Overview
The ice is melting—but what will it reveal?
Spring has sprung, and Easter festivities are underway in Field’s Crossing, Indiana. The annual egg hunt is a huge success, thanks in no small part to Lisa DuVal, the owner of Big Al’s Diner who dyed all of the eggs. But when Sheriff Jhonni Laurent discovers Lisa’s body in her catering van later that day, the happy holiday quickly sours, and Laurent begins a murder investigation.
All are shocked at the reading of the will when it’s revealed that the diner will be inherited by Lisa’s best friend—not by her daughter, which raises Laurent’s suspicions. While working to find the killer, Laurent uncovers some unsightly secrets that Lisa’s family had been concealing. Could they be involved in something shady?
As the investigation begins to take shape, it seems that the melting ice will reveal more than the first buds of spring. And when another body is discovered, Laurent must work quickly to determine how the two crimes connect—and who could be behind it all.
Perfect for fans of J. A. Jance and C. J. Box
While the novels in the Jhonni Laurent Mystery Series stand on their own and can be read in any order, the publication sequence is:
Bones Under the Ice
Cracks Beneath the Surface Reviews
Praise for the Jhonni Laurent Mystery Series
“A crackling good mystery involving murder, wills and probate, cash skimming, and moonshine in small town, Indiana. Mary Ann Miller has expertise in all of it . . . she had me hooked from the first page. It’s a great read!” —Carl Vonderau, award-winning author
“This gripping, fast-paced, and authentic mystery has it all . . . A brutal murder, a contested inheritance, and desperate suspects whose secrets and lies, greed and ambition, and jealousy and vengeance will keep you guessing to the very end.” —Helaine Mario, best-selling author of The Maggie O’Shea Mysteries
“Set in a small town and filled with twists and turns, Bones Under the Ice is a chilling story of secrets and murder that will keep you guessing.” —Charlie Donlea, USA Today best-selling author
“A slow-burn police procedural . . . with potential for a popular series.” —Publishers Weekly
“A new series perfect for fans of J.A. Jance and Craig Johnson or anyone who likes small-town settings, small-town secrets, and lots of characters.” —Library Journal
“Sheriff Jhonni Laurent, flawed but decent, is up against a murder case, a political enemy, and winter itself in Mary Ann Miller's cracker of a debut. Bones Under the Ice is a satisfying police procedural, an absorbing character study, a love letter to a harsh landscape, and the perfect series opener. I'll be back for book two.” —Catriona McPherson, multi-award-winning author of In Place of Fear
“Bones Under the Ice is an engrossing mystery novel in which a small-town sheriff’s skills are tested when she’s tasked with solving cold-minded murders.” —Foreword Reviews
“Set in rural, blizzard-frozen Indiana, Mary Ann Miller’s Bones Under the Ice launches a chilling police procedural series. From page one when Jhonni Laurent brushes snow off a frozen hand, the reader will be rooting for this likeable sheriff.” —Vinnie Hansen, author of Lostart Street
“Bones Under the Ice tugged personal heartstrings: betrayal, bullying, abandonment. As with Laurent, adversity developed strength and integrity. More than an excellent mystery, Bones Under the Ice is a tale of one person’s perseverance. Highly recommended!” —Bookreporter
“[Bones Under the Ice is a] carefully crafted and original suspense thriller of a 'whodunnit' mystery will have a particular appeal to readers with an interest in police procedural murder mysteries . . . Unreservedly recommended.” —Midwest Book ReviewAuthor Biography
Mary Ann Miller has been a bookworm from the moment she learned how to read. An Illinois native, she moved south to Winter Garden, Florida, with her husband, Mike, to escape the snow and start a new chapter as a mystery writer. Cracks Beneath the Surface is the second book in the Jhonni Laurent Mystery Series, following Bones Under the Ice.