Before the New York Times bestselling success of Defending Jacob, William Landay wrote this critically acclaimed first novel of crime and suspense--perfect for fans of John Grisham, Scott Turow, and Dennis Lehane. "Landay writes with eloquent intensity."--The New York Times Book Review By a shimmering lake in western Maine, a body lies sprawled in a deserted cabin. The dead man was an elite D.A. from Boston whose beat was the city's toughest neighborhood: Mission Flats. For local police chief Ben Truman, investigating the murder will mean leaving his quiet home and joining a vengeful manhunt in a world of hard streets and harder bargains. The cops have zeroed in on a suspect, a ruthless predator targeted for prosecution by the murdered D.A. But Ben distrusts the Boston police--especially when he uncovers a secret history of murder and retribution stretching back twenty years. As past and present collide, as tribal loyalties threaten to lynch an innocent man--or let a guilty one go free--one thing remains certain: The most powerful revelations are yet to come.
Includes an excerpt of Defending Jacob "A crackling debut that answers the question: Who will be the next Grisham?"--
Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"An inventive, gripping suspense debut . . . Landay deals out pertinent details with the finesse of a poker player. . . . A rich, harrowing and delightful read."--
Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"[Landay's] tale is reminiscent of his fellow Beantown writer Dennis Lehane, which is a true compliment."--
Rocky Mountain News "Waiting for a new Landay novel is like waiting for a guy from Cremona to build a violin: anxious but worth it."--Lee Child
Winner of the CWA John Creasey Memorial Dagger Award for Best First Crime Novel 
