The Winter Man: Resort to Violence

by Robert Firlotte, Laurel Galloway (illustrator)

Riley Wright was a ghost long before he ever set foot in Dusty. A former soldier with a past so classified even his third tour in the Middle East barely exists on paper, he was the man sent to handle impossible situations—the kind where survival was never guaranteed. But one mission changed everything. A single shot, a moment of hesitation, and an explosion that left nothing but ash and regret.

After the war, he became something else. A name whispered in the dark. An enforcer known only as Mr. Right—because when he arrived, there was no second chance to get it wrong. But a decade ago, he walked away from that life, disappearing into the shadow of the Two Sisters mountains, where the town of Dusty spun its own myths about the stranger in their midst. A ghost story for misbehaving children. A legend built around a man with blood on his hands and a code in his bones.

Now, the past has come knocking. Natalie Embers thought she was leaving trouble behind when she ran to Dusty, but trouble followed—and it doesn’t knock, it kicks the door in. Dirty cops, death squads, and old enemies are circling, and the only thing standing between them and the innocent is the man they call The Winter Man.

Riley has spent years trying to bury who he was, but some ghosts don’t stay dead. And some men? They were never meant to be saved.

289 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 4, 2025

About the author

I was born in Lahr, Germany, to Canadian Armed Forces parents, Ed and Joyce. Along with my brother David, we moved a lot in our younger years, seeing various parts of the Canadian Maritimes and Ontario. Growing up, and to this day, I struggle with dyslexia. One of the reasons I wanted to write was to try to make it less of an impact on my life. I'm also a movie buff and worked in film and television. I loved telling stories through the visual arts. These books are a continuation of my storytelling.

After graduating from Loyalist with his diploma in Television Broadcasting, I had the opportunity to move to Banff, Alberta, working at the Banff Spring Hotel for three years until I landed my first video journalist (cameraman) job with the then A-Channel. While he was at the Banff Springs Hotel, I had been trained to cook by some of the top chefs of their time, and I continue to cook to this day. I even cooked at the North Pole. But I can’t talk about that. Seriously. Don’t ask.

Moving to Calgary to work for the A-Channel (sold and rebranded to CityTV) was quite the experience. I got to see all kinds of horrible, dark things the big city had to offer, and where some of these “urban myths” have come from. Everything from real-life bad people, dog & cat abuse (and revenge), car chases, kidnappings, drugging (other people), mass murders, and a plethora of other societal mishaps. I was there for over 16 years. 
I want to continue writing different styles of stories of action/adventure, and I will keep everyone posted on the new completed works when they hit the final stages of being published.
"Paraphilia" is scheduled for a 2026 release.
"The Winter Man - Ascension" is the follow-up to my first release, expected in early 2027.
"Angel's Ashes" is also shaping up to be a 2027 release.
Then, the second chapter of "Paraphilia" I have started and has a working title of "Pathogen".
Happy reading.

Reviews

[Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent daybute novel. Action packed excitement, twists and turns of winter fun. Honestly....I didn't want it to end and to just keep reading...but every book must come to an end. Until the next one. ✌🏻 Thank you, Robert Firlotte

[Claudette Gabbs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. Well written Enjoyable story.
Read my full review here: https://rottiegirl-2.blogspot.com/202...