My book is literary fiction published (probably) since 2000, by (I think) a man, but I cannot be certain.

The plot concerns a man (possibly a writer?) who returns to his hometown because his brother has been found frozen to death at the family’s vacation cottage and the man needs to figure out how the brother died and to clean out and sell the cottage on behalf of his parents.

While back in his hometown, the man has a romantic relationship with a woman (possibly someone he knew when he used to live there, but not certain). At the end of the book, the man successfully defends himself against an attempt on his life, possibly by an ex-lover of the woman he has taken up with. It’s possible that the man interrupted what would have been an attempt on the life of the woman, thereby saving her before turning to the task of saving his own life. The assault takes place on the property where the cottage is situated, with the would-be killer emerging from a garage, shed or barn, armed (possibly with an ax or some other tool).

Thank you in advance for your efforts to identify this book.