From internationally-acclaimed thriller writer Grant McKenzie comes a novel that hits perilously close to home, and will keep you guessing until the last page. What if everything you believed about the worst event in your life was a lie? Ian Quinn’s day begins with an anonymous death threat, but that’s not entirely unusual in his line of work as a court-ordered child protection officer. The frustrated parents of his clients often need someone to lash out at—and Ian makes sure that he is the easiest target. But the threat is nothing compared to the envelope stuffed into his hand by a foul-smelling vagrant who mutters the cryptic message, “He says he’s sorry” before scurrying away. The envelope with his name scrawled across the front contains a lone visitor’s pass to the Oregon State Penitentiary, and the accompanying message fills Ian’s heart with both terror and revulsion. The author of the note destroyed Ian’s life. In the blink of an eye, this drunk-driving scum took the most precious thing in Ian’s life. Worst of all, Ian had watched it happen. And now the bastard wants to see him. The message is short. Only seven words. I was paid to kill your daughter.

For one man, the past will never stay buried. Ian Quinn has spent his life protecting children from the monsters that live among us. As a Child Protection Officer, Ian places their lives above his own, and has no qualms about getting his hands dirty when it comes to protecting those who can't protect themselves. Years ago, Ian was unable to protect his own daughter when she was killed, and has channeled the anger and sadness into his vocation. Ian has tried to bury his past. But the past is far from done with him. Ian's own father left years ago, leaving Ian and his sister alone. But out of the blue Ian is called by an attorney, claiming his father has recently died and named Ian in his will. Ian had assumed his father was long dead, and confused as to what he could possibly be needed for. When Ian goes to the lawyer's office, he is given three items: The first is a key. The second is a deed to his grandfather's old butcher shop. The Third is a letter from his from his father that reads simply and cryptically: "Sorry for everything, son, but it's your burden now." Editorial Reviews: "(An) adrenaline-powered thriller...McKenzie catapults the reader into a complex and gripping story...The fast-moving plot throws out new questions and fresh possibilities at almost every turn. The answers lead to an ending that packs a surprise punch. Witty dialogue, two-fisted (when necessary) action, and emotional depth." —Publishers Weekly "The mystery at the heart of the book is an intriguing one, full of many twists and turns that keep readers not so much guessing as reacting." —Bookreporter

Shortlisted for the prestigious International Thriller Writers Thriller Award for 2023 First truth: In three days, I’ll be dead. Second truth: You won’t find me in time, so don’t even try. Third truth: I am somewhere nearby, but nowhere you can reach. Fourth truth: My name is Hannah, and if you think you know me, you don’t. You never did. None of you. Fifth truth: I will tell you things you don’t want to hear. Sixth truth: You will watch me die. Seventh truth: Some of you will suffer before I do. I have three days. How long do you have? Hannah wants the whole city to know the pain she feels - even if it means her own death. Having locked herself in an underground bunker with limited air to protest the rape, humiliation and suicide of her teenage classmate, Hannah is broadcasting her slow death while revealing secrets about the boys who raped her friend. Racing to find her is Child Protection Officer Ian Quinn who once had Hannah as a client. And as Hannah’s live broadcast attracts more and more viewers, the stakes rise as the secrets she is sharing prove damaging to some very powerful and dangerous people.