Nightfall: A Novella (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781720082859)

Eighteen-year-old Sadie is orphaned, recently homeless, and out of options. For a fresh start, she decides to move across the country to Montana.

Located on the northeastern border of the state, Carey, Montana, is home to a close-knit family who runs the local gas station where Sadie takes a job. Among her coworkers is Ava, a spoiled, manipulative teen who doesn't take kindly to Sadie's presence. But there's also handsome Nathan on whom Sadie can't help but crush. And of course the older (and kinda sexy) Alex, who gives Sadie the job and sets her up in an apartment on family land.

When the three teens decide to go check out the body of a dead cow, Sadie thinks she finally has a chance to fit in.

But then she stumbles upon the dead body of a missing girl and her world spirals once more out of control.

She becomes obsessed with learning the girl's past and finding her killer, all the while trying to balance her new friendships and deflect Ava's increasingly nasty verbal assaults.

Will Sadie find the murderer and reveal the town's darkest secrets or will its inhabitants silence her for good?

What are you waiting for? Find out today!

This is your debut book. Why did you keep it short?

We all lead busy lives. I wanted to write something you could pick up and read in a week or two without losing any of the depth of character and charm of a longer length novel. In my experience, mysteries come in two lengths: novel or short story. I wanted something different.

Was Carey, Montana, based on the town you live in?

I live in western Montana but I chose to set Nightfall in eastern Montana because it increases Sadie's sense of isolation and loneliness--but also her resolve to make friends. No matter the cost.

What was your inspiration?

While recovering from surgery, I read the Weight of Blood by Laura McHugh, and was inspired by the small town secrets and generational conflicts that can arise. These both heavily influenced Nightfall -- although McHugh took it in an entirely different direction, I credit her with the spark that inspired this debut novel.