Cheerleader

by Marina Evans

Genres: Sports; Mystery; Crime Fiction

Synopsis

Monday Night Football collides with “Cheer” in a riveting crime thriller by a former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader.

When Jentry Rae, captain of the Dallas Lonestars’ cheerleading squad and “America’s Sweetheart” is found dead in the squad’s locker room, the rumors and speculation begin to swirl. A jealous ex? A deranged fan? And who might be next?

The Dallas Lonestars Cheerleaders reek of perfection and hairspray. Nothing is more important than upholding their squeaky-clean reputation and sexy––but not too sexy––image. Still reeling from the murder of her best-friend-turned-rival, cheerleader Shaunette Simmons is scared and overwhelmed.

Meanwhile, filmmaker Nikki Keegan lucks into the story of a lifetime. Brought in to document the Lonestars’ potential comeback after four disastrous seasons, the ambitious Nikki is now perfectly placed to investigate the murder of its star cheerleader.

Nikki ingratiates herself with the grieving Shanuette but as they spend more time together, Nikki suspects what the cheerleader is really feeling is not grief, but guilt. The true-crime documentary seems to be writing itself. . . .

But when Shaunette is run off the road and left to die, Nikki must decide whether her directorial acumen is great enough to solve the murder before she becomes the killer’s next target.

Filled with twists, turns, and high kicks, The Cheerleader takes readers “behind the gloss” of this iconic American subculture. Filled with sisterhood and ambition, survival and scandal, The Cheerleader will keep you riveted until the final page.

Release date: January 6, 2026

Publisher: Pegasus Books

Print pages: 304