In the Hour of Crows

In a small town at the foot of the Appalachians, ancient traditions still endure. Locals paint the walls of their houses blue to ward off evil spirits, and they believe that black ferns appear where someone will soon die. Agnes Wilder, a religious and domineering elderly woman, keeps her granddaughter Wetherley under strict control because of the girl’s unique ability: she can prevent death.

Wetherley dreams of leaving town and escaping her grandmother’s supervision, but her gift holds her back—because if she were gone, someone might die.

Wetherley’s cousin and best friend, Adair, also has a special gift: she can see the future. Not long before a car accident, Adair saw something horrifying. Wetherley knows about it and is certain the vision is connected to the mayor, who—fearing exposure—decides to get rid of Adair. When the mayor’s son dies, and Wetherley is, for the first time, unable to save him, the entire town starts to suspect that she intentionally didn’t prevent his death. With the support of a soul guide, Wetherley tries to prove her innocence and uncover the murder of her cousin, no matter what.

“An engrossing story of family secrets, dark magic, and murder.” — Publishers Weekly