THIRSTY CREEK
In Thirsty Creek by Jennie Bricker, an ecological disaster rooted in a failed attempt to grow trophy-sized salmon devastates the fish population of a Pacific Northwest lake, intertwining environmental and human tragedies. Forty years later, biologist Jess MacKinnon arrives in the town of Still Lake to investigate the collapse and explore the possibility of recovery, only to uncover deep-seated secrets and a murder that puts her life at risk. As Jess delves into the strained dynamics between the Nez Perce community and the townspeople, she confronts a web of greed, arrogance, and betrayal, including her own ties to the past—her connection to the murdered Ben Fletcher and the child they shared. Aided by a quirky private investigator, Jess solves both the mysteries of the fish and the murder, uncovering truths about resilience and reconciliation. Evocative and suspenseful, Thirsty Creek is a gripping exploration of environmental reckoning, human complexity, and the unintended consequences of ambition, drawing comparisons to Where the Crawdads Sing and Chinatown.
Fiction
ISBN: 978-1-963115-65-9
Publication Date: December 16, 2025
In Thirsty Creek by Jennie Bricker, an ecological disaster rooted in a failed attempt to grow trophy-sized salmon devastates the fish population of a Pacific Northwest lake, intertwining environmental and human tragedies. Forty years later, biologist Jess MacKinnon arrives in the town of Still Lake to investigate the collapse and explore the possibility of recovery, only to uncover deep-seated secrets and a murder that puts her life at risk. As Jess delves into the strained dynamics between the Nez Perce community and the townspeople, she confronts a web of greed, arrogance, and betrayal, including her own ties to the past—her connection to the murdered Ben Fletcher and the child they shared. Aided by a quirky private investigator, Jess solves both the mysteries of the fish and the murder, uncovering truths about resilience and reconciliation. Evocative and suspenseful, Thirsty Creek is a gripping exploration of environmental reckoning, human complexity, and the unintended consequences of ambition, drawing comparisons to Where the Crawdads Sing and Chinatown.
Fiction
ISBN: 978-1-963115-65-9
Publication Date: December 16, 2025
In Thirsty Creek by Jennie Bricker, an ecological disaster rooted in a failed attempt to grow trophy-sized salmon devastates the fish population of a Pacific Northwest lake, intertwining environmental and human tragedies. Forty years later, biologist Jess MacKinnon arrives in the town of Still Lake to investigate the collapse and explore the possibility of recovery, only to uncover deep-seated secrets and a murder that puts her life at risk. As Jess delves into the strained dynamics between the Nez Perce community and the townspeople, she confronts a web of greed, arrogance, and betrayal, including her own ties to the past—her connection to the murdered Ben Fletcher and the child they shared. Aided by a quirky private investigator, Jess solves both the mysteries of the fish and the murder, uncovering truths about resilience and reconciliation. Evocative and suspenseful, Thirsty Creek is a gripping exploration of environmental reckoning, human complexity, and the unintended consequences of ambition, drawing comparisons to Where the Crawdads Sing and Chinatown.
Fiction
ISBN: 978-1-963115-65-9
Publication Date: December 16, 2025
About JENNIE BRICKER
Jennie Bricker is a natural resources attorney based in Portland, Oregon. A dedicated civil rights activist and lesbian, she was part of the legal team that successfully advocated for Multnomah County to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples in 2004. In addition to her law practice, Jennie works as a freelance writer and editor. Her accolades include a Burton Award for a nonfiction article about the Endangered Species Act and a ninth-place finish in a Writer’s Digest short story competition. Thirsty Creek is her debut novel.
