The Color of Death: A Novel

From the number-one New York Times bestselling author and FOX News host Trey Gowdy comes a dark mystery debut about a murder in a small South Carolina town. Assistant DA Colm Truesdale must pick up the pieces of his own life in order to solve the case.

Following the death of his wife and daughter, Colm Truesdale is left mentally scarred. After time off, and with no desire to return to the courtroom, Truesdale is brought back into the investigation of the murder of a young woman who ran a beauty salon outside of town. When a page from her appointment book goes missing, and then the crime scene burns down, it’s up to Colm to untangle the web of deception that implicates a powerful judge and his family.

Taking readers inside the cat-and-mouse psychology of a killer and the assistant district attorney who must catch him, this thrilling fiction debut from bestselling author Trey Gowdy and celebrated author Christopher Greyson will keep you guessing until the very last page.

Trey Gowdy is a former state and federal prosecutor who handled thousands of criminal cases and took nearly one hundred cases to jury verdict. He prosecuted scores of murder cases, including seven death penalty trials. He served in Congress for eight years, chairing two committees and leaving in 2019 to return to South Carolina. He hosts the weekend primetime show Sunday Night in America on FOX News Channel and The Trey Gowdy Podcast on FOX News Audio. He is a New York Times bestselling author. He and his wife, Terri, have two children―both lawyers―and have had five dogs: Judge, Jury, Bailiff, Justice, and DA.

Connect with Trey Gowdy on:

Facebook: @RepTreyGowdy

Twitter: @TGowdySC

Instagram: @tgowdysc

“When a high-profile murder trial exposes deep-seated corruption in a Southern town, seasoned prosecutor Colm Truesdale finds himself entangled in a web of secrets that threaten both his career and his life. As the case unfolds, Truesdale must navigate powerful enemies and the ghosts from his past. In The Color of Death, Trey Gowdy delivers a riveting legal thriller where the verdict might come at a terrible price.” - Brian Kilmeade

“Set in South Carolina, The Color of Death immediately pulled me in with its dark beauty and mystery. When a shocking murder shakes a small town, old grudges and hidden secrets come to light, putting everything at risk. Trey Gowdy has written a gripping and intense story.” - Ainsley Earhardt

“A masterful exploration of grief and justice. This haunting and morally complex thriller captures the atmosphere of the Piedmont of South Carolina while probing the dark corners of the soul.” - Sean Hannity

“Trey Gowdy has hit another home run—this time it wasn’t in the justice system. It was about the justice system. He weaves a gripping story of loss, grief, doubt, and ultimately, light. I don’t know anyone who knows the courtroom better than Trey, and this book puts us inside the minds of prosecutors, cops, victims, and even the defendants. If you pick up this book, be warned: you won’t be able to put it down.” - Senator Tim Scott

“A daring and strong debut novel by one of America’s most dedicated prosecutors, The Color of Death is a page-turning mystery from someone who loves the law with a moral clarity that will result in justice in the end. A triumph by my dear friend Trey Gowdy.” - Dana Perino

The Color of Death by Trey Gowdy, written with Christopher Greyson, is a dark and suspenseful legal thriller set in a small South Carolina town. At the center of the story is Colm Truesdale, an assistant district attorney who has become a deeply broken man after suffering the devastating loss of both his young daughter and his wife. Once known as a talented and determined prosecutor, Colm has taken time away from the courtroom because he can no longer bear the emotional weight of his work. He is living with grief, guilt, and a constant feeling that his own life has lost its meaning. Yet when a brutal murder takes place, he is pulled back into the world of criminal investigation and prosecution.

The murder that brings Colm back involves Rachel Simone, a young woman who owns a beauty salon outside town. Rachel is found brutally murdered inside her salon, and the crime scene immediately suggests that this was not an ordinary robbery or random killing. The violence appears personal, and the investigators quickly realize that Rachel may have been involved with people whose secrets could be dangerous. Colm initially has little desire to become involved, but his instincts as a prosecutor return as he begins examining the evidence. What makes the investigation even more troubling is that evidence starts disappearing. A page from Rachel's appointment book goes missing, and later the salon itself is destroyed by fire. These events suggest that someone is actively trying to prevent the truth from being discovered.

One of the most important people connected to Rachel is Judge Martin Weber, a powerful and respected member of the local legal system. Weber has been secretly involved with Rachel, and their relationship has created serious complications. Rachel had information that could damage his reputation and possibly affect his position. After her death, Weber becomes frightened about what the police might discover. Instead of simply cooperating with the investigation, he begins taking steps to protect himself. His actions gradually make him look increasingly suspicious, while his position and influence create additional difficulties for Colm and the investigators.

The investigation becomes a complicated mixture of murder, corruption, hidden relationships, and abuse of power. Colm discovers that important evidence may have been deliberately removed or manipulated. A missing page from Rachel's appointment book appears to contain information linking her to Weber, while phone records and surveillance evidence begin placing Weber closer to the crime scene than he admits. Colm refuses to accept convenient explanations and continues following the evidence even when doing so means challenging people who possess far more power than he does. His determination reflects his belief that the justice system must protect the truth rather than the powerful.

At the same time, Colm is fighting another battle that has little to do with the murder. His personal grief is so severe that he struggles to function normally. His daughter Jaci died as an infant, and his wife Ally later died by suicide. Colm carries enormous guilt over both tragedies, particularly because he believes he failed to recognize what his wife was going through. His sister-in-law Mae Jennings, who works as a forensic psychiatrist, repeatedly tries to persuade him to confront his grief instead of burying it beneath his work. These personal struggles give the novel an emotional dimension beyond the central murder mystery. Colm is not simply trying to solve a crime; he is also trying to find a reason to continue living.

While investigating Rachel's murder, Colm also develops a friendship with Belle Atkins, a waitress who is studying business and considering a future in law. Belle brings a sense of warmth and normality into Colm's otherwise dark world. She does not try to solve his problems, but her kindness reminds him that life can still contain meaningful human connections. Colm encourages her ambitions, while Belle gradually becomes someone who sees beyond his professional reputation and notices the wounded person underneath. Their relationship provides some of the novel's lighter moments and becomes an important source of hope for Colm.

However, the danger surrounding the investigation grows. Colm becomes the target of a separate revenge plot involving JD and Knox, two men connected to an earlier legal case. They begin watching him, entering his home, threatening him, and psychologically tormenting him. Their actions make it clear that Colm is dealing with more than one enemy. The revenge storyline also raises questions about the consequences of the justice system: when someone believes that a loved one has been treated unfairly, how far can revenge go before it becomes another form of injustice? The threats against Colm add a tense cat-and-mouse element to the story and make his investigation increasingly dangerous.

The murder case itself takes a major turn when Colm and the police arrest Martin Weber. Evidence found in connection with Weber appears strong enough to make him the obvious suspect. However, the case begins to weaken when forensic evidence points toward his son Lucas. Colm is removed from the investigation, and another prosecutor takes over. For Colm, losing the case is devastating because the investigation had become deeply personal. His emotional state deteriorates so badly that he reaches a point where he nearly ends his own life. He is eventually taken for treatment, forcing him to confront the pain he has avoided for so long.

Ironically, it is during this period of recovery that Colm notices the small detail that ultimately changes the entire case. Something as simple as a damaged glove helps him realize that the killer may have left behind evidence connected to a ring. Colm understands that the real murderer may not be the person everyone has been focusing on. He returns to the courtroom and takes control of the case, using his legal knowledge to expose the weaknesses in the prosecution's earlier arguments.

The final revelations completely change the reader's understanding of the murder. The evidence ultimately points toward Tiffany Weber, Martin's wife, rather than Martin himself. Her motive is rooted in jealousy, betrayal, and the humiliation of discovering her husband's affair with a younger woman. Rachel's death was not simply the result of a secret relationship going wrong; it was driven by a mixture of anger, wounded pride, and desperation. The crucial physical evidence comes from Tiffany's diamond ring, which contains traces of Rachel's blood. The ring had also damaged the gloves worn during the murder, providing the missing connection that allows Colm to establish the truth. Tiffany eventually confesses, bringing the murder investigation to its conclusion.

But the novel does not end with a simple victory. Martin Weber's own corruption and connections to local power brokers continue to create consequences, while the separate investigation into Frank Hastings's death reveals that Colm may be connected to the revenge plot in ways he did not initially understand. The final scenes also suggest that JD's story is far from over. She approaches Colm's world from a distance, making it clear that the danger surrounding him has not completely disappeared.

Ultimately, The Color of Death is about much more than solving a murder. It explores grief, guilt, revenge, corruption, power, and the difficult search for justice. Colm Truesdale is compelling because he is both a skilled prosecutor and a deeply wounded human being. His investigation forces him to rediscover the part of himself that still believes truth matters, even when truth is painful. The novel combines courtroom drama with psychological suspense and a deeply personal story about surviving loss. Its central message is that justice depends on looking beyond appearances and following the smallest pieces of evidence, even when powerful people want the truth to remain hidden. At the same time, Colm's journey suggests that finding justice for others may also become a way of finding a reason to live for oneself.