There can only be one.
Psychological thriller novella set in West Virginia. First published in the DON'T BLINK 12-book collection in 2025.
In an effort to shield her foster daughter from a stalker at school, Twila relocates to a farmstead in an Appalachian radio quiet zone. Alongside battered women who have taken shelter at Cooper’s Corner, Twila and her mute teen hope to find sanctuary caring for cows, chickens, and honeybees.
But their peace turns out to be short-lived when a man with an injured ankle and a flimsy story shows up in the woods. Before Twila can shuttle him off to a doctor, a straight-line windstorm rips through the area, downing trees and power lines and cutting off the well water.
As tempers flare and dark sides surface, Twila realizes she can’t trust anyone. When one of the women goes missing in the night, she fears the worst has happened.
Like a tenacious queen bee, Twila plans to sting first and ask questions later. If push comes to shove, she’s ready to sacrifice herself so her traumatized daughter can finally live again.
Fans of Agatha Christie are sure to enjoy this clean, fast-paced psychological thriller set in West Virginia by RWA Daphne Award-winning author Heather Day Gilbert.
HEATHER DAY GILBERT is an RWA Daphne Award-winning author who writes Hitchcock-style suspense with tenacious female leads who know how to fend for themselves. Like her characters, she's a little bit sweet and a little bit dangerous. She loves nothing better than to surprise her readers—and herself—with unpredictable twists. A West Virginia native, she brings modern-day Appalachia to life in her novels. 