Shatter the Night

Colorado police officer Gemma Monroe hunts a Halloween killer in this "neat little procedural mystery" from the author of Lost Lake (The New York Times).

It's Halloween night in Cedar Valley. During the town's annual festival, Detective Gemma Monroe takes a break from trick or treating with her family to visit an old family friend, retired Judge Caleb Montgomery, at his law office. To Gemma's surprise, Caleb seems worried—haunted, even—and confides in her that he's been receiving anonymous threats. Shortly after, as Gemma strolls back to her car, an explosion at Caleb's office shatters the night.


Reeling from the shock, Gemma and her team begin eliminating suspects and motives, but more keep appearing in their place, and soon another man is killed. Her investigation takes her from a chilling encounter with a convicted murderer at the Belle Vista Penitentiary, to the gilded rooms of the renovated Shotgun Playhouse, where Shakespeare's cursed play Macbeth is set to open in a few weeks.


Yet most disturbing of all is when Gemma realizes that similar murders have happened before. There is a copycat killer at play, and if Gemma can't stop him, he'll carry out his final, deadly act.

"A nicely crafted mystery and a hard one to figure out ahead of time." —The Denver Post
"Fans of Littlejohn's mysteries will settle into this familiar blend of smart sleuthing and realistic portrayals of Monroe's home life. Recommend Littlejohn to those who enjoy Lisa Gardner's novels." —Booklist
"Littlejohn continues methodically building her heroine's world, shifting from an almost supernatural-inflected focus to small-town secrets." —Kirkus Reviews