Every Day Above Ground: A Van Shaw Novel

A favor for a dying ex-con turns into a violent battle against a mysterious enemy for Van Shaw in this emotionally powerful and gritty thriller from the award-winning author of Past Crimes and Hard Cold Winter.

It sounds like a thief’s dream to Van Shaw: A terminally ill ex-con tells him of an easy fortune in gold, abandoned and nearly forgotten after its original owner died in prison. For the dying man, the money is a legacy to ensure his preteen daughter’s future. For Van, the gold is cash he desperately needs to rebuild his destroyed family home.

The grandson of a career criminal who taught him all the tricks of his trade, Van suspects that nothing is ever that easy. Sure enough, the safe holding the fortune is a trap—set by a mysterious player armed with tremendous resources and a lifetime of hatred. Now, Shaw’s partner is in the clutches of the hunters, and the former army ranger may be their next prey. But when the ex-con’s innocent daughter is threatened too, Van’s own hard childhood means he can’t let her come to harm.

To discover who has them in the cross hairs, Shaw must seek out the hunters’ real prey. His quest leads him from an underground bare-knuckle fighting ring, which may be fronting a darker purpose, to a massive pop-culture convention, where Van and his allies, Hollis and Corcoran, play a dangerous game with foes on every side. It also introduces Van to a brash and beautiful aspiring journalist who poses a whole different kind of personal risk.

For years, Van Shaw has tried to live every day above ground, on the right side of the law, even though crime is his gift . . . and in his blood. If he survives the coming storm, he’ll have to decide what he wants—and whether he can live as an outlaw without sacrificing his honor.

When an old acquaintance of Van Shaw’s late grandfather shows up in Seattle, he offers the broke veteran a money-making opportunity—an easy fortune in gold. For the dying man, the money is a legacy to ensure his daughter’s future. For Van, the gold is cash he desperately needs to tide him over until he can find legitimate work. 

But Van knows that nothing is ever quite as easy as it seems. The safe holding the fortune turns out to be deadly bait set by a malevolent player with tremendous resources, an army of hunters, and a lifetime of hatred. Now Shaw’s partner is in the clutches of this shadowy mastermind, and the former Army Ranger may be his next prey. To discover who has them in the crosshairs, Van must play a dangerous game, with foes on every side.

For Van Shaw, every day above ground is a good day, and all the better if he can stay on the right side of the law, even though crime is his gift . . . and in his blood.

“A home run off the first pitch - this guy has got what it takes.” - Lee Child on PAST CRIMES

“A debut novel from a gifted writer with a sure hand. As much fun to read as Lee Child’s Jack Reacher.” - J. A. Jance on PAST CRIMES

Praise for Glen Erick Hamilton: “Hamilton has a sure-footed sense of plotting and a smooth prose style that propels the story and ratchets up the suspense.” - Seattle Times on HARD COLD WINTER

“’Hard Cold Winter’ pays off the promise of ‘Past Crimes.’ I’m already eager for the third entry in Hamilton’s series.” - Cedar Rapids Gazette on HARD COLD WINTER

“Hamilton skillfully creates a well-oiled situation with a direct writing style... brimming with action, conflict, and realistic and compelling characters. Readers of the first book will be delighted with the backstory, and aficionados of the genre will eat this one up.” - Library Journal (starred review) on HARD COLD WINTER

“If you like Lee Child’s Jack Reacher, you will absolutely love Van Shaw.” - DEBORAH CROMBIE, New York Times bestselling author

“Every Day Above Ground is utterly addictive. A taut, riveting thriller with every nuance striking a perfect chord. The plot is gripping, the fighting realistic, and the characters well developed. Glen Erik Hamilton can flat-out write with the best of the best.” - ROBERT DUGONI, New York Times bestselling author