COMING November 17, 2026
A police sergeant investigates a murder victim whose life seems eerily similar to her own.
Thirty-one-year-old Police Sergeant Penny Maclean has fallen into a routine at work. Speaking at school assemblies, chasing runaway dogs—it’s all beginning to feel stale. So when the popular wife of a local doctor is found dead on Halloween night, Penny jumps at the chance to investigate.
But the more she knows, the more unsettled she becomes. She and the murdered woman have a lot in common; they even share a love of rural life and animals. Still, unremarkable as the victim’s life appears at first glance, Penny can’t shake the feeling that the woman had a secret. After all, Penny has her own complicated past.
As she hunts the killer, Penny unearths secrets that pull her into the dark side of rural Maine. She only knows one thing for certain—she must discover the truth before the chain of violence claims another victim.
Perfect for fans of The God of the Woods and Heartwood.
PRE-ORDER NOW
In-person events
MAINE BOOK LAUNCH
Tuesday, November 17, 2026 7:00 p.m.
BookSpace
48 Columbia St.
Bangor, ME 04401
Details to follow
MASSACHUSETTS BOOK LAUNCH
Sunday, November 22, 2026 2:00 p.m.
Mattapoisett Free Public Library
7 Barstow St.
Mattapoisett, MA 02739
Details to follow
AUTHOR TALK AND BOOK SIGNING
Thursday, February 18, 2027
Mattapoisett Woman's Club
Mattapoisett Congregational Church
Reynard Hall
27 Church St.
Mattapoisett, MA 02739
Details to follow
More events to come!
Upcoming media
In the upcoming months, I’ll be interviewed on several podcasts and for mystery reader e-zines. I’ll post these when they’re live. Stay tuned.
Praise for ON THE KILLER’S TRAIL
Bad things happen to good people in this classic New England mystery, where a fearless female police officer must uncover the dark secrets threatening to destroy a quaint village in Maine. Sgt. Penny Maclean is a welcome addition to the pantheon of small-town crime fighters. A compelling debut.
–Paula Munier, USA Today bestselling author of the Mercy Carr mysteries
A police procedural set in the heart of rural Maine, On the Killer's Trail takes the reader on twists and turns in this murder mystery perfect for fans of Louise Penny and Shari Lapena. Openshaw deftly weaves between the murder investigation and her detective in this stunning debut, balancing plot and character in equal measure alongside her beautiful rendering of this New England landscape where secrets and hardship don't stay secret for long. On the Killer's Trail marks a new voice in detective fiction–rich with suspense, intrigue, and action.
–Sara Herchenroether, author of Indie Next Pick, The Night Flowers
A satisfying small-town mystery that deepens with every chapter. Any great mystery hinges on character and Penny is a winner, someone we feel for and fear for at the same time. Rural New England shines through the shadows as the conclusion comes to an unexpected end.
–Eric Beetner, author of the Carter McCoy series
About Me
My love of mysteries began at the age of ten with Perry Mason books from the town library. I earned a B.A. from Middlebury College and an M.L.S. from Vanderbilt University. Before turning to writing, I instilled a love of books in others as a librarian and an adult education English teacher. I lived in rural Maine for thirty years where I raised three wonderful children and a variety of animals on a small farm. I now live near Cape Cod with my husband and my tuxedo cat, Frankie. I am an active member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime.
