Outskirts Press, INC.

A Peaceful Haven Turns Dangerous

In the summer of 1987, wife and mother Maggie Dunbarton decides she must abandon her Chicago home and rent a small cottage on Lake Michigan when she learns that her high-powered attorney husband, Sheldon, is cheating on her. Facing difficult decisions about potential divorce, Maggie rents a cottage in sleepy Breakwater Bay where she hopes to have the time and peace of mind to process her thoughts and feelings, but also to regain the self-confidence she once felt when she worked as an investigative reporter for a major Chicago newspaper. Maggie knows she also needs to patch up her relationship with her young daughters, Jennifer and Samantha, whom she fears she as failed during the drama of her unhappy marriage. Although Maggie is hoping for a quiet summer, free from turmoil, her reporter instincts get the better of her. Before long, she is actively working to uncover the truth about Vincent Blailock, a wealthy and unpopular Breakwater Bay resident who buys up beachfront property for high density development, much to the dismay of the community. The stakes get higher when Blailock hires Maggie’s husband to provide legal cover for his real estate ventures, allowing Sheldon to barge in on Maggie’s refuge. In her quest to expose what Maggie suspects are Blailock’s criminal dealings, Maggie inadvertently uncovers information that will put her and her daughters in danger. This taut thriller presents a timely story about family dynamics, speaking truth to power, and confronting life’s important lessons. These vivid characters and the novel’s rich narrative will capture your imagination from the first page to the last.