by Les Roberts
First published 2023
Jericho Paich thought his biggest problem was being Slovenian-American in Cleveland. Then Detective Keenan Mayo slaps cuffs on him and delivers an ultimatum: work as an unpaid confidential informant or face serious charges. Jerry must set up friends and strangers for drug busts, a job that makes his skin crawl. Desperate, he turns to the one person he never thought he'd ask for help. Laird Janiver lives with Jerry's mother and served as a Marine major. The two men have always clashed, but Jerry has run out of options. Janiver agrees to help, and his military training proves useful when they encounter a ruthless albino drug dealer who controls much of the local trade. Their investigation leads them into Cleveland's underworld, where they discover connections to a young Ohio State University student whose death haunts everyone involved. Jerry also meets a striking woman whose past may hide deadly secrets. As the stakes rise, Jerry must navigate police corruption, drug violence, and family tensions while trying to stay alive.
Genres: mystery, crime, thriller, detective, action
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Cleveland, Ohio State University
Period: Contemporary
362 pages · Paperback · Down & Out Books
Content warnings: drug-use, violence