Today, LitNuts is shining a spotlight on The Demon of Oakhaven: Painted in Death, a new release and the first book in the Will Anderson and Casey Murphy Detective Thriller Series from author Mark Harrington.
★★★★★ "Sharp, dark, and brilliantly visual." ~Amazon Review
The Demon of Oakhaven: Painted in Death
Book 1 of the Will Anderson and Casey Murphy Detective Thriller SeriesReleased: August 2025
5.0 stars, 4 ratings on Amazon
Paperback: $19.99
E-book: From $0.99 (Free via Kindle Unlimited)
In the peaceful lakeside town of Oakhaven, murder leaves a mark—white-painted skin, a rough red “O,” and a body arranged like a grim piece of art.
Detective Will Anderson has encountered this before. Now, the killer is active in broad daylight on Ravenwood University’s campus, leaving behind not only bodies but also front-page editorials mocking law enforcement and daring them to catch him.
Paired with Detective Casey Murphy—new to the division, sharp-witted, and unshaken by much—Will must unravel the pattern before another young woman disappears. But every move they make seems to be exactly what the killer wants. Because in Oakhaven, the past doesn’t just haunt—it hunts. And this predator is keeping score: "The bodies are my canvas. The blood is my paint. And every stroke brings you closer to your last breath, Detective."
★★★★★ "A bold and emotionally charged thriller." ~Goodreads Review
★★★★★ "Gritty, suspenseful, and full of twists." ~Amazon Review
Devil at Rocky Pointe: The Final Stroke
Book 2 of the Will Anderson and Casey Murphy Detective Thriller SeriesComing: November 22, 2025
E-book: $6.99
On this course, par is survival.
When a wealthy board member is found dead on the 18th green of an elite country club—a broken golf club through his chest and a Roman numeral scrawled in red across his glove—Detectives Will Anderson and Casey Murphy know this isn’t just another murder. It’s a scorecard.
As more bodies appear, each marked with a number and tied to a long-buried corruption scandal, it becomes clear the killer is keeping track—and par is never enough.
Meanwhile, Will’s wife, Kristen—still recovering from her own brush with a past killer—begins to notice disturbing patterns from home. Their twin daughters are drawn into the mystery through digital breadcrumbs left by a figure calling himself The Vicar, whose sermons blend scripture, justice, and murder into a chilling creed.
With each stroke, the killer moves closer to the truth buried at Rocky Pointe—and closer to Will’s family. But when the course is rigged and the game is personal, it might be too late to catch up.
A gripping psychological thriller where justice is ritual, guilt is currency, and survival means beating the killer at his own game. Perfect for fans of James Patterson, Karin Slaughter, and Michael Connelly.
About the Author
Twenty years in law enforcement. Countless cases. One mission: turn true grit into unforgettable crime fiction.For his writing, W Mark Harrington draws on more than two decades of law enforcement experience in North and South Carolina, where he encountered the kinds of cases and characters that linger long after the file is closed. Earlier in his career, he lived in a city just off a university campus, where students whispered about predators and serial killers walking among them—rumors that too often proved real. Those shadows, combined with years of investigative work, fuel the authenticity of Harrington's thrillers.
A lifelong fan of the “whodunit” tradition, Harrington’s storytelling is inspired by real crimes, firsthand accounts, and the conversations traded between cops over late-night coffee. His influences range from Raymond Chandler’s gritty mysteries to the high-stakes thrillers of James Patterson, John Grisham, Michael Connelly, Jack Carr, Tom Clancy, and Stephen Hunter.
To learn more, follow Mark on Amazon and on TikTok.