Clarity Hunters

Hugh Brier is an average guy with above-average troubles. He’s attracted the interest of a shadowy think tank called the Merit Group. For some reason, they think he’s clever and want to hire him.

The word ‘no’ doesn’t impress them much, but Hugh does walk away.

Hugh thinks he’s clear of all trouble when his day job goes awry and an apartment building he’s developed partially collapses. He’s in the hospital, three of his employees are dead, and the police and prosecutors are eyeing Hugh hard.

When Hugh can’t get any help from law enforcement, he begins piecing together this disaster. A dangerous picture emerges because one of Portland’s shadowy power centers, a builder and concrete supplier called Andrew Pallin, is up to his neck in powerful friends. He gave the instructions that weakened and toppled Hugh’s building. He’s also pulling strings for Hugh’s prosecution.

Hugh can’t convince anyone in authority so he turns to the people he met at the Merit Group to plan Andrew Pallin’s fall. There’s a cost, of course. Hugh has to commit to a year’s contract working for them.

He has no idea the trouble he’ll get into with the Merit Group, but he’s focused on Andrew Pallin and clearing his own name in a public way. He signs up and his real trouble begins.

Clarity Hunters is the first book featuring Hugh Brier.