In the Appalachian wild, the deadliest predator isn’t an animal. His name is the Viper.

In the quiet Appalachian town of Burnsville, something lethal is lurking in the shadows of the quiet forests. The local police call it a string of murders. The FBI calls it a brutal nightmare. The killer himself—soon to be called the Viper—enjoys it all.

FBI Agent Laura Sellers and her partner Daren Smith are no strangers to the darkness and are plunged into a twisted game of cat and mouse. The Viper doesn’t just kill, he stages gruesome tableaus and taunting messages designed to push Laura to the brink of insanity.

With each new victim, gutted and marked with a carved V, Laura must race against time to uncover the Viper’s identity before he strikes again. And one question remains as she continues searching: will she catch the Viper—or become his next victim?

Perfect for fans of the relentless pursuit of Red Dragon, the grit found by Karin Slaughter, and the atmospheric suspense of The Silence of the Lambs. Join Laura Sellers as the hunter becomes the hunted in the first psychologically thrilling installment of Butler’s new thriller series.