Dorian is white-knuckle sober, carving out a life for himself in Minnesota's Northwoods. He owes his reformation to the wisdom and love of Miss Bonnie, a foster mother to him and so many others, though painful memories of his tumultuous childhood and adolescence have kept him from returning to thank her. After learning of her sudden passing, he resolves to pay his respects. What he discovers back home, however, alters the course of his life forever.

Upon his return, Dorian reunites with Heath, a brother bound to Dorian not by blood, but by the years they spent together under Miss Bonnie's roof. When Heath unburdens himself of a horrifying secret-that the local police covered up her murder-Dorian sets out to uncover the truth and bring the killer to justice.

Laying bare the struggles foster children experience in their pursuit of identity, belonging, and love, Ashes, Ashes is a unique and essential tale.