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Historical mystery writer Jess Montgomery's newest book, The Hollows, will be released Jan. 14, but is available now for pre-order. It's the second offering in the Kinship Historical Mysteries. Her first book, The Widows, will be published in paperback on Jan. 7, 2020.

The Hollows promises to be another engaging page turner.

In the heart of Appalachia in Ohio in 1926, an elderly woman is killed walking along the tracks. The brakeman tells tales of seeing a ghostly female figure dressed all in white. Newly elected Sheriff Lily Ross does not believe that an old woman would wander out of the hills onto the tracks. In a county where everyone knows everyone, how can someone have disappeared, when nobody knew they were missing?

As ghost stories and rumors settle into the consciousness of Moonvale Hollow, Lily tries to search for any real clues to the woman's identity. With the help of her friend Marvena Whitcomb, she follows the woman's trail to The Hollows — an asylum in northern Athens County — and they begin to expose secrets long-hidden by time and the mountains.

Those who order the book before the Jan. 14, 2020, publication date will be entered in a "pre-order thank you" sweepstakes with the winner receiving moonstone jewelry crafted by a Dayton, Ohio, jewelry maker. To enter the sweepstakes, click here.

Under Montgomery's given name of Sharon Short, she is a newspaper columnist, focusing on the literary life, authors and events of her native Dayton for theDayton Daily News. Her first novel in the mystery series garnered awards even before publication: Montgomery County (Ohio) Arts & Cultural District (MCAD) Artist Opportunity Grant (2018); Individual Excellence Award (2016) in Literary Arts from Ohio Arts Council; John E. Nance Writer in Residence at Thurber House (Columbus, Ohio) in 2014. The Widows also has been noted on two lists of the best mystery books of 2019.