Valorie Dawes Thrillers

Valorie Dawes fights an international kidnapping syndicate on behalf of a new college friend–and harbors serious doubts about her future as a police officer.

At a young age, Valorie Dawes vowed to avenge the death of her uncle, a policeman killed in the line of duty, by following in his footsteps. During her first month at college, the mysterious disappearance of a close friend’s child drags her into the role of crimefighter much earlier than planned.

But Val’s initial attempts to help lead to mistrust and recrimination. Self-doubts escalate, not only about Val’s future as a cop, but over her ability to make and sustain the trust of a friend.

Anxious to prove herself worthy on both counts, Val puts her own life on the line–and discovers that the kidnappers will stop at nothing to get rid of obstacles like her.

In this exciting, character-driven police procedural by acclaimed author Gary Corbin, rookie policewoman Valorie Dawes has a mission: take serial child molesters like Richard Harkins off the streets of her small hometown of Clayton, CT--for good.

But Valorie's past includes childhood abuse trauma of her own, and her battle with this cunning, vicious criminal awakens memories and emotions she'd rather forget.

Battling sexism within the department and vilification in the media as a reckless incompetent, Val finds few allies in the pursuit of this elusive, cruel criminal, even as he continues to victimize women and girls in the community.

Can Valorie overcome the trauma she suffered as a child and stop Harkins from hurting others--or will her bottled-up anger lead her to take reckless risks that put the people she loves in greater danger?

While jogging off duty along the riverfront, Val discovers the dead body of a teenage girl—and ignites a manhunt for a serial killer.

Based on her follow-up research, the Clayton, CT police department links the girl’s murder to at least four others in the past year—all drowned. All barefoot. All bearing the same strange, fresh tattoo.

Val wrangles a coveted spot on a high-profile task force dedicated to finding the killer, nicknamed by a muckraking blogger as the “Shoeless Schoolgirl Slayer.”

But the killer is clever and elusive, and somehow has gained inside knowledge of the task force’s tactics and plans. Moreover, his targets, methods, and timing are shifting in unpredictable ways, putting those close to Val—and perhaps Val herself—in mortal danger.

How can Val stop the Shoeless Slayer before he strikes down another innocent victim?

As part of a prostitution sting operation, rookie cop Val Dawes uncovers a national sex trafficking ring operating out of Clayton, one with ties to a violent shadowy right-wing splinter group. Her investigation reveals the group may be planning a violent attack in a matter of days.

Just when the investigation heats up, her estranged mother, who left without a trace a decade before, suddenly reappears on the scene, with a nine-year-old brother Val never knew she had. Manipulative and cunning, her mother divides Val’s attention and loyalties, seemingly intent on disrupting both Val’s promising career and her rekindled relationship with her father.

As Val the group’s violent plans near, Val tries to safeguard her family, leading to shocking discoveries about why her mother returned—and why she left in the first place.

Can Val keep her community safe without destroying her family?

Released in paperback (regular and large print) and all eBook formats, December, 2022

When a fanatical sniper takes aim at women entering family planning clinics,  Val risks everything to protect her closest friend.

Val Dawes and the WAVE Squad get called into action after Clayton’s family planning clinics receive ominous threats: Close the clinics, or else.

WAVE Squad member Valorie Dawes takes this threat personally, as her closest friend since childhood, Beth, discloses that she’s pregnant and is considering an abortion.

Can Val support her friend and keep her safe from the armed madman? Or will Beth’s stubborn recklessness thrust her into harm’s way?

Forthcoming – May, 2024

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