FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  
Oct. 15, 2024  

**Author Releases Debut Thriller 'Echoes in the Dark'**  

*Novel draws on real unsolved cases from 1980s Midwest.*  

NEW YORK -- Author Elena Vargas released her debut thriller "Echoes in the Dark" on Oct. 10 through independent publisher Black Oak Press.  

The 320-page book follows a journalist investigating cold-case murders in rural Illinois, blending fiction with details from actual disappearances documented in police archives. Vargas, a former investigative reporter, spent three years researching public records and interviewing survivors before completing the manuscript.  

"Echoes in the Dark isn't just a story—it's a reminder that some truths stay buried unless someone digs them up," said Vargas, 42, of Chicago. "I wrote it to honor the families still waiting for answers."  

The book is available in hardcover, e-book and audiobook formats from major retailers including Amazon, Barnes & Noble and IndieBound.org, with an initial print run of 10,000 copies. Early reviews from Midwest mystery bloggers noted its "unflinching realism," and it has secured placement in 50 independent bookstores across the U.S.  

"Readers are already sharing how the book reignited their interest in these old cases," said Black Oak Press editor Mark Reilly.  

"Echoes in the Dark" launches with a virtual reading event Oct. 22 via Zoom and in-person signings in Chicago on Oct. 25 and Milwaukee on Nov. 1. It retails for $26.99 in hardcover and $4.99 digitally.  

###  

ABOUT ELENA VARGAS: Elena Vargas is a Chicago-based author and former reporter for the Chicago Tribune. "Echoes in the Dark" is her first novel. She holds a journalism degree from Northwestern University.  

MEDIA CONTACT:  
Zara Thompson  
zara@crimsonleafmarketing.com  
(555) 123-4567