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Winter Song: A Novel
Not yet published
Expected 1 Dec 26For fans of Elizabeth Strout and Kent Haruf: a novel that follows the intertwined lives of a small-town Midwestern police chief and a young man recently released from prison, each in search of justice
It's 1986, deep winter, in the hinterland of Minnesota: remote Middle America, with demolition derbies and downtown diners, a place so frozen and secluded the world beyond its borders barely registers.
Here, Gordon Trent, a police chief facing mandatory retirement, squares off with Byron Lugo, just released from Stillwater prison for vehicular homicide. Byron has never admitted guilt and still proclaims his innocence to anyone who will listen: the police chief, townspeople suspicious of the felon now in their midst, the motley group of friends who will stand by him no matter what did or didn't happen that fateful night.
Byron's headlong quest to clear his name and resume the life he lost when he was convicted will force the chief into a painful reassessment of his own judgment, loyalty, and legacy as a police officer.
Winter Song is a moving and pitch-perfect examination of love, community, identity, and the redress of past wrongs in working-class America—and marks the introduction of a brilliant new literary voice.
It's 1986, deep winter, in the hinterland of Minnesota: remote Middle America, with demolition derbies and downtown diners, a place so frozen and secluded the world beyond its borders barely registers.
Here, Gordon Trent, a police chief facing mandatory retirement, squares off with Byron Lugo, just released from Stillwater prison for vehicular homicide. Byron has never admitted guilt and still proclaims his innocence to anyone who will listen: the police chief, townspeople suspicious of the felon now in their midst, the motley group of friends who will stand by him no matter what did or didn't happen that fateful night.
Byron's headlong quest to clear his name and resume the life he lost when he was convicted will force the chief into a painful reassessment of his own judgment, loyalty, and legacy as a police officer.
Winter Song is a moving and pitch-perfect examination of love, community, identity, and the redress of past wrongs in working-class America—and marks the introduction of a brilliant new literary voice.
- GenresFiction
256 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication December 1, 2026
4 people are currently reading
58 people want to read
About the author
Rebeca Lee Morales
1 book2 followersRebeca Lee Morales was born in Cape Charles, Virginia, and raised in Michigan. The daughter of a missionary mother who served in the Yucatán and a pastor father, she was first encouraged to attempt a novel-length work by Robert Morgan, author of Gap Creek, while attending a writing course with Nancy E. Turner, in Tucson, Arizona. It was there that she began crafting narratives of paradise lost and the precarity of earthly justice. In the fall of 2004, she relocated to the Pacific Northwest, where she still resides. Winter Song is her debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
February 10, 2026
Super grateful to have received this ARC from NetGalley! There aren’t many things I love more than a stellar debut novel! Winter Song is just that - beautifully written, realistic with sympathetic characters and familiar landscapes. I lived in South Dakota for a few years, so much of this Minnesota setting and so many of the characters were familiar. Our protagonist, Byron, is someone you can’t help but root for, and Chief Trent seems to be the upstanding law enforcement we all hope we’d find if ever in Byron’s situation. Rebeca Lee Morales has definitely made a fan out of me.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
In most wrongful-conviction stories, the system is the villain. In Winter Song, the system has a conscience.
Set in a small Minnesota town where everybody knows everybody (and yes, everybody has opinions) this character-driven mystery follows Byron Lugo after his release from prison. Convicted of vehicular manslaughter in the death of a child, Byron has never wavered from his claim that he had an alibi. He served his time, but returning home means facing what he truly lost: his job, his reputation, his friends, and the woman he planned to marry.
The heart of this story isn’t high-speed chases or shocking twists. It’s quieter than that. The tension comes from a couple central questions: if Byron didn’t do it, who did? Will the truth ever come out? And will the town, especially Police Chief Gordon Trent, be willing to look again?
Chief Trent was my favorite part of this novel. He cares. He cares about Byron, about the victim’s family, and about the integrity of his town. That felt authentic to small-town life, and I appreciated how his personal investment added both hope and emotional weight to the story.
This is a steady, beautifully paced read. I never skimmed. I never felt impatient. The atmosphere is vivid and picturesque, and having lived in several small towns myself, I can say Morales captured that dynamic perfectly including the loyalty, the long memories, and the quiet judgments.
The novel explores justice, loyalty, and what happens when legal closure doesn’t feel like moral truth. There is a moment of justice outside the system and I’ll admit, I approved.
Content considerations include the death of a child, vehicular manslaughter, and murder.
This isn’t a heart-pounding thriller. It’s a thoughtful, character-driven mystery with a strong emotional core. I’d recommend it to readers who enjoy small-town crime with depth and heart. I’ll be buying a copy when it releases. I give this 4.5 stars. It's a solid, satisfying read with no eye-rolls.
A special thank you to Ecco for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Set in a small Minnesota town where everybody knows everybody (and yes, everybody has opinions) this character-driven mystery follows Byron Lugo after his release from prison. Convicted of vehicular manslaughter in the death of a child, Byron has never wavered from his claim that he had an alibi. He served his time, but returning home means facing what he truly lost: his job, his reputation, his friends, and the woman he planned to marry.
The heart of this story isn’t high-speed chases or shocking twists. It’s quieter than that. The tension comes from a couple central questions: if Byron didn’t do it, who did? Will the truth ever come out? And will the town, especially Police Chief Gordon Trent, be willing to look again?
Chief Trent was my favorite part of this novel. He cares. He cares about Byron, about the victim’s family, and about the integrity of his town. That felt authentic to small-town life, and I appreciated how his personal investment added both hope and emotional weight to the story.
This is a steady, beautifully paced read. I never skimmed. I never felt impatient. The atmosphere is vivid and picturesque, and having lived in several small towns myself, I can say Morales captured that dynamic perfectly including the loyalty, the long memories, and the quiet judgments.
The novel explores justice, loyalty, and what happens when legal closure doesn’t feel like moral truth. There is a moment of justice outside the system and I’ll admit, I approved.
Content considerations include the death of a child, vehicular manslaughter, and murder.
This isn’t a heart-pounding thriller. It’s a thoughtful, character-driven mystery with a strong emotional core. I’d recommend it to readers who enjoy small-town crime with depth and heart. I’ll be buying a copy when it releases. I give this 4.5 stars. It's a solid, satisfying read with no eye-rolls.
A special thank you to Ecco for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thanks to NetGalley and Ecco Press for this advance reader’s copy, in exchange for an honest review. “Winter Song” is scheduled for release on June 9, 2026.
In 1986, in a small town in rural Minnesota, police chief Gordon Trent is wrestling with life without his deceased wife and the pending prospect of mandatory retirement.
Into his life comes Byron Lugo, a 26-year-old who was just released from Stillwater prison for a vehicular manslaughter crime committed four years ago. Lugo has served his time, but he remains adamant of his innocence and is Hell bent on proving it. And resuming the life he had prior to his incarceration.
But Lugo soon finds out you can’t always go back home.
It’s an interesting premise and an easy read. But the narrative plods along with frequent chapters that left me wondering what bearing they have on the story. The answer, in the end, is none. So why include them? If they’re there to paint a more vivid picture of the various characters, that didn’t work.
There are no surprises in the narrative. It’s easy to decipher where the story is going and what’s going to happen well before the reveals. So when key moments occur they have minimal impact.
The dialogue, too, is awkward. The exchanges between Lugo and his two friends, Charlie and Andres, is pedestrian at best. It’s hard to believe that friends, even back in 1986 in rural Minnesota, spoke to each other in the depicted manner.
The descriptions of life in rural Minnesota in January are interesting, and some are quite vivid. But they’re just nice window dressing. The heart of the book didn’t embrace me nor entice me to read enthusiastically.
Two stars for “Winter Song.” Its melody is too far off key.
And you can read all of my reviews at my Raised on Reading (www.raisedonreading.com) blog site. New reviews posted every Monday.
In 1986, in a small town in rural Minnesota, police chief Gordon Trent is wrestling with life without his deceased wife and the pending prospect of mandatory retirement.
Into his life comes Byron Lugo, a 26-year-old who was just released from Stillwater prison for a vehicular manslaughter crime committed four years ago. Lugo has served his time, but he remains adamant of his innocence and is Hell bent on proving it. And resuming the life he had prior to his incarceration.
But Lugo soon finds out you can’t always go back home.
It’s an interesting premise and an easy read. But the narrative plods along with frequent chapters that left me wondering what bearing they have on the story. The answer, in the end, is none. So why include them? If they’re there to paint a more vivid picture of the various characters, that didn’t work.
There are no surprises in the narrative. It’s easy to decipher where the story is going and what’s going to happen well before the reveals. So when key moments occur they have minimal impact.
The dialogue, too, is awkward. The exchanges between Lugo and his two friends, Charlie and Andres, is pedestrian at best. It’s hard to believe that friends, even back in 1986 in rural Minnesota, spoke to each other in the depicted manner.
The descriptions of life in rural Minnesota in January are interesting, and some are quite vivid. But they’re just nice window dressing. The heart of the book didn’t embrace me nor entice me to read enthusiastically.
Two stars for “Winter Song.” Its melody is too far off key.
And you can read all of my reviews at my Raised on Reading (www.raisedonreading.com) blog site. New reviews posted every Monday.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The intriguing premise of this book piqued my interest, so I was excited to receive an advanced copy from NetGalley and the publisher, Ecco, before its release on December 1, 2026. Given the winter setting seemed more appropriate to read right now rather than wait until next fall, I decided to seize the opportunity and read it now instead of waiting. And I’m so l glad I made that choice!
This is a slow-burning, character-driven novel set in rural Minnesota during winter. The protagonist, Byron, was recently released from prison after serving time for a crime he insists he didn’t commit. The narrative alternates between Byron and the police chief, Gordon Trent, and explores Byron’s initial weeks of freedom and his reintroduction to the town he grew up in that’s also where the crime was committed.
I found all the characters captivating and the writing to be excellent. It’s hard to believe this is Morales’s debut novel. I’ll definitely be on the lookout for her future novels after reading this one!
Fans of S.A. Cosby would particularly enjoy this book. While it’s less plot-driven and violent, there’s a similarity I thoroughly enjoyed.
This is a slow-burning, character-driven novel set in rural Minnesota during winter. The protagonist, Byron, was recently released from prison after serving time for a crime he insists he didn’t commit. The narrative alternates between Byron and the police chief, Gordon Trent, and explores Byron’s initial weeks of freedom and his reintroduction to the town he grew up in that’s also where the crime was committed.
I found all the characters captivating and the writing to be excellent. It’s hard to believe this is Morales’s debut novel. I’ll definitely be on the lookout for her future novels after reading this one!
Fans of S.A. Cosby would particularly enjoy this book. While it’s less plot-driven and violent, there’s a similarity I thoroughly enjoyed.
March 7, 2026
Winter Song is a very atmospheric novel set in the winter months of Minnesota. Everything about this book, from the setting, to the language, to the imagery invokes COLD. There are parts that feel very bleak - the main characters are a veteran police chief and a young man just released from a 4 year prison sentence who strongly adheres to his innocence. He is trying to re-adjust to his new life where everyone views him as an ex-convict, while also finding anyone who will believe in him. The chief of police is grappling with his own life and losses and struggles to believe that he should question the way justice played out. This book will really make you think about how you feel about our justice system and then just justice in general. It was a slower paced read, but I really was invested in the characters and wanted to know how things would turn out. I enjoyed this book and give it 3.5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ecco for the opportunity to read this ARC ebook.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ecco for the opportunity to read this ARC ebook.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
In the frozen isolation of 1986 rural Minnesota this debut novel tracks police chief Gordon Trent, nearing retirement, and Byron Lugo, 26, freed from prison after a vehicular homicide conviction he disputes with a strong alibi. Byron seeks to prove innocence, reclaim his life and expose the truth, forcing Trent who was absent from the initial probe due to his wife’s illness to confront judgment, loyalty, and his legacy.
Shifting viewpoints reveal small town strains of deep loyalties, lingering memories, and unspoken verdicts. Favoring introspection over action, it interrogates guilt amid justice, forbidden ties, community, identity, and amending injustices in working class America, ending in extra judicial resolution.
**I would like to express my gratitude to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read this gifted ebook in exchange for an honest review. #ARC #NetGalley
#WinterSong
Shifting viewpoints reveal small town strains of deep loyalties, lingering memories, and unspoken verdicts. Favoring introspection over action, it interrogates guilt amid justice, forbidden ties, community, identity, and amending injustices in working class America, ending in extra judicial resolution.
**I would like to express my gratitude to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read this gifted ebook in exchange for an honest review. #ARC #NetGalley
#WinterSong
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
If this book were set to music, I think it would be a lethargic ballad in a minor key. Set during a frigid winter, the town in Minnesota is as colorless as the dirty snow.
I’d call it a slice of life story focusing primarily on Byron, just released from prison on a vehicular manslaughter charge he swears he didn't commit, and Trent, the police chief facing retirement and ruminating about choices he’s made in his life.
Nothing has changed in his friends’ lives since Byron was in prison and they all pick up where they left off. There has been some change though—Byron's fiancé married someone else. Other minor characters flush out the story to keep it moving.
The story was a slog for me. Too slow and no surprises. I think it would have been a better short story.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Ecco for the opportunity to read the ARC and honestly review it.
I’d call it a slice of life story focusing primarily on Byron, just released from prison on a vehicular manslaughter charge he swears he didn't commit, and Trent, the police chief facing retirement and ruminating about choices he’s made in his life.
Nothing has changed in his friends’ lives since Byron was in prison and they all pick up where they left off. There has been some change though—Byron's fiancé married someone else. Other minor characters flush out the story to keep it moving.
The story was a slog for me. Too slow and no surprises. I think it would have been a better short story.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Ecco for the opportunity to read the ARC and honestly review it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
In “Winter Song”, Rebeca Lee Morales has written a sprawling novel of heartache and redemption. It’s hard to believe this is her first ever novel. It is so well written, and the characters are so life-like. You can feel the pain of each character. You can feel the question of those that are on the outside trying to figure things out.
The novel isn’t rushed. Not at all. But neither is life. If you have ever been falsely accused, you want a quick resolution. But that isn’t typically how real life plays out. And that is not how a novel like this should be written. There are going to be long, hard days.
This was a beautifully written novel. It will be interesting to see how the author follows up this novel.
I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.
The novel isn’t rushed. Not at all. But neither is life. If you have ever been falsely accused, you want a quick resolution. But that isn’t typically how real life plays out. And that is not how a novel like this should be written. There are going to be long, hard days.
This was a beautifully written novel. It will be interesting to see how the author follows up this novel.
I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.75/5
Very character focused, no big surprises, a deep dive on the two main characters.
It's 1986 and wintertime in Minnesota, where Byron Lugo has just been released after serving part of his sentence for a vehicular homicide that he still claims he is innocent of committing. He quickly learns things won't go back to normal, his job won't take him back, someone else is living in his old rental, and his fiancée got married to another man. Byron learns to navigate a return to the world as he continues to try to find a way to prove his innocence.
Our other character of focus is Gordon Trent, the police chief who is facing mandatory retirement due to his age, and who didn't work Byron's case as his wife was dying at the time. While Byron continues on his quest to clear his name, Trent delves deeper into the case, forcing him to assess his own judgement and legacy in his department while he determines whether Byron is truly innocent, and what that might mean about his department.
Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this novel.
Very character focused, no big surprises, a deep dive on the two main characters.
It's 1986 and wintertime in Minnesota, where Byron Lugo has just been released after serving part of his sentence for a vehicular homicide that he still claims he is innocent of committing. He quickly learns things won't go back to normal, his job won't take him back, someone else is living in his old rental, and his fiancée got married to another man. Byron learns to navigate a return to the world as he continues to try to find a way to prove his innocence.
Our other character of focus is Gordon Trent, the police chief who is facing mandatory retirement due to his age, and who didn't work Byron's case as his wife was dying at the time. While Byron continues on his quest to clear his name, Trent delves deeper into the case, forcing him to assess his own judgement and legacy in his department while he determines whether Byron is truly innocent, and what that might mean about his department.
Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this novel.
March 7, 2026
Thanks NetGalley and Ecco for this Advanced Readers Copy for my honest review.
I enjoyed this novel overall, but I found it to be pretty slow at times, and not much action really occurred until the end. I did enjoy the theme of the story—heartache and redemption—and Rebecca Lee Morales did a really great job on describing the winter setting where the novel takes place. That said, the story didn’t exactly have the best flow. I felt that some characters could have been left out, as they didn’t really serve a purpose to the story, while others could have used more context and development. The writing itself was good, but the execution of the story just didn’t fully land for me.
I enjoyed this novel overall, but I found it to be pretty slow at times, and not much action really occurred until the end. I did enjoy the theme of the story—heartache and redemption—and Rebecca Lee Morales did a really great job on describing the winter setting where the novel takes place. That said, the story didn’t exactly have the best flow. I felt that some characters could have been left out, as they didn’t really serve a purpose to the story, while others could have used more context and development. The writing itself was good, but the execution of the story just didn’t fully land for me.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Set in the area around Montevideo, it was fun to read about familiar places. The story is of a chief of police and a young guy who was recently released from prison. It goes along well and kept my attention all day . SHH, let me finish this chapter was heard often. This book will be published in June 2026. I recommend this debut novel.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book had an interested concept and I enjoyed the Winter descriptions and the location as part of the book, But the story didn't flow for me. It seemed to talk in circles with a lot of background on multiple characters that had no impact on the story. I am not really sure I even know what the point of the story was. No one really seems to change and the actual crime is not even talked about until the end of the book.
Thank you to NetGalley for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. This is a quiet book to read, a new author to follow as this is her debut novel.
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