Hadley Carroll never planned to become a hero.
But when a routine shopping trip turns into a violent robbery, Hadley risks her own safety to save a fellow quilter. When the heist ends in tragedy, the journalist-and newly announced mayoral candidate-vows to uncover the truth behind the crime.
As Paducah reels, a seemingly unrelated murder and two ominous messages land on Hadley's desk at Paducah Pulse, the newspaper she owns and runs. With the help of the newsroom staff, she begins to ask questions that powerful people would rather leave unanswered.
In the midst of rising tension, Hadley allows herself a rare moment of happiness: her first real date with Detective Brandon Green at Barbecue on the River, Paducah's beloved annual festival. But even there, danger follows close behind.
With the city on edge, threats mounting, and her political rival circling, Hadley must balance justice, ambition, and a fragile new relationship-all while racing to stop a conspiracy that's far larger than it first appears.
Panic in Paducah is a smart, character-driven cozy mystery about courage under pressure, the cost of leadership, and the risks we take for the people we love.
Perfect for readers who enjoy:
Cozies with depth and real-world stakesStrong, witty female protagonists who lead with empathy and intelligenceSmall-town mysteries where relationships matter as much as cluesFor readers who want more time with Hadley, see Quilt City Cookbook, a companion book narrated by Hadley herself.