“Robin Caroll has crafted a masterful tale of suspense and heart in Shadows Over Hotel Grim. Set against the chilling backdrop of post-war Texarkana, this story weaves historical intrigue with pulse-pounding danger, resilient characters, and a romance that blooms amid the shadows. Penney's strength and Ben's unwavering resolve kept me turning pages late into the night—it's a gripping reminder that light can pierce even the darkest fears. It’s Caroll’s best book yet! Fans of romantic suspense won't want to miss this one!”—Colleen Coble, Publisher’s Weekly and USA Today bestselling author of the Tupelo Grove series
“Hotel maid Penney Nelson and Texas Ranger Ben Palmer find themselves tangled in love, bullets and a trail of bodies as a serial killer terrorizes post WWII Texarkana. With tension as thick as the Texas heat, Shadows Over Hotel Grim is peak Robin Caroll—an unputdownable thriller with characters you feel you know—and romantic suspense done right.” -NYT bestselling author Tosca Lee
Texarkana, Texas, 1946 In the heart of Texarkana at the Texas/Arkansas state line in 1946, the quaint Hotel Grim stands as a beacon of grandeur, but beneath its elegant facade lurks a shadow of fear. Penney Nelson walks home alone through streets that grow darker each night. A masked killer stalks young couples on lovers' lanes, and the town holds its breath between attacks. But Penney has bigger worries than just the Phantom—her mother's dying in the hospital. Then Texas Ranger Ben Palmer arrives. Newly commissioned and assigned to Captain "Lone Wolf" Gonzaullas's elite team, Ben's determined to stop the killer before he strikes again. The investigation leads him to the Hotel Grim, where witnesses stay, reporters swarm, and a sharp-eyed housekeeper notices things others miss. Penney sees the suspicious guests. Overhears the whispered conversations. Finds the evidence left behind in rooms that should have been empty. She knows she should stay out of it—but when the Phantom's attacks grow bolder and more brutal, silence feels like cowardice. As Ben and Penney are drawn together by the investigation, something unexpected ignites between them. He's captivated by her courage and quick mind. She's falling for the ranger who makes her feel safe in a town where safety is a memory. But the Phantom is watching. Waiting. And he's closer than anyone suspects. When Penney becomes a target, Ben must race against time to unmask a killer who hides in plain sight. In a town paralyzed by fear, where every shadow could conceal death, can love survive when the monster strikes from within? Some masks hide more than faces. Some secrets are worth killing for.
Meet my friend, Carrie Stuart Parks—the real-deal forensic artist behind some of the most gripping mystery/suspense novels you'll ever read!
As an internationally renowned forensic artist, Carrie has worked on major criminal cases nationwide and trains elite law enforcement pros, including the FBI, Secret Service, NCIS, Federal Marshals, RCMP, and Texas Rangers. She was even nominated for Law Enforcement Trainer of the Year by the Federal Law Enforcement Academy.
Her accolades don't stop there: She's been honored as Woman of the Year for the Spirit of the American Woman, the first Educator of the Year from Lewis-Clark Alumni, and her fine art hangs in corporate and private collections across the country.
Before becoming a bestselling author, Carrie was mentored for eight years by her friend Frank Peretti and wrote/illustrated bestselling art books for North Light Publishers. Now, her novels have earned multiple Christy Awards, Carol Awards, Inspy Awards, and more—proving she brings authentic edge-of-your-seat suspense straight from her real-world expertise.
She's a sought-after speaker too—keynoting and presenting at ThrillerFest, American Christian Fiction Writers, Writer’s Police Academy, Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, and beyond.
Ready for a thriller that feels chillingly real?
Grab this FREE book:When Mackenzie Jones, a former homicide detective fleeing her past, stumbles upon a body outside a sleepy Idaho diner, she's thrust back into the world she tried to leave behind. The quiet book club she joined for company and gossip suddenly becomes the epicenter of a chilling pattern.
With a mysterious dog by her side, a growing body count, and suspicion closing in, Mackenzie races to unravel a killer's twisted plot before the next murder.
