"Okay, look. Here's what I know." Jake paused before laying into her. "I don't need an assistant or FIO or whatever you want to be called. Especially one fresh out of kindergarten or who was promoted because of...well, never mind."
He'd tried to trail off just before he stepped further into the quagmire of HR hell. Too late.
Her eyes widened in shock and he heard the anger in her response. "Excuse me? Kindergarten? And promoted because of what?"
***
In a Northern Ontario jail, a young Indigenous man is found dead of an overdose in a segregated cell where nobody should have been able to reach him. The local First Nations band, already involved in political turmoil due to the opening of a casino that will completely alter economics in the region, is angry and demanding answers. Brought in to conduct the investigation are Katie, a fiery, young, bi-racial indigenous intelligence officer, and her unwilling partner, Jake, an irascible dinosaur from an earlier generation of Corrections inspectors.
While battling the generational divide between them, the unlikely partners begin to uncover a wide-ranging, organized-crime conspiracy to intimidate the First Nations band for casino profits. And the closer Katie and Jake get to the truth, the more dangerous the situation becomes, until it finally combusts in a violent clash at the prison that may cost them both their lives. Meanwhile, even darker events are unfolding on the outside, courtesy of a mysterious killer sent to the region as a "cleaner." Set in both the dark confines of a jail and the glorious backdrop of Canada's beautiful Lake of the Woods, Slam is a taut investigative thriller that spectacularly erupts into heart-stopping action.
Page Turner !
"This powerful novel by a local Canadian author is a gripping, thought-provoking read set within a northern Ontario jail. At its core, it explores the tragic death of a young Indigenous man in custody—but the story reaches far beyond that single event. From the very first pages, it’s a true page-turner. The writing is sharp, immersive, and emotionally charged, pulling you into a world that feels both intimate and unsettlingly real. What makes this book stand out is how it tackles complex and necessary conversations with nuance and depth. It sheds light on the experiences of women navigating male-dominated spaces, while also exploring themes of gender, identity, and the systemic realities faced by Indigenous communities in Canada. These layers add weight and urgency to the story, making it not just compelling, but important. This is the kind of book that stays with you after you finish it—one that sparks reflection, conversation, and a deeper awareness of issues that deserve attention. A must-read for anyone who appreciates meaningful storytelling with impact."
