Swallowtail
by Emily Ross
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Pub Date Nov 18 2025 | Archive Date Feb 28 2026
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Description
In the gritty seaside town of Quincy, Massachusetts, the killing of a teenager on her daughter’s dance team plunges Detective Samantha Star into the trauma of her abduction twenty years before. As clues point to a repeat killer obsessed with Surrealism and Greek myth, Sam must unravel the mystery of her own kidnapping to solve the crime–before her daughter is next. At stake are not just the teenagers’ lives, but also Sam’s identity as a detective and an artist, and a community’s chance at healing. SWALLOWTAIL is the moving story of a woman’s journey to free herself from the trauma of her past, and a thought-provoking exploration of violent representations of women in myth and art.
A Note From the Publisher
Advance Praise
"Emily Ross powerfully and authentically reveals the gritty reality, disturbing history, and the fierce loyalties of small-town life. SWALLOWTAIL is gorgeously written, and is clearly born from a deep knowledge of those whose lives Ross so genuinely portrays—people whose hopes won’t quit, whose friendships endure, and whose dreams propel them into dangers they could never have predicted. Evocative, compelling, and utterly heartbreaking, this is an unforgettable story.” Hank Phillippi Ryan, USA Today bestselling author of ALL THIS COULD BE YOURS
"Set on the gritty streets of Quincy, Mass., SWALLOWTAIL introduces tough, seasoned detective Samantha Star, who must stare down her past when a serial killer who haunted her teenage years returns to kill again. Emily Ross’s adult debut delivers the goods, bringing rich atmosphere, deep characterization, plenty of '90s nostalgia, and a taut storyline that will keep you turning pages well into the night. Fans of Mare of Easttown will love this one!" –Edwin Hill, author of WHO TO BELIEVE
"Blending the disparate worlds of teen dancers and townie detectives, Ross has choreographed a mesmerizing pas de deux of past trauma and present-day terror in this chilling mystery, where everyone and everything is suspect–even memory" — Kelly J. Ford, Anthony-nominated author of REAL BAD THINGS
"Emily Ross elevates the small-town murder mystery with complex female dynamics, a series of increasingly twisted crimes rooted in Greek mythology, and a New England community that bears scars. An artful exploration of trauma and obsession that delivers reveal after stunning reveal with narrative muscle and heart, SWALLOWTAIL is top-notch crime fiction." — Tessa Wegert, author of IN THE BONES
Marketing Plan
Working with MidasPR for trade reviews, book clubs, and more.
Releasing teasers via publisher Substack newsletter.
Events planned nationally.
Working with partner venues as pop-up bookstores.
Social media promotion.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Paperback |
| ISBN | 9798998954733 |
| PRICE | $19.99 (USD) |
| PAGES | 334 |
