I'm thrilled to present for your consideration my suspense-thriller novel, Shadows Over Tallulah (Promises and Betrayal), complete at approximately 95,000 plus words. Set against the eerie quiet of Tallulah, Louisiana this emotionally charged novel explores a community’s unraveling as children go missing, small-town secrets, and organized crime collide in a battle for truth and survival.
This story blends the dark psychological threads of Sharp Objects with the raw intensity of Sicario, layered with the emotional and cultural nuance of Southern Gothic fiction.
Synopsis:
In Tallulah, silence is deadly.
When young children disappear without a trace, it sends a ripple of fear through the small Louisiana hometown. Soon after, mutilated bodies and cryptic warnings shatter any sense of safety. The nightmare intensifies when the mutilated body of a little girl is left outside a church the cartel’s chilling message.
At the center of the chaos is The Raven, a brilliant and brutal cartel leader building an empire on fear and flesh. Sheriff Watson’s efforts to lead a response end in his own capture. Now, the town’s fate rests in the hands of feuding FBI agents and frightened residents caught in the crossfire.
FBI Agent Morris Bautista, haunted by past failures and professional rivalries, is forced to team up with the commanding and unshakable Agent Sherrie Robbins. As tensions rise, military convoys roll into town, the streets become a war zone, and every second counts.
Meanwhile, Lana Wilson, a new mother left behind as her husband Garrett is deployed to basic training, must protect her newborn twins with only her elderly mother-in-law, Ms. Marlene, by her side. As they pray, survive, and hold on to hope, the town of Tallulah braces for the ultimate showdown.
Main Characters:
• Agent Morris Bautista – Experienced but volatile, he’s desperate to end the violence and prove he’s still capable of winning the war within and around him.
• Agent Sherrie Robbins – Tactical, fearless, and respected. She steps into Tallulah with a mission to bring justice, no matter what history lies between her and Bautista.
• Sheriff Watson – Tallulah’s battle-worn sheriff, turned hostage, used by The Raven as a pawn in her violent chess game.
• The Raven – A cold, calculating leader with a lethal intellect. Cloaked in black leather, she commands armies and strikes with precision. She is as unforgettable as she is unstoppable.
• Lana Wilson – A young mother of twins whose courage and intuition are tested when her family becomes entangled in the chaos.
• Garrett Wilson– Lana’s husband, newly enlisted, torn apart by distance, duty, and the desperate calls home.
• Ms. Marlene – A prayer warrior and Lana’s mother-in-law, her strength and wisdom anchor her family in faith amidst fear.
• Rachel Paul – A tenacious reporter whose pursuit of truth leads her from news desk to jail cell, determined to expose everything.
Shadows Over Tallulah (Promises and Betrayal) is a powerful examination of community, corruption, and resilience in the face of human trafficking. With electrifying tension and deep human stakes, it will appeal to readers of high-stakes thrillers and emotional dramas alike.
Thank you for considering my submission. I would be honored to provide the full manuscript upon request.
Sincerely,
Michelle Bardlett
