Human Strays ^Featured

MAXY AWARDS RUNNER-UP BEST MYSTERY & CRIME NOVEL

BestThrillers.com

"A hard-hitting serial killer thriller that deftly explores the homeless crisis and the role of law enforcement with unflinching realism. Highly recommended."

Susan Clayton-Goldner, award-winning author of Tormented.

"Buckle your seatbelt and get ready for a thrilling ride. Lewis's novel will take you on a journey you won't soon forget."

Book Description

The homeless are disappearing. Their dogs are being left behind.

Portland veterinarian Jim Briggs has built his life around creatures no one else wants. Through his mobile clinic, he treats the dogs of people living on the streets, offering compassion where the city often provides only suspicion.

Then homeless men and women begin to vanish.

Their abandoned dogs lead detectives Mark Larson and Kim Jansen toward Briggs, whose access to euthanasia drugs and a pet crematory makes him more than an uncomfortable witness. As the evidence mounts, even those closest to him begin to wonder how far his mercy extends.

Meanwhile, Helen Williams is struggling to survive grief, addiction, and a brutal assault. Her connection to Briggs draws her into an investigation where damaged people make dangerous choices and justice can become indistinguishable from revenge.

With the police closing in and Portland’s homeless community gripped by fear, Briggs must protect the people he serves while confronting the darkest question of his life: Can compassion become corruption without the person offering it ever recognizing the change?

Human Strays is psychological suspense about trauma, homelessness, loyalty, and the hidden cost of deciding which lives are worth saving.