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Back of beyond
372 pages
A gritty, rugged mystery where a flawed detective battles his own demons to avenge the one man who kept him sober.
What it feels like
Immerse yourself in a rugged, tense atmosphere where the wilderness is as unforgiving as the protagonist's personal demons. This propulsive mystery centers on a deeply flawed but brilliant detective whose fragile sobriety is tested by profound grief and a relentless drive for justice. The narrative tone is gritty and determined, pulling the reader through a shadowy investigation that blurs the lines between professional duty and personal vendetta. With themes of loyalty, addiction, and father-son dynamics woven into the fabric of a remote mountain setting, the story offers a visceral emotional arc. It is a perfect match for readers who crave grounded, atmospheric police procedurals featuring troubled heroes fighting for redemption in the back of beyond.
- Mood
- rugged
- tense
- shadowy
- melancholic
- Tone
- gritty
- determined
- somber
- urgent
- Pace
- propulsive
- Themes
- struggle for sobriety · loyalty and grief · father-son dynamics · personal redemption · seeking justice
- The writing
- Direct, rugged, and grounded in the harsh realities of addiction and wilderness police work.
- The arc
- A troubled man channels his grief and personal demons into a relentless, desperate pursuit of truth for a fallen mentor.
- Who it's for
- Readers who love flawed, gritty detectives navigating rugged landscapes and their own personal demons.
Content notes
- alcoholism
- suicide themes
- murder
- death by fire
- grief
About the book
Cody Hoyt, while a brilliant cop, is an alcoholic struggling with two months of sobriety when his mentor and AA sponsor Hank Winters is found burned to death in a remote mountain cabin. At first it looks like the suicide of a man who's fallen off the wagon, but Cody knows Hank better than that. Sober for fourteen years, Hank took pride in his hard-won sobriety and never hesitated to drop whatever he was doing to talk Cody off a ledge. When Cody takes a closer look at the scene of his friend's death, it becomes apparent that foul play is at hand. After years of bad behavior with his deparment, he's in no position to be investigating a homicide, but this man was a friend and Cody's determined to find his killer.
Description from Open Library.
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