Lies Come Easy by Steven F Havill

It begins with a two and a half year walking along the road in the snow, his parents no where around.  When they find his father, he hasn't much to say.  To jail he goes...

Poisoned Pen Press and Edelweiss allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published today.

There's a missing range tech, his girlfriend is dead from a gunshot, the father of the young boy has died of a gunshot and all the cops have are questions.    They are pretty sure the range tech is dead, too.  The problem is that everyone in the small village lies.  They tell tales to protect others in the village.  When they are caught at it, they play dumb.  It's hard to find facts when no one cooperates.

The cops don't give up.  They talk to those they can and then go to talk to the man they believe is the killer.  He has an ugly industrial accident right in front of them and they have to try to talk to him in the hospital.  All he can do is write notes.  Is he telling the truth now?

This was a well-put-together mystery.  As they piece things together, they work out who the killer is.  It doesn't make you happy but life is like that.  Bad choices have a backlash.