Fever Tree

When a handsome and mysterious stranger arrives in Crooked River, the town is consumed by rumors. Although a deeply private young man, Dieter befriends everyone from deckhands to shopkeepers. But what is he running from?

On the rebound from a disastrous relationship, Maggie Paterson falls in love with Dieter. As Dieter comes to care for Maggie, he confirms the details of his mysterious past with her: he's returning to Crooked River to escape tragedy and loss. But Dieter's secretive personality coupled with his burgeoning relationship with Maggie only inflame rumors throughout the town.

Teddy Mink, the area's notorious and dangerous drug lord, becomes convinced that Dieter's a narc. Maggie's recently estranged ex, who moonlights as a drug runner for Teddy, jealously works to convince the drug lord that Dieter must be handled – no matter the cost.

Dieter's guarded nature and shrouded past fuel the fatal events that unfold. From the moonlit beaches of Quintana Roo to the historic town of Crooked River, Florida, Fever Tree is a beautifully written story about grief and loss, but ultimately healing and finding your way again.

Tim Applegate of Gaston, OR

Tim Applegate’s poems, essays, and short fiction appear in the Florida Review, the South Dakota Review and elsewhere. He is also the author of several poetry collections, including At the End of Day (Traprock Books) and Blueprints (Turnstone Books of Oregon). He lives in the foothills of the coastal range of western Oregon.