When an elite smoke jumper's parachute fails during a massive wildfire operation, her body lands on county land instead of the federal forest—making it Sheriff Izzy Llewellyn's case. The death looks like equipment failure until the town doctor finds injuries that tell a different story: this was not an accident.
As the wildfire bears down on Darkness, Izzy discovers what the victim had been documenting in secret—clear evidence that this devastating blaze was deliberately set. But proving arson would expose a conspiracy worth billions: federal disaster funds, insurance payouts, and emergency contracts.
The killer is embedded somewhere in the massive firefighting operation—possibly among the incident commanders managing the response. The Forest Service wants jurisdiction over one of their own. Federal agencies want the investigation delayed until the fire is contained. And with every hour, the flames consume more evidence while creeping closer to town.
Izzy must navigate the closed ranks of wildland firefighters and the bureaucracy of disaster response while the blaze still rages, knowing that questioning the wrong person could undermine the effort to save Darkness—but trusting the wrong person could get her killed.
In the shadow of the Sierra Nevada, some crimes hide behind natural disasters. But this sheriff won't let murder burn with the evidence.
A pulse-pounding thriller where disaster response becomes the perfect cover for conspiracy, and every minute counts twice—once for justice, and once for survival.
Genre: Mystery
As the wildfire bears down on Darkness, Izzy discovers what the victim had been documenting in secret—clear evidence that this devastating blaze was deliberately set. But proving arson would expose a conspiracy worth billions: federal disaster funds, insurance payouts, and emergency contracts.
The killer is embedded somewhere in the massive firefighting operation—possibly among the incident commanders managing the response. The Forest Service wants jurisdiction over one of their own. Federal agencies want the investigation delayed until the fire is contained. And with every hour, the flames consume more evidence while creeping closer to town.
Izzy must navigate the closed ranks of wildland firefighters and the bureaucracy of disaster response while the blaze still rages, knowing that questioning the wrong person could undermine the effort to save Darkness—but trusting the wrong person could get her killed.
In the shadow of the Sierra Nevada, some crimes hide behind natural disasters. But this sheriff won't let murder burn with the evidence.
A pulse-pounding thriller where disaster response becomes the perfect cover for conspiracy, and every minute counts twice—once for justice, and once for survival.
Genre: Mystery