Koty Fowler's patriotic husband wants her to visit Granite Creek's war hero, a 26-year-old named Jamie Briggs who lost his arms and legs to an IED in Fallujah. Uncomfortable with the idea but afraid to challenge her husband, Koty reluctantly agrees and arrives on Jamie's doorstep just as he's scared off yet another volunteer.

Jamie resents having "charity babysitters" who feel sorry for him. Koty, however, proves she can see beyond his wounds to the man he is and the man he wants to become. Jamie falls hard. So does Koty. And that's when things get complicated.

Back at home, Koty faces a loveless marriage with an alcoholic spouse and three smart, yet troubled daughters. Iris, the middle child, is especially worrisome as she wanders down a destructive path filled with fights, truancy, and worse. Iris hates that Koty's affection has shifted to Jamie, and so she sets out to teach her mother a lesson.

What happens next leaves everyone in the small New Hampshire town reeling. The Fowler family, battered and broken, must learn how to move forward, even as they struggle to understand what happened in their own backyard.

Told in multiple viewpoints and spanning across nearly two decades, What Happened in Granite Creek brings readers on a journey of intrigue and unexpected twists while reminding us that one simple event can have a profound impact on many lives for years to come.

Recommended to book clubs by 1 of 1 members.