When Charlie Rideout's best friend David vanishes from Denver's vibrant drag bar scene, he turns to the last person who should take the case. Max Evans is a jaded private detective still haunted by the murder of his husband at the hands of a serial killer he helped put behind bars.

But the deeper Max and Charlie dig into David's disappearance, the more the shadows of Max's past close in around them. A taunting business card smeared with blood. A killer who was supposed to be locked away. And the terrifying realization that David's abduction was never about David at all. It was a trap designed to lure Max back into a nightmare he never escaped.

As the clock ticks down on David's life, Max and Charlie are drawn together by more than the case. Charlie's relentless optimism cracks open something in Max he thought died with his husband, while Max's fierce protectiveness awakens feelings Charlie never expected to find in the middle of a crisis. But forces beyond them despise nothing more than the happiness of others, and falling for each other might be the most dangerous thing they can do.



Nathan Gibson is a security analyst in the communications industry and a lifelong storyteller. He holds a bachelor's degree in Psychology and Applied Therapy, a background that informs his nuanced approach to character development and the emotional complexities at the heart of his writing. His professional career in security analysis has sharpened his eye for detail and suspense—qualities that lend a gripping authenticity to the crime elements woven throughout his work.



A passionate advocate for LGBT fiction, Nathan believes in the power of storytelling to foster empathy and illuminate experiences that deserve greater visibility on the literary stage. When not writing or working at his day job, he can be found exploring the trails of the Colorado mountains, losing himself in a video game, or spending time with his beloved corgi, Chef.