River Rules

River Rules is a small-town suspense novel with a deep heart and powerful conscience. What the housing bubble didn’t break in Bridgeville, a small New England community blessed by the Connecticut River, greed, double-dealing and rapid-fire change just might. Peter Russo, a part-time farmer and full-time rambler with his rescue dog, has a knack for conflict and a burning desire to protect Bridgeville’s land and water from exploitation.

His best buddy, John Tomassi, a local cop, doesn’t want to be his babysitter nor does his brother, Jeff. Peter’s ex-lover, Carmen, has no use for him as she double-downs on her profitable apple orchard, but Rachel, his niece, needs his partnership in a food truck. Peter’s trouble with Bridgeville’s bureaucracy reunites him with two of his former club baseball players, Marco Torres, now on the wrong side of the law, and Kenny Johnson, a young cop. Peter’s helping hand not only gives Marco the chance he needs, but Marco and Kenny find that there’s more that connects them than divides them. The food truck is a lifeline to almost everyone except Nancy, Peter’s old friend, sinking fast from health issues and the aftermath of date rape.

Nobody’s famous and nobody’s rich except Brock Saunders, a local bully turned Ponzi-schemer and sexual predator. With Bridgeville life at the mercy of cultural crosswinds and economic forces seemingly beyond control, love, loss, baseball, and the search for truth create a spinning wheel of unexpected alliances, unsung heroes and treachery.

Advance Praise

“A colorful cast of characters unites to stop one of their own from exploiting a small New England town’s land and water. Chapters are short but never rushed, and the dialogue is natural and funny, slang-filled and prone to friendly swearing and good-natured insults between close friends. . . . an endearing thriller.” —Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

Stevie Z Fischer writes about the interplay of people, nature and power in small-town New England. Her first novel, River Rules, looks at how everyday heroes can be forged as lives are changed by forces seemingly beyond our control. Stevie’s focus on the bonds of friendship, love of nature and refusal to be marginalized shines through in River Rules. Although she has worked in jobs ranging from cheese slicing to strategic analysis, nothing has been so transformational as paying attention, walking her dog and never meeting a stranger. Stevie teaches writing and lives in Connecticut.

 

SPECS
Paperback Original
240 pages  I  5.50 x 8.25 in.
Price: $19.95
ISBN: 978-1-7327434-7-2
Pub Date: April 23, 2019
Distributor: Midpoint Trade Books / Ingram, Baker & Taylor.
Rights sold: All rights available.
Rights Contact: Dede Cummings, dede@greenwriterspress.com