In 1976, attorney Martin Dillon went hunting in the Pennsylvania woods with his best friend—and never came home.

Officials called it a tragic skeet-shooting accident. But when the only witness was Dr. Stephen Scher, the man having an affair with Martin's wife, the Dillon family refused to believe it. Then Scher did the unthinkable: he married the widow and raised her children as his own, living a stolen life for 20 years—until Martin's body was exhumed.

Some secrets never stay buried.

In The Jacklighter, journalist-turned-true crime author Carla Conti reconstructs the decades-long quest to understand what happened in Pennsylvania's Endless Mountains: the early missteps, the evidence that reopened the case, the witnesses, two trials, and the aftermath. She also uncovers a murder confession that never reached either jury—and the reasons it remained hidden.

With unique access to the victim's family and key witnesses, Conti reveals how one shotgun blast shattered multiple lives and tested whether justice can survive when everyone in town thinks they know the truth.

From the award-winning author of Chained Birds: A Crimemoir.

The Jacklighter will be available in eBook, hardcover, and paperback on launch day, Oct. 27, 2026, on Amazon and all other "wide" bookstore platforms, including many brick-and-mortar shops. Look for the author-narrated audiobook in Q1 2027, available first on NetGalley.

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PRAISE FOR THE JACKLIGHTER:

"A powerful and compulsive true crime epic that demands a screen adaptation … nothing short of an exceptional experience."
— BestThrillers

"Compelling … A vivid story of murder, a decades-long struggle to bring the killer to justice, and an underlying betrayal that divided a family … Grabs attention from the start."
— D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

"A 50-year true crime saga that underscores the shocking darkness—and unending lightness—of the human soul."
— Savannah Brooks, Independent Book Review

"Conti is both an excellent researcher and an excellent storyteller—two incredibly important skills in true crime writing. Conti manages to keep the focus of the story on the victim … and her dedication and thoroughness come through on the page."

— Hannah Laren, Brooklyn Public Library

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SPOILER-FREE, PLEASE:

The book builds to a never-before-published revelation. It's fine to say, as the description does, that a confession never reached either jury, but please don't reveal who/how/what it was so every reader can discover it fresh. Thank you!

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HOW TO SHARE YOUR HONEST REVIEW:

1. NetGalley: please leave your feedback here first, ideally by Oct. 27 (launch day!)

2. Goodreads (post anytime):

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/258364298-the-jacklighter

3. BookBub (post anytime):

https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-jacklighter-murder-betrayal-and-justice-in-pennsylvania-s-endless-mountains-by-carla-conti

4. Amazon (opens at launch, Oct. 27):

https://www.amazon.com/review/create-review?asin=B0HHSBNPVB

Heads-up: Amazon often blocks reviews from readers who didn't buy the book through them, so yours may not go through. It's still worth a try, please! 🙏 If it doesn't post, your Goodreads or BookBub review is just as helpful.

Thank you for considering The Jacklighter as an early read and being willing to share your honest thoughts on this 50-year true crime saga 🎉

Carla