WELCOME
Thanks for stopping by the official website of Ken Mercer. Ken is the author of Slow Fire, new from Minotaur Books, an imprint of St. Martin’s Publishing Group.
About Slow Fire
One morning, Will Magowan opens his mail and finds a mysterious job offer to become the police chief of Haydenville, a tiny town in rural Northern California.
Once a highly decorated LAPD narcotics detective, Will was terminated after a devastating personal tragedy drove him to become addicted to the heroin he was charged with keeping off the streets. Fresh out of rehab but jobless and estranged from his wife, Will now lives alone in an old Airstream trailer on the fringes of L.A.
Out of options, Will accepts the job. After moving to Haydenville, he discovers that the once postcard-perfect town is being corrupted by a criminal influence that threatens to destroy it.
Haydenville’s normally law-abiding citizens begin to erupt in acts of unspeakable violence. Pets are going missing at an alarming rate. Stately Victorian homes are falling into disrepair.
With only a rookie officer at his disposal, Will risks everything in his quest to save Haydenville—entering a labyrinth of dark secrets that have remained buried for almost 40 years.
Slow Fire is the first book in a new series from Minotaur Books that feature Will Magowan.
Praise for Slow Fire by Ken Mercer
“Not one word wasted…writing as taut as stretched hemp.”
—Ted Bell, New York Times Bestselling author
“Vulnerable and deeply damaged Magowan makes for a compelling protagonist in this crisp, well-written debut.”—Booklist
“Dark and twisted, Ken Mercer’s Slow Fire starts fast and burns bright. I couldn’t put it down.”—Robert Ellis, author of City of Fire
“Both his prose and his hero are refreshingly honest and direct.”—Kirkus Reviews
“In Slow Fire, Ken Mercer’s suspenseful, atmospheric, and emotionally raw debut, the author skillfully takes us beneath the peaceful facade of a seemingly idyllic town. Haydenville looks like the perfect place for disgraced and grieving cop Will Magowan to find redemption. Instead, he finds a labyrinth of dark secrets, lies, and crime that he must navigate — while keeping his own demons at bay. With its gripping plot, colorful cast of characters and shocking ending, Slow Fire will definitely have readers looking for more from Ken Mercer.”
—Lisa Unger, New York Times bestselling author of Die for You
“Slow Fire is without a doubt violent… but exceptionally well-paced and carefully plotted… and, we hope, the beginning of a fine new series.”—BookPage.
“When an author can get the hairs on the back of your neck standing on end within the first few pages of a novel, you know that he or she is worth the valuable time you will spend reading… Such was the case by the third page of Slow Fire, Ken Mercer’s debut novel.”—Bookreporter.
“Ken Mercer’s Slow Fire is a stellar debut. In Will Magowan he has created a hero we care about and fear for, a vulnerable and flawed man plagued by addictions, obsessions and his own shortcomings. The plot – spanning decades of deception and heartache – is riveting. And the prose will carry you away. There’s nothing slow about Slow Fire. You won’t be able to put it down.”
—Louise Ure, Shamus Award-winning author of Liars Anonymous and The Fault Tree
“Slow Fire is a fast-paced rural police procedural that shines a spotlight on the small town meth problem that has not felt the impact of the recession… Will is a fascinating hero.”—The Mystery Gazette.
(Ken Mercer photo by Heward Jue)
