Margin of Malice

In the quiet town of Briar Hollow, Willa Ashcroft prefers books to people—and order to everything else. As the owner of Dog-Eared Dreams Bookshop, she knows exactly where every story belongs.Until one shows up that doesn't.When Willa discovers a handwritten manuscript tucked onto her shelves, it seems like a mistake… until she begins to read. The story describes a suspicious death in town—one recently ruled an accident. But as the details unfold, the similarities become impossible to ignore.The deeper Willa reads, the more unsettling it becomes.The manuscript doesn't just echo the past.It starts to feel… current.As whispers turn into questions, Willa finds herself drawn into a mystery she never meant to solve. With the help of her knowledge of literature—and a growing unease she can't quite explain—she begins to follow the clues hidden not just in town, but within the pages themselves.But someone doesn't want the story finished.Because in Briar Hollow, secrets don't stay buried.And some stories are dangerous for a reason.