Parallel Peril
A Vicky Robeson Mystery • Coming 2026!
Guilt-ridden TV journalist Vicky Robeson has spent years chasing stories—and the ghost of her sister, who vanished after a childhood tragedy. When a trail of clues leads to a remote colony in the California foothills, Vicky teams up with her former lover—a man she never stopped wanting—to uncover the truth. They discover a once-idyllic commune, now ruled by a violent patriarch, where women are held for dark and nefarious purposes. Their search for answers turns into a desperate fight for survival. Trapped and cut off from the world, Vicky must risk everything as she tries to escape and free the women, while facing the horrifying possibility that one of them may be the sister she blames herself for losing.
Parallel Peril, the next Vicky Robeson Mystery, is planned for release in 2026.
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Parallel Secrets – Finalist in the 2025 Storytrade Book Awards “Women's Fiction” category!
Parallel Secrets – Shortlisted for Chanticleer's The 2025 M&M Short List for Cozy and Not-so-Cozy Mysteries
Available Now
From The Wild Rose Press – TV journalist Vicky Robeson is RV camping with Pete Harris, her enticing new love interest. He’s talking commitment, but she’s not ready to open up her heart. Or her history. Then her phone pings with a news alert. A girl’s been kidnapped in the same tiny town where Vicky’s life changed forever.
“…Barrs unfolds her tale with practiced ease, deploying an effective array of red herrings to keep readers guessing along the way.” ~ Kirkus Reviews
A Bit About Me
My name is Maria Lynn Barrs. Writing mysteries is a natural culmination of my life experiences.
Like my protagonist, Vicky, I started as a TV reporter, then ran television newsrooms in markets large and small. TV news is adrenaline-fueled, constantly changing, charged with conflict and emotion. I led teams covering everything from the September 11th attacks and devastating storms like Katrina, to major elections and sports championships. Our focus was always on how people were affected. The hardest stories for me were those that involved harm to children.
