Conway Sax is a former NASCAR mechanic trying to stay sober in Massachusetts. He belongs to a recovery group called the Barnburners, and it is through this network that trouble keeps finding him. People in the group ask for favors, and those favors have a way of turning dangerous.
Steve Ulfelder gave Conway a working-class background that sets him apart from most mystery protagonists. He knows engines, not forensics. He reads people through years of hard experience, not training. When he investigates, it is usually because someone he cares about is in trouble and he cannot walk away from that.
The four books in the series follow Conway through increasingly complicated situations in the towns and cities of Massachusetts. His struggle with addiction is not a backstory detail. It is active and present in every book, shaping his decisions and his relationships. The Barnburners provide both a safety net and a source of the cases that keep pulling him into danger.
Ulfelder writes Conway with a direct, unadorned voice. The books are lean and move fast, with Conway’s personality carrying the reader through the plot. He is not always right, and he is not always careful, but he is stubborn and loyal in ways that keep him moving forward.
Reading Order
See the complete Conway Sax reading order for all books in the series.