For a printable checklist of Mariah's published books, click here.
COMING HOME
The Chesapeake Diaries #1
ISBN-10: 0345520335
ISBN-13: 978-03455203336
In the wake of his wife’s murder, agent Grady Shields turned his back on the FBI—and everything else—to retreat into the vast solitude of Montana, grieve for his lost love, and forget the world. But after years in seclusion, his sister’s wedding draws him to St. Dennis, a peaceful town on the Chesapeake Bay. Though he swears he isn’t interested in finding love again, Grady can’t ignore the mutual sparks that fly when he meets Vanessa Keaton.
Although her past was marked by bad choices, Vanessa has found that coming to St. Dennis is the best decision she’s ever made. Bling, her trendy boutique, is a success with tourists as well as with the townspeople. She’s made friends, has a home she loves, and has established a life for herself far from the nightmare she’s left behind. The last thing she’s looking for is romance, but she’s finding the hot new man in town is hard to resist.
And when her past catches up with her, Grady finds that he’s unwilling to let her become a victim again. As together they fight her demons, Grady and Vanessa discover that life still holds some surprises and that love doesn’t always have to hurt.
ACTS OF MERCY
A Mercy Street Foundation Novel #3
Mass Market Paperback (September 2009)
ISBN-10: 0345506146
ISBN-13: 978-0345506146
Former FBI agent Sam Delvecchio brings the keen skills of a profiler to his new position as a Mercy Street Foundation operative—and not a moment too soon. His first assignment, the cold-case murder of a local soup kitchen volunteer, has all the telltale signs of a serial killer's work. That grim suspicion is confirmed when FBI agent Fiona Summers shares the details of two other killings with eerie similarities to Sam's case: The bodies in all three cases have been carefully posed. And when a fourth victim is discovered, the two investigators realize they're pursuing the same twisted quarry.
Local parish priest Kevin Burch, Mercy Street founder Robert Magellan's cousin, recognizes the posings for what they are: The killer is staging the church's seven Acts of Mercy ("Feed the hungry, clothe the naked . . .") with the bodies of his victims. But as Sam and Fiona race to prevent the final three murders, taunting messages from their target lead to the most chilling realization of all.
"...a complex and multidimensional procedural thriller from an author at the top of her game."
—Jill Smith, RT Book Reviews"Impossible to put down. Sure to keep you turning the pages...well crafted with electrifying suspense."
—Romance Reviews Today
CRY MERCY
A Mercy Street Foundation Novel #2
Mass Market Paperback (May 2009)
ISBN-10: 0345506138
ISBN-13: 978-0345506139
Abandoned shortly after her birth, Ann Nolan knows what it’s like to grow up unwanted, without a real home or a loving parent. Now a California beat cop, she’s adopted the daughter of a notorious drug dealer and has become a loving single parent to Chloe. When the ruthless father makes it clear he’ll stop at nothing to take back his only child, Ann flees across the country, changes her name, and starts a new life — as an investigator for the Mercy Street Foundation, the billionaire-endowed organization dedicated to finding missing persons. As Emme Caldwell, she takes the lead on the Foundation’s first case. Nineteen-year-old Belinda Hudson disappeared from her sorority house leaving behind one cryptic clue on her calendar for the day she went missing. Retracing the vanished student’s steps leads Emme to Heaven’s Gate, a fertility clinic, and the mysterious Donor 1735.
As Belinda’s legal guardian, Nick Perone is determined to shadow Emme’s every move as she searches for his niece. But the closer Emme gets to Donor 1735 and the chilling truth, the more apparent it becomes that she’s escaped one dangerous man only to run head-on into another, one who’s far more determined, and every bit as deadly.
MERCY STREET
A Mercy Street Foundation Novel #1
Hardcover (May 2008)
ISBN-10: 0-345-49226-9
ISBN-13: 978-0-345-49226-5
Mass Market Paperback (March 2009)
ISBN-10: 0345492277
ISBN-13: 978-0345492272
On a balmy spring evening, four high school seniors—three boys and a girl—enter a park in the small Pennsylvania city of Conroy. The next morning, two of the boys are found shot to death, and the girl and the third boy are gone. After three weeks with no leads and no sign of either of the two missing teenagers, the chief of police begins to wonder if they too were victims. But with no other suspects, the authorities conclude that one of these kids was the shooter.
The missing boy's grandmother, a secretary at the local parish church, maintains his innocence. On her behalf, the parish priest, Father Kevin Burch, hires former detective Mallory Russo as a private investigator to figure out what happened in the park that night. Mallory had ended her nine-year stint with the Conroy police force some time ago after becoming a target of a smear campaign. Now a true-crime author, Mallory is surprised to receive the priest's offer—and highly intrigued by the case. She can't help but accept the challenge—especially when she learns that her investigation will be financed by Father Burch's cousin the reclusive billionaire Robert Magellan, a man whose own wife and infant son disappeared without a trace a year ago, a man who understands the heartache of not knowing what happened to a loved one.
Detective Charlie Wanamaker is facing another sort of tragedy. He fled Conroy years ago with no plans to return to what he considered a dying factory town—until a family emergency brought him back. Finding the situation much worse than he'd thought, he trades his job as a big-city detective for one with the Conroy police department. Assigned to the park shooting case, Charlie quickly realizes that the initial investigation left a lot of questions unanswered. Unofficially, he teams up with Mallory to uncover the truth and find the two kids, dead or alive. What Charlie and Mallory discover will take them down a twisted path that leads to an old unsolved murder—and justice for a killer with a heart of stone.
"Stewart sets up a clever overarching premise for her intense new series with an independent group of law-enforcement professionals whose mission is taking on cold cases, all bankrolled by a billionaire with his own tragic story. With its hard-edged drama and some burgeoning romance, this story works on many levels. Stewart is a blessing to the genre."
—Jill Smith, 4 stars — Romantic Times BOOKreviews"Ms. Stewart begins a new series that focuses on missing persons. The vivid characters she assembles have ample flaws to interest readers as they watch them develop and reawaken to the new possibilities that life offers. The well-executed plot ends with a thrilling climax."
—Suan Wilson, Fresh Fiction"All-in-all, another winner from the Queen of Romantic Suspense, Mariah Stewart! Highly recommended! *****"
—Detra Fitch, Huntress Reviews"Mariah Stewart keeps on penning some of the very best romantic suspense tales in today’ market, and Mercy Street is a great example of her awesome talent. This book comes highly recommended by this reviewer."
—Betty Cox, Reader-to-Reader Reviews"MERCY STREET is a gem in the ever-growing selection of romantic suspense novels. Mariah Stewart has created real characters with flaws and problems. They are memorable and likable, stay with you, and make you wonder what they’re doing long after you close the book. She also has tied together three mysteries into one fascinating story, and I for one can’t wait for the next installment in the Mercy Street Foundation series."
—Amie Taylor, Bookreporter.com
FORGOTTEN
A Mass Market original in the continuing FBI series
SEPTEMBER 2008
ISBN 0-345-50611-1
ISBN-13: 978-0-345-50611-5
WHO SPEAKS FOR THE DEAD
WHEN THEY SCREAM BLOODY MURDER?
Sheldon Woods kidnapped and killed an untold number of boys, then escaped the death penalty by making a plea deal for multiple life sentences. Nearly a decade later, the full extent of his crimes is still unknown, and many of his victims have never been accounted for. But Lisa Walsh is certain her brother Christopher was one of them—and to honor her mother's dying wish, she's on a mission to learn the truth and recover the lost little boy's remains. FBI agent Portia Cahill is tasked with confronting the caged killer, and obliged to play his mind games to get what she's after. But she ends up with more than she bargained for when the remains of another boy's body are discovered.
Determined to ID the mystery child, Portia reluctantly teams with James Doyle, the attorney who once defended Woods. But chasing a killer's grisly legacy, and the bones of the forgotten dead, will lead them into the lethal orbit of a latter-day monster who's seeding the graves of the past with a fresh wave of innocent victims.
LAST BREATH
Hardcover
AUGUST 2007 – ISBN 0-345-49224-2
First Time in Paperback
APRIL 2008 – ISBN 0-345-49225-0
As renowned archaeologist Dr. Daria McGowan readies the most important project of her career—a museum exhibit showcasing the priceless artifacts her great-grandfather unearthed a century ago in the Middle East—she makes a shocking discovery: many of the most significant pieces have vanished. Panicked, Daria turns to the FBI.
It's an assignment that Special Agent Connor Shields is more than happy to accept: Daria is the same pretty American archaeologist he's been searching for ever since a chance meeting two years ago. Working together to track down the owners of the stolen artifacts, Daria and Connor discover a trail of bodies—collectors who have met brutal, bizarre ends at the hands of a killer whose murderous methods are based on the rituals of an ancient civilization.
Amid rumors of a curse and mounting pressure from both the FBI and the museum, Daria and Connor race to unmask their enemy and unravel a mystery stretching across oceans and centuries. All the while, an ingenious murderer follows a sinister plan to gather the coveted antiquities, and one last acquisition: Daria.
LAST WORDS
JULY 2007 – ISBN 0-345-49223-4
THE LAST WORDS THEY
HEARD WERE THEIR OWN...
A nine-year veteran of the FBI, Special Agent Mia Shields thinks she's seen it all. But nothing prepares her for the terror that descends upon the idyllic bayside community of St. Dennis on Maryland's Eastern Shore, where a depraved killer has left a grisly surprise for chief of police Gabriel Beck: the body of an unidentified woman, naked and completely encased in plastic wrap, stretched across the backseat of Beck's car. Hidden in the wrapping is a tape recording of the victim's last, gasping words, terrifying evidence of the horror endured at the hands of a madman. Soon the body count begins to rise as more victims are found, all gruesomely cocooned, their final pleas captured on tape.
Determined to capture the sadistic killer, Beck and Mia team up and set a trap—with Mia as bait. But their prey is closer than they ever could have imagined. Now Beck must race against time to save Mia from becoming the next victim of a serial killer as elusive as he is evil...
LAST LOOK
JUNE 2007 – ISBN 0-345-49222-6
THE OLDEST SINS CAST
THE LONGEST SHADOWS...
News that the body of a recently murdered prostitute—shot through the heart at close range, stabbed repeatedly and dumped on Georgia's Shelter Island—has been identified as Shannon Randall stuns the FBI, particularly Special Agent Dorsey Collins. Twenty-four years ago, nineteen year old Eric Louis Beale was convicted and later executed for Shannon's murder—and the agent in charge of the investigation was Dorsey's father. Now Dorsey is determined to find out where her father's investigation went wrong, what part he played in the death of an innocent young man, and where Shannon has been all this time.
The heat is on FBI Special Agent Andrew Shields to discover what happened to Shannon on that night decades ago, and to find out who killed her and why. Dorsey shadows Andrew's every investigative move, hoping to redeem her father's reputation and capture a cunning killer. Together, Dorsey and Andrew unravel a shocking mystery that will shatter one family, and rock an entire town.
"Another thriller with that patented Stewart flair."
–4 1/2 stars - Romantic Times Book Reviews
"A powerful thriller. Mariah Stewart can always be counted on to write an exciting romantic suspense thriller, and LAST LOOK is no exception."
–Harriet Klausner - rated 5 out of 5
FINAL TRUTH
Hardcover
JUNE 2006 – ISBN 0-345-48383-9
Paperback
MARCH 2007 – ISBN 0-345-48384-7
All that stands between Lester Ray Barnes and the state of Florida's death chamber is a judge's signature. He is sentenced to die for the rape and murder of a young woman, his conviction hinging on two pieces of evidence: DNA testing and an eyewitness who placed him at the scene. But when the story breaks that the DNA testimony at trial had been fabricated and that the eyewitness was coerced by a cop, all hell breaks loose. In the absence of credible evidence to sustain the conviction, the court is forced to set Lester Ray free. It's the sort of circus the media adore—until it turns into the kind of Grimm's fairy tale the media love even more.
Intrigued by the story of a young man railroaded by justice, true-crime writer Regan Landry is drawn into Lester Ray's camp like a moth to a flame. For Regan, writing is a way to stay connected to her late literary-legend father, and her knack for detective work makes her a natural when it comes to uncovering new leads in even the murkiest mysteries.
Eager for the spotlight, Lester Ray willingly agrees to work with Regan on a tell-all about his experience as an innocent man on death row. But less than a week after leaving prison, he vanishes from the Sunshine State. Soon after, darkness descends on the outer banks of North Carolina as a string of women are raped and murdered in a frenzied spree. Fearing the worst, Regan and FBI Special Agent Mitch Peyton sweep in to confront the unspeakable: the horrifying possibility that they have helped to free a cunning monster with an insatiable appetite for death—and a ruthless determination never to be caged again.
COLD TRUTH
AUGUST 2005 – ISBN 0-345-47665-4
# 20 on New York Times and
#26 on USAToday bestsellers lists
TRUTH HAS DEADLY CONSEQUENCES
Twenty-six years ago, even before a series of brutal murders rocked the idyllic bayside town of Bowers Inlet, Cassie Burke lost her parents, her sister, and nearly her own life to a transient befriended by her father. Back then, Cassie was a scared kid – now she's a homicide detective. Back then, the suspect was caught and convicted – and he died in prison. But now the killing has started all over again. And all signs indicate that the Bayside Strangler has come back for more.
With too many victims and too few suspects, Cassie has her hands full investigating the case, while working through the old trauma it has brought to the surface. Luckily, FBI agent Rick Cisco is dispatched to assist in the investigation. Together, Cassie and Rick must uncover the link between the dark past and the dangerous present to bring this small town's nightmare to an end once and for all. If they fail, an elusive fiend will slip back into the shadows...to watch and wait, and kill another day.
"Launching a new FBI trilogy, Mariah Stewart uses some familiar characters as well as debuting new ones. Multifaceted relationships and connections always play pivotal roles in unlocking the secrets of the remarkable Ms. Stewart's dramatic thrillers. As Cold Truth proves, Ms. Stewart is one impressive storyteller!"
—Jill Smith, RT Bookclub5 STARS ~
"...this story will feel like a sock in your gut. I found this one to be so real, it was hard to fall asleep at night. Excellent beginning to a new thriller series!"
—Detra Fitch, Huntress Reviews
HARD TRUTH
SEPTEMBER 2005 – ISBN 0-345-47667-0
#10 - Publishers Weekly Bestseller list
#14 - New York Times Bestseller list
#23 - USAToday Bestseller list
IN MATTERS OF CRIME,
THERE ARE MANY VERSIONS OF THE TRUTH
Two children who mysteriously disappeared twenty-one years ago are the last thing on Lorna Stiles's mind when she returns to her Pennsylvania hometown to sell the old family property in the wake of her mother's passing. But along with her memories, Lorna finds the fields where she grew up yield something utterly chilling.
All those years ago, when nine-year-old Melinda Eagan vanished on her birthday, her foulmouthed older brother, Jason, quickly became the lone suspect. Yet when he went missing, too, the case turned cold. But Jason, it seems, never got far: His bones have been moldering on the Stiles' land for more than two decades. As far as the local police are concerned, the book is closed on Melinda's murder — and Jason's death is justice served. But Lorna refuses to let the dead rest uneasily. When Jason's mother is accused of his murder, Lorna turns to private eye T. J. Dawson to dig up the dirt of the past and see what lies beneath. Only there's someone out there who hasn't forgotten — and who won't be the least bit forgiving about being exposed as a killer.
DARK TRUTH
OCTOBER 2005 – ISBN 0-345-47669-7
WILL THE TRUTH SET HER FREE —
OR SET A TRAP?
Murder didn't end Nina Madden's life — it destroyed it. When her father was charged with the serial killings of several college students, Nina and her mother became pariahs in their small Maryland town. Though Nina never believed the hideous accusations, evidence led to her father's conviction and guaranteed the death penalty. After the execution, Nina left Stone River to escape the hatred and persecution . . . but she couldn't shake the lingering doubts
More than twenty years later, those doubts are stirred to grim life. A new series of murders is plaguing Stone River: a killing spree that bears a striking resemblance to the one that sent Nina's father to the death chamber. And Nina isn't the only one disturbed enough by the gruesome events to take notice. Wes Powell, the cop who pursued the original case, can't ignore the eerie similarities between the crimes . . . nor their harrowing implications. Drawn back into a mystery that refuses to die, Nina and Wes will cross paths on their dangerous quest — and find themselves in the crosshairs of a bloodthirsty predator.
FROM BALLANTINE BOOKS:
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of bestselling hardcovers "...a twisted scheme of revenge.. Two years ago, a major FBI undercover drug deal suddenly went south—and special agent Dylan Shields went down in a hail of bullets. When the dust cleared, his fellow agent (and fiancée) Anne Marie McCall was left alone with too many unanswered questions and nothing to do but hit the job as hard as she could to dull the pain. Only now is she beginning to ease up on her punishing routine as a Bureau profiler and starting to let some light in again. Detective Evan Crosby had a lot to do with drawing Annie back into life, and she's not about to let her chance at happiness with him slip away.
But before she can embrace a bright new future, she must grapple with the dangerous past whose demons of doubt and suspicion won't let her sleep at night . . . and whose dead will never rest in peace until justice is served. That means going places where someone doesn't want Annie to go and maneuvering a minefield of dirty tricks and deadly threats in order to make a cold case hot enough to get the right people sweating. The harder Annie squeezes, the more blood, lies, and betrayal she wrings out . . . and the closer she comes to connecting a face to the trigger finger that blew away her dreams — and Dylan Shields. What she doesn't know is that the killer she's closing in on is looking for closure too. The kind that only Annie's death can bring.
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DEAD EVEN
"DEAD EVEN...is just as exciting and outstanding as its predecessors. The characters are sharp and remarkable...Ms. Stewart's writing is rich and compelling, and she is in full control of her characters and plot, neatly tying up all the loose ends in a tidy knot." |
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DEAD CERTAIN
"...a twisted scheme of revenge...a terrific fast-paced read. Once readers finish this book they'll want to read the whole series..." —thebestreviews.com |
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"This is one romantic psycho-thriller, "Fast-paced and intricately plotted...combines engaging characters with a unique premise...overlayed with Stewart's singular knack for keeping readers up at night. This chilling, creative tale will thrill Stewart's growing number of fans who are sure to be waiting this summer for the rest of the series. Stewart excels at writing romantic suspense of the women in jeopardy type." —The Library Journal
"DEAD WRONG is the superb opening installment of Mariah Stewart's DEAD trilogy. As the killer gets closer, the tension is palpable, and it is impossible to put the book down. Ms. Stewart flawlessly creates believable characters who are brilliant, and a plot that moves easily and progressively to an exhilarating conclusion. This is one romantic psycho-thriller, written by a master storyteller, that is a must read." —Betty Cox, AOL Romance Fiction Reviews |
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UNTIL DARK
"A heart-pounding book that had me enthralled from the first page to the last." |
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THE PRESIDENT'S DAUGHTER
Winner of NJRW's GOLDEN LEAF AWARD
"Featuring careful plotting, especially good character descriptions, and enough red herrings to keep readers off balance, this engrossing contemporary romantic mystery provides an occasionally disconcerting glimpse into the lives and resources of the politically powerful and their obsession with public image and the destructive lengths some will go to maintain it." |
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VOICES CARRY
WINNER OF NJRW'S GOLDEN LEAF AWARD for Best Single Title Romance of 2001
"Highly talented Mariah Stewart provides her audience with a taut romantic suspense thriller that will provide the awesome author with new readers. The serial killer angle fits quite well with the elements of romantic suspense...The fast-paced story line is filled with action from page one with only romantic interludes to give the audience an occasional breather. Ms. Stewart provides her fans with another winner. |
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BROWN-EYED GIRL
RITA FINALIST FOR ROMANTIC SUSPENSE – 2000
"Mariah Stewart proves she can deliver first class, pulse-pounding suspense...(Stewart) is clearly headed for stardom. If you read only one book this month, make sure it is BROWN-EYED GIRL. (Stewart) had me in the palm of her hand while reading this nail-biting suspense!" |
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PRICELESS "The very talented Ms. Stewart is rapidly building an enviable reputation for providing readers with outstanding stories and characters that are truly exciting, distinctive and highly entertaining. PRICELESS continues to expand on this truly winning storytelling tradition."
4 1/2 stars - a Romantic Times Top Pick |
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*** THE ENRIGHT SERIES *** |
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MOON DANCE WINNER OF ROMANTIC TIMES REVIEWER'S CHOICE AWARD FOR BEST CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE OF 1999
"Enchanting...a story filled with surprises!" |
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WONDERFUL YOU
"WONDERFUL YOU is a multi-layered novel that will appeal to fans of romance, mainstream fiction and family sagas. Mariah Stewart exceeds her own high standards of excellence with a work that compares favorably to the best of Barbara Delinsky and Belva Plain." |
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DEVLIN'S LIGHT
"A magnificent story of mystery, love and an enchanting town. Splendid!" |
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CAROLINA MIST
"Ms. Stewart has written a touching and compassionate story of life and love that wrapped around me like a cozy quilt..." |
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A DIFFERENT LIGHT
"This is an absolutely delicious book to curl up with, no matter what the season. Scrumptious...delightful. Mariah Stewart is one to watch and savor for a long time." |
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MOMENTS IN TIME
"Cleverly and excellently done — Ms. Stewart is an author to watch. Her star is on the rise." |
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*** ANTHOLOGIES *** |
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WAIT UNTIL DARK |
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UNDER THE BOARDWALK |
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UPON A MIDNIGHT CLEAR |
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DEAD END
DEAD WRONG
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copyright © 2005-2010 |