Hell to Pay (An Emily Bernal Texas-to-New Mexico Mystery): A What Doesn't Kill You Romantic Mystery

A frosting-covered corpse.

A secret-keeping fiancé.

Can former rodeo star Emily solve the mystery before the killer rides off into the sunset?

“Full of heart, humor, vivid characters, and suspense. Hutchins has done it again!” — Gay Yellen, author of The Body Business


Emily Bernal feels like she’s finally living her happily-ever-after. Weeks away from marrying her sexy boss and adopting the little girl who stole her heart, she thought nothing could break her stride. At least until a dead-man face-plants into an anatomically correct novelty cake and Emily’s friend is charged with murder.

As she follows the crumb trail of clues, Emily must infiltrate a venomous cult and clash with her one and only nemesis. But the closer she gets to the truth, the more her fiancé pushes her away. Emily wonders if the man of her dreams is holding back something far more sinister than three little words…

Against an onslaught of dark secrets and deadly schemes, Emily must go it alone to discover her fiancé’s secret and clear her friend’s name before it’s too late.

Emily has over 1000 reviews and a 4.6-star average. Available in digital, print, and audiobook.

Hell to Pay is the third standalone book in Emily trilogy set deep in the heart of Texas, and book #7 in the What Doesn't Kill You romantic mystery series.

Once Upon A Romance calls Hutchins an "up-and-coming powerhouse writer." If you like Sandra Brown or Janet Evanovich, you will love USA Today Best Seller Pamela Fagan Hutchins. A former attorney, Pamela splits time between Snowheresville, WY and Lake Mooselookmeguntic, ME.