by Jan Carson
First published 2021
Mary Bloomer works nights at a community hospital where every patient carries political scars. When a wounded teenager arrives with a gunshot that doesn't match official reports, she realizes her quiet street is about to become a flashpoint. Local paramilitary groups watch her movements, warning her to stay silent about what she knows. Her decision to investigate means risking everything: her job, her safety, and the fragile peace her working-class community has maintained through decades of conflict. As threats escalate and former combatants circle closer, Mary must choose between protecting herself and exposing a dangerous truth that could reignite old sectarian tensions. Her small acts of resistance become a quiet rebellion against cycles of violence.
Genres: mystery, crime, contemporary, political-thriller
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: quiet-resistance, small-town
Setting: Community Hospital
Period: Contemporary
96 pages · Kindle Edition · Transworld Digital
Content warnings: violence