In the first books, she’s an FBI agent chasing down the worst of the worst. Lucy is an average Pittsburgh soccer mom juggling the needs of her family with the demands of her career. What can you tell a new reader about your protagonist, Lucy Guardino? The Big Thrill spoke to Lyons about her career, OPEN GRAVE and the inspirations behind the book. Inspired by current events and spinning out of extensive research into the civil rights movement and a “hidden” lynching that took place in rural Pennsylvania 60 years ago, OPEN GRAVE serves as a compelling mystery and a clear call-to-arms for those seeking to end racial violence, and an opportunity to reflect on our nation’s fraught civil rights history.

Enter TK’s boss, Lucy Guardino, who teams up with her to help unravel the aging mystery before it can further affect the present. Who is the man in the car? Why did he die under such mysterious circumstances decades ago?Īs if that weren’t enough, rising racial friction and another, unexpected murder combine to leave TK overwhelmed and under a bright, burning spotlight. The former Marine is eager to take on the investigation, but finds herself stonewalled at every turn upon arriving in the worn out rustbelt town. They spot a skeleton, and it leads investigator TK O’Connor to crack open a frigid cold case. When an antique car is brought to the surface, divers discover more than just a soaked vehicle.

This is the premise for OPEN GRAVE, the latest Lucy Guardino thriller from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author CJ Lyons. When a long-buried secret bubbles to the surface, a small town must grapple with a 60-year-old mystery.

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