Death by Prophecy — Lauren Maddison

While traveling the California coast visiting historic missions, Connor Hawthorne and her partner, Laura Nez, are unwittingly thrust into the middle of an age-old conflict as they help investigate what may be terrorist threats against nuclear power plants. But is Ricky Bell a terrorist? A religious zealot who interprets Biblical prophecy to suit his beliefs? Or merely a sociopath who murders those who disappoint him? The two women quickly become neck-deep in a mystery that not only leads to hidden truths that the Vatican will do anything to suppress but also forces them deep into a battle between two secret societies: one a ruthless organization whose members are sworn to search out and silence the heretics who are their enemies; the other, a band of mystics whose magical abilities and unswerving loyalty to the Holy Mother are their only weapons in preserving the one sacred relic that could rewrite history. Returning in Death by Prophecy is the rich cast of unforgettable characters from the first two Connor Hawthorne mysteries: Connor's father, Benjamin, whose former CIA position allows his daughter access to classified information but also presents hidden dangers; Malcolm Jefferson, a Washington, D.C., police captain, whose friendship with Connor sometimes borders on the overprotective; and of course, Connor's grandmother Gwendolyn, who continues to provide guidance from beyond the grave.

Lauren Maddison is the author of the bestselling mysteries Deceptions and Witchfire. A former resident of just about everywhere, she now makes her home in Southern California.