What is the setting of The Sweet Hereafter by Russell Banks?

The book is set in Sam Dent, a fictional city in upstate New York that is part of the Adirondack region. Sam Dent is a hilly, snowy area where it is not uncommon for temperatures to be below zero in the winter months. It’s a treacherous stretch to drive, especially to outsiders, and the bus driver Dolores often finds herself putting chains on her tires. To non-residents like Mitchell Stephens, Sam Dent is beautiful in its simplicity and frightening at the same time. As Mitchell drives into the area for the first time, he is struck by the thought that if his car broke down or went off the road, there is a good chance he would die before being found.