Red Barn: The addictive new small town mystery thriller (Ruth Baker Thrillers Book 1)

This is the 2026 fully expanded and revised edition of the first book in the Baker & Tate mystery series. When twenty-three children disappear from a school bus in Caldwell, Texas, the case becomes personal for Texas Ranger Ruth Baker—her daughter Ava should have been on that bus. Working with fellow Ranger Aaron Tate, Ruth discovers a connection to the "Red Barn Killings" from twenty years earlier. As they investigate further, they learn that Caldwell's most powerful citizens may have been concealing a serious secret. With the FBI involved and new information emerging about her late husband's death, Ruth must decide how far she will go to uncover the truth, even if it means exposing secrets about her hometown. The investigation involves explosive action, psychological conflict, and personal stakes for the protagonist. Each book in the Baker & Tate series is a standalone story.