Silver Bell Legends

For years, the town of Silver Bell, Arkansas has quietly mourned the hospital fire that claimed the lives of nine of its residents—the town doctor, a young expectant mother, and seven infants. So, when journalist Finn Hardwick is assigned the story as part of a national thirtieth anniversary memorial service, he arrives at the town ready to interview its residents, thinking they’ll be ready to share and eager to make headlines. He isn’t prepared for the resistance. Or for what appears to be a collective unwillingness to answer his questions.

Everyone in Silver Bell, Arkansas has heard of Walter Lorry. Rumors have been circulating about the strange old man around town for years. He’s weird. Stooped and odd-looking. Always keeps to himself and never speaks to anyone. At one time, he had a wife and kid, but no one has seen them in forever. Then there’s the matter of him sleeping on his front porch every night when there’s a perfectly good bed inside his house. Who in their right mind would do that?

Two decades ago, eleven-year-old Lisa was the punching bag of her Silver Bell, Arkansas sixth grade class. Mercilessly ridiculed for her looks, raspy voice, and lack of money, she lived life in the shadows without a friend in sight until her family finally moved away. But she’s never forgotten the awful way the kids in that town treated her. In the years since, she changed her name, face, and entire identity, all in the name of putting Lisa to rest. Now she’s back as Scarlett Moss—Oscar-winning actress, national book club founder, widely known as America’s sweetheart…And out for revenge.