2027: Q1 BOTM - February - The Lawrence Grimes Novels: Cinder > Likes and Comments
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Hello everyone! First, I want to thank the moderators of Good Thriller for selecting The Lawrence Grimes Novels: Cinder as one of February's Books of the Month. I'm incredibly excited to be here, and I'm looking forward to experiencing the book alongside all of you.
A little about me: I'm David W. Connor, and I am an American horror/mystery author. My fiction is rooted in quiet towns, buried secrets, and the uneasy feeling that something familiar has gone terribly wrong. My stories explore psychological dread, unsettling mysteries, isolation, violence, folklore, and the hidden darkness that can take hold of ordinary people and ordinary places. I was born and raised in western Massachusetts. I developed an interest in horror and mystery at a young age and was especially drawn to stories that created atmosphere before revealing their monsters. That fascination eventually became the foundation for my own fiction.
Cinder is the first novel in the Lawrence Grimes Series. Set between 1984 and 1992, The Lawrence Grimes Series follows homicide detective Lawrence Grimes as his career pulls him into four isolated communities—each harboring its own version of horror. From government cover-ups in the Nevada desert to Appalachian folklore weaponized by fear, to a methodical serial killer in New England, and finally to a house that defies reason itself, Grimes is forced to confront the many faces of evil.
Cinder is set in 1984. When newly promoted Detroit homicide detective Lawrence Grimes is quietly reassigned to the remote desert town of Cinder, Nevada, after a domestic call goes wrong, he expects exile — not peace. On paper, Cinder is paradise: Manicured lawns, perfect neighbors, and a police department with nothing to do. But under the heat and hospitality, something festers. Travelers vanish. Questions go unanswered. And every time Grimes gets close to the turth, the town's smiles tighten just a little more. When mutilated bodies surface in the desert — scrubbed from official record — Grimes uncovers a history Cinder has spent years burying. As paranoia spreads and silence becomes survival, Grimes must decide whether to protect the peace he was sent to preserve... or expose the rot at the heart of America's "Best place to live."
I'll be around during the discussion and Q&A, and I'm happy to answer questions about the book, the characters, the writing process, the inspiration behind Cinder, or anything else you'd like to ask. I'll obviously be careful about spoilers for anyone still reading.
Most of all, I'm excited to hear your theories and reactions as you make your way through the story. As the author, getting to watch a group of readers investigate Cinder alongside Grimes is going to be a new experience for me.
Thank you again for choosing the book. I really appreciate the support and hope you enjoy the mystery as it unfolds.
~ David W. Connor
According to the synopsis, it "is a slow-burning crime horror novel about institutional corruption, manufactured normalcy, and the price of uncovering truths meant to stay buried."
Goodreads Information:
Published: 21 March 2026
Kindle Edition: 554 pages
Please allow author David Connor to make the first comment.
Thank you.