Blue Moon by Wendy Corsi Staub is the second book in the Mundy’s Landing suspense trilogy. Publisher: HarperCollins, July 2016

New York Times bestselling author Wendy Corsi Staub returns to Mundy’s Landing—a small town where bygone bloodshed has become big business.

Hair neatly braided, hands serenely clasped, eyes closed, the young woman appeared to be sound asleep. But the peaceful tableau was a madman’s handiwork. Beneath the covers, her white nightgown was spattered with blood. At daybreak, a horrified family would discover her corpse tucked into their guest room. The cunning killer would strike again . . . and again . . . before vanishing into the mists of time.

A century ago, the Sleeping Beauty Murders terrified picturesque Mundy’s Landing. The victims, like the killer, were never identified. Now, on the hundredth anniversary, the Historical Society’s annual “Mundypalooza” offers a hefty reward for solving the notorious case.

Annabelle Bingham, living in one of the three Murder Houses, can’t escape the feeling that her family is being watched—and not just by news crews and amateur sleuths. She’s right. Having unearthed the startling truth behind the horrific crimes, a copycat killer is about to reenact them—beneath the mansard roof of Annabelle’s dream home.

I love a book that starts with a steady tempo and then BAM you are knocked off your feet with this intensely-paced drama that deals in the present while hauntingly taking you to the past. I love the way this is set-up, giving me a look into the killer’s mind and activities, not knowing exactly who IS the killer. Mirroring the past with the kidnappings and murders keeps the town on their toes and me riveted to all that is happening on the page. I liked how the author teased us with hints, here and there, keeping the killer’s identity locked until it was time for the reveal and boy did I enjoy the capture. The author does a great job in building the scenes with compelling visualization, developing the characters and the role they play and creating a dialogue that heightened all my senses and had my heart palpitating as this whodunit progressed towards an ending befitting this well-written tome. This was a very enjoyable read and I look forward to the conclusion of this trilogy, which we got a sneak preview.