SEARSPORT — Anodyne Book Shop, in Searsport, continues its 2024 Summer Wine and Sign Series on Friday, July 26, at 5:30 p.m., with Philip Baker, who will read from and discuss his new book, Hunger Hill. 

In this exciting crime thriller set in Portland, Maine, Detective Basil Keene must solve the murder of the unlikeable butcher of Hunger Hill. The cast of characters ranges from the sinister Russian, Silk Rhenko, to the charming Eileen Mack, an underaged bartender to oligarch Fyodor Umarov, the mastermind behind an underground scheme of money laundering and human trafficking.

Philip C. Baker’s first classes in creative writing were at Colby College. He has attended workshops in the thriller genre in New York. Philip has studied further in New York, Boston, and Portland with several best-selling authors. He has traveled on five continents and driven over a million miles. He managed a drill rig in Nevada, prospecting for gold. He searched for precious metals in California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. He has sold sporting goods, wheels, and snow and ice removal equipment in New England. He grew up in Falmouth, sailing on Casco Bay and enjoying where the land meets the sea. Now, he lives in southern Maine with his family and two rescued beagles who find great sport in growling at blowing leaves, barking at squirrels, and baying at the moon. 

Hunger Hill is Baker’s first full-length novel. It was chosen as Maine Public's All Books Considered book club selection for August 2024.

Anodyne Book Shop is located at 33 East Main Street in Searsport. Event seating is limited; to reserve a seat for this or any Wine and Sign event, please call (207) 548-4212 or email elly@anodynebookshop.com.