Books with author Janet Clifford

Prison-for-profit scheme thrusts insurance investigator into his disturbing past—and extreme dangerJay Porter, the newest employee at NorthEastern Insurance in New Hampshire, is investigating an accident claim when he learns the teenager behind the wheel was arrested for minor drug possession and sentenced to a hardcore behavioral modification center. At the county courthouse, Jay meets Nicki, a young college intern, who tips him off to a possible scandal--first-time juvenile offenders being shipped to private institutions for political kickbacks. He learns that long-time family nemeses, Adam and Michael Lombardi, may have a stake in the scheme. Is Jay's mission to help these kids a legitimate crusade? Or is his thirst for revenge driven by the guilt he feels over his own junkie brother's death? These questions conspire to tear apart tranquility and drive a wedge between Jay and his wife Jenny. With help from new friend Nicki, and a couple of old friends, Jay finds himself thrust back into a past he had hoped to leave behind, putting everything--and everyone he loves—at risk in pursuit of the truth.

•Fourth in Joe Clifford's Jay Porter Series•Jay Porter is a flawed handyman struggling to keep his life together while standing up to forces he perceives as evil•The author is a former homeless heroin addict—now the father of two boys, and an MFA graduate; his authenticity is unquestionable•Author has been compared to Dennis Lehane, Don Winslow and Paula Hawkins•Will appeal to readers who appreciate deeply flawed characters fighting to walk the righteous path•Very atmospheric setting in rural New Hampshire •Timely topic within the political scene and dissatisfaction with the state of American politics•The plot line borrows from the real-life criminal case involving former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort•As with all Jay Porter books, themes of addiction, recovery, and the elusive search for the American dream are prevalent•The novel is a topical examination of the failure of the War on Drugs•Lamentation, the first book in the Jay Porter series, was nominated for an Anthony Award for Best Novel•The Jay Porter novels have had favorable reviews from Publishers Weekly (starred), Library Journal, Mystery Scene Magazine, San Francisco Chronicle, Midwest Book Review, and many others•The Jay Porter novels have blurbs from many best-selling authors. Among them James Grady, Robert Dugoni, Sheldon Siegel, David Corbett, James Hall, Allan Leverone, Sara Henry, Reed Farrel Coleman, Eileen Cook, and others•Author is a frequent speaker at conferences, libraries, and book events•Author has a large following in the San Francisco Bay area and Connecticut•Author's personal story of addiction, living on the streets, and recovery is poignant and a popular platform for widespread publicity•Give Up The Dead book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D05pkeVYoHU

2018 Anthony Award NomineeThe American Dream is great as long as you don't wake up.Three years have passed since estate-clearing handyman Jay Porter almost lost his life following a devastating accident on the thin ice of Echo Lake. His investigative work uncovering a kids-for-cash scandal may have made his hometown of Ashton, New Hampshire, a safer place, but nothing comes without a price. The traumatic, uncredited events cost Jay his wife and his son, and left him with a permanent leg injury. Jay is just putting his life back together when a mysterious stranger stops by with an offer too good to be true: a large sum of cash in exchange for finding a missing teenage boy who may have been abducted by a radical recovery group in the northern New Hampshire wilds. Skeptical of gift horses and weary of reenlisting in the local drug war, Jay passes on the offer. The next day his boss is found beaten and left for dead, painting Jay the main suspect. As clues begin to tie the two cases together, Jay finds himself back on the job and back in the line of fire.

In the early 2000s, a string of abductions rocked the small upstate town of Reine, New York. Only one girl survived: Alex Salerno. The killer, Ken Parsons, was sent away. Life returned to normal. No more girls would have to die. Until another one did. It’s been seven years since Kira Shanks was reported missing and presumed dead. Alex Salerno has been living in New York City, piecemealing paychecks to earn a livable wage, trying to forget those three days locked underground and her affair with Sean Riley, the married detective who rescued her. When Noah Lee, hometown reporter with a journalistic pedigree, requests an interview, Alex returns to Reine and Riley, reopening old wounds. What begins as a Q&A for a newspaper article soon turns into an opportunity for money, closure and—justice. The disappearance of Kira Shanks has long been hung on Benny Brudzienski, a hulking man-child who is currently a brain-addled guest at the Galloway State Mental Hospital. But after Alex reconnects with ex-classmates and frenemies, doubts are cast on that guilt. Alex is drawn into a dangerous game of show and tell in an insular town where everyone has a secret to hide. And as more details emerge about the night Kira Shanks went missing, Alex discovers there are some willing to kill to protect the horrific truth. In the modern vein of Dark Places and Mystic River, The One That Got Away is a dark, psychological thriller featuring a compelling, conflicted heroine and a page-turning narrative that races toward its final, shocking conclusion. Praise for THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY: “A great book! I devoured it. Taut, pacey and with a powerful sense of place, Joe Clifford’s The One That Got Away is an intelligent and astutely observed piece of American small-town noir.” —Paula Hawkins, New York Times bestselling author of The Girl on the Train and Into the Water “Joe Clifford is a gifted storyteller with a knack for crafting characters who are entirely human. The One That Got Away is dark and unforgiving, a chilling crime novel with the perfect touch of tenderness that will keep readers turning the pages with haste. This is one book you won’t be able to put down. —Mary Kubica, New York Times bestselling author of The Good Girl and Every Last Lie “The mystery of The One That Got Away sucked me in, but it was the emotional punch of Alex Salerno’s return home that broke my heart. With its sharply observed characters and setting and crime-thriller pace, its tough exterior belies a vast, unexpected tenderness. I cannot not quit thinking about this book.” —Emily Carpenter, author of Burying the Honeysuckle Girls and The Weight of Lies “It’s not often that I read a top-notch thriller with layers of emotion buried within each page. The One That Got Away is by far Clifford’s best and most fully realized novel to date, and might well be the most rewarding thriller I’ve read this year.” —Jennifer Hillier, author of Jar of Hearts “Joe Clifford crafts a unique detective story with a flawed central character in Alex Salerno. His true skill lies in that he was able to make the Northeastern town of Reine into the co-central character, one even more flawed than Alex. Its life is even more sullied, darker and full of worse choices than hers ever could have been, and that is the gritty magic of the book. Read the novel for the last few pages, which are delicious in their noir conclusion.” —Ryan Sayles, author of Albatross “This seething story of small-town noir should appeal to fans of Jeffery Deaver’s The Bone Collector.” —Publishers Weekly

In the early 2000s, a string of abductions rocked the small upstate town of Reine, New York. Only one girl survived: Alex Salerno. The killer, Ken Parsons, was sent away. Life returned to normal. No more girls would have to die. Until another one did. It’s been seven years since Kira Shanks was reported missing and presumed dead. Alex Salerno has been living in New York City, piecemealing paychecks to earn a livable wage, trying to forget those three days locked underground and her affair with Sean Riley, the married detective who rescued her. When Noah Lee, hometown reporter with a journalistic pedigree, requests an interview, Alex returns to Reine and Riley, reopening old wounds. What begins as a Q&A for a newspaper article soon turns into an opportunity for money, closure and—justice. The disappearance of Kira Shanks has long been hung on Benny Brudzienski, a hulking man-child who is currently a brain-addled guest at the Galloway State Mental Hospital. But after Alex reconnects with ex-classmates and frenemies, doubts are cast on that guilt. Alex is drawn into a dangerous game of show and tell in an insular town where everyone has a secret to hide. And as more details emerge about the night Kira Shanks went missing, Alex discovers there are some willing to kill to protect the horrific truth. In the modern vein of Dark Places and Mystic River, The One That Got Away is a dark, psychological thriller featuring a compelling, conflicted heroine and a page-turning narrative that races toward its final, shocking conclusion. Praise for THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY: “A great book! I devoured it. Taut, pacey and with a powerful sense of place, Joe Clifford’s The One That Got Away is an intelligent and astutely observed piece of American small town noir.” —Paula Hawkins, New York Times bestselling author of The Girl on the Train and Into the Water “Joe Clifford is a gifted storyteller with a knack for crafting characters who are entirely human. The One That Got Away is dark and unforgiving, a chilling crime novel with the perfect touch of tenderness that will keep readers turning the pages with haste. This is one book you won’t be able to put down. —Mary Kubica, New York Times bestselling author of The Good Girl and Every Last Lie “The mystery of The One That Got Away sucked me in, but it was the emotional punch of Alex Salerno’s return home that broke my heart. With its sharply observed characters and setting and crime-thriller pace, its tough exterior belies a vast, unexpected tenderness. I cannot not quit thinking about this book.” —Emily Carpenter, author of Burying the Honeysuckle Girls and The Weight of Lies “It’s not often that I read a top-notch thriller with layers of emotion buried within each page. On the surface, Joe Clifford’s story of a young woman who survived a kidnapping and returns to her hometown to investigate a seemingly similar disappearance is compulsively readable, but when you dig a little deeper, you discover there’s so much more to unpack. The On That Got Away is by far Clifford’s best and most fully realized novel to date, and might well be the most rewarding thriller I’ve read this year.” —Jennifer Hillier, author of Jar of Hearts

Three years have passed since estate-clearing handyman Jay Porter almost lost his life following a devastating accident on the thin ice of Echo Lake. His investigative work uncovering a kids-for-cash scandal may have made his hometown of Ashton, New Hampshire, a safer place, but nothing comes without a price. The traumatic, uncredited events cost Jay his wife and his son, and left him with a permanent leg injury. Jay is just putting his life back together when a mysterious stranger stops by with an offer too good to be true: a large sum of cash in exchange for finding a missing teenage boy who may have been abducted by a radical recovery group in the northern New Hampshire wilds. Skeptical of gift horses and weary of reenlisting in the local drug war, Jay passes on the offer. The next day his boss is found beaten and left for dead, painting Jay the main suspect. As clues begin to tie the two cases together, Jay finds himself back on the job―and back in the line of fire.

Jay Porter, the newest employee at NorthEastern Insurance in New Hampshire, is investigating an accident claim when he learns the teenager behind the wheel was arrested for minor drug possession and sentenced to a hardcore behavioral modification center. At the county courthouse, Jay meets Nicki, a young college intern, who tips him off to a possible scandal―first-time juvenile offenders being shipped to private institutions for political kickbacks. He learns that long-time family nemeses, Adam and Michael Lombardi, may have a stake in the scheme. Is Jay’s mission to help these kids a legitimate crusade? Or is his thirst for revenge driven by the guilt he feels over his own junkie brother’s death? These questions conspire to tear apart tranquility and drive a wedge between Jay and his wife Jenny. With help from new friend Nicki, and a couple of old friends, Jay finds himself thrust back into a past he had hoped to leave behind, putting everything―and everyone he loves―at risk in pursuit of the truth.

• Fourth in Joe Clifford’s Jay Porter Series • Jay Porter is a flawed handyman struggling to keep his life together while standing up to forces he perceives as evil • The author is a former homeless heroin addict—now the father of two boys, and an MFA graduate; his authenticity is unquestionable • Author has been compared to Dennis Lehane, Don Winslow and Paula Hawkins • Will appeal to readers who appreciate deeply flawed characters fighting to walk the righteous path • Very atmospheric setting in rural New Hampshire • Timely topic within the political scene and dissatisfaction with the state of American politics • The plot line borrows from the real-life criminal case involving former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort • As with all Jay Porter books, themes of addiction, recovery, and the elusive search for the American dream are prevalent • The novel is a topical examination of the failure of the War on Drugs • Lamentation, the first book in the Jay Porter series, was nominated for an Anthony Award for Best Novel • The Jay Porter novels have had favorable reviews from Publishers Weekly (starred), Library Journal, Mystery Scene Magazine, San Francisco Chronicle, Midwest Book Review, and many others • The Jay Porter novels have blurbs from many best-selling authors. Among them James Grady, Robert Dugoni, Sheldon Siegel, David Corbett, James Hall, Allan Leverone, Sara Henry, Reed Farrel Coleman, Eileen Cook, and others • Author is a frequent speaker at conferences, libraries, and book events • Author has a large following in the San Francisco Bay area and Connecticut • Author’s personal story of addiction, living on the streets, and recovery is poignant and a popular platform for widespread publicity • Give Up The Dead book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D05pkeVYoHU

Jay Porter, the newest employee at NorthEastern Insurance in New Hampshire, is investigating an accident claim when he learns the teenager behind the wheel was arrested for minor drug possession and sentenced to a hardcore behavioral modification center. At the county courthouse, Jay meets Nicki, a young college intern, who tips him off to a possible scandal―first-time juvenile offenders being shipped to private institutions for political kickbacks. He learns that long-time family nemeses, Adam and Michael Lombardi, may have a stake in the scheme. Is Jay’s mission to help these kids a legitimate crusade? Or is his thirst for revenge driven by the guilt he feels over his own junkie brother’s death? These questions conspire to tear apart tranquility and drive a wedge between Jay and his wife Jenny. With help from new friend Nicki, and a couple of old friends, Jay finds himself thrust back into a past he had hoped to leave behind, putting everything―and everyone he loves―at risk in pursuit of the truth.

• Fourth in Joe Clifford’s Jay Porter Series • Jay Porter is a flawed handyman struggling to keep his life together while standing up to forces he perceives as evil • The author is a former homeless heroin addict—now the father of two boys, and an MFA graduate; his authenticity is unquestionable • Author has been compared to Dennis Lehane, Don Winslow and Paula Hawkins • Will appeal to readers who appreciate deeply flawed characters fighting to walk the righteous path • Very atmospheric setting in rural New Hampshire • Timely topic within the political scene and dissatisfaction with the state of American politics • The plot line borrows from the real-life criminal case involving former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort • As with all Jay Porter books, themes of addiction, recovery, and the elusive search for the American dream are prevalent • The novel is a topical examination of the failure of the War on Drugs • Lamentation, the first book in the Jay Porter series, was nominated for an Anthony Award for Best Novel • The Jay Porter novels have had favorable reviews from Publishers Weekly (starred), Library Journal, Mystery Scene Magazine, San Francisco Chronicle, Midwest Book Review, and many others • The Jay Porter novels have blurbs from many best-selling authors. Among them James Grady, Robert Dugoni, Sheldon Siegel, David Corbett, James Hall, Allan Leverone, Sara Henry, Reed Farrel Coleman, Eileen Cook, and others • Author is a frequent speaker at conferences, libraries, and book events • Author has a large following in the San Francisco Bay area and Connecticut • Author’s personal story of addiction, living on the streets, and recovery is poignant and a popular platform for widespread publicity • Give Up The Dead book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D05pkeVYoHU

Frontispiece. THEN SHE KISSED THEM .. .. To face page 10 IT REALLY IS A MOST BEAUTIFUL THING IS A PEARDRUM .... ,, 15 SHE SAT DOWN ON THE LOWER STEP OF THE STILE ,, 50 MARY LEE BEGAN TO CRY .- .- .. ,, 58 SHE SAT DOWN ON A BIG STONE .. ,61 WELL, LOOK AT YOUR BABYS LEGS, SAID BETSY -. -. ,.. .,, 81 A FAIR LITTLE CHILD WITH GOLDEN HAIR .- ,, 85 DO ALL FISH LIVE IN THE SEA ?. .,, 87 ILL SING A SONG OF SUMMER-TIME .. ,, 91 WELL BUILD A THRONE UPON THE SAND .,, 92 A LITTLE GROUP OF CHILDREN ROUND THE DOOR OF THE FORGE i .. ,, 105 THE BOY WAS TURNING OVER THE LEAVES OF A BOOK .(Typographical errors above are due to OCR software and don't occur in the book.)About the Publisher Forgotten Books is a publisher of historical writings, such as: Philosophy, Classics, Science, Religion, History, Folklore and Mythology.Forgotten Books' Classic Reprint Series utilizes the latest technology to regenerate facsimiles of historically important writings. Careful attention has been made to accurately preserve the original format of each page whilst digitally enhancing the aged text. Read books online for free at

Three years have passed since estate-clearing handyman Jay Porter almost lost his life following a devastating accident on the thin ice of Echo Lake. His investigative work uncovering a kids-for-cash scandal may have made his hometown of Ashton, New Hampshire, a safer place, but nothing comes without a price. The traumatic, uncredited events cost Jay his wife and his son, and left him with a permanent leg injury. Jay is just putting his life back together when a mysterious stranger stops by with an offer too good to be true: a large sum of cash in exchange for finding a missing teenage boy who may have been abducted by a radical recovery group in the northern New Hampshire wilds. Skeptical of gift horses and weary of reenlisting in the local drug war, Jay passes on the offer. The next day his boss is found beaten and left for dead, painting Jay the main suspect. As clues begin to tie the two cases together, Jay finds himself back on the job―and back in the line of fire.