Series Synopsis: The Shepherd & Associates Crime Fiction Series
Former FBI Hostage Rescue Team member Jake Shepherd brings his exceptional investigative skills, tactical training, and Yale law degree to his private investigation firm, Shepherd & Associates, based in Arlington, Virginia. Known for his brilliant yet brash approach, Jake has built a reputation as one of the most sought-after investigators in the field, despite his lack of social diplomacy and impatience with dishonesty.
In Book 1, Capitol Murder, Jake meets Atlanta attorney Scarlett Kavanagh when investigating a senator’s husband’s murder. The savvy Harvard Law graduate proves a formidable match for Jake with her quick wit, intelligence, and self-confidence, and sexy sparks hover as they work together.
By Book 2, Faith Lost, Scarlett has officially joined the payroll as Jake’s partner, investigating the disappearance of five-year-old Faith Johnson. The case tears at Scarlett’s heart as they pursue truth and justice with sharp repartee and undeniable sexual tension.
The Price of Murder (Book 3) finds Jake and Scarlett investigating a multi-million-dollar art heist and the murder of an oil heiress in an upscale oceanfront home on Florida’s Atlantic Coast, working alongside FBI’s Art Theft Team as bodies pile up and suspects multiply.
Book Synopsis: A Raging Fire (Shepherd & Associates Book 4)
For more than a century, an antebellum mansion presiding over a thousand acres near Charleston housed mysteries, secrets, deception, and unexplained death. On a moonless night, flames shoot high above the roofline, visible for miles, as fire consumes the renovated plantation. Emergency responders battle the blaze while onlookers gather, witnessing the discovery that ignites a complex investigation: a body has been found in the inferno.
Meanwhile, in Arlington, Virginia, Dr. Anna-Claire Carden walks into Shepherd & Associates with an unusual request that initially seems outside Jake’s wheelhouse. The young physician needs help discovering who she really is. After her mother’s death, Anna-Claire made a shocking discovery: there’s no record of her birth in Alabama where her parents claimed she was born. DNA testing reveals no genetic connection to the family she grew up with, and her relatives’ evasive responses raise alarming questions.
Was Anna-Claire’s adoption illegal? Could she have been an abducted baby? Why would her loving parents—her army doctor father and devoted mother—go to such lengths to hide the truth? With green-eyed and blue-eyed parents unable to produce a brown-eyed daughter, the biological impossibility becomes undeniable.
Jake Shepherd initially dismisses the case as beneath his expertise, but his associate Scarlett Kavanagh recognizes the deeper mystery lurking beneath Anna-Claire’s quest for identity. As they dig into decades-old secrets, conducting interviews with family friends and relatives who remember little Anna-Claire as a blonde preschooler, the investigation uncovers layers of deception that someone desperately wants to keep buried.
The investigation intertwines with Jake’s other cases, including an arson investigation for an upscale menswear shop, while balancing his role as a protective single father to his teenage daughter Sabrina. His German Shepherd, Kai, remains a loyal companion as Jake and Scarlett navigate dangerous territory where past crimes refuse to stay hidden.
What starts as a search for biological parents evolves into something far more sinister. As connections emerge between Anna-Claire’s mysterious origins and other cases, including that devastating fire at the plantation mansion, Jake and Scarlett must unravel a web of lies spanning generations. The truth they uncover could shatter lives, expose long-buried crimes, and put everyone involved in mortal danger.
In Judith Erwin’s signature style, A Raging Fire delivers crisp dialogue, complex characters revealing hidden vulnerabilities and strengths, and a plot that keeps readers guessing until the final page. The sexual tension between Jake and Scarlett simmers as they navigate both professional challenges and personal boundaries, while the mystery burns with intensity that matches the titular blaze.
Will the raging flames consume all sins of the past, or will some secrets survive even the hottest fire?
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Jacksonville, Florida resident Judith Erwin brings a unique perspective to her crime fiction as a retired family attorney. Her legal background infuses her novels with authentic courtroom drama, investigative procedures, and the intricate complexities of the justice system. This insider knowledge elevates her storytelling, creating narratives that feel both authentic and compelling.
Erwin is an award-winning author whose work has garnered critical acclaim, including the prestigious 5-Star Readers’ Favorite Award. Her writing has been praised by reviewers like Romuald Dzemo, who notes: “The writing is gorgeous, and I enjoyed the crisp, excellent dialogues. Judith Erwin knows how to open the hearts of characters to reveal their vulnerability and hidden strengths. So much to enjoy in this novel.”
The Shepherd & Associates series represents Erwin’s foray into crime fiction featuring a brilliant, badass former FBI agent paired with a sharp-witted attorney. The series showcases her talent for creating complex, three-dimensional characters who readers simultaneously root for, fear for, and fall in love with. Jake Shepherd’s rugged cowboy persona combined with his Yale law degree and FBI credentials makes him a compelling protagonist who can “shoot the wings off a mosquito at 100 yards, read a suspect like a restaurant menu, and catch the eye of the ladies.”
Beyond the Shepherd series, Erwin has authored romantic suspense novels and other standalone stories, totaling nine published works. Her versatility as a writer allows her to seamlessly blend genres, incorporating elements of mystery, romance, suspense, and historical intrigue into narratives that keep readers turning pages late into the night.
Erwin’s writing career reflects her passion for storytelling that explores the darker corners of human nature while celebrating resilience, justice, and the complicated nature of truth. Her Florida roots often appear in her settings and sensibilities, grounding her high-stakes narratives in authentic Southern atmospheres.
Readers can connect with Judith through her website at juditherwin.com, where she maintains a blog called “Judith’s Journal,” offering behind-the-scenes glimpses into her writing process and upcoming projects. She actively engages with her readership through newsletters featuring sneak peeks, subscriber-only giveaways, and announcements about new releases.
Her dream, shared by many of her dedicated readers, is to see the Shepherd & Associates series adapted for television or film, with Jensen Ackles and his wife Danneel Ackles cast as the charismatic leads Jake Shepherd and Scarlett Kavanagh. The dynamic chemistry between these characters, combined with the series’ compelling mysteries and authentic procedural elements, would translate beautifully to screen.
As a Jacksonville author, Erwin contributes to Florida’s vibrant literary community while crafting stories that appeal to readers nationwide. Her legal expertise, combined with her talent for character development and plot construction, positions her as a distinctive voice in contemporary crime fiction.
Whether exploring art theft conspiracies, missing children cases, political murders, or identity mysteries rooted in family secrets, Judith Erwin consistently delivers gripping narratives that honor both the intelligence of her readers and the complexity of the human experience. A Raging Fire represents the latest installment in her expanding literary legacy.
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