by Joe Clifford
First published 2016
Jay Porter struggles to make ends meet during a brutal New Hampshire winter while trying to stay connected to his ex-girlfriend and their two-year-old son. His precarious balance shatters when the sheriff calls about Chris, his drug-addicted brother, who faces questioning about a missing business partner. Jay secures Chris's release from county jail, but his brother vanishes that same night. The search for Chris pulls Jay into a web of deception that has festered in his small town for years. Hidden truths emerge that could destroy the community Jay knows and put everyone he loves in danger. Powerful enemies will kill Chris to bury the secrets he carries. Jay must navigate this treacherous landscape where family loyalty collides with survival, and where the past refuses to stay buried in the frozen ground.
Genres: mystery, crime, thriller, family-drama
Vibes: dark, emotional, suspenseful
Tropes: family-loyalty, secrets
Setting: New Hampshire
Period: Brutal Winter
202 pages · Paperback · Oceanview Publishing
Content warnings: addiction, drug-use