Harvest of Ruins

by Sandra Ruttan

  “So, how come your parents have different speeches than my parents?” she asked.

  He just shrugged. “I guess your parents got confused.”

  “Not my dad,” she said, hands balled into little fists.

  “No, I just meant your mom.” Jesse nodded. “Your mom is mental.”

  She hadn’t argued with that, and she was pretty sure he was right. After all, he was two years older than her. Jesse knew more than she did.

  “Daddy?” She turned her head to look at him.

  A look passed over his face. He’d heard her, but didn’t answer.

  “If people go to heaven when they die, why do you think we’re sad?”

  Daddy turned to look at her. His face was very serious. “I suppose there are lots of reasons, but maybe it’s just as simple as the fact that we don’t get to talk to them anymore.”

  That made sense. She knew if she couldn’t talk to Daddy or Jesse or Jonah anymore, she’d miss them.

  “Are you still sad, Vinny?”

  “Huh?”

  “Are you?”

  It took her a few seconds to remember. Oh, right. Was she sad?

  “A little. But I think I’m supposed to feel worse about it than I do.”

  Her dad looked at her for a moment. It was one of those times she couldn’t tell what he was thinking at all. Then he nodded. “I understand. You really didn’t know Grandpapa very well.”

  Her swing had come to a stop. Daddy got to his feet. She looked all the way up at him and could see the sadness in his face. “Why didn’t I?”

  “It’s… complicated, Vinny.”

  As father and daughter held hands and walked across the park, toward the red sky, Daddy's spirit reached out, took her hand and they walked across the mist and silently watched as the sun sunk beyond the trees beneath them and the colors faded from the sky and the world turned black.

  ***

  Hunter started to pull out of REM sleep, but then she stopped as the blackness engulfed her, and for the first time in months she fell into a sleep without dreams.

  Praise for Sandra Ruttan

  “Ruttan has a spellbinding style." ~ New York Times Bestselling Author Clive Cussler

  “Never a dull moment. It’s a hard book to put down.” ~ Tony Hillerman, Edgar Award-Winning and New York Times Bestselling Author of THE SHAPE SHIFTER

  “A well executed procedural with a plot that twists and turns like a bad tempered rattlesnake.” ~ Crime Scene Scotland

  “Ruttan clearly has the potential to be a very successful author... Lots of talent which I expect will be realized!" ~ Maddy Van Hertbruggen, Mystery News

  "Ruttan has made one big mistake in my eyes, she waited too long to bring her writing to us. She is talented in the way that a natural musician is talented, making all the notes seem effortless. Characters that feel very real, and a wonderful sense of timing, Ruttan brings it all and leaves it on the page. Lucky us. And unlucky me, because now I have to wait for the next one…" ~ Jon Jordan, Crimespree Magazine

  “Watch for more efforts from Ruttan, who shows a great deal of skill in developing an intriguing, complicated story." ~ Lesa Holstine, BookBitch

  “Sandra Ruttan’s SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES is crime fiction with booster jets – a white-hot blazing ride sure to slam you down some of the darkest, twistiest back alleys that ever corrupted a small city’s secret heart. The next time someone asks me why I read crime fiction, I will hand them a copy of SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES and say, ‘Two words: Sandra Ruttan. This is not a book for the faint of heart, but boy oh boy does it take on the stuff that matters.” ~ Cornelia Read, Edgar Award-Nominated Author of INVISIBLE BOY

  “SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES soars. It is complex, exciting and elegant. In musical terms, it’s listening to Bach. I’m in love with Lara Kelly, the smart, strong, vulnerable protagonist. Her detective lover better move fast or I’m in there. A gripping adventure, a large cast of marvelous characters, and twists that follow turns. Read it. You’ll love it too.” ~ Robert Fate, Author of Baby Shark

  “Here is the new voice, and what a voice! Eloquent, sassy, compassionate and written with a style so assured... This is talent writ huge.” ~ Ken Bruen, Shamus Award-Winning Author of THE GUARDS

  “Ruttan has a keen eye for description, a wonderful ear for dialogue, and an acute instinct for the nuances of characterization.” ~ Anne Frasier, USA Today Bestselling Author of HUSH

  “Sandra Ruttan writes with a machine gun rhythm that pulls you through every unexpected twist and dark turn.”~ Bill Cameron, Author of LOST DOG

  “Ruttan's deft touch intrigues and satisfies, making her a powerful new force in the mystery field.”~ JT Ellison, ITW award-nominated author of THE COLD ROOM

  “Ruttan has created a gritty suspense novel driven by realistic dialogue… SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES is a plot with endless twists and turns… and enough unanswered questions to keep you reading to the very end” ~ Julia Buckley, Author of THE DARK BACKWARD

  “Sandra Ruttan weaves a delicious tale of cops and reporters. I learned things about both that I never expected. A real treasure.” ~ Sharon Wildwind, Author of SOME WELCOME HOME

  “SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES is by turns riveting, haunting, funny and chilling. The plotting is masterful, the characters absolutely crackle with life. It’s been a really long time since I’ve been so drawn into a story. Fantastic debut!.” ~ Tracy Sharp, Author of REPO CHICK BLUES

  “An intricate police procedural… This collection (all three books) longs for a television/cable series.” ~ Charlie Stella, Author of JOHNNY PORNO

  “LULLABY FOR THE NAMELESS is a vivid, noir portrait of the hard-scrabble small towns, ethnic tensions, dark urban corners, and deep forest environments of contemporary Canada, through the eyes of three fascinating, troubled investigators.” ~ Glenn Harper, International Noir Fiction

  “This is a super Canadian police procedural that uses flashbacks to fill in more of the back story about the three detectives. From the opening moments when readers join Nolan trekking and musing across the mountain paths while thinking of his previous manhunt for the murderess Lisa Hamilton. The plot never slows down, even with the back story and rotating first person perspective between the three antagonist-constables. Readers will relish this strong investigative thriller and its dysfunctional threesome.” ~ I Love A Mystery

  “Nolan, Hart and Tain return for thirds in this chilling mystery, as racial tension drives their investigation in unexpected ways. Although the novel is slightly disjointed due to the non-linear flow of time, it enhances the plot, and readers can enjoy it fully, even if this is their first time with the investigative team.” ~ Romantic Times

  “This is a two-for-one mystery, interweaving the investigation of the current murders with the story of the original case. It's a fascinating look at the beginning of the often dysfunctional relationship among the three main characters, as well as a nail-biting race to stop a cold- blooded killer. Fans of the series will be rewarded with finally finding out the backstory that's been hinted at in the previous two books (THE FRAILTY OF FLESH and WHAT BURNS WITHIN). Newcomers will get a great introduction.” ~ Lenore Howard, Fresh Fiction

  “Sandra Ruttan's sequel to WHAT BURNS WITHIN... is better than the first. A four-year-old is beaten to death in a park. The child's brother, hiding in the nearby brush, claims that his older sister killed the boy. Furthermore, the sister is missing. Criminous kids are bad enough, but Ruttan, a disciple of the Val McDermid school, takes things a bit further. To say more is to give away a terrific plot." ~ Margaret Cannon, THE GLOBE AND MAIL

  “An unusually vivid crime story, with vividly rounded central characters… Ruttan’s complex web of dialogue and narrative leads us gradually deeper into the lives of those caught up in the crime, including the detectives, creating a distinctive and potent novel. Ruttan’s ability to pique the curiosity of the reader even about novels already read once (and even read recently) is a testament to the intricacy of her stories and the d
epth of her characters.” ~ Glenn Harper, International Noir Fiction

  "(Tain) has ghosts the murdered child case brings to the surface and when it all comes together at the end … well, no spoilers here, but the novel leaves off with yet another hook to what will become the next highly anticipated installment to the series." ~ Charlie Stella, Author of MAFIYA

  “The complexity of the relationships among the players as well as the cases, past and present, are riveting. Whatever one might guess as to where the author is taking you, nothing can prepare the reader for the shocking resolution. One reservation: I must admit to some confusion about the final chapters of the book, which had almost an anticlimactic feel to them. Nonetheless, it is a great read, and I am looking forward to the next entry in the series. The three protagonists are each skillfully drawn and certain to have Ms. Ruttan's readers anxious to know them better, as am I. Highly Recommended” ~ Gloria Feit, Midwest Book Review

  “This Canadian police procedural is so action-packed, readers never have a moment to catch their breath and are engrossed in this one sitting read. Like the lead cops, fans will wonder who the perp is; as paradoxically everyone and no one stands out. The police partners are unique three dimensional people who have struggles in their personal lives while working a complex case made more difficult by the victim being a little kid and his father circling the wagons. Sub-genre fans will appreciate Sandra Ruttan’s obvious skills as this is a strong whodunit.” ~ Harriet Klausner

  "The fallout from the last time their cases intersected still haunts the three major protagonists in this stark procedural. Each is haunted by major baggage that can't help but affect current cases. The talented Ruttan turns a spotlight on the gritty reality of law enforcement for these Canadian constables, and the result is truly convoluted and disturbing." ~ Romantic Times Book Reviews

  “Another great outing from Sandra Ruttan who is building her cast of Canadian constables into a winner of a series… One of the few authors who can manipulate multiple plot strings and keep it all together. Definitely recommended. ~ Jack Quick, Bookbitch

  “THE FRAILTY OF FLESH tore me asunder. Rarely has a novel of such art and skill reduced me to a wreck. It moved me in ways I didn’t even know I felt. It’s a kick in the head that is underwrit with sheer compassion.” ~ Ken Bruen, Shamus Award-Winning Author of THE GUARDS

  “An unflinching look into the dark heart of family dysfunction, THE FRAILTY OF FLESH raises difficult questions and shuns easy answers. Sandra Ruttan writes with passion and honesty about every parent’s worst nightmare and the result is an emotionally wrenching experience.” ~ Sean Chercover, Shamus Award-Winning Author of BIG CITY, BAD BLOOD

  "Brave, dark and utterly convincing, THE FRAILTY OF FLESH is guaranteed to break the hardest of hearts. An absorbing read."~ Allan Guthrie, Theakston Award-Winning Author of HARD MAN

  “THE FRAILTY OF FLESH is not only one of the best procedural thrillers I've read in a long time... but the ending knocked me right out of my seat. Ruttan captures the nature of crime in a way few thriller writers ever manage... this is vivid, impressive, gut-wrenching stuff." ~ Russel D. McLean, Author of THE GOOD SON

  “Ruttan manages to keep multiple leads and seconds on the same page admirably: she doesn't drop too many clues in their laps or allow the tension to flag. ...the straight proceduralism from Ruttan serves the story well through the rewarding climax." ~ Publishers Weekly

  "This story features a triple mystery and three main characters, who are interesting not only for their tangled group dynamic but also as individuals. The subject matter obviously is very grim, but the occasional banter between the constables helps to take the edge off. This is a good start to a new series I think will appeal to a variety of mystery lovers." ~ Fresh Fiction

  "The novel is a classic police procedural, with detailed descriptions of each step along the way. The interactions of the protagonists and human emotions are finely told. The dialogue and writing are excellently presented and the story gripping. Further efforts in the series are greatly anticipated, and the book is highly recommended." ~Midwest Book Review

  "Promising talent Ruttan sets her gritty new detective series in Vancouver. It has a hard-edged feel and intriguing characters. ...this is a good start to an intriguing series." ~ Romantic Times

  "Short and snappy chapters, terse dialogue, staccato delivery of minimalist descriptions -- Ruttan's style harks back to the classic hardboiled era....Ruttan is very much a shower rather than a teller: there are very few internal monologues to be heard in WHAT BURNS WITHIN, the subtleties of the characters' complex psychologies being drawn out through their interactions with their colleagues. That's a difficult skill to make invisible, but it's one of Ruttan's most effective weapons." ~ Declan Burke, Crime Always Pays

  “Constables Hart and Tain team up to investigate a series of arsons and the disappearances of young girls. Constable Nolan is working on a string of rapes. The three young police officers a year earlier had investigated a high-profile case and soon find that their current cases may have a connection. This is the first in a new series of police procedurals by Ruttan (Suspicious Circumstances), the cofounder of Spinetingler Magazine, a popular e-zine. Well worth adding to any mystery collection.” ~ Library Journal

  “Ruttan’s book introduces three members of the RCMP in an outstanding police procedural, a must-read for anyone who appreciates the genre. Three officers, Constables Tain, Hart, and Nolan investigate three very different cases, until they discover the cases have some elements in common… The common links in the cases bring the three officers back together in a thrilling novel.” ~ Lesa Holstine, Bookbitch

  “This should be labeled as a Friday evening start – since you will likely read all night… Ruttan captures the intensity of the streets and daily police work while vividly pointing out that it’s not just the victims that get damaged by criminal acts. Those who uphold the law also pay a price. Very well done – and when’s the next one? ~ Jack Quick, Bookbitch

  “Starting out at breakneck pace, WHAT BURNS WITHIN barely stops for breath… WHAT BURNS WITHIN is certainly no walk in the park, it's edgy, sharp, brutal in places. Complex but not complicated, WHAT BURNS WITHIN is one hell of a ride.” ~ Karen Chisholm, AUSTRALIAN CRIME FICTION

  “Promising talent Ruttan sets her gritty new detective series in Vancouver. It has a hard-edged feel and intriguing characters… this is a good start to an intriguing series.” ~ Romantic Times

  "A totally mesmerizing narrative and a plot that burns off the page." ~ Ken Bruen, Shamus Award-Winning Author

  "A taut, crackling read with switch-blade pacing. A sizzling story by one of crime fiction's hot new voices." ~ Rick Mofina, International Best-selling Author of A PERFECT GRAVE

  "When we talk of the next generation of great crime fiction writers Sandra Ruttan's name is near the top of the list. WHAT BURNS WITHIN has a compelling clockwork plot that comes together with Swiss precision but it's the real, sympathetic and utterly human characters that infuse it with depth and power. WHAT BURNS WITHIN is a stunning book. Not only is this the start of a great series but more importantly it's the start of a long and successful career. Sandra Ruttan is one to watch." ~ Brian Lindenmuth, Mysterybookspot

  "Sandra Ruttan writes with utter ferocity. Twists and turns that stun and dialog that absolutely crackles with wit and authenticity. With each page, Ruttan delivers the goods. WHAT BURNS WITHIN is a nonstop chiller of a mystery that keeps you turning the pages."~ Gregg Olsen, New York Times Bestselling Author of A WICKED SNOW

  "Ruttan effortlessly brings to life a varied cast of complex characters. She writes with tremendous passion, honesty and skill. This is a story you will care about." ~ Allan Guthrie, Edgar Nominated Author of KISS HER GOODBYE

  About The Author

  Sandra Ruttan had her first newspaper column at the age of 13, went on to study journalism in college and has had four books published in the US to date. Two of her books have also been translated and published in Japan by Shue
isha. For more information about Sandra Ruttan, her other projects and forthcoming words, visit her website: http://sruttan.wordpress.com/