Advanced praise for Cracks in the Wall
“Duke Southard skillfully transports the reader into his story with deftly chosen details and subtle humor. I got an immediate feel for his characters and was driven to know more about them. So compelling!”
Lynn Cullen, bestselling author of Mrs. Poe and Twain’s End.
“Duke Southard has done it again. Cracks in the Wall goes above and beyond the craftsmanship and suspense of the first two Parker Havenot novels. This story will keep you guessing and you’ll be tempted to flip ahead to the ending. Don’t do it! Enjoy the up and down ride as the disturbing plot unfolds.”
Denise Roessle, author of Second-Chance Mother
“Perhaps the book’s greatest strength is its ability to function as a warning to women who are in an abusive relationship. The small, tell-tale signs are presented in such a way that any woman in such a situation will be able to identify the danger signs and hopefully choose to extract herself. In this sense, the book does not just have entertainment value, but can be incredibly important.
Editor’s Manuscript Assessment