{"product_id":"hellbender-novel-by-john-b-marek","title":"Hellbender Novel by John B Marek","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn North Carolina’s Craven Fork State Park, a corroded Zippo lighter etched with a cryptic map surfaces in Bullock Creek, sparking a mystery that intertwines past and present.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePark ranger Owen Sinclair discovers it belongs to Jeremiah Crouch, a televangelist and sole survivor of the 1959 Appalachian Airlines Flight 175 crash on Flathead Knob in what is now the park. As Owen digs deeper, the lighter’s secrets unravel a web of deception tied to Crouch’s survival, a Korean War trauma, and a hidden life.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhen non-native cutthroat trout appear in a park stream, Owen’s investigation collides with an ecological anomaly, hinting at a larger conspiracy. Alongside fellow ranger Sam and fishing guide Cal, Owen navigates a treacherous path through small-town secrets and a deadly cover-up, all the way to Flathead Knob, where the ghosts of Flight 175 still linger.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAs fires blaze and truths emerge, Owen must decide whether to expose a decades-old lie or protect the innocent caught in its fallout. A gripping tale of faith, guilt, and redemption, Hellbender blends Appalachian noir with environmental intrigue, delivering a heart-pounding journey through a landscape where the past refuses to stay buried.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Outpost at Lake Norman","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44803541008418,"sku":null,"price":17.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0789\/2159\/6962\/files\/713rjUEUghL._SY522.jpg?v=1770138060","url":"https:\/\/theoutpostlkn.com\/products\/hellbender-novel-by-john-b-marek","provider":"The Outpost at Lake Norman","version":"1.0","type":"link"}