The Compound of Conscience

Some hungers never die. They wait.

Eve Morgan thought she’d buried her darkest self two years ago-thirteen murders disguised as natural deaths. Thirteen predators were removed from a world that failed to protect children. Then came the innocent, a teacher named Frank Morrison, and Eve’s reign as a vigilante pharmacist ended in guilt and horror.

Now she works within the law, channeling her deadly expertise into helping Detective Sarah Chen save victims the right way. No more poisons. No more playing God. Just paperwork, patience, and the constant battle against the hunger that whispers she could do so much more.

Then she meets Detective Marcus Thorne.

He’s brilliant, dedicated, and haunted by the same darkness that nearly consumed her. When they partner to stop a child trafficking ring, Eve recognizes the dangerous light in his eyes, the same certainty she once felt that some monsters deserve death more than trials.

Marcus doesn’t judge her past. He celebrates it. And slowly, methodically, he begins pulling her back toward the abyss she barely escaped.

What starts as love becomes obsession. What begins as justice becomes murder.

As Marcus descends into vigilante killing, Eve faces an impossible choice: save the man she loves from becoming what she was, or stop him permanently before he destroys them both. But Marcus isn’t working alone. A shadowy network of killers led by the enigmatic Dr. Vaughn is recruiting, training, and validating those willing to deliver “justice” outside the law.

When Marcus kidnaps Eve to force her conversion, she must survive four weeks of captivity while he systematically dismantles every reason she quit killing. The system fails. Children suffer. And the hunger she’s starved for two years grows stronger with each of Marcus’s philosophical arguments.

Forty-three children will be sold at an upcoming trafficking summit. The law can’t stop it. But Eve and Marcus could, if she embraces the darkness one more time.

Torn between love and morality, between saving innocents and becoming a monster again, Eve discovers that her thirteen kills weren’t the end of her legacy-they were the beginning. Marcus’s network traces their entire philosophy back to her original murders. She didn’t just inspire one killer. She created an army.

Now Eve must infiltrate the network, stop a massacre, and face the most terrifying truth of all: the compound of conscience isn’t something you mix once and forget. It’s a daily battle between the person you were and the person you’re trying to become.

Perfect for fans of Dexter, The Sinner, and Killing Eve, a dark psychological thriller about redemption, obsession, and the thin line between justice and murder.

Because some people don’t reform, they get better at hiding their true nature.

Author Biography

I’m a 71-year-old retiree, happily married for 53 years to a wonderful husband, Lee, who has been my steadfast companion. Together, we’ve raised a beautiful family that includes our exceptional grown children, lovely grandchildren, plus one great-grandchild, who bring endless joy and inspiration to our lives. I was born in Rockdale, Texas, and moved to Fairfield, Texas, during my junior year of high school. We raised our children in Fairfield and then moved to several larger cities in Texas.

My professional journey began at 18 in the banking industry. I worked my way from teller to the position of vice president at several of the largest banks in the USA, an achievement I’m particularly proud of. This experience taught me that determination, hard work, and faith in God can open doors to incredible opportunities.

I feel blessed to have a loving family and a circle of friends who enrich my life. As I step into this new chapter of my life as an author, I carry the lessons learned and the shared love, eager to inspire others to pursue their dreams, regardless of their age or background.

Join me on this exhilarating journey as I continue to explore the boundless possibilities of storytelling.