A Rough Way to Go

In this “smart and clever” suspenseful story, a stay-at-home father with something to prove finds a wealthy Wall Street investor’s body washed up on the shore—and decides to take the investigation into his own hands (Michael Connelly​).  

Peter Greene spends his days taking care of his toddler, staying on the right side of The Moms in his local beach town, and hanging out with his surf buddy, Frank. Isolated from his former life in finance and frustrated by his current “out of work” existence, he worries that if he sits around the house for much longer, his workaholic wife might start to lose patience with him. He has few escapes aside from surfing and the love he has for his son. When the body of wealthy Wall Street investor Robert Townsend washes up on shore one morning and is ruled as an accidental drowning, it makes no sense to Pete. But when he takes his concerns to the police, they ignore him—so he decides to investigate on his own. 

Sustained only by the unquestioning devotion of his three-year-old sidekick, Pete starts looking into Townsend’s eccentric relatives and employer, the ruthless and secretive private equity firm GDR. But has Pete deluded himself with this misguided quest for redemption? Or has he uncovered something sinister enough to risk his life, and even his family? 

A Rough Way to Go is a raw, irreverent story that plumbs the depths of masculinity, unemployment, fatherhood, marriage, and modern capitalism—and the struggle to live a purposeful life.

• "Crime fiction has a great new voice in Sam Garonzik . . . Smart, clever, and has something to say about the world today."
  Michael Connelly, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Resurrection Walk
• "With a stay-at-home dad as the unlikely hero of the tale, Sam Garonzik puts an engaging twist on the domestic thriller. His debut, A Rough Way To Go, is a compelling read from a fresh new voice."
  Nancy Allen, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Payback
• "Does for the mystery novel what Mick Herron's Slow Horses did for the spy thriller. Darkly comic and whip smart."
  Alexandra Andrews, author of Who Is Maud Dixon?
• “Who hasn't wanted to drop out of their stressful life to start over in a laid-back beach town? For Peter, it turns out to be more of a mixed bag, and a dead body washing up on the shore doesn't make things any easier. A wry, pitch-black comedy crackling with tension, A Rough Way To Go doesn't pull punches and holds nothing back. Sam Garonzik's observations are so on point that you'll feel seen in the best (worst?) possible way . . . Will alternately make you gasp, laugh, and nod in agreement.”
  Nina Laurin, author of Girl Last Seen
• "Fleabag meets Gone Girl. A darkly funny, sometimes terrifying noir. I couldn't put it down."
  Jennifer Belle, bestselling author of Going Down
• "Sam Garonzik's A Rough Way to Go is a twisty and delicious ride that plunges the reader into the life of Peter Greene, whose new stay-at-home-dad status has him feeling aimless and unfulfilled. When he stumbles across a dead body and begins investigating the mysterious death, it may help him fill a void, but it also puts his life—and everyone he loves—in danger. If you think you have the twists figured out, think again. You won’t want to miss this unputdownable novel that is sure to keep you guessing until the very last page, and you won’t believe it’s a debut."
  Seraphina Nova Glass, Edgar Award-nominated author of The Vacancy in Room 10
• "With a sharp voice, unique perspective, and clever mystery at its core, A Rough Way To Go is a fresh take on the domestic suspense genre. I loved it!"
  Robyn Harding, bestselling author of The Drowning Woman
• "In A Rough Way To Go, Sam Garonzik focuses on the most frightening antagonist in contemporary American crime: money. Add to the mix an overwhelmed new dad looking to be a hero (like all new dads), and you've got a winning, nerve-jangling debut."
  Andrew Pyper, author of The Demonologist and The Residence
• "Darkly comic . . . Ambitious."
  Kirkus
• "Peter’s voice is well-developed . . . surfaces some interesting ideas about contemporary fatherhood."
  Publishers Weekly