Hellbender

by John B. Marek

In 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.

Park ranger Owen Sinclair learns it belongs to Jeremiah Crouch, a televangelist and sole survivor of the 1959 Appalachian Airlines Flight 175 crash on Flattop 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.

When 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 Flattop Knob, where the ghosts of Flight 175 still linger.

As 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.

341 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 28, 2025

About the author

I am an independently published author, rural advocate, and outdoor guide with a passion for storytelling that connects people to the natural world. Over the years, I have written numerous books, essays, and articles that explore themes of outdoor adventure, rural life, and the profound connections we share with our natural surroundings. My work has appeared in publications such as Backwoods Home, Countryside, Speckled Paw Times, and North Carolina Outdoors, and I have been honored with multiple awards for my fiction.

Before dedicating myself full-time to writing, I spent two decades as an economic and community developer, focused on fostering resilient and sustainable rural communities. That experience significantly informs my writing; especially the interplay between people, place, and purpose.

Nowadays, you can find me crafting stories inspired by the rugged beauty of the North Carolina mountains, where I maintain an off-grid camp, or exploring the wild places that fuel my creativity.

When not writing or exploring, I volunteer at my local community garden and share my love of nature through workshops and public readings.

Whether writing a novel, facilitating a workshop, or guiding a thrilling mountain adventure, my mission remains the same: to capture the raw essence of the wild and inspire others to appreciate and cherish it just as deeply.