The Thomas Shepherd Mystery series

thomas shepherd mystery series

The Thomas Shepherd Mystery and Thriller Series

Download the entire series on Amazon!

Picking up where the Wolf Lake books left off, the Thomas Shepherd Mystery series delivers intense, gripping thrills and suspense.

Thomas Shepherd is a rarity among law enforcement – a sheriff with Asperger’s syndrome. Together with his deputies, private investigator and girlfriend Chelsey Byrd, and his closest friends, he solves crimes and pursues deadly killers.

Heart-pounding suspense and expertly crafted characters keep thriller and mystery readers coming back for more and begging for more books. Discover why so many readers love Thomas Shepherd and the world of Wolf Lake, an idyllic location inspired by New York’s Finger Lakes region.

Each book is its own thriller and mystery. Reading the Wolf Lake series is not required.


grave girl mystery book

Grave Girl – Book 1

When McKenzie accompanies her boyfriend to the country for a night of stargazing, she vanishes in the dead of night. Her star-athlete boyfriend claims he had nothing to do with her disappearance, but he has no alibi.

As Thomas Shepherd searches for the missing girl, he discovers the boyfriend is hiding a dark secret. He’s a powder keg waiting to explode. But why would the future professional football star kidnap and murder his girlfriend?

Thomas must rely on girlfriend Chelsey Byrd and her team of private investigators. But Chelsey is battling her own demons after a near-fatal abduction by a crazed stalker.

At the same time, a rash of break-ins rocks the tiny village of Wolf Lake, keeping the private investigators busy.

More suspects emerge. Thomas and his deputies must determine who the real kidnapper is.  Will they find McKenzie in time?

Daddy’s Little Girls

When obsessive love turns to evil…

A nine-year-old girl vanishes from Wolf Lake without a trace, and Agent Neil Gardy with the FBI believes the disappearance is related to a potential kidnapping case in Michigan.

A child predator is loose in Nightshade County. And it’s Halloween night.

Sheriff Thomas Shepherd can’t escape the feeling that the two missing girls are part of a larger investigation. The deeper he digs, the closer he comes to hell.

Children venture into the night to celebrate Halloween, heedless of the sheriff’s warnings.

Is a dark presence watching?

Killer Instinct

Two bizarre deaths. One sadistic murderer.

And the sheriff tasked with catching him.

A decorated police officer is found dead in a farmer’s field, covered in what appear to be wasp stings. Except it’s almost Thanksgiving in New York, and three inches of snow cover the ground. Days later, a prominent businessman with a fear of heights leaps from Harmon’s tallest skyscraper.

Are the deaths related?

Working beside Raven Hopkins and the private investigators of Wolf Lake Consulting, Sheriff Thomas Shepherd pieces together an unsolvable puzzle. The deeper Thomas digs, the more certain he is the victims concealed secrets that got them killed.

Now someone is following the investigators. Someone who doesn’t want them to learn the truth.

Can the sheriff save his friends and family from a demented murderer?

Cold Blood

An escaped murderer hunts the wilderness.

And a killer storm is thundering toward Wolf Lake.

When a dangerous criminal escapes police custody, the sheriff’s department rushes to catch him. The unhinged convict is leaving a trail of bodies in his wake.

At the same time, Thomas Shepherd and Chelsey plan a long overdue vacation on Laurel Mountain. But the worst storm in decades is dead set on striking the mountain, and the snow threatens to strand them.

With no cell phone coverage and the storm playing havoc with the power grid and communications, Thomas and Chelsey must survive the elements, unaware the killer is near.

Can the sheriff’s department reach Thomas before it’s too late?

Cold Blood is the most pulse-pounding thriller in the Thomas Shepherd mystery series.

The Buried Girls

The girl vanished after her thirteenth birthday, leaving her family and friends desperate for answers. But the case went cold. Cold as a dead body . . .

Small town sheriff Thomas Shepherd is recovering from a traumatic encounter with a vicious killer. His psychiatrist urges him to avoid kidnapping and murder cases until his mind processes the nightmarish battle.

But when another girl disappears, Thomas has no choice but to lead the investigation. Challenged by Asperger’s syndrome, the sheriff must balance his duty and mental wellbeing.

Clues surface that a deadly cult is operating outside of Wolf Lake. Is the cult responsible for the abductions?

Thomas and his team races to save the teenagers. But horror lurks beneath the surface, even as it hides in plain sight.

A page-turning mystery and thriller from bestselling Amazon author Dan Padavona. Perfect for fans of Robert Dugoni, Angela Marsons, and Lisa Regan.

The Carver Thomas Shepherd

The Carver

The past returns to haunt Thomas Shepherd.

When a peculiar figurine arrives at the sheriff’s department, Thomas Shepherd’s instincts scream danger. At first glance, it appears to be a harmless ivory sculpture.

Until the medical examiner uncovers the horrifying truth.

The gift was crafted from human bone.

Haunted by his past, Thomas unravels the intricate web of The Carver, a malicious killer with a penchant for causing suffering. As the body count rises, Thomas must navigate a treacherous landscape of deception and violence.

Will he outsmart a madman whose sadistic desires know no bounds?

The Carver is a relentless rollercoaster of suspense, fear, and unexpected twists that will leave dark thriller enthusiasts breathless.

In the Shadow of the Raven

In the shadowy corners of Wolf Lake, a small town filled with secrets, a series of chilling murders paralyze the community. Women who live alone are found dead, each with an ominous calling card beside their bodies—a dead crow.

Sheriff Thomas Shepherd zeroes in on a suspect, while Raven Hopkins, a private investigator with an instinct for truth, becomes entangled in the investigation. She’s the only person who believes in the suspect’s innocence, putting her at odds with Thomas and the sheriff’s department.

As Thomas delves deeper into the case, the murders continue, each one more horrifying than the last. Time is running out, and the killer seems to be one step ahead.

Can Thomas catch the killer before another life is lost?

Or will Raven’s belief in a murderer’s innocence lead her down a path from which there’s no return?

From bestselling Amazon author Dan Padavona, “In the Shadow of the Raven” is a heart-pounding serial killer thriller and mystery. Perfect for fans of Jo Nesbø, Gillian Flynn, and Michael Connelly, this novel will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page.


Frequently Asked Questions

Q – Do I need to read the Wolf Lake thriller series to enjoy the Thomas Shepherd mysteries?

A – Not at all. The setting and characters are introduced as if you have not read the Wolf Lake books. However, if you love the Thomas Shepherd mystery series, I recommend you check out the Wolf Lake thrillers and mysteries and watch the characters evolve.

Q – Are all of the characters from the Wolf Lake series in this new series?

A – Yes! All your favorite characters return for new thriller and mystery stories, including Thomas, Chelsey, LeVar, Scout, Raven, and more.

Q – How many books will there be in the Thomas Shepherd mystery series?

A – There is no set limit. Readers love the stories and characters, and I enjoy writing about them. I envision a long series.

Q – Can I read the Thomas Shepherd thriller and mystery series with my Kindle Unlimited subscription?

A – Absolutely! If you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited, the Thomas Shepherd books are FREE to read.

Q – What formats are the books available in?

A – Each story is available in paperback, on Kindle, and in audiobook form.

Q – Are Wolf Lake and Nightshade County actual places?

A – Wolf Lake and Nightshade County are based on the Finger Lakes region of New York. If you are familiar with this area, you might recognize a spots that were inspired by their real-life counterparts.

Q – Can I preorder the next book in the series on Amazon?

A – Yes, you can preorder the Kindle version today. Amazon does not support paperback and audiobook preorders, but the paperback is generally available on the day of the Kindle release. The audiobook version usually arrives a month or two after the Kindle version.