A compelling crime drama set in a small town rife with secrets and corruption where an unambitious man must expose the truth about his friend’s death.

Nick Harmen is a man at the end of his rope, working in the midst of an underground drug trade to support his ex-girlfriend and their daughter. When childhood friend and drug dealer Joey Sheeks is found dead due to a combination of an overdose and exposure to the harsh Iowa winter, Nick isn’t convinced that it was an accident. With Joey’s business up for grabs, the prime suspect becomes Nick’s cousin Zack, heir to the trade. But once the body count rises a possible new threat emerges in the form of rival dealer Eric Marquez. As Nick works to uncover the truth, he is faced with tough choices to secure his—and his family’s—future.

JUNCTION is an intricate tale woven by the dynamics of the characters within its pages. Although Nick is the central focus, this is an ensemble piece brought to life with engaging, descriptive prose. Schlegel deftly maneuvers from character to character in the backwater town of Junction, creating a tangled web so tense that it could snap at any given moment. Nick Harmen is a genuine, flawed anti-hero whose beliefs in Native American spirituality are an interesting facet of his character. His love for his daughter as well as his relationships with his brother and ailing mother make him relatable. Nick’s childhood friend Adam, a former Marine who works in law enforcement combating drug crime, is the foil to everyone’s illicit dealings. But he’s far from perfect. Even the minor characters are made memorable through crafty dialogue and meticulously placed details, each one a piece in a much larger puzzle. Junction itself becomes a character—a bleak, everyman kind of town that houses endless layers of deception.

With such a huge ensemble the pace drags at some points, but the glimpses into each person’s past and relationships help construct a richer world. A slow yet satisfying buildup allows the stories to converge in heartbreaking, shocking ways for a dramatic conclusion. Although the complex, subtle story lines demand effort and attention, the shift in the town’s dynamics at the novel’s end makes the experience well worth it. JUNCTION is, at times, a difficult read. Schlegel handles some tough themes that exist within the current political climate—racial tensions, PTSD, the role of authority and abuse of power, among others. While the novel feels complete, there are threads left to be picked up in the sequel.

JUNCTION is an intense cinematic thriller that resonates long after the last page has been turned.

~IndieReader.