Poison in Pickensburg

In the sun-scorched town of Pickensburg, Arizona, the heat makes people do crazy things. But murdering the mayor with a poisoned letter? That's a new local record. Brian Dawson used to be a great detective. Now he's just a guy with a “Vacancy” sign, a loyal Golden Retriever who thinks he owns the motel, and a very strong desire to be left alone — until his young desk clerk is framed for the murder, and Brian has to put down his book and pick up his wits.

The suspect list is a desert fever dream, and Pickensburg loves complications: Brian's soon-to-be ex-wife Nina, a defense attorney with a third divorce still unsigned, blows into town with a custody battle plan for the Golden Retriever and a habit of objecting at murder scenes. As the bodies pile up and the sun beats down, Brian realizes he's not just hunting a killer — he's navigating a twisted web of small-town greed, old flames, and very deadly secrets.