Series: Zachary Goldman Mysteries #21
Genres: Mystery, Suspense, Mystery/Suspense
eBook Price: $ 7.99 USD
Paperback Price: $ 15.95 USD
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As a fan of this award-winning author, I found the story absolutely riveting and impossible to put down. As a fellow reader, I highly recommend this eye-opening, evocative book be put at the top of your TBR list.
They Sold Her Story
In the world of recovery, some secrets are lethal
Some places promise healing. Some deliver hell.
When Erika’s sister Karen vanishes from an exclusive rehabilitation facility, the staff’s explanations don’t add up. Karen was getting better—so why would she suddenly disappear? Her cryptic final messages hinted at something sinister lurking behind Turning Trail Recovery Center’s pristine facade, but now she’s gone without a trace.
Private investigator Zachary Goldman knows the desperation of families fighting addiction. His own brother’s struggle has taught him that recovery is fragile, hope is precious, and some people will exploit both for profit. But when his investigation hits the wall, Zachary realizes the only way to find out what happened to Karen is to become a patient himself.
As he navigates the twisted corridors of Turning Trail Recovery Center and peels back layers of deceit, fraudulent practices, and dangerous secrets, he discovers that some patients aren’t getting better. And the people who are supposed to heal them are the very ones destroying their lives.
With Karen’s life hanging in the balance and his own mental health precarious, Zachary must expose a conspiracy that reaches far beyond one missing woman. Because at Turning Trail Recovery Center, they don’t treat addiction—they profit from it, one stolen story at a time.
“Ms. Workman creates wonderfully complex characters, and Zachary Goldman is one of my favorites! In search of a missing patient, he poses as a drug addict to go undercover in a drug rehabilitation program. He soon discovers that the job won’t be nearly as simple as he thought. This well crafted tale was a joy to read. Highly recommended!”
“Wow! What a page turner. As Zachary goes undercover to find out what happened to someone, his experience there tells him so much more than he was trying to find out. Very suspenseful. Such a great addition to this series.”
Perfect for readers who love:
- Undercover investigations with high personal stakes
- Neurodivergent protagonists bringing unique perspectives to detective work
- Medical/healthcare mysteries exposing institutional corruption
- Addiction recovery themes handled with sensitivity and authenticity
- Found family dynamics between characters supporting each other
- David vs. Goliath stories where the little guy fights massive corporations
- Psychological suspense that keeps you guessing until the final page
Ready to dive into Zachary’s most dangerous case yet?
Click “Buy Now” and discover why readers are calling this series “addictive” and “impossible to put down.” Your next book hangover starts here.
⭐ Start the series with Book 1, or jump right into this standalone mystery—Zachary Goldman’s cases can be read in any order! ⭐
Praise for the Series
— an amazing and suspenseful story. It carries you away into a psychological tailspin that keeps you going in so many different directions.
— A really good piece of detective fiction with some novel and original features which keep the reader guessing until the last few pages.
— I love the way the investigation plays out…very interesting. That is done very well. It held my interest. I very much wanted to find out the outcome…
— Very well written. [Zachary] is flawed with a capital F … In spite of his problems, he is a very sympathetic character and doggedly pursues the truth.
— [She Wore Mourning] made for a pleasant read while presenting an interesting story.
— What a great story. Fabulous plot with interesting and complex characters. I was totally involved into the wee hours. Many twists and left waiting until the end. Highly recommended
— Wow! I just finished it. In one day! I could not stop reading it! This book grabs hold of you from the start. It’s a very well written detective novel. It pulls you not the story and is very emotional. You feel for the characters. This is the first novel I have read by this author but it will not be my last. I highly recommend this book.
Author’s Notes
Author’s Notes may contain spoilers
They Sold Her Story started with a question:
What if someone went into rehab to get better… and disappeared instead?
Before beginning my research, I was familiar with AA and some of our local residential programs. What I didn’t expect to find was how, in some places—particularly in parts of the United States—addiction treatment has become a billion-dollar industry exploiting the vulnerable.
As I researched, I uncovered patterns that were both complex and disturbing: deceptive recruitment, inflated billing, “ghost clients,” and systems designed to maximize profit by intentionally offering or administering drugs to patients in recovery. In California, fifty percent or more of treatment charges are believed to be fraudulent.
One detail struck me with particular force.
These systems don’t just use people.
They use their stories, their identities.
To pass audits, fabricated clients need believable identities. And sometimes, those identities are built by copying the lives of real patients—real struggles, real histories, their unique experiences—reused again and again.
That idea became the core of this book.
They Sold Her Story is about what happens when identity itself becomes a commodity.
It’s also the most intense case Zachary Goldman has faced. His connection to addiction through his brother gives him insight—but it also makes this investigation personal. For the first time, he goes deep undercover, placing himself inside a facility where nothing is what it seems.
This case tests him in new ways. Not just physically, but psychologically. He’s manipulated, drugged, and is called on to use everything he has to survive and uncover the truth.
At its heart, this story is about betrayal; what happens when the people we trust to heal are the ones doing harm.
And about the cost of reclaiming a story that was never meant to be taken.
On my Blog
About the Issues
- 20 people, health care business and church charged in sober living scheme in Arizona | AP News
- Office of Public Affairs | California Addiction Treatment Facility Operator Convicted of Paying Nearly $2.9M in Illegal Kickbacks | United States Department of Justice
- Addiction Treatment Scams Explained – Recovery Research Institute
- Doctor Who Falsely Diagnosed Patients in Fraud Scheme Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison
- Affordable Care Act Is Exploited to Foster Opioid Relapse | TIME
- 3 Red Flags When Choosing an Addiction Recovery Center
- Senators Take Aim at ‘Sober Home’ Scams | MedPage Today
- Sober Homes and Fraud: An Even Darker Side of Opioids
- Teens Claim They Were Used as Fake Rehab Clients
- Universal Health Services – Wikipedia
Praise for P.D. Workman
“Every single one of [P.D. Workman’s] books has spoken to me … And I have found strength in the books I’ve read.”
“This is one author I certainly will be looking out for, I can’t recommend her enough.”
“I’ll read anything by P. D. Workman that I can get my hands on.”
“Every book by PD Workman that I’ve read has been a gripping one, however different the genres are, going from lighter mysteries to really dark ones… this is one of my favourite, most dependable authors.”
“P.D. Workman is an incredibly versatile writer. No matter which of her books I read I am drawn into a great story and honestly, I don’t think I’ve followed another author that could go from cozy mystery to YA to a PI series dealing with mental health issues. Really enjoy her books!”
“[P.D. Workman’s] stories are so believable and you can’t help but feel like you know these people. You find yourself crying, laughing and feeling the characters emotions. Now if an author can make you cry and feel every emotion in a story, she is one hell of an author.”
“P. D. Workman, does not shy from probing the deep psychological scars of childhood trauma, mental illness, and addiction. Also characteristic of this author, these extremely sensitive issues are explored with extensive empathy, described with incredible clarity, and portrayed with profound insight.”
“Once again P.D.Workman has created an intense psychological mystery that impacts a wallop of thought induction. The writing is so well developed and draws you into the characters story.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Is They Sold Her Story a psychological mystery?
Yes. It combines private investigator casework with psychological tension, emotional stakes, and a missing-person investigation.
Do I need to read the Zachary Goldman books in order?
No. I write them so readers can jump in with the title that grabs them. There is series growth, of course, but each case stands on its own.
Is They Sold Her Story a standalone?
Yes. If this premise is the one calling to you, go ahead and start here.
Is this book very graphic?
No. It is definitely gritty and emotionally intense, but I am not interested in splatter for the sake of it. The suspense comes from the case, the pressure, and the people involved.
Is Kenzie Kirsch in this one?
Yes. Readers who enjoy Zachary and Kenzie together will find familiar series energy here too.
What kind of mystery is this?
It is a private investigator mystery with undercover elements, a missing-person hook, and strong psychological pressure throughout.
What if I want to start at book 1 instead?
Start with She Wore Mourning.
What if I want more backstory on Zachary first?
Read the free prequel He Didn’t Save Her.
Where can I get They Sold Her Story?
Right here: use one of the buttons above.
