Bitter Past — C.J. Carmichael

A missing woman. A small-town sheriff. A cold case no one wants solved.Twenty years ago, a young hiker vanished in the Montana wilderness. No body. No suspects. No answers. New sheriff Zak Waller has always believed it was murder—now, he finally has the power to prove it. But without evidence, he's chasing a ghost.Then, a new death shakes Lost Trail, drawing investigative journalist Joelle Medler into town. For years she's been convinced the missing hiker's disappearance is part of something bigger. As she and Zak uncover long-buried secrets, someone else is watching—someone who has kept the truth hidden for almost two decades and is willing to kill again to keep it that way.The deeper they dig, the deadlier the investigation becomes. Can Zak and Joelle expose the past before someone else dies?A gripping police procedural with small-town intrigue and heart-pounding twists—perfect for fans of C.J. Box and Karin Slaughter.