{"product_id":"the-winterstone-murder-an-unconventional-forensic-mystery-paperback","title":"The Winterstone Murder: An Unconventional Forensic Mystery - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003ePaul Austin Ardoin\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eA forensic procedural that introduces an investigator odd couple: a toxicologist with a bloodhound's nose for chemistry and a federal agent running out of second chances. Campus-set crime fiction where academic rivalry, research funding and rare poisons make a murder look like an overdose.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eA poisoned grad student. A medieval chapel. And two investigators with everything to prove.Dr. Kep Woodhead isn't known for his people skills. He's known for his unmatched nose--literally. A brilliant forensic toxicologist with a supersensitive sense of smell and a reputation for being impossible to work with, he's the last person you'd expect to lead a federal investigation.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBernadette Becker is on thin ice. After a botched federal sting left her career in ruins, this case is her last shot at redemption. When she's paired with Woodhead to solve the suspicious death of a graduate student at a prestigious university in Milwaukee, it's clear neither of them is thrilled about the arrangement.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe victim was found inside a 15th-century chapel on campus, a syringe sticking out of his arm--and a rare hallucinogen in his bloodstream. But this wasn't a drug overdose. It was murder.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAs Woodhead and Becker dig deeper, they uncover a tangled web of academic rivalries, buried secrets, and a controversial research project involving invasive sea lampreys--creatures as slippery and dangerous as the people protecting them. With funding on the line and reputations at stake, nearly everyone involved had a reason to keep the victim quiet.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBut the more pressure Becker and Woodhead apply, the more resistance they meet--from inside the university and beyond. Someone is watching their every move. And if they're not careful, the next body found in that chapel might be one of their own.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSmart, propulsive, and packed with forensic intrigue, The Winterstone Murder is the explosive first entry in the Woodhead \u0026amp; Becker Mystery Series. Perfect for fans of Patricia Cornwell, Kathy Reichs, and Tana French, this tightly plotted procedural introduces a dynamic new investigative duo in a world where science cuts through lies--and justice comes at a cost.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eStart The Winterstone Murder today and follow two unforgettable investigators into a deadly academic underworld where truth is toxic, and secrets don't stay buried.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis book was originally published under the title Ceremony.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003ePaul Austin Ardoin is the USA TODAY bestselling author of The Fenway Stevenson Mysteries and The Woodhead \u0026amp; Becker Mysteries. He has published fiction and essays in the anthologies Turning the Tide, The Paths We Tread, 12 Shots, Bottomfish, and Sweet Fancy Moses, and articles about computer security in Channel Futures, California Computer News, and European Communications.\u003cbr\u003e A California native, Paul holds a B.A. in creative writing from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He lives in the Milwaukee area with his wife and a menagerie of animals.\u003cbr\u003e Join Paul's mailing list at paulaustinardoin.com for news about new books. \u003cbr\u003e Visit him at: \u003cbr\u003e facebook.com\/PaulArdoinAuthor\u003cbr\u003e twitter.com\/paulardoin\u003c\/p\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 384\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.96 x 7.81 x 5.06 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e October 20, 2026\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67923970818355,"sku":"9781036715748","price":28.58,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0300\/5595\/6612\/files\/no4JihCFdT9781036715748.webp?v=1793828921","url":"https:\/\/www.vysn.com\/products\/the-winterstone-murder-an-unconventional-forensic-mystery-paperback","provider":"VYSN","version":"1.0","type":"link"}