The Pine Barrens Stratagem

Private investigator Steve Rockfish's quest for cash leads him to investigate a 1940s child-trafficking ring and its resurgence amid the COVID-19 pandemic, uncovering a web of illicit activity spanning decades. His investigation introduces him to Jawnie McGee, great-granddaughter of a missing policeman, as they work together to reveal a connection between criminal factions and pandemic-related scams. The story combines elements of true crime and suspense, culminating in a tense confrontation with dangerous forces from the mafia to local authorities.