In the late 1950s in the Midwest, a serial killer has been draining their victims of blood, leaving them otherwise undisturbed in their cars and homes. When a fifteen-year-old girl is found covered in blood amidst the latest corpses, she confides only in the sheriff's son but her story is unbelievable at best. August, 1958. A string of murders plagues the Midwest. The victims are found in their cars and in their homes, even in their beds: their bodies drained, but with no blood anywhere. September 18, 1858. The Carlson family is slaughtered in their Minnesota farmhouse, and the case gets its first lead. Marie Catherine Hale is found at the scene, is covered in blood from head to toe. At first she is mistaken for a survivor... but not a drop of the blood is hers. Michael Jensen, son of the local sheriff, yearning to become a journalist, never imagined that the biggest story in the country would fall into his lap. He is pulled into the investigation when Marie decides that he is the only one she will confess to. As she recounts her version of the story, it falls to Michael to find the truth. -- adapted from jacket.

May include an excerpt of Three Dark Crowns.