monte r. anderson

Jason Franco is an aspiring writer stuck in a dead end job working for a newspaper in a small Wyoming town where nothing exciting happens. He would like to write the next great American novel but lacks any real experiences worthy of writing about. That is until someone rapes and murders a young woman only eighteen years old. All evidence points to the woman's boyfriend, Paulo McAdams, who quickly confesses to the crime. Jason is assigned to write a follow-up story for the newspaper and investigating what appears to be an inept police department. Sean Tyler, the editor, acts as a mentor to Jason and guides him throughout his investigation. The first name of the victim appears on Register Cliff, a historical landmark in Wyoming. The first names of other rape victims also appear on the cliff. This key piece of evidence convinces Jason that a serial rapist committed the rapes and the murder. Jason enlists the aid of a high school classmate who works at the state crime lab and the two soon fall in love. Together they identify the full names of the victims, and Jason begins to interview all of them to find clues. They also discover that a key piece of evidence is missing from the crime scene. Jason and his girlfriend, Tina, attempt to track down the missing evidence that might free the boyfriend or at least get him a new trail. They soon suspect that the local police are covering up for one of their own. Jason and Tina follow the leads, and with the help of the newspaper launch a media campaign to free Paulo McAdams. All the attention generated by the media compels the State District Attorney to seek a new trial for Paulo. Eventually, a new trial is granted and Paulo is released from prison. Jason is attacked and his car vandalized in an attempt to stop his investigation. When Paulo dies under suspicious circumstances, the local police department comes under scrutiny.

Jason finds himself the next target for the murderer. Jason and the newspaper staff try to protect themselves with security cameras and even weapons. As the evidence begins to come together, an attempt on Jason's life puts him in the hospital and the alleged rapist commits suicide by cop. But the case is not closed. An unexpected turn of events put Jason back in the cross hairs of a killer. If the police are involved, who can Jason and Tina trust? Is anyone safe from the corrupt police department? Their only ally seems to be the public on social media, but that won't stop the killer from tracking Jason down.