Junction

by Cody Schlegel

In the quiet town of Junction, Iowa, where secrets run deep and danger lurks beneath the surface, a complex web of drug dealing, betrayal, and murder begins to unravel.

Joey Sheeks, the town's biggest drug dealer, meets a gruesome end when his body is discovered by two raccoon hunters. While the official explanation suggests an accidental death due to drug-induced delirium, those closest to Joey suspect foul play. As rumors spread, suspicion falls on Zack Harmen, a local troublemaker who mysteriously inherits Joey's illicit business. With his dubious reputation, Zack becomes the prime suspect in the eyes of many. However, there is another player in the town's drug trade—a newcomer named Eric Marquez. Operating with remarkable stealth, Marquez has managed to outwit the local law enforcement and leave no trace of his illegal activities. He is like a ghost, seemingly untouchable by the sheriff's department. The residents of Junction are divided in their beliefs about Joey's demise. While some see it as an unfortunate but inevitable consequence of his lifestyle, others fear that there is a serial killer on the loose. The situation takes a darker turn when one of the town's deputies goes missing, and a local priest dies under suspicious circumstances. The mounting death toll suggests that Junction is in the midst of a chilling killing spree, orchestrated by an unknown murderer who holds the key to the town's dark secrets. In this tense and character-driven thriller, the depths of human depravity and the limits of morality are explored against the backdrop of a town where the law is more of an inconvenience than a force for good. As the plot thickens, alliances are tested, loyalties are shattered, and the true nature of the small Iowa town is revealed. With each twist and turn, the search for Joey's killer intensifies, uncovering a trail of deceit, treachery, and unexpected connections that lead to an explosive and shocking conclusion. In the end, the residents of Junction will come face to face with their own demons and discover just how far they are willing to fall in the pursuit of justice, redemption, and personal gain. The story serves as a haunting reminder that even in the most seemingly innocent and peaceful places, darkness can lurk, waiting to be unleashed with devastating consequences.

267 pages, Paperback

First published September 6, 2015

Reviews

[Linda Strong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joey Sheeks is a drug dealer .. at least he was until his body is found frozen in the snow. Law Enforcement is taking this as an accidental death ... he was high on acid and wandered naked outside and froze to death.

But those who are closest to Joey suspects this was no accident. Zack Harmen takes over Joey's drug business, making him a prime suspect. And there's a new face in the local drug market, Eric Marquez.

All of a sudden there seems to be a splurge of disappearances .. first a sheriff's deputy and then a local priest. Their small town is under siege.

Nick Harmen, Zack's cousin, doesn't trust him as far as he can throw him, but he also doesn't believe he's a murderer. Nick believes he's also on someone's hit list and vows to find the person responsible before the killer comes after him.

There is a tremendous amount of violence wrapped around these characters. The suspects, as well as local law, were fleshed out and the small-town description was well-written.

Many thanks to the author and Word Slinger pubicity who provided an ARC in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

[Ian Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Junction is the name of a small town in rural Midwest America, and the book follows the lives of many of the people around a thanksgiving day. The book is strong on character and we follow some rather dubious ones. Pot growing seems to be a major industry, and it thrives as long as the local Sheriff gets his cut. Then there is a suspicious growth in murder. An elderly woman, mother of some main characters, is mistreated in hospital. Characters spend a lot of time drinking beer, taking drugs, and just talking about anything. A brother of one is having a hard time as a police officer in the South when his squad gets murdered in a drug bust. So what is this book? It is not a mystery because there is nothing particularly mysterious, and it is not a thriller because the bad stuff tends to be described somewhat coldly, and the story moves on, although there is one part towards the end where it approaches the thriller category. There is little real plot; basically a number of things happen, many of them unrelated to each other, and the characters discuss them. About half-way through, there is a glut of murders, but the reader knows who does them, and nobody is trying to solve them in the classical detective way. It could best be described as a weirdly set piece of literary fiction. It is very well-written and edited, although there were a number of black marks, where towns or dates seem to have been redacted, and I really don't see the point of that. I confess that irritated me. The story does not really conclude, in part because at the end we are told part two is coming.

[Pegboard · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually found Junction quite humorous! And you really won’t understand the things that happen in a hick town until you lived in one and interacted with the people. To someone who has always lived in a city, their language and idle attitude is baffling.
By gritty, I think other reviewers referred to the language and crude behavior by the characters in this novel. This sets the background for the environment in which the characters live. I did find it interesting that Native Americans did not usually celebrate Thanksgiving like most Americans are accustomed.
As Sheriff Kensley hunts for a man who could as well be a ghost, more people are dying, or coming up missing in the little town of Junction. The killers warped past are slowly revealed as he kills more people, unveiling the abusive father he had. Plus, it tells of when he first started slaughtering animals.
Descriptive enough to make my skin crawl.

[Denise Lucas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Junction written by author Cody Schlegel was a very in your face novel. It had great detail and seemed very real. From the very beginning the author set the scene for the whole book with two main characters in a bar. One throwing up, and the other buzzed and all before supper time on a Tuesday. I found the author has an easy to read writing style, and I found this story so believable. I enjoyed this novel and the mystery behind the death of Joey. I did get a little put off by how graphic and detailed the writer was with some of the situations, but also found this a good thing, as it really put me into the story and got me hooked. I read this book until I was finished, as I couldn’t put it down because I wanted to know how it ended. I highly recommend Junction and the author Cody Schlegel, I look forward to reading more of his work.

[Valery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Junction by Cody Schlegel is a gritty, dirty depiction of life in small town America, namely the town of Junction, Iowa. A well composed novel, with a little bit for every reader; drugs and drug dealers, unethical police, murder, and the usual ennui that smothers so many in a dead-end town. When Joey, the head drug dealer in town, is found dead, naked and frozen, most attribute it to a bad acid trip. But it could be something else altogether, with a slew of people as possible suspects. Schlegel does a great job of building characterization, the writing feels authentic to the setting, if maybe offensive to some. There is much hanging out at the local watering hole, and doing drugs, while balancing the seeming responsibilities the individual characters may have. Family is important in this story. On some level, it seems the bad guys are deep down good people, but it's hard to tell. Highly recommend for readers who like dark and gritty mysteries.

[Connie Anderson]

This is a sure must read for any adrenaline murder fan. It is set in Iowa, and we South Dakotans speak like them, not like "Fargo". Someone is murdering the local drug dealers and a deputy. You won't guess who, easily. It is such a rich, yet down to earth book that makes it so intriguing to read.

The local Sheriff thinks he is too big a fish for that small town's pool and likes to shove his weight around. But no one seems to take him seriously at all. It is a small town, so everyone has known each other for generations. Isn't it funny, though, that more people don't know about the drug dealers. It is a very good book, for sure. I love the way it was written; seemingly straight and to the point with a lot of activity taking place throughout the book. I can't wait for the next installment.

Thank you to Cody Schlegel and Word Slinger for a free e-ARC of this book to read and give my honest review.

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

A small town, questionable police tactics, loveable drug dealers – too many easily explained deaths– in IOWA? This story is as thick as the blanket of snow covering the town. Seeing the town through Nick’s eyes, one might wonder if it isn’t all a bad acid trip. The players are convincing, their reasons understandable and you wonder who to root for, the “good guys” or “the hooligans”? When paranoia kicks in, who do you trust? You will not guess the ending.

An advanced copy of this book was provided for an honest review.