A small-town lawyer. A mysterious woman. A murder that refuses to stay buried.
Taylour Dixxon never expected to have her quiet life in rural Marlinsville, Texas upended by a stranger in a supermarket parking lot. But when she spots a familiar Kenneth Cole watch—the same one buried with her late mother—on the wrist of a woman she’s never met, Taylour’s instincts tell her something is very wrong.
The woman is Sarah Cockrell, newly arrived in town and hiding more than just secrets behind her delicate smile. Their chance meeting triggers a chain of events that plunges Taylour into the middle of a murder investigation with national stakes. When Texas Rangers storm her home during dinner, Taylour watches in shock as Sarah is arrested for the high-profile killing of her wealthy husband, Neal Baines.
But something doesn’t add up.
Sarah swears she’s innocent. The evidence says otherwise. And Taylour, against her better judgment, finds herself not only defending Sarah but digging deeper into the case than any small-town attorney should. As Taylour peels back the layers of Sarah’s past, she uncovers a world of hidden identities, mob ties, and shadowy figures with deadly intentions.
The further Taylour goes, the more dangerous it becomes—not just for her client, but for herself. Someone is watching. Someone who has already killed once. And Taylour must decide how much she’s willing to risk to find the truth… and what justice really means when everyone has something to hide.
A gripping legal thriller with a sharp, unforgettable heroine, The Fallen Body is perfect for fans of John Grisham, Lisa Scottoline, and Robert Dugoni. Stone Patrick’s compelling debut combines courtroom drama with small-town suspense, layered characters, and a heart-racing mystery and an unexpected twist at the end that will keep readers turning pages late into the night.
What readers will love:
Taylour Dixxon never expected to have her quiet life in rural Marlinsville, Texas upended by a stranger in a supermarket parking lot. But when she spots a familiar Kenneth Cole watch—the same one buried with her late mother—on the wrist of a woman she’s never met, Taylour’s instincts tell her something is very wrong.
The woman is Sarah Cockrell, newly arrived in town and hiding more than just secrets behind her delicate smile. Their chance meeting triggers a chain of events that plunges Taylour into the middle of a murder investigation with national stakes. When Texas Rangers storm her home during dinner, Taylour watches in shock as Sarah is arrested for the high-profile killing of her wealthy husband, Neal Baines.
But something doesn’t add up.
Sarah swears she’s innocent. The evidence says otherwise. And Taylour, against her better judgment, finds herself not only defending Sarah but digging deeper into the case than any small-town attorney should. As Taylour peels back the layers of Sarah’s past, she uncovers a world of hidden identities, mob ties, and shadowy figures with deadly intentions.
The further Taylour goes, the more dangerous it becomes—not just for her client, but for herself. Someone is watching. Someone who has already killed once. And Taylour must decide how much she’s willing to risk to find the truth… and what justice really means when everyone has something to hide.
A gripping legal thriller with a sharp, unforgettable heroine, The Fallen Body is perfect for fans of John Grisham, Lisa Scottoline, and Robert Dugoni. Stone Patrick’s compelling debut combines courtroom drama with small-town suspense, layered characters, and a heart-racing mystery and an unexpected twist at the end that will keep readers turning pages late into the night.
What readers will love:
- A fierce and intelligent female protagonist navigating grief, law, and loyalty
A high-stakes murder mystery that blends legal suspense with emotional depth
A richly drawn Texas setting filled with family secrets and rural tension
Twists that keep you guessing until the final page
Taylour Dixxon thought she’d left the hard cases to the city attorneys. But in Marlinsville, justice wears a different face—and sometimes, the truth is the most dangerous thing of all.
Genre: Mystery
Used availability for Stone Patrick's The Fallen Body