Sins of the Mother

August Norman returns with the second thrilling Caitlin Bergman novel, perfect for fans of Julia Keller, Tess Gerritsen, and Michael Koryta. Caitlin went in search of her mother...but what she found may set the world on fire. Caitlin Bergman's mother is dead. That's what the award-winning journalist has told everyone for the past forty years. Easier to lie than explain how Maya abandoned her only daughter before dropping off the map forever. But when a rural sheriff invites Caitlin to the woods of coastal Oregon to identify her mother's remains, Caitlin drops everything to face the woman she's spent a lifetime hating. Unfortunately, the body--abandoned on the land of a reclusive cult, the Daughters of God--was left faceless. Instead, Caitlin finds the diary of a woman obsessed with the end of the world, one that hints the cult's spiritual leader knows the identity of Caitlin's real father. She's not the only one looking for clues in her mother's writing. Johnny Larsen, a violent white supremacist whose family runs the county, thinks the Daughters of God kidnapped his teen-aged daughter--and will do anything to get her back. At the top of a hill, an army of women wait for the end of days. In the town below, the Larsens plot to purify their county. Caught in the middle, Caitlin must decide which is more important--learning the truth about her past, or saving Mama Maya's chosen daughters from the end of the world.

*Praise for *Sins of the Mother:

**A SUSPENSE MAGAZINE BEST BOOK OF 2020

“Action-loving readers are the real winners in this offbeat thriller.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“The cult is well written and interesting, brining to mind the Jonestown Commune.”
—*Midwest Book Review

• “Norman delivers another solid tale . . . one full of family drama, tension, and terror.”
  —Suspense Magazine

“With kinesthetic language and plot-winding twists, gifted writer Norman strikes the perfect balance between snark and serious...Bravo on an excellent story.”
—Maureen Joyce Connolly, author of Little Lovely Things
 
“An action-packed, emotional thrill ride that’ll leave you breathlessly waiting for the next Caitlin Bergman novel.”
—Rick Treon, award-winning author of Let the Guilty Pay
 
"Caitlin Bergman, a feisty and earthy female protagonist, launches headlong into another ripping adventure...This is a terrific sequel that I highly recommend."
—Carl Vonderau, award-winning author of Murderabilia

"A multi-layered plot; sophisticated, believable characters; stunning settings; and heart-pounding suspense in what is quickly turning into one of my favorite new series!"
—Edwin Hill, author of *The Missing Ones

*“As heart warming as it is devastating, and as suspenseful as it is thrilling.”
 —David Albertyn, author of Undercard

"Loaded with twists and emotional punches, Norman's vibrant and gripping story will make readers eager for more."  
—Glen Erik Hamilton, Anthony Award-winning author of *Past Crimes

"Sins of the Mother* crackles with tension. From LA to rural Oregon, August Norman weaves a masterful tale of family secrets, small-town bigotry, and a doomsday cult."*

• —D.A. Bartley, author of the Abish Taylor mysteries*
• *Praise for for *Come and Get Me:
  "Chilling...The skillfully rendered plot is full of page-turning action...Norman is off to a solid start."
  —Publishers Weekly

Thoroughly memorable...Norman's debut is a solid purchase for mystery collections [and] a good recommendation for fans of strong female leads."
—Booklist

"Norman writes beautifully...A really great read, one which has left me yearning for more."
—Mystery Scene Magazine

“Norman does a good job with both the female POV...A real treat of a thriller.”
—Midwest Book Review

“Come and Get Me is tight, enticing, seductive with its taunts and twists...The author pulls you in, wraps you tight in the embrace of his words and then teases and taunts you while taking you on a twisted journey. Do I recommend this book? Absolutely.”
—Steena Holmes, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author

“A fast-paced, propulsive thriller.”
—David Bell, USA Today bestselling author of *Somebody's Daughter

• “From the chilling beginning to the last tension-filled page, Norman’s debut will grip you and keep you furiously turning pages...A fantastic premise, captivating plot, and intelligent, strong main character.”
  —Christine Carbo, award-winning author of The Wild Inside

“August Norman's Come and Get Me is an intelligent, twisted thriller with heart and depth. Readers will find a flawed, scarred, and unapologetically brilliant sleuth in Caitlin Bergman. Immersive and unforgettable from page one.”
—Lydia Kang, author of The Impossible Girl

“A stunning debut! August Norman comes out of the gate swinging…a fast-paced thriller that will leave you huffing and puffing until the very last page.”
―Simon Gervais, author of The Thin Black Line

“A compulsively readable thriller that weaves deft plotting, sparkling dialogue, and sharp descriptive prose to create a work of real psychological depth.”
―Thomas Shawver, author of The Widow's Son

“A taut, timely thriller that delivers.”
—Barbara Nickless, author of Dead Stop 

“August Norman’s page-turning thriller features a sly sense of humor…and a strong, relatable woman at its core—Caitlin Bergman, a woman with flaws…but who doggedly pursues justice and who fights back against the men who would victimize her.”
—Lisa Brackmann, author of Black Swan Rising

Auteur

August Norman

Résumé
A SUSPENSE MAGAZINE BEST BOOK OF 2020

August Norman returns with the second thrilling Caitlin Bergman novel, perfect for fans of Julia Keller, Tess Gerritsen, and Michael Koryta.

Caitlin went in search of her mother...but what she found may set the world on fire.

Caitlin Bergman's mother is dead. That's what the award-winning journalist has told everyone for the past forty years. Easier to lie than explain how Maya abandoned her only daughter before dropping off the map forever.

But when a rural sheriff invites Caitlin to the woods of coastal Oregon to identify her mother's remains, Caitlin drops everything to face the woman she's spent a lifetime hating. Unfortunately, the body--abandoned on the land of a reclusive cult, the Daughters of God--was left faceless. Instead, Caitlin finds the diary of a woman obsessed with the end of the world, one that hints the cult's spiritual leader knows the identity of Caitlin's real father. She's not the only one looking for clues in her mother's writing. Johnny Larsen, a violent white supremacist whose family runs the county, thinks the Daughters of God kidnapped his teen-aged daughter--and will do anything to get her back.

At the top of a hill, an army of women wait for the end of days. In the town below, the Larsens plot to purify their county. Caught in the middle, Caitlin must decide which is more important--learning the truth about her past, or saving Mama Maya's chosen daughters from the end of the world.