by Michael Koryta (Get the Book)The citizens of Chambers, Ohio, are passionate about high-school football, so it's little wonder that successful head coach Kent Austin is one of the most popular guys in town. Not so his brother, Adam, a bail bondsman who's barely making ends meet. The brothers' relationship has been fractured since the abduction and murder of their teenaged sister, Marie, more than two decades ago. Now, the slaying of another young woman, the steady girlfriend of one of Kent's players, brings the two together again. Adam, who's never fully recovered from his sister's tragedy, is consumed by vengeful thoughts. Kent keeps a cooler head, simultaneously working with the police and prepping his team for the playoffs. Edgar-nominated mystery wunderkind Koryta (he turns 30 this year) has earned kudos from veteran thriller writers Stephen King and Dean Koontz. He proves plenty worthy of praise in this vivid portrayal of a small midwestern town and the evils that befall it. Koryta's recent novels (e.g., The Ridge, 2011) have combined suspense with horror and the supernatural, but this time he returns to his mainstream thriller roots. With its crisp writing and steady suspense, this is a must-read for his fans both old and new. --Booklist
