When forensic archivist Evangeline “Evie” Vale returns to Saint Orla, Georgia, she finds the town of her childhood rotting beneath its citrus-sweet charm.
An abandoned orange grove has yielded a mass grave. The dead have no names, official records have been altered, and one of the victims may be connected to Evie’s own family—and to the investigation that consumed her mother before her death.
Evie’s search for the truth draws her toward Lucian Devereaux, heir to the family whose wealth and influence are rooted in Saint Orla’s soil. Lucian carries the burden of his family’s legacy, along with secrets that may either help Evie expose the truth or ensure it remains buried.
As church bells mark the hours and the town prepares for its celebrated Citrus Festival, Evie uncovers evidence of the Grove Seven, decades of institutional corruption, and a conspiracy protected by Saint Orla’s most powerful family.
The closer Evie gets to Lucian, the harder it becomes to separate the man from the name he inherited. Loving him could cost her the truth. Trusting him could cost her everything.
In a town built on blood, power, and silence, the truth will not stay buried.