NIGHT SHIFT NOTES

Before the cabin. Before the quiet. Before East Texas started calling us back. David and I were detectives chasing murder through backroads, burned-out buildings, and lies that didn’t crack easy. Murder Doesn’t Clock Out: Before Quinlan is the prequel — seven cases that built our grit, tested our instincts, and taught us the hard way that justice doesn’t come clean. You want the truth? Start here. — Loretta

Harold Finch was found slumped over his garage workbench, throat slashed clean. A six-inch wooden doll, dressed in miniature overalls, mirrored the wound exactly. The next day, Albert Keyes was discovered in his study, wrist lacerated, with another doll—cardigan and glasses—standing upright on the desk. Each scene was staged with obsessive precision. The killer didn’t just leave evidence. They left a performance.

In 1885, Austin was gripped by terror. A phantom killer crept through the fog, dragging victims from their beds and leaving them mutilated in moonlit yards. No footprints. No witnesses. Just blood and silence. They called him the Servant Girl Annihilator—but no one ever saw his face. The murders stopped as suddenly as they began, but the dread remains. Walk past Pecan and Sabine after midnight, and you might hear him still.

Bragg Road in Saratoga, Texas is home to one of the state’s most chilling legends: the Headless Railroad Worker. Said to have been decapitated in a tragic rail accident in the early 1900s, his ghost still roams the abandoned line, swinging a lantern in search of his missing head. Visitors report seeing a glowing light drifting through the Big Thicket—silent, eerie, and impossible to explain. Some searches never end. 👻

Before Lake Tawakoni was a reservoir, it was a valley thick with pine and secrets. They say one tree still grows beneath the water—upside down, feeding on broken promises. And from it crawls the Splinter Man: a bark-bodied figure with hollow eyes and creaking limbs. He doesn’t kill. He scatters. So if you hear wood groan near the eastern shore, don’t speak. Don’t lie. And whatever you do… don’t look into the water.

The Dollmaker of Point is officially on Audible as an audiobook, voiced by the incomparable Jess Wright. Her narration brings every eerie whisper and bloodstained secret to life. And don’t forget—Teardrops of Lake Tawakoni is available on Audible now, also narrated by Jess. If you love Southern noir, forensic intrigue, and emotionally charged suspense, these audiobooks will pull you deep into the heart of Texas darkness.

Teardrops of Lake Tawakoni – The Eras Remix: In My Gen Z Era is dropping FREE on Kindle from October 13–17. This isn’t the OG—it’s the emotionally feral reboot. Rewritten for readers who binge thrillers like cursed playlists and annotate in trauma-coded emojis. If you missed the original, now’s your chance to spiral for $0. The lake’s not calm—it’s petty. And it’s carving teardrops into bodies like it’s a vibe check.

The lake’s watching—and the cover just dropped. Teardrops of Lake Tawakoni – The Eras Remix: In My Gen Z Era is giving haunted soft launch, forensic dread, and emotionally feral chaos. Loretta and David Smitty are chasing bodies, trauma-coded symbols, and small-town silence. TikTok-style chapters like POV: The Lake’s Got Beef and Unsent = Unsolved make this a bingeable thriller for anyone who spirals at 2AM and screenshots before they cry.

In East Texas, the legend of Bowers Mansion still lingers like a cold breath on the neck. Decades after a tragic murder-suicide, locals report flickering lights, phantom footsteps, and the silhouette of Mary drifting past upstairs windows. Paranormal teams have documented chilling phenomena, while storytellers draw inspiration from its sorrow-soaked walls. This haunting tale blends history, grief, and the supernatural into one unforgettable mystery.

The cover for Teardrops of Lake Tawakoni: The Coloring Book is finally here—and it’s as haunting as the story itself. Split between blood-red dread and stark line art, this eerie design invites you to color your way through grief, secrets, and suspense. With two bonus games—Find & Color the Suspect and Hidden Message Challenge—this isn’t just a book. It’s a puzzle. A ritual. A reckoning. Unmasking evil, one body at a time.

Dive back into the chilling world of Teardrops of Lake Tawakoni with the upcoming companion coloring book. Featuring eerie illustrations pulled from the novel, this creepy coloring experience hides a sinister twist—select pages include a “Find & Color the Suspect” challenge. Submit all completed suspect pages to enter a drawing for a free autographed copy of the book and a free audiobook edition. Dare to color the shadows?

In Point, Texas, the legend of Rosalea haunts Clifton Cemetery. After her grave filled with groundwater, she appeared to the diggers, warning them not to bury her there. They ignored her—and soon, an eerie image of her face appeared on a tree at the head of the grave. Every man who touched it died within weeks. The tree was burned, but its scorched stump remains. Visitors say it’s still cold to the touch. Rosalea’s warning lingers. Don’t dig. Don’t touch. Don’t forget.

Join authors Loretta & David Allseitz for Whispers & Witnesses, a thriller book signing and vendor haunt on October 18th, 5–7 PM at The Venue at 84 WEST in Denison, TX. Discover chilling reads like Teardrops of Lake Tawakoni and The Dollmaker of Point, shop eerie vendor goods, and experience a night of suspense. Limited books available—bring cash or VENMO. Dare to attend. Witness the whispers. Embrace the haunt.

Teardrops of Lake Tawakoni is now available on Audible! Dive into this haunting psychological thriller inspired by East Texas lore—perfect for fans of eerie mysteries and emotional suspense. Narrated with chilling depth, the audiobook brings every secret and shadow to life. Listen now, and stay tuned: The Dollmaker of Point audiobook is in production and coming soon.

The Dollmaker of Point ebook is free on Amazon until September 20—don’t miss this limited-time offer. Dive into a chilling East Texas mystery filled with folklore, obsession, and atmospheric suspense. Perfect for fans of psychological thrillers and eerie small-town secrets. Download your free copy before the offer disappears.

In the fog-shrouded town of Point, Texas, eerie figures roam—three identical men marked by silent wounds, and a fourth soaked in blood. Locals whisper they’re victims of the Dollmaker, each shadowed by a handcrafted wooden doll. No one knows where they come from, but their presence leaves mirrors fogged and hearts racing. Are they ghosts, warnings, or something worse? Discover the chilling legend that blurs the line between folklore and fear. Do you believe?

The Dollmaker of Point is free in ebook format for five days only—starting September 16. Dive into this chilling psychological thriller set in small-town Texas, where secrets, grief, and forensic clues unravel a haunting mystery. Perfect for fans of Southern noir and emotionally charged suspense. Don’t miss your chance to download this gripping read before the offer ends September 20.

Drivers near Point, Texas have reported picking up a barefoot woman on FM 47—only for her to vanish before reaching her destination. Locals say she’s the ghost of a girl who died in a 1979 wreck, still trying to find her way home. This chilling East Texas legend draws curious travelers and ghost hunters alike. Discover the haunting truth behind the Vanishing Hitchhiker of Lake Tawakoni.

The Dollmaker of Point is officially in production as an audiobook, voiced by the incomparable Jess Wright. Her narration brings every eerie whisper and bloodstained secret to life. And don’t forget—Teardrops of Lake Tawakoni will be available in less than two weeks, also narrated by Jess. If you love Southern noir, forensic intrigue, and emotionally charged suspense, these audiobooks will pull you deep into the heart of Texas darkness.

Don’t miss your chance to download Teardrops of Lake Tawakoni—a gripping Texas thriller of murder and betrayal—free on Amazon starting September 11th for five days only. Dive into the fog-drenched mystery where secrets surface and danger lurks beneath every ripple. Perfect for fans of psychological suspense and Southern noir. Claim your copy and uncover the truth before the offer disappears.

The Dollmaker of Point, Book 2 in A Texas Thriller of Murder and Betrayal, is releasing early! Available on Amazon starting September 13—weeks ahead of its original October 1 date. Dive into this chilling Southern noir packed with forensic suspense, betrayal, and atmospheric mystery. Don’t miss the next gripping installment from Loretta & David Allseitz. Stay tuned for more updates and exclusive content.

Discover the Audible audiobook of Teardrops of Lake Tawakoni, narrated by Jess Wright, arriving in under three weeks—earlier than Halloween! Mark your calendars now for a chilling Texas thriller experience rich in murder mystery, forensic suspense, and betrayal on Lake Tawakoni.

Get an exclusive 10-minute sneak peek of Teardrops of Lake Tawakoni, a chilling Southern noir audiobook available only to Patreon members. Dive into forensic suspense, eerie lake secrets, and the first whispers of a murder that won’t stay buried. Join Loretta Allseitz’s Patreon for early access and immersive crime fiction content.