A Cadence Mystery
Award-winning multicultural folklore noir mystery series.
The past cries for justice. The present demands the truth. And the future relies on repair.
In the quiet town of Cadence, located on the shore of Seneca Lake in the Finger Lakes Region of New York, the shadows don’t just hide secrets—they remember them.
A Cadence Mystery series isn’t your typical cozy mystery; It’s a pulse-pounding descent into the dark side of the American experience where the ghosts of the past leave their calling cards and monsters straight out of folklore unmask long-buried secrets.
Follow Marian and Lester Greene—an interracial couple who carries the scars of a country that doesn’t think they should be together—and Enoch Shenandoah, a stranger, turned close friend, as they navigate a community where small-town charm and close relationships mask a tragic racial history. From the chilling screams of the Creature of Secret Sorrows to the modern-day tension of Black Lives Matter protests in The Eagle Speaks, award-winning author, Dianne L. Hagan, weaves a tapestry of social and supernatural suspense that will keep you awake long past your bedtime wondering, ”What’s going to happen next?”
Why read A Cadence Mystery?
- Genre-Defying Thrills: A masterful blend of Gothic horror, folklore, and modern socio-cultural intrigue.
- Social Justice at its Core: A “soul-enriching” exploration of race, corruption, and historical truth that sparks profound dialogue.
- Atmospheric & Cinematic: Meticulously detailed settings that bring the eerie beauty of the Finger Lakes region to life while still being so personal, you’ll discover yourself in the stories.
Step into a town where the past is never truly buried. Start the journey critics call “essential reading” and discover why unearthing the truth in Cadence is more dangerous than the monsters protecting it.
To learn more about A Cadence Mystery characters, check out our Character Reference Index.
Located in the history-rich Finger Lakes region in New York, Cadence is a small town with a big secret.
When interracially married Marian Greene discovers a desecrated body in the library, she, husband Lester, and friend, Enoch Shenandoah, realize they are in peril and inextricably tied to the tragic, racially-charged secret as descendants of the town founders.
They race to solve the murder and reveal the secret, with the occasional guidance of dreams, spirits, and animals, and, along the way, they suffer moments of dark introspection and crises of faith.
The journey brings them to understand that the hope of Cadence’s redemptive future and their own safety rest in the fulfillment a 100-year-old covenant.
“A grisly opening scene sets the tone for this century-spanning narrative that tackles the legacies of racism in small-town America. Spirit animals, dreams, and narratives from journals dating to the 1880s add imaginative and historical dimension to the narrative.”
— The BookLife Prize
Titus Mann, a popular young Black man in the community of Cadence, New York, is shot and killed by a deputy sheriff who responds to a 911 call even though it is outside his jurisdiction. People go missing after Black Lives Matter protesters descend on the small town that is splintering with blame and accusations.
It is up to Lester and Marian Greene, Enoch Shenandoah, and three Black Lives Matter protesters to sift through the chaos and danger. They endure crises of faith and threats to their lives and safety as their beliefs and resilience are tested.
Listening to the messages from the eagle and the Great Spirit, they assist the beleaguered police chief and the “just-the-facts” SBI agents to find out who is behind the plot to destroy Cadence.
Literary Titan Book Award Winner
Finalist in the 2023 American Fiction Award
“…Hagan tackles a volatile and pressing conflict in America today through this riveting story. [She] does a fantastic job remaining a neutral storyteller in a topic that divides so many Americans.”
— Literary Titan
“There’s plenty of edginess to The Eagle Speaks, and the narrative is rich with diversity…”
— The Booklife Prize
As dawn breaks on July 2, 2023, two brothers steal a vintage car, load it with assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, and drive two hours to Cadence, New York, to start a race war. Their fantasy of mayhem and notoriety brings anguish and loss to the multicultural, inclusive community.
Seneca Lake, known for millennia as Assiniki, or Stony Place, by the Seneca tribe, dredges up a shameful history of Cadence. Or perhaps it is the Great Serpent who orchestrates the shocking revelation.
Once again, Marian and Lester Greene, Enoch Shenandoah, and their family, friends, and neighbors must rise to the challenge or lose everyone they love and the town they’ve committed to keeping safe.
Literary Titan Book Award Winner
“Hagan’s work sparks profound dialogues that test readers’ ethical perspectives and convictions, establishing it as an essential read for those in pursuit of a stimulating and captivating literary experience.”
— Literary Titan
“[Stony Place] engagingly integrates well loved tropes, found family being the most clear, while meaningfully addressing violence and hateful ideologies. Hagan has a knack for character development, and ties the characters well into the broader storytelling. [The] large cast of characters is charming and diverse. Hagan crafts an intriguing and multilayered mystery.”
— The Booklife Prize
“What could possibly happen?” Marian Greene quips to husband Lester, as she sets out for a quiet walk in the woods. But life in Cadence, New York, is neither quiet nor easy.
Stunned after a fall, Marian stumbles upon a mutilated corpse. Kneeling beside the corpse is a menacing giant. Is the ogre a figment of her imagination, or is it the Genoskwa, the mythical creature of Seneca legend? Gunfire, a second body, and two missing people ignite a community-wide search for the answer.
When hidden truths and secret agreements are uncovered, the Greenes and their friends are soon confronting their own demons and wondering, “Who is the real monster?”
Literary Titan Book Award Winner
American Fiction Awards Finalist
“Readers will be glued to the page from the get-go.”
— The BookLife Prize
“Hagan’s incorporation of Native American traditions… melds a rich tapestry of cultural discovery into the mystery. The author’s meticulous attention to detail, from the vividly painted settings to the integration of folklore, creates an immersive experience that lingers with the reader.”
— Literary Titan
Madison Hayward is a mess. Wedding canceled. Fired from her job. Brother, Stanton, not speaking to her. Unsure she’ll ever return to Cadence. And her corrupt, abusive father, state senator, Samuel Hayward, was found dead in his prison cell.
Madison believes her only recourse is reconciling her past, so she goes back to where it all started, the Hayward mansion in Albany, New York, the “house of horrors” she fled at 17. Despite her fear that they won’t respond, she calls upon her Cadence family and friends to join her there.
Together, they bring to light Madison’s terrifying childhood memories, unearth the horrific history of the estate, and provoke Madison’s formidable adversary to exact revenge, putting them all in danger.
Will Madison find the redemption she seeks? Or will the cost be too high?
Literary Titan Book Award Winner
American Fiction Awards Finalist
“Hagan’s storytelling is masterful, with a captivating plot filled with suspense and tinged with horror. Improbable Future is a riveting addition to the Cadence Mystery series, blending suspense, emotional depth, and social commentary.”
— Literary Titan
“For those who have followed the series, “Improbable Future” is a pivotal installment, setting the stage for what promises to be a devastating finale. For newcomers, this is a book that will pull you into its dark and twisting world, leaving you eager to uncover every last secret buried beneath Cadence’s polished surface.”
— Reader Review
“Dianne leads us through the story with her trademark wit, vivid imagery and her wonderful knack for storytelling.”
— Reader Review
“Hagan’s ability to balance a deeply personal story of survival with a pulse-pounding mystery is exceptional.”
— Reader Review
A penumbral lunar eclipse of the worm moon is imminent in Cadence, New York, where the spring rain is constant and the chill in the air is palpable.
Lester Greene and Enoch Shenandoah are called to an emergency at the Hill Place Resort. Marian Greene decides to run errands. She is stopped in her tracks by a deer. And a dead body.
When Police Chief George Powless receives a report that there are monsters in the woods, and two more bodies are discovered, chaos ensues.
The community of Cadence is left to wonder once again what secret the lake is about to reveal.
Will Cadence be destroyed when the secret is revealed, or will it be saved?
Literary Titan Book Award
“What I love most about this book is how effortlessly Hagan blends cozy small-town dynamics with high-stakes suspense. The relationships feel real—warm, complicated, and filled with the kind of teasing and deep loyalty that makes the town of Cadence feel like home.
— Literary Titan
“Fallen Deer is a gripping, emotionally rich, and culturally aware mystery that exemplifies character-driven storytelling at its finest.”
— Reader Review
“Hagan has a rare ability to make you care deeply for every voice in her ensemble, even when they’re flawed or in conflict. The intergenerational and multicultural dynamics in Cadence add profound richness and texture.”
— Reader Review
“The storytelling is beautifully layered, social commentary, mystery, and personal growth all weave together seamlessly. Fallen Deer isn’t just about solving a crime; it’s about healing, reckoning with legacy, and finding strength in community.”
— Reader Review