Hero Haters

Jake Ockham had a dream job, vetting nominees for the Sedgewick Medallion—the nation’s highest civilian award for heroism. His own scarred hands are an indelible reminder of the single mother he failed to pull from a raging house fire; her face haunts him still. Obligations drag him back to his hometown to edit the family newspaper but attempts to embrace small-town life, and the hot new doctor, are thwarted by unknown forces. The heroes Jake vetted go missing and he becomes the prime suspect in the disappearances. Aided by resourceful friends, Jake follows a twisted trail to the Dark Web, where a shadowy group is forcing the kidnapped medalists to perform deadly acts of valor to amuse twisted subscribers to its website. To save his heroes, Jake must swallow his fears and become one himself…or die in the attempt. 

“An edge-of-your-seat thriller. MacQueen, a journalist, ratchets up the suspense and tightens the grip to the explosive end.”

Robert Dugoni

New York Times Bestselling Author of The Tracy Crosswhite series.

“Gripping from the first page. A thrill ride with all the right moves.”

USA Today Bestselling Author, Rick Mofina

“I’m not sure how Ken MacQueen pulled it off, writing a debut novel like he’s been doing it forever. Hero Haters is simply brilliant from start to finish. I can’t wait to see what he’s got coming next.”

Dietrich Kalteis, winner of the 2022 Crime Writers of Canada Award of Excellence for Best Crime Novel

"Ken MacQueen is a brilliant writer. He has a fine eye, a graceful touch -- and a terrific sense of humour. Hero Haters is brisk, tense, refreshing, alarming -- and ultimately most satisfying. A great and impressive debut."

Roy MacGregor, award-winning journalist and bestselling author of 60+ books

"Told at a break neck pace with crackling dialogue, relatable characters, and genuinely unexpected twists, it’s a compelling thriller that will be a challenge for you to put down before reaching the last page.”

Daniel Kalla (international bestselling author of The Darkness In The Light, The Last High, and The Far Side Of The Sky)

A lot of us have been waiting impatiently for veteran journalist Ken MacQueen’s debut novel. Hero Haters delivers all of the ripped-from-the-headlines excitement one would expect from this source. A dastardly unknown is kidnapping the recipients of a distinguished prize given only to true heroes. Jake Ockham, whose job it is to vet those nominated for the prize, finds himself a suspect. A double and even a triple twist unfold as Jake tries to figure out who — and even what — is behind the disappearances. This is edge-of-your seat stuff, and any guesses you might make will be wrong. A stunning debut.

Linda L. Richards, Author of ENDINGS (2021) & EXIT STRATEGY (2022)

Ken MacQueen, a respected name in Canadian journalism, has turned to fiction with his debut crime novel, Hero Haters. A thriller with tight, descriptive prose, a rocking and believable plot, page-turning tension, a racing climax, and a simmering romance. This one is sure to put MacQueen firmly on the crime writer map.

Loreth Anne White, Washington Post, Amazon Charts, and Bild bestselling author of THE PATIENT’S SECRET 

“A propulsive, inventive thriller with a chillingly original premise. HERO HATERS will keep you turning the pages all night, but you’ll be sorry to say goodbye to Jake Ockham and friends. I hope we haven’t seen the last of them.

Owen Laukkenen, critically acclaimed author of Deception Cove, Gale 

 Force and the Stevens & Windermere series