Thanks to Mark Miller, who knows why. Similarly, thanks to Ric and Debbie Cacchione, Russ and Debbie Frost, Bill and Susan Kerwin, Megan and Lori Brandstetter, Erin, Jim and Anne Schroeder, Sharon Santino, Lisa Schunemann, Donna and Shannon McCall, and Jennie Eyerman, for showing up for me in a way that I’m still so, so grateful for.
Thanks to my MWA Midwest fam and my Pitch Wars fam for always having my back.
Thanks to my fellow “Unlikeable Female Characters,” Layne Fargo and Wendy Heard: we still need to get the matching jackets.
Thanks to my parents for their unyielding support, especially for asking questions they already know the answers to at book events to get the conversation started.
Finally, thanks to Joanna Schroeder, who shows up and pays attention every day. Fwoosh.
ALSO BY KRISTEN LEPIONKA
The Last Place You Look
What You Want to See
The Stories You Tell
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
KRISTEN LEPIONKA is the Shamus Award–winning and Anthony and Macavity Award–nominated author of The Last Place You Look, What You Want to See, and The Stories You Tell.
She grew up mostly in her local public library, where she could be found with a big stack of adult mysteries before she was out of middle school. She is a cofounder of the feminist podcast Unlikeable Female Characters, and she lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her partner and two cats. You can sign up for email updates here.
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CONTENTS
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Acknowledgments
Also by Kristen Lepionka
About the Author
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
ONCE YOU GO THIS FAR. Copyright © 2020 by Kristen Lepionka. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Publishing Group, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271.
www.minotaurbooks.com
The Library of Congress has cataloged the print edition as follows:
Names: Lepionka, Kristen, author.
Title: Once you go this far: a mystery / Kristen Lepionka.
Description: First Edition. | New York: Minotaur Books, 2020. | Series: Roxane weary; 4
Identifiers: LCCN 2019055285 | ISBN 9781250309372 (hardcover) | ISBN 9781250309389 (ebook)
Subjects: GSAFD: Mystery fiction.
Classification: LCC PS3612.E62 O53 2020 | DDC 813/.6—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019055285
Our ebooks may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at 1-800-221-7945, extension 5442, or by email at [email protected].
First Edition: 2020
Once You Go This Far Page 28