THE SHAKING

The tremors began at dawn—violent, betraying shudders that stole her consciousness. This time, the seizure left blood on the garage floor, a bemused realization that alcohol was not her friend, and an ultimatum from fiancée Sergeant Hunter Faraday: Rehab or we call off the engagement. His voice, steady as a sniper’s breath, named the facility—Woodlawn Acres Wellness Center. Safe. Discreet. But deep down, private investigator Olivia Callahan suspected the slick brochure he’d given her masked the stench of corruption.

She wondered at the cautious steps in the night. Forced over-medicating. Mysterious meetings with the small-town mayor and his meek wife. Then her best friend, Callie, hit her with the news of her husband’s parole and his ultimatums regarding their daughter: “I’ll be Daddy again,” he’d texted. “Even if I have to bury you to do it.”

Desperate to leave the rehab facility to help Callie and return to her firm, Watchdog Investigations, she checks the daily onslaught of pills, spitting them into a worn, hollowed-out paperback, nodding through daily therapy sessions, mapping the facility at night, and unearthing clues in locked closets with a stolen keycard. Then, one afternoon, the glint of a syringe. The orderlies with dead eyes called it “stabilization.” Now, she’s positive the forces arrayed against her are unwavering in their resolve to preserve their secrets. In a chilling moment of clarity, she realizes that this time, her indomitable will and the ever-valiant Hunter Faraday might not be enough to save her.

. . .

“In The Shaking, the latest Olivia Callahan Suspense Novel, P.I. Olivia juggles an insurance fraud case, a background investigation into a woman who is not whom she seems, and other cases while struggling with her own internal demons, a relationship teetering on the edge with her fiancé, and broken friendships that need mending. Full of twists and turns that will keep readers guessing, and just when you think Kerry Peresta is wrapping up Olivia’s cases with a neat bow, another ball drops.” 

~ Brian Thiem, author of The Mudflats Murder Club Series

“Kerry Peresta's Olivia Callahan series keeps getting better and better. Starting off with a bang, The Shaking doesn't let go until the nail-biting final pages. With its complex characters and ripped-from-the-headlines plotting, The Shaking will keep readers up late into the night!” 

~  K.L. Murphy, award-nominated author of The Great Forgotten

 (November 2025) and the Detective Callie Forde Mysteries

“Olivia Callahan has a lot going on—PTSD is causing seizures that terrify her family, her fiancée is giving her an ultimatum, and her demons have caught up to her. When her fiancée’s investigation intersects her own, the separate cases tangle in a web of corruption. How it all shakes out will change her life forever. A riveting, page-turner you won’t want to miss.” 

~ Lisa Black, NYT bestselling author

of the Gardiner & Renner Series

“With its cast of intriguing characters, The Shaking grabbed me from the first chapter and didn’t let go until well after the last page. Peresta is a mastermind when it comes to fast-paced, high-stakes plotlines; a maze which we happily journey through, loving every twist and turn. Some will make it through. Others won’t. The final book in the Olivia Callahan Series, The Shaking gives these multi-layered heroes the send-off they deserve. Peresta’s books just get better and better.” 

~ Susan Crawford, author of the international bestseller The Pocket Wife

“Never count Olivia Callahan out. The Shaking gets personal as Olivia chases her demons only to find even more sinister figures looming. With Peresta’s trademark clever plotting, and a heroine you can’t help but love, The Shaking is the best yet.” 

~ James L’Etoile, award-winning author of The Nathan Parker Series

and the Emily Hunter Series

“The gang’s back for Book 5 of the Olivia Callahan Suspense series. Feisty heroine Olivia Callahan is far from perfect, and she knows it. As she struggles to learn and grow, things are imploding at her PI business. She’s ready for an assist, and her friends—especially the level-headed Sargeant Hunter Faraday and her amazing dog, Marlowe—are more than up for the job. Seemingly unrelated storylines come together flawlessly. But when you think it’s over, don’t catch your breath! Peresta drops another bomb. A solid page-turner that will keep you up at night.” 

~ Cindy Goyette, award-winning author of The Probation Case Files 

Mystery Series and The Wiggle Butt Manor Mysteries.

“Kerry Peresta's newest thriller, The Shaking, plunges readers into Olivia Callahan's relentless pursuit to uncover a killer. Fast-paced, every twist and turn methodically heightens the suspense and deepens the intrigue. Her vivid characters and sharp storytelling propel the plot toward a gripping and satisfying conclusion. One that will stay with you for a long while.” 

~ Suzanne Baginskie, author of the FBI Affairs Series