Town of Corruption

Place of Despair

Alice Riley is a disgraced Brooklyn journalist turned private investigator. She came to her new profession by searching for the truth behind a story. Instead, she found self-serving justification and unemployment.

She’s in the South Dakota oil fracking town of Whitehurst to investigate the arrest of a former colleague’s husband. Robert has been charged with kidnapping and assault. Known as a soft touch around the area, it reeks of a set-up.

Needing a local contact Alice teams up with Kim, a prostitute who became Robert’s mistress. As she delves into the case she finds out just how brutal this place is for women. Respect and decency doesn’t exist in this grim town.

For the locals, Devil Dust is the  drug of choice and becomes an enjoyable discovery for Alice. As she uses sex, bribery and blackmail to manoeuvre the currents, her own life spirals downriver.

Brother and sister team Franklin and Jennifer Schneider have pulled together a terrific debut book.

~ June Lorraine