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Blending the tension of Law & Order with the close-knit world of a small town, the story explores how hockey, family, money, and reputation can push anyone to risk it all

“Spellbinding . . . A master of suspense and brilliant architect of the unexpected, Gruley has given readers a top-notch thriller . . . If you don’t know Bryan Gruley’s fine body of work, it’s high time you got on the bandwagon”

“Terrific—a tough, tense mystery that had me hooked from its opening sentences. Bryan Gruley has a sharp eye for small towns and a real feel for their secrets. This first-rate novel is a study in suspense”

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Emotionally moving and intellectually engaging, this is one of the best crime fiction-thriller books I've read in quite a while

“A gut-wrenching tragedy exposes the morally gray machinations of a small town in this highly evocative suspense tale . . . A spellbinding read”

“Crime fiction at its most human . . . Haunting and morally complex, River Deep asks how well we ever truly know the people we love”

“Pulls readers into its vice-like grip and refuses to let go. Outstanding—River Deep is Gruley at his best”

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A compelling demonstration of the wisdom that seeing events unfold before your eyes doesn’t always reveal their truth

“The atmosphere of a northern Michigan small town is expertly detailed . . . The story shines brightest during the courtroom scenes. Baker’s trial is informed and tense, with a knowledge and surety usually found in an engrossing legal thriller”

“Chilling, full of characters that feel real, with a ton of heart”

“Readers who enjoy character depth, family and smalltown drama, and an intricate plot will enjoy this fast-paced thriller”

“An intense, well-written novel, with a great trial, worthy of any John Grisham novel. This is one you will not want to put down”

“Sharp and engaging”

“[Gruley] launches a promising new mystery series with this tense tale of murder in small-town Michigan . . . Gruley buttresses the book’s sleek procedural elements with a textured, lived-in setting . . . An auspicious opening act”

“The fade-out seems to hint at a sequel, though it'll be hard-pressed to keep up with the intensity Gruley maintains here. A freezing, sobering exploration of the hero’s mantra that “every day’s a penance”

“Engrossing . . . This is the first in a series, thankfully, as readers will want to visit this chilly-in-every-way community again”

“Visceral, vivid, and suspenseful, Bitterfrost immerses readers in a chilly—and chilling—world of lost dreams and deadly feuds. I was instantly and completely engrossed. Masterfully done”

“Bryan Gruley’s Bitterfrost is my kind of crime novel . . . propelled by a razor-sharp plot that swirls around things we can all relate to: getting older, opportunities missed, and the uniting power of sports. Gruley’s at the top of his game”

“Intense, insular, stunning, Bryan Gruley’s Bitterfrost exposes the blood and violence churning beneath the ice surface of a tiny northern Michigan town”

“A riveting mix of small-town mystery, legal drama, and high-stakes crime thriller. With crisp prose and a vivid portrayal of Michigan hockey culture, Bitterfrost is slick as ice and just as chilling.”

“Haunting, atmospheric, and absolutely gut-wrenching, Bitterfrost shows the oh-so-talented Bryan Gruley perfecting the chilling grit of Midwestern noir. With rivetingly authentic settings and brilliantly genuine dialogue, this beautifully written, hockey-centric mystery shows how it is more than a game—it’s a lifestyle . . .”

“Bitterfrost reads like a terrific seven-game NHL playoff series. The ebbs and flows in the tense courtroom scenes mirror the drama of a game you can’t stop watching, with lead changes and potential heartbreak up against a game clock that is winding down”

“Bryan Gruley is back! As biting and relentless as an Arctic wind, this is the best 'Northern Noir' I've read in many years”