I’m Sheriff Jhonni Laurent of the quad-counties in north central Indiana. I didn’t start out to be a cop. No, I was planning to be a professional celloist, but that dream was shattered thirty years ago. Still, I find myself content with my life as a sheriff and part-time musician.

Most days are quiet in rural Indiana. After getting rid of the paperwork that mysteriously accumulates overnight, I usually walk Field Street, chat with business owners, and visit my favorite floral shop which always smells fabulous. The owner, Mimi, is a good friend. She and her grandson, Dak, moved to Field’s Crossing fifteen years ago, and Dak joined the Sheriff’s Department almost ten years ago. He’s my favorite deputy, but don’t tell anyone I said that.

Mimi and I talk flowers. I’ve become a pretty good Midwest gardener thanks to her. I’m planning on building a greenhouse on my farmhouse property and I don’t know who’s more excited, me or her. But before I can build, I’ve got to demolish an existing old barn. Do you know why barns are painted red? I had to look that one up, but here goes. Hundreds of years ago, farmers painted their barns with linseed oil to help seal the wood and keep it from rotting. Rust was mixed with the oil to keep fungi and moss from growing on the wood. This turned the oil red. Barns today are still painted red in honor of that tradition. I like history like that.

But I digress. After spending most of the morning responding to calls and talking with business owners and residents, I hop in the police SUV and head to the school campus. Field’s Crossing has one elementary school, one middle school, and the only high school in the quad-counties. It’s my favorite time of the day, but today, there’s no school. A blizzard hit late Wednesday afternoon and school was cancelled for Thursday and Friday. Now I’m headed to Webster Park where two boys have supposedly found a human hand sticking up in the snow.

Bones Under the Ice, A Jhonni Laurent Mystery Book #1
Genre: Police Procedural
Release: March 2023
Format: Print, Digital
Purchase Link

Jhonni Laurent is the first female sheriff of Field’ s Crossing, Indiana— and now she has her first murder case

Two days after a blizzard hits Field’ s Crossing, Indiana, Sheriff Jhonni Laurent discovers the frozen body of a high school senior under a fifteen-foot pile of snow and ice. Murder is rare in farm country, and this death marks the beginning of Jhonni’ s first homicide case.

Just as the investigation gets underway, Jhonni’ s opponent for sheriff from four years ago wages a bitter reelection battle to oust her. Then, Jhonni finds another body, and further complications arise when a century-old feud between two families reaches its breaking point.

Soon, a slew of newspaper articles causes the Indiana State Election Board to doubt her credibility. Jhonni must fight to maintain her reputation, keep the small farming community together, and find the murderer at large— all while demons from her own past threaten to crush her. Can she find the killer and mend her battered spirit before it’ s too late?

Perfect for fans of J. A. Jance and C. J. Box

Meet the author
Mary Ann Miller is a debut author, currently living in Florida with her husband, where she is working on the second novel in the series. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Northern Illinois University and earned a paralegal certificate with Roosevelt University. Miller is a member of MWA, ITW, and Sisters in Crime and when not writing, can be found reading poolside or hosting family and friends fleeing the cold winters of the north.

All comments are welcomed.