The Dark Lottery
About
Conrad “Connie” Keen’s only goal in life is to make it to the next day, which, for him, is no easy feat. Fighting crippling anxiety caused by the death of his older brother — who fell off a pier in San Diego in what was believed to be a horrible accident — he binge drinks and obsesses over what he calls the “dark lottery.” Opposite of the millionaire-making lottery, this lottery snuffs people out in its own longshot odds, such as plane crashes and other nightmarish accidents. Then one day a woman tracks Connie down and tells him the unthinkable: His brother’s death 20 years ago was no accident. He was pushed. Connie has his doubts — both with the implausible story and his ability to do anything about it — but decides to dig into it. That decision leads Connie to the very brink of the dark lottery, a ticket that offers only one payout. Death.
Praise for this book
"Wickedly funny and emotionally raw, The Dark Lottery is a murder mystery with a hero you’ll be quoting long after the last page."
"It’s rare to have a book that is calling to you when you are busy doing other tasks, but The Dark Lottery is one of those books. It is like an indulgent dessert that you know probably isn’t good for you, but it’s just so delicious you can’t help but go back for more."
"If you like cozy murder mysteries with a deeper social context, you will enjoy this remarkable novel."
"Prickly and raw, yet strangely tender, The Dark Lottery is a pebble-in-your-shoe novel that is impossible to ignore."
"A dark, unconventional mystery with a memorable protagonist, an inventive murder solution, and a surprisingly hopeful emotional core."
"The Dark Lottery shifts fluidly between comedy and reflection, crime and romance."
"A young man addresses his addiction and grief, growing as he hunts for his brother's killer, in Mike Stetz's smooth mystery novel The Dark Lottery."
"A chilling mystery where a man investigating his brother’s murder finds himself playing a deadly lottery in which the only possible jackpot is death."