by Lou Berney
First published 2024
Hardy "Hardly" Reed works as a minimum-wage scare actor at an amusement park, drifting through his days in a haze of weed and indifference. At twenty-one, he avoids effort and keeps his expectations low. Then he spots two young children sitting alone on a bench and notices the injuries covering their small bodies. Someone is hurting these kids badly. Hardly reports what he saw to Child Protective Services, figuring his job is done. But the system fails them. The overworked caseworkers do nothing, and the children remain trapped with their abuser. Hardly realizes he might be their only chance at escape. The father isn't just violent but runs a dangerous drug operation from his law practice. The mother claims she wants to flee with her children, but Hardly suspects she's lying. As he investigates deeper, Hardly discovers abilities he never knew he possessed. But each step toward the truth puts all three of them in greater danger. For the first time in his life, Hardly must fight for something that matters.
Genres: fiction, abuse, crime, contemporary, action, dark
Vibes: dark, emotional, fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: fight-for-something-that-matters, found-family, underdog
256 pages · Paperback · Hemlock Press
Content warnings: child-abuse, drug-use, violence