Jeremy 'Remy' Thorn is a detective from a small town in Oregon. He does his job well and keeps to himself. A past of trauma and abuse, and a compulsive need for balance have shaped him into the person he is today: a decisive, effective killer.

His routine is simple but trustworthy.

Step one: Find two targets. The first, an abomination of a human being whose only contribution to the world is as fertilizer. The second, a detriment to society, perhaps a sidekick or accessory.

Step two: Kill the first. Frame the second.

Easy.

After his latest, and most personal kill, all seems to be going well. He makes it home by morning and continues with his plan as normal, with each perfectly timed maneuver all mapped out. But to his horror, he finds that the man he was trying to frame-a hotshot detective from a major nearby city-has been called in to work the case. And what's worse ... he's privy to the truth.

"Michael Lilly's first novel, Pond Scum, is distinguished by fine writing, a compelling story and well-wrought characters. An auspicious debut."

Michael Nava, author of the Henry Rios novels