One Will Not Return
(2026)(The first book in the Dawn Star Stables Mystery series)
A novel by Rebecca Hemlock
In a small town where everyone knows your name, murder, mysteries, and secrets never stay buried.
Harper Monroe spends her days running Dawn Star Stables, a peaceful horse farm tucked deep in the Appalachian countryside. Between caring for rescued horses, teaching riding lessons, and hosting community events, Harper has built a quiet life rooted in faith, hard work, and second chances. But beneath the comfort of barn lights and rolling pastures, Harper has earned a reputation she never expected. As woman with a sharp eye for puzzles, hidden truths, and the details everyone else overlooks.
When a prominent local man is found murdered near the edge of her property, Harper notices something the investigators miss almost immediately. A small clue. A strange inconsistency. The kind of detail most people would dismiss.
The deeper Harper digs, the more unsettling the mystery becomes.
Rumors spread through the small town. Old secrets begin resurfacing. And a tall dark figure keeps appearing near the farm—watching from the tree line, lingering near the stables, vanishing before anyone else can see him. At first, Harper tries convincing herself it’s nothing more than fear and exhaustion playing tricks on her mind. But when threatening messages begin appearing and strange accidents place both Harper and her horses in danger, she realizes someone wants her to stop asking questions.
Now Harper must untangle a web of lies, buried secrets, and murder before the danger reaches the people—and animals she loves most.
Perfect for fans of Christian mystery suspense, female amateur sleuths, horse farm mysteries, and atmospheric small-town thrillers, this gripping novel blends faith, danger, murder, and suspense with the charm of rural Appalachian life and the courage to stand against darkness.
At Dawn Star Stables, every trail hides a secret.
And Harper Monroe is about to discover that crime has a way of finding those who refuse to ignore the clues.
Genre: Inspirational
Harper Monroe spends her days running Dawn Star Stables, a peaceful horse farm tucked deep in the Appalachian countryside. Between caring for rescued horses, teaching riding lessons, and hosting community events, Harper has built a quiet life rooted in faith, hard work, and second chances. But beneath the comfort of barn lights and rolling pastures, Harper has earned a reputation she never expected. As woman with a sharp eye for puzzles, hidden truths, and the details everyone else overlooks.
When a prominent local man is found murdered near the edge of her property, Harper notices something the investigators miss almost immediately. A small clue. A strange inconsistency. The kind of detail most people would dismiss.
The deeper Harper digs, the more unsettling the mystery becomes.
Rumors spread through the small town. Old secrets begin resurfacing. And a tall dark figure keeps appearing near the farm—watching from the tree line, lingering near the stables, vanishing before anyone else can see him. At first, Harper tries convincing herself it’s nothing more than fear and exhaustion playing tricks on her mind. But when threatening messages begin appearing and strange accidents place both Harper and her horses in danger, she realizes someone wants her to stop asking questions.
Now Harper must untangle a web of lies, buried secrets, and murder before the danger reaches the people—and animals she loves most.
Perfect for fans of Christian mystery suspense, female amateur sleuths, horse farm mysteries, and atmospheric small-town thrillers, this gripping novel blends faith, danger, murder, and suspense with the charm of rural Appalachian life and the courage to stand against darkness.
At Dawn Star Stables, every trail hides a secret.
And Harper Monroe is about to discover that crime has a way of finding those who refuse to ignore the clues.
Genre: Inspirational