Southport Memorial Library will kick off its 2025 Summer Series by hosting author Geoffrey Bates for a reading and discussion of his debut work "Bitter Passage: An Allegheny Beckham Novel" on Saturday, June 7 at 2:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be served during a reception afterwards when books will be available for purchase and signing.

Set within the unforgiving winter landscape of rural Maine, Bitter Passage introduces Sheriff’s Deputy Allegheny Beckham. Beckham has returned to Chamberlain County, seeking the quiet of home after years patrolling the bleak streets of south Chicago. Immediately tasked with investigating a murder/kidnapping, Beckham methodically peels back layers of deceit as she embarks on a harrowing journey, racing to deliver a pair of missing twins to safety. The deadly puzzle forces her to confront a lifetime scarred by loss, guilt, and feral survival. When the violent finale unfolds, she discovers the cost of redemption may be higher than she ever imagined. "Bitter Passage" is a riveting tale of resilience, justice, and the enduring struggle to confront the shadows of the past.

The Kennebec Journal’s Bill Bushnell wrote: “Bates isn't a cop, but he thinks like one, creating a suspenseful tale of a savvy female deputy up to her gun belt in gruesome crimes, deadly intrigue and professional treachery . . . And Beckham? Well, she’s not done yet, and the ending will surprise you. We can only hope to see her again.”

A patchwork of moves beginning and ending in his native New England has provided Bates with a rich palette of experience from which he shapes his narratives. After finding a professional niche in arts administration, he settled and raised a family near Chicago. He now lives and writes year-round in South Bristol.

"Bitter Passage" is also available for purchase at Sherman’s Booksellers throughout Maine, Left Bank Books in Belfast, BookStacks in Bucksport, and via Amazon in print and Kindle formats.

Southport Memorial Library is located at 1032 Hendricks Hill Road on Southport Island. July’s author presentation will occur Thursday, July 10 at 6:30 p.m. and will feature Charlie Britton. For the complete summer schedule, contact the library at 207.633.2741 or visit their website at https://www.southportlibrary.org/