GUM

by Richard Nongard, Dan Perez

In the vast deserts of New Mexico and Arizona, divorced ex-cop David Parker seeks a fresh start on vacation with his kids. Chemistry with a captivating woman sparks hope, but when three people are brutally murdered at a motel he stayed in along the way, Dave realizes he's been framed. Now, he must go on the run to clear his name and expose the real killer. Will the police catch him, or will the razor-wielding murderer find him first? In the high desert, survival becomes a deadly race against both the law and a merciless predator. Gum is a pulse-pounding thriller set along the dusty desert stretches of Interstate 40. And among the predators that prowl the desert, the deadliest is the one that walks on two legs.

“Nongard and Perez have masterfully crafted a gripping psychological thriller that will etch itself into the depths of your mind, resonating with, perhaps, the same intensity as your own memories of the torturous road trips you took as a child.”
-Chase Hughes Author of Six-Minute X-Ray and the bestselling novel Phrase Seven

183 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 23, 2026

Reviews

[Eva M. Wells, Author · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good story to sink your teeth into…

Nongard & Perez guide you into the the life of Dave Parker, whose life begins and carries through one sticky mess after the next. Lost love, kids, jobs, and mystery carry you from one page to the next as you are transported into the direct path of new love and a psychopathic mystery. Will Dave escape? What will happen to his family? How can he reach the peaceful, happy existence he longs for? The only way to find out is to grab your copy so you can read this book today.