A star reporter who lost his journalistic edge to a life of glamor and excess attends the funeral of a Catholic priest in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania. But when he questions the priest's death, he quickly recovers his investigative skills to learn this charming Pennsylvania tourist town - once the coal mining capital of the nation - has secrets so unimaginable, he finds himself in a deadly struggle for his new love, his life, and his very soul. From Matt Birkbeck, the author of several non-fiction bestsellers including The Life We Chose , Deconstructing Sammy and A Beautiful Child , which was adapted by Netflix for the hit 2022 film Girl in the Picture , comes a stunning, debut work of fiction.