Prefer Death

Matthew Paine is a young General Practitioner in a family medical practice in Peak, a small town outside Raleigh, North Carolina. His life is suddenly interrupted by the murder of Allan Lingle, an odd but well-loved iconic figure in town. Children in the small town, and probably a lot of adults who wouldn't admit it, think that Allan Lingle was possibly a specter and that the old historic house where he lived is definitely haunted.

When Allan turns up dead, though, Detective Warren Danbury takes it personally and he continually pulls Matthew into the investigation. As Matthew tries to deny how much he misses his ex-girlfriend, the murder investigation provides an effective diversion until Matthew, too, decides that finding the murderer is personal.

Residents of the town of Peak don't feel safe after the brutal and senseless murder, so Matthew and Danbury chase leads and people to try to figure out who murdered Allan Lingle, and why.