The Delicate Art of Death

Stacy Martinez—ex-FBI, now a scarred survivor of a secret war between shadow organizations—arrives in Jackson, Kansas, hoping to rest and repair her fractured life. But her sister Angela’s grief over a friend’s sudden death triggers Stacy’s instincts. A second young woman has died the same way, then another, and another—healthy women found peacefully dead with no signs of struggle.

As Stacy quietly pulls case files, searches archives, and questions families, she finds a strange repeating detail: wool fibers on every victim. Meanwhile, an unnerving “outsider” named Natalie keeps appearing, and a black sedan seems to shadow Stacy’s movements. What starts as a private attempt to reassure Angela turns into a lethal escalation—stolen money, targeted intrusions, a midnight duel, and the realization that the real killer is closer than anyone suspects.

• Listeners who enjoy fast-paced action thrillers with a lone-wolf investigator protagonist and escalating danger.
• Fans of small-town mysteries where the real threat is hidden behind normal authority and friendly faces.
• Readers who like modern espionage-adjacent stories (secret organizations, assassins, cover-ups) grounded in personal stakes and family vulnerability.

Ryan McGinnis is a thriller author whose background includes music and creative work (musician, web designer, artist). His stories draw inspiration from gritty real-world settings and a love of suspenseful, action-driven narratives.