Tragedy in the North Woods The Murders of James Hicks

In the shadows of Maine’s North Woods, three women vanished across three decades—and one man held the terrible truth. Tragedy in the North Woods uncovers the chilling story of James Hicks, whose cold-blooded murders of Jennie Cyr, Jerilyn Towers, and Lynn Willette remained hidden until his 2000 confession sent shockwaves through Aroostook County.

Author Trudy Irene Scee delivers a meticulously researched account that reads like a haunting coastal fog rolling in—inevitable, enveloping, impossible to ignore. She traces Hicks from Maine’s dense forests to west Texas, piecing together decades of evasion and the painstaking investigation that finally brought him to justice. Through intimate interviews with law enforcement and the victims’ grieving families, Scee honors the lives stolen while exposing the face of remorseless evil.

What sets this true crime narrative apart is its unflinching authenticity. Scee’s journey to Thomaston State Prison to meet Hicks face-to-face provides a rare, unsettling glimpse into the mind of a serial killer who shows no remorse even as he serves his days behind bars. This isn’t sensationalized crime drama—it’s carefully documented history that respects the victims while delivering the complete, devastating truth.

For readers drawn to New England true crime, stories of criminal investigation, or the darker corners of Maine’s history, this definitive account offers both closure and chilling insight into one of the state’s most ruthless killers. A powerful read that lingers long after the final page.

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