In the Bakken oil field of North Dakota, they call the new guys “worms.” Ferret is a worm from Alabama, trying to kickstart a new life for his family, while back home his in-laws whisper break-up songs in his wife Dee Dee’s ear. His boss, a shadowy old guy called Pancrazio, drags in Ferret, Gene Handy, and two roustabouts from Oklahoma to deal with a new meth empire on the prairie. Meanwhile, a reservation cop keeps a close eye on the big picture. All Ferret wants is some easy money and the love of his family. But he quickly finds out that there’s danger around every corner, in every drill, truck and train car. And if the machines or chemicals don’t get him, then the other roughnecks will. Because beneath the dirt and grease, nobody is what they seem.
Author
I write crime novels. PSYCHOSOMATIC, THE DRUMMER, plus the Billy Lafitte series—YELLOW MEDICINE, HOGDOGGIN', THE BADDEST ASS, and HOLY DEATH—and the Mustafa & Adem series—ALL THE YOUNG WARRIORS and ONCE A WARRIOR, in addition to WORM, CHOKE ON YOUR LIES, and SLOW BEAR. Next up: THE BUTCHER'S PRAYER (Sept 21) and TROOPER DOWN! (later in 22). CASTLE DANGER: WOMAN ON ICE and THE MENTAL STATES, and THE CYLCIST are available as ebooks out from BE Ebooks. My entry in Lee Goldberg and William Rabkin's DEAD MAN series, COLDER THAN HELL, was published by 47North in January, '13. I'm an English Professor at Southwest Minnesota State University. I'm one of the founders of the crime webzine PLOTS WITH GUNS. I like tacos. I like biking. I had a heart attack at 40. I'm good now.
