by Daniel Akst
First published 2002
Terry Mathers sits in his cramped newsroom office, watching his small New England newspaper slide toward bankruptcy. The middle-aged journalist has grown comfortable with local fluff pieces and minor scandals. Then child abuse allegations explode at a neighborhood preschool. National news crews descend on the quiet town, hunting for sensational stories. Terry sees his chance to break free from his professional lethargy and personal drift. He races to uncover the truth behind the accusations before the big media outlets can claim the story. The investigation forces Terry to confront not just the complexities of the case, but his own stagnation. As rumors spread and the community fractures, Terry must decide whether pursuing this story will redeem his career or destroy what little stability he has left.
Genres: fiction, mystery, crime, contemporary, thriller
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, unreliable-narrator
Setting: New England
Period: Contemporary
320 pages · Paperback · Blue Hen Trade
Content warnings: child-abuse