PRAISE FOR BAD MOON RISING

“As unique a place in the mystery universe as you will ever find, and in the eloquent prose of John Galligan it comes alive in a ride that is smooth, unexpected, and memorable. This book is a diamond in the rough.”

—Michael Connelly, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Law of Innocence

“Fascinating characters, a thoroughly original voice, and a riveting sense of place and atmosphere… Unputdownable.”

—Ausma Zehanat Khan, author of A Deadly Divide

“Gritty and propulsive… Intriguing characters take a wild ride through backwoods Wisconsin in this irresistible mystery.”

—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Suspenseful… Readers will root for Kick as the action builds to a satisfyingly hard-edged denouement. Fans of gritty rural crime, such as Ace Atkins’s Quinn Colson series, will be enthralled.”

—Publishers Weekly

“Fast-paced and well written, Bad Moon Rising leaves Galligan’s fans anxiously awaiting the next volume in his Bad Axe County series.”

—Mystery and Suspense magazine

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Title Page

Tues, Aug 6, 12:08 PM

To: Dairy Queen ([email protected])

From: Oppo ([email protected])

Subject: You need opposition research.

Do you want it?

I can get it.

An account has been created for you in blackbox.com.

Your username is dairyqueen.

Your password is 8&4lLMnou3_592%4$1.

PROLOGUE

AUGUST 7, 2019

LA CROSSE, WISCONSIN

Jump.

Chickenshit.

Jump off now.

He obeys. When the freight slows just enough, he cinches his backpack tight and, from the deck of the intermodal car—knowing himself as Sammy Squirrel since he hopped out at a rail yard in Portland with a backpack of essentials—launches into the scorch of high noon and lands badly, pitching onto his palms and knees and skidding down the railway berm with the slung weight of the pack driving his face into sharp rocks.

He crawls into weeds, tasting grit and blood. He shucks the pack, topples over, closes his eyes, and grins up. The train hammers east and disappears. Sun flares scrawl Cassie’s name inside his lids.

That’s right. Cassie. Do it for her.

He rises and barefoots away into the heavy Midwest heat, crossing sinkholes, fallen fences, blown trash, guided toward a distant intersection, Texaco, Flying J, Arby’s, Black Jack’s Casino, Adult Video Warehouse, China Buffet. ALL YOU CAN EAT CRAB LEGS. In the Willamette Valley, a herd of sheep pushed down a fence and killed themselves on green alfalfa. They ate until they exploded.

This is how people are.

The human race.

Cassie wants you to stop them.