Confluence: Murder in the Mountains

By Jim Oglethorpe

At the turn of the 20th Century Connellsville, Pennsylvania was at the heart of America's industrial revolution. A rich coal seam nearby was being extracted, processed and shipped to the steel mills of Pittsburgh. In an era of ruthless capitalists, few were more successful than local boy H.C. Frick, his fortune made off the backs of immigrant laborers. It's into this place and time that Joe Zajac lives. Joe came to America from Poland when he was 15 years old. A former Philadelphia policeman, he ends up in Connellsville as an employee of the H.C. Frick Coke Company. But by the start of this story he's a 30-year-old college student and bar manager.There's been a death at a sawmill near Confluence. One of the workers is found hanging from a rafter. Not likely a suicide, Joe is called upon to investigate the death, and some other problems the owner has been having. The next day he's off to the mountains and soon learns that they are a singular place and the people that live there a different breed.Soon thereafter Joe is contacted by Thomas Lynch, the president of his former employer. A band of criminals has been robbing local mine payrolls. Evidence seems to point in the direction of Joe's former nemesis, Kurt Straub. Although unwilling to go back to work for Frick, Joe offers to work on the case privately, and for a big fee. To his surprise Lynch accepts his proposal.This is a story of murder and adventure, as Joe battles the forces of chaos and anarchy. It's also a story of personal growth. As 1900 turns to 1901, Joe is changing. Events of the day would force more changes his way, as women struggled for the right to vote and workers fought to organize. For the first time, he examines his life, and questions what it means to live a good one. He finds it a challenging topic, but in the end proves up to the task.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0988729229
• ISBN13: 9780988729223
• Release Date: April 2016
• Publisher: Aetna Street Publishing
• Length: 316 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.7" x 6.0"