Creature of Secret Sorrows

Prepare to Meet the Latest Monster to Visit Cadence, New York

I’ve Been Waiting for the Next Release in A Cadence Mystery Series. When Will It Be Released?

I know. The wait is agonizing, but I promise, it will be worth it. Creature of Secret Sorrows (A Cadence Mystery #7), which is set to be released in late March 2026, takes the community of Cadence on a new journey, as the folklore of the different cultures that make up the multicultural community intersect in new, and horrifying, ways. The secrets released by Seneca Lake in this new installment will have you, dear reader, checking your doors and windows at night and possibly, sleeping with the lights on.

What is Creature of Secret Sorrows About?

With All Saints Eve just days away, Randy Nichols, retired geology professor, goes missing, and Marian Greene happens upon a young Black man who was horrifically murdered. Then, real terror visits. A cursed object alters perceptions, and a mythical creature taunts police officers. The past comes calling for justice, and at least one citizen of Cadence harbors painful secrets and plans retribution. 

Why My Writing Journey Brought Me to Write Creature of Secret Sorrows

I can attest, writing this book caused me to lose a lot of sleep. On the nights I managed to sleep, the monster appeared in my nightmares. My husband wondered if I’d make it to completion. Yet, I never doubted that I would finish. This story was too immersive and too relevant not to see it to completion.

I always knew that A Cadence Mystery series would tease the reader with a darker, menacing presence. The characters in the earlier books often expressed the feeling that they were being watched, and, as The Booklife Prize critique said of Fallen Deer, “Cadence, the town, is another character of sorts, the secretive kind who, when she finally does give up a secret, keeps a dozen more.”

Each story built its atmospheric presence on the tragic history of the place, the prophesy of the 100-year covenant, and on the intergenerational trauma experienced by ethnic minorities in the history of this country. Every tragedy in Cadence is related to the trauma inflicted upon whole populations of ethnic minorities and women and the ever-present impact of that history today.

The stories also rely on the beauty of the Finger Lakes region in New York State, the rich history of the state, and the cultural intersectionality of the Six Nations of the Iroquois, fugitive slaves like Harriet Tubman, and the white abolitionists and suffragettes. They use them as contrasts to the unthinkable truths of the history of this country and how personal those choices are to the people who suffered the consequences of them.

Like all the books, Creature of Secret Sorrows, takes the big picture of this country and makes it personal, intimate, and evocative. Many reader and critic reviews call the series immersive, and Creature will immerse you so deeply, you’ll find yourself gasping for air. You’ve tagged along for the personal journeys of Marian, Lester, Enoch, Gina, Oliver, Madison, and others. You’ve told me in reviews and personally that you felt every step of those journeys. Prepare yourself. The journey our beloved characters take in Creature will rock your foundation. And one character’s journey ends in tragedy.

Why Choosing Horror Made Sense

It only made sense for me to take the plunge into Gothic, or supernatural, thriller. Because horror is the external manifestation of personal and collective trauma and a history that cries for justice and reconciliation.

So, yes, the wait is agonizing, but it is worth it. Creature of Secret Sorrows will be released in late March 2026.

Catch up on the other books in the series, and you’ll be ready for screams and bad dreams when Creature of Secret Sorrows is released into the world.

I’ll see you in Cadence!

Dianne