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Heather Day Gilbert

Author

Trial by Twelve

Trial by Twelve

Fiercely loyal, courageous amateur sleuth Tess Spencer will win your heart.

"This novel grabs the reader's attention from the start. The writing is crisp with a fresh and unique author voice." ~ Grace Awards Judges, 2015

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About the Book

~Trial by Twelve is the 2015 Grace Award Winner for Mystery/Romantic Suspense/Thriller/Historical Suspense~

Tess Spencer loves her low-key job at the Crystal Mountain Spa, which allows her plenty of down-time with her one-year old daughter and lawyer husband, Thomas. But when a pool installation turns up eight skeletons in the spa’s back yard, Tess becomes entangled in a sleuthing job destined to go awry.

As the investigation gets underway, someone dumps a fresh body near the excavated burial site, confirming unspeakable fears. A serial killer has returned to Buckneck, West Virginia…a skilled hunter with a unique taste in prey.

When Tess agrees to help the cunning Detective Tucker gather clues from the inside, she discovers the posh spa hides more than dead bodies. Even as she sifts through layers of deceit, Tess realizes too late that the killer’s sights have zeroed in on her.

Unpredictable psychological mystery replete with memorable characters, Trial by Twelve is Book Two in A Murder in the Mountains series.

This novel is written from a Christian worldview.

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Author: Heather Day Gilbert
Series: A Murder in the Mountains, Book 2
Genre: Christian Mystery
Publisher: WoodHaven Press
Publication Year: 2015
"Trial by Twelve confirms Tess Spencer, the Glock-toting mountain mama of Buckneck, West Virginia, as one of my favorite amateur sleuths and Heather Day Gilbert as a first-rate mystery writer. This second book in Gilbert's Murder in the Mountains series ups the ante on the first: the stakes are higher, the tension runs deeper. Best of all, Gilbert kept me guessing until the end." ~ Karin Kaufman, author of the Anna Denning mystery series
"A satisfying novel, where plot, characters and setting blend into a compelling read. Heather Day Gilbert knows how to keep readers turning pages. Tess is one of those rare-to-me characters I'd like to have as a real-life friend." ~ Janet Sketchley, author of the Redemption's Edge series
"The best type of writing, in my opinion, is that which is done so well, you are watching a movie in your head unaware that you are reading. This was the case with this book." ~ Christine Sharbrough, The Christian Manifesto, May 14, 2015
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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.

Other Books in the "A Murder in the Mountains"
A Murder in the Mountains Series: Books 1-3
Miranda Warning
Guilt by Association
False Pretense
Preview
Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the page above are "affiliate links." This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."


Hi, I’m Heather…

I write contemporary mysteries and Viking historicals. Born and brought up in the mountains of West Virginia, I enjoy writing about small towns, family relationships, and women who aren't afraid to protect those they love. Read More…

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Things that made me happy this week: my willow tre Things that made me happy this week: my willow tree, steadily growing bigger every year; bought myself a copy of Sunrise on the Reaping (but am I really feeling dystopian enough to read it? Not yet); my first irises of spring; and finally an Etsy decal I’m thinking about getting for my car since I’m such a #tombraider fan and still playing through #TombRaiderRemastered. What made you happy this week? #authorsofig #authorlife #writerofinstagram #westvirginiawriter #wvmountainmomma #wvauthor #southernwv #gamergirls #gamermom  #springflowers #appalachianspring
If you know me or have read any of my #WestVirgini If you know me or have read any of my #WestVirginia-set books, you’ll know I’ve been taken with #TheGreenbrierResort from the moment I first visited it. It’s only an hour from me in #greenbriercountywv. Every year, I love walking around the grounds to see the #tulips—my favorite flower—and this year we caught them at just the right time. If you want to read about it in my books (I do on-the-spot research), check out Undercut and Deadlocked in my #hemlockcreeksuspense series or Fair Trade in my #BarksandBeansCafe #cozymystery series, among others. Setting books in the lovely town of #LewisburgWV is so fun—plenty of great shops and restaurants there, and if you’re ever in town, be sure to drop by The Greenbrier! #authorsofinsta #authorlife  #westvirginia #wildandwonderfulwv #wvauthor #appalachianspring #tulips #tulipsofinstagram #tuliplover🌷 #silversisters #marriedloveofmylife❤️ #heatherdaygilbertbooks #mysterylover
I’m making two separate things that made me happ I’m making two separate things that made me happy posts this week—the second will be pics of a quick trip to #TheGreenbrierResort to look at the #tulips. But here are some of my own tulips pics and other things I enjoyed this week: 1) got to get #coffee @otterandoakwv cafe with my daughter—always enjoy looking at artwork and the relaxing atmosphere. 2) if you’re from #WestVirginia, you can guess what these are—I cooked some up with fried potatoes this week. Anyone have a favorite ramp recipe to share? 3) my Rembrandt tulips that have candy cane colors, 4) my loud yet loving #flametipsiamese #cat Westley, 5) my grandson’s onesie that cracked me up, 6) more Rembrandt tulips from my #flowerbed. More to come with a tulip/Greenbrier photo dump soon! #authorsofig #authorlife #flowerstagram #wildandwonderfulwv #appalachianspring #catsofinstagram #cafe #wvauthor #wvrampseason
It’s been a long week with continuing sickness ( It’s been a long week with continuing sickness (colds), but I still got to enjoy some delights of the #Appalachianspring that is trying to make its way across these mountains. Things that have made me happy this week were an amazing sunset, my #tulips I had to bring in before a frost, coffee ☕️, my Mary Higgins Clark book from the library, and my favorite mountain as the spring green starts moving across it 💚🌳 What things have made you happy this week? #authorofinstagram #authorpreneur #authorlife #wvauthor #westvirginia #wildandwonderfulwv #wvwriter #southernwv #flowerstagram #maryhigginsclarkbooks
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