A Blossom of Bright Light

Hidden Secrets.
Racial Tensions.

The Mystery You Can’t Miss.

For Detective Jimmy Vega and his girlfriend Adele Figueroa, it’s a perfect October evening. A rare chance for him to set aside his duties as a homicide detective, and her to stop worrying about the immigrants she serves through the community center she founded, in order to focus on each other for a change.

The next morning, their contentment is shattered by the news that a newborn Hispanic girl’s body has been found in the woods nearby. Each sets out to solve the murder in their own way. Vega spearheads the criminal investigation; Adele hopes her immigrant connections will lead to the truth. But as the killer claims another victim, it’s clear no one is safe. And for Vega and Adele, the search for answers will challenge their deepest beliefs about their community and each other…

Suzanne Chazin’s work has appeared in American Health, Family Circle, Ladies Home Journal, People and The New York Times. She has twice been the recipient of the Washington Irving Book award for fiction. Her short fiction appeared in the anthology, Bronx Noir, which won the 2008 Book of the Year Award for special fiction from the New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association. She lives in Chappaqua, NY. Visit her at suzannechazin.com.

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9781617736353“A tremendous talent.”—Lee Child

In award-winning author Suzanne Chazin’s stirring new novel, Latino police detective Jimmy Vega must strike a precarious balance between the local immigrant community and his hometown’s most powerful and privileged citizens during a dangerous murder investigation . . .

A split-second decision thrusts Detective Jimmy Vega into the epicenter of a disturbing case when a body is found near a gathering place for immigrants in upscale Lake Holly, NY. The cold-bloodedness of the crime and the innocence of the victim torment Vega.

In a community gripped by fear of deportation, Vega needs the help of his girlfriend, activist Adele Figueroa, to gain people’s trust. But Adele is acting strangely, consumed by a secret that threatens to tear them apart. When the case takes a personal turn, both Vega and Adele discover that Lake Holly’s tranquil façade hides a terror of monstrous proportions, poised and ready to strike again. To confront the killer and save their relationship, Vega and Adele must forge a new level of trust—in each other, and in their most deeply held beliefs—to expose an evil that threatens to eclipse anything they’d previously imagined.

Written with equal parts passion and suspense, A Blossom of Bright Light takes readers on a journey of stunning revelations to uncover a small town’s most sinister secrets—and brightest hopes for the future. Mystery, sacrifice, and unremitting love converge in this gripping work by a master storyteller.

Praise for the First Jimmy Vega Mystery Land of Careful Shadows

“This is everything a great suspense novel should be—but it hits the heart, too, not just the pulse, with people you come to care about. First rate and highly recommended.” —Lee Child

“What a wonderful read! Suzanne Chazin has crafted a tantalizing, keenly moving and nuanced look at the little-understood immigrant community, particularly the undocumented. A memorable mystery, this fine novel will also touch your heart.” —Julia Spencer-Fleming

Land of Careful Shadows is that rare crime novel that gets the reader caught up in beautifully-drawn characters and in larger social issues. Add a fast pace and the author’s gift for the telling image and you’ve got a winner.” —S. J. Rozan

“An intriguing story readers won’t want to put down. . . Through her ensemble of memorable characters, Suzanne Chazin takes us into a place where we are confronted with hard truths and heartbreaking realities.” —Reyna Grande

“Taut, suspenseful, and multi-layered—a finely wrought mystery that exposes the dark underbelly of undocumented workers in the United States and the dangers they face every day. Just when you think you know where this powerful story is going, it takes another, unexpected turn, bringing a conclusion that left me stunned.” —Maggie Barbieri

“This timely and engrossing series opener from Chazin introduces the engaging, psychologically complex Vega, who must confront unwelcome aspects of his past as his investigation builds to a shocking conclusion.” —Publishers Weekly

“The intricate plot and the important social issues combine in this strong debut of a promising series.”—Booklist