The Briars

Annie Heston arrives in the small town of Lake Lumin, nestled against the side of Mount St. Helens in Washington State, reeling from a breakup and looking to make a fresh start as the town’s game warden. While tracking a cougar in her first day on the job, she discovers the body of a young woman in the briars next to the lake. The subsequent investigation leads Annie to Daniel Barela, a handsome and reclusive young carpenter who owns property bordering the lake. There is an instant spark of connection between Annie and Daniel. Although he distrusts strangers, Daniel reveals his traumatic past to Annie. Then, when a second body is found near Daniel’s property, he becomes the prime suspect, and Annie must race against time to prove his innocence. Crouch’s (Middletide) latest unfolds in the rugged wilds of Washington State. Her characters are survivors, living with nature while confronting human failings and violence. Narrators Taylor-Corbett, Helen Laser, and Jonathan Todd Ross bring their characters to life with skillful timing and nuance. Their voices accurately convey a wide range of emotions appropriate to each situation.