Stillwater - by Tanya Scott (Hardcover)

About the Book

"For fans of Jack Reacher, Tanya Scott's debut thriller introduces readers to Luke Harris, a man trying to move beyond his criminal past but finds himself forced back into his old life and a deadly battle to survive. When Jack Quinn's mother dies of a drug overdose, it's not his father that raises him, but Gus-a ruthless crime boss who sees Jack for what he is: a whip-smart kid with untapped potential. It doesn't take long for Gus to forge Jack into a weapon. But Jack was also self-aware enough to know where this sort of life was going to lead him. When the time was right, he got out. Or so he thought. Seven years later, Jack is now Luke Harris, a regular guy putting himself through college and aiming for a real job and a real future. Falling in love. But Jack's past isn't so easily forgotten, and the bodies in his closet won't forgive him. When Luke's newfound life collides with Gus's underworld, survival becomes a deadly game. Luke must resurrect his dormant skills and confront the demons that threaten to consume him"-- Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

For fans of Jack Reacher, Tanya Scott's debut thriller introduces readers to Luke Harris, a man trying to move beyond his criminal past but finds himself forced back into his old life and a deadly battle to survive.

When Jack Quinlan's mother dies of a drug overdose, it's not his father that raises him, but Gus--a ruthless crime boss who sees Jack for what he is: a whip-smart kid with untapped potential. It doesn't take long for Gus to forge Jack into a weapon.

But Jack was also self-aware enough to know where this sort of life was going to lead him. When the time was right, he got out. Or so he thought.

Seven years later, Jack is now Luke Harris, a regular guy putting himself through college and aiming for a real job and a real future. Falling in love. But Jack's past isn't so easily forgotten, and the bodies in his closet won't forgive him.

When Luke's newfound life collides with Gus's underworld, survival becomes a deadly game. Luke must resurrect his dormant skills and confront the demons that threaten to consume him.

Review Quotes

"Scott invites us deep into the tangles of a coming-of-age story that's fraught with complicated loyalties, love, and desperation. A great read for those who enjoyed T. Jefferson Parker's A Thousand Steps." --Henrietta Thornton, firstCLUE

"Tanya Scott explodes onto the crime scene with this rip-roaring debut that I read in a single sitting. Stillwater is an instant classic of the genre." --Hayley Scrivenor, author of Girl, Falling

"Packed with tension, twists, and heart, Stillwater is a thrilling read in every sense of the word. Tanya Scott expertly balances a page-turning, explosive plot with an intimate exploration of trauma and healing, while showing us just how fine the line between saint and sinner can be. What a remarkable debut!" --Jacqueline Bublitz, author of Leave the Girls Behind

'Strap in for a high-octane ride through the seedy underbelly of Aussie crime led by a character with a huge heart. Stillwater is packed full of action and empathy. It's hard to read at anything less than a cracking pace." --Sarah Bailey, author of Body of Lies

"A propulsive, gritty thriller with compelling characters and edge of your seat action from a stunning new voice in Australian crime." --Mark Smith, author of Three Boys Gone

About the Author

Tanya Scott is a writer, doctor and medical educator based on the Victorian Surf Coast. She has been writing for many years, including using narrative therapy as a tool to make sense of the world, both personally and with her patients. Many of the ideas for Stillwater stem from her work helping patients with childhood trauma - acknowledging that in reality, recovery is a long and incomplete path.