This is a gripping debut psychological crime novel about family lies and dark secrets in an isolated community as a series of women go missing. People still whisper about Lucy Dane's mother who vanished years ago from the town of Henbane, deep in the Ozark mountains. When one of Lucy's friends is found murdered, Lucy feels haunted by the two lost women: by the mother she never knew, and the friend she couldn't protect. But her search for answers, in a place where secrets are easily concealed, leads her to a chilling discovery. And with this revelation, she must grapple with the meaning of family, the secrets we keep, and the lengths we will go to protect the ones we love.
A fantastic novel rich in character and atmosphere. This is one you won't want to miss. -- Karin Slaughter
I was bewitched by the enchanting Ozark landscape and the haunting murder mystery at the heart of McHugh's masterful debut. The Weight of Blood is the kind of novel that leaves the reader wanting more. I can't wait to read what's next from this gifted new writer. -- Amy Greene, author of Bloodroot
Author
About Laura McHugh
Laura McHugh's short fiction has been published in Confrontation and Big Muddy: A Journal of the Mississippi River Valley. She lives in Missouri, and this is her first novel.