First published 2012
Adam Austin works as a bail bondsman in a town that broke his family apart. Years ago, his sister was abducted and killed. The tragedy destroyed their relationships and left Adam scraping by on the criminal edges of society. His brother Kent took a different path, becoming the beloved high school football coach and a pillar of the religious community. The brothers haven't spoken in years. Kent's team finally has a real chance at the state championship, giving the struggling town something to celebrate. Then another teenage girl turns up murdered just before the playoffs begin. The killing mirrors their sister's death in horrifying ways. When evidence surfaces linking the crime to the Austin family, Adam and Kent are forced back together. They must hunt down the killer while confronting the buried anger and grief that has poisoned their lives. The investigation threatens to tear open old wounds and destroy what little stability each brother has built. As the killer strikes again, the brothers race to stop history from repeating itself and to salvage their fractured bond.
Genres: mystery, crime, thriller, family-drama
Vibes: dark, emotional, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, family-drama, sibling-rivalry
Setting: Town
Period: Years Ago
399 pages · Hardcover · Little, Brown and Company
Content warnings: death, murder