THE RIVER RUNS BLACK

A small town on the water where things aren’t as perfect as they look . . .

After the recent death of a teenager by overdose, a record drug seizure along the Canadian border is a game changer for New York State’s criminal investigation team. The detectives are relieved that the haul will never make it to the idyllic small-town streets of Alexandria Bay.

But drugs are still circulating, and the lab results confirm it: the cocaine that killed the teenager and the cocaine from the bust are not the same.

Investigator Tim Wellington and his team seem to be chasing a network of ghosts who use the North Country as their criminal playground.

How long will it be until another Thousand Islands youth becomes not just a victim, but a target? Because the dangerous players won’t shy away from violence when protecting their valuable goods―even if it means gambling with innocent lives . .

Coming October 6, 2026 and available for preorder now

What People Are Saying

"Set against the beauty of the Thousand Islands whose pristine waters conceal dark secrets and a hidden agenda, The River Runs Black showcases Tessa Wegert at her best. What begins as a Halloween marked by candy apples and carved pumpkins quickly darkens with the death of a teenager and the disappearance of an heiress. But it’s Wegert’s storytelling—precise, immersive, and sharply observed—that draws readers deeper with each page as the town’s safe facade begins to fracture. With a keen eye for human complexity and a gift for sustaining dread, Wegert blurs the line between victim and villain, crafting a narrative that is as emotionally resonant as it is gripping. Haunting and atmospheric, The River Runs Black will pull you under and not let go until its final, devastating twist. Fans of Louise Penny and Alex Finlay won’t want to miss this one.”

— Danielle Girard, USA TODAY Bestselling author of Pinky Swear

The River Runs Black is Coming Soon

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