Things are going well for Matt Buchanan. After some hard times, life is peaceful as sole-charge constable for the small, isolated settlement of Haast on New Zealand’s wild West Coast. He’s made friends among the locals and won their trust, keeping their little world safe amidst the fierce Tasman Sea, dense beech forests, dark swamps, and snowy Southern Alps.
But then his much-loved predecessor, Gus, is discovered beside a river with a bullet through his head. Gus had been investigating a disturbing murder-suicide from 1978 where the parents’ bodies were found, but not their daughter’s. Suspecting a darker truth, Matt is certain the answers can’t be too far away in this close-knit community. How does former forest service ranger Liam, with his gang links, fit into the story? What about Joe, the alcoholic hermit whose knowledge and intelligence seem so at odds with his appearance and lifestyle?
Tensions rise, more deaths occur, people are threatened, and memories surface of a cult that went horribly wrong. Even with support arriving, Matt finds himself pursuing a case that’s well outside his remit, leading him to places he’d rather not revisit. Adding to the increasingly terrifying situation are an over-curious journalist and a woman who could be someone special.
Matt has managed to shun his own demons and is desperate not to face them again. However, when confronted by the devil himself, he must take action and rediscover something of the person he was, for his own sake and to save those he loves.
This fast-moving, compelling thriller, rich in laconic humor, will grab you from the first page and refuse to let go.
Features & Benefits
- Author: Chris Blake
- Format: Paperback
- Pages: 352
- Pub Date: 3rd November 2025
