Winner of the 2025 Colorado Authors League Award for Best Amateur Sleuth Mystery

She survived the battlefield.
The truth might kill her.

When a covert mission to capture a high-value Al Qaeda target collapses in Iraq, U.S. Army Sergeant Amber Downing disappears behind enemy lines, taken captive and presumed dead. Her military working dog, Razor, is left broken beside her—another casualty of a war that doesn’t forgive mistakes.

Amber does survive. But captivity leaves scars no rescue mission can erase.

Now a disabled veteran trying to rebuild her life in rural Colorado, Amber works at a VA Medical Center while battling PTSD, survivor’s guilt, and the loss of her fiancé in combat. With the help of her highly trained service dog, Nikita, she keeps the darkness at bay—until her job pulls her into something far more dangerous than therapy sessions and paperwork.

A disturbing pattern of veteran suicides lands on Amber’s desk. What first looks like tragedy soon reveals signs of manipulation… and a conspiracy hiding in plain sight.

When powerful forces realize Amber is asking the wrong questions, the hunt begins again.

With enemies closing in, buried trauma resurfacing, and Nikita as her only constant, Amber must rely on skills forged in war and captivity to expose the truth—before she becomes the next name on the list.

The Suicide Detective is a gritty, emotionally charged military thriller that blends action, mystery, and heart—honoring veterans, service dogs, and the unbreakable bond between them.

Perfect for readers who love:

• Military and veteran-led thrillers
• Strong female protagonists
• K9 and service-dog stories
• High-stakes investigations with emotional depth