Little Miss Dead by Amy Cross

John Trench always knew that Sobolton was a strange place, but even he didn’t expect to uncover a grisly murder scene on his very first day as the town’s new sheriff.

Trapped in the ice of a frozen lake, a young girl’s bloodied body sparks panic in the tightly knit community. Nobody knows who the girl, aged only eight or nine, could have been, but the hunt for the killer sparks widespread paranoia as her ghostly figure starts appearing in the town. John knows that his future as sheriff depends on capturing the murderer. If he fails, he’ll never be able to convince the locals that he’s the right man for the job.

Meanwhile, local veterinarian Lisa Sondnes has made a nasty discovery of her own. A rabid wolf has been spotted in the area, scavenging for food in the sub zero temperatures. As Lisa investigates the animal’s attacks, however, she begins to suspect that she might be dealing with something far more dangerous than a single lone wolf. And as she starts to uncover the truth, she finds clues that lead her – just like John Trench – to swirls of blood trapped in the frozen lake.

Little Miss Dead is the first book in the Horrors of Sobolton series, which tells the story of one small town’s struggle to deal with the paranormal monstrosities on its doorstep. Each book tells a standalone story, but there are cliffhangers and readers are recommended to go through the series in order.