Last Place Called Home: A Novel

As the secret federal sting operation Snakehead targets the fentanyl trade, the small mill town of Stanton, Massachusetts, becomes a battlefield in the war on drugs. In the midst of this turmoil, three mothers—newspaper reporter Laura Everett, businesswoman Mimi Sullivan, and machinist Angie Gillen—must overcome their differences and confront their pasts to keep their troubled teenagers out of the crossfire. 

Help comes from two Stanton cops who break ranks after discovering Snakehead’s hidden agenda. Stakes rise as the opioid crisis deepens and Mimi’s daughter sinks further into heroin addiction. Laura and Angie’s sons try to save her, but their efforts only place her at greater risk. Ultimately, the deadly violence threatening the community compels Laura to dig deep within herself for the power to take charge. 

A fast-paced, multilayered thriller that spotlights the high human costs of the drug war, Last Place Called Home is also a story about love and loyalty to family, friends, and place. Stanton is a hard place to live in—but it’s an even harder place to leave. 

Please note that the book group will not meet if Amherst Public Schools call a snow day.