The Code of the Hills: An Ozarks Mystery
“What a terrific book--strong, tough, smart and powerful. This compassionate and compelling mystery reveals the disturbing reality of one woman’s quest for justice--while a bleak and sinister culture tries to bury the truth.” (Hank Phillippi Ryan, the Mary Higgins Clark, Agatha, and Anthony Award-winning author ofThe Wrong Girl)“Highly recommended for terrific command of suspense, authenticity and utterly engaging central character, prosecutor Elsie . . . some of the best courtroom scenes I’ve ever read, some of the nastiest people encountered in fiction and for all that, it’s illuminated by passion and kindness . . . a truly marvelous debut.” (Frances Fyfield, author ofGold Digger)“An authentic legal thriller from an exciting new voice.” (Mari Hannah, Polari Prize-winning author ofThe Murder Wall)“The plot, characters, and dialogue are beyond riveting . . . the requisite thrills and chills, but also a nugget of hope for the many people in the world who are hurting, letting them know that the ‘good and brave’ still exist.” (Suspense Magazine)“A legal page-turner . . . think John Grisham meets Daniel Woodrell -- as Allen touches on the racism, poverty and sexism that are as much a part of the Ozarks as its rocky terrain. Her Elsie flies in the face of these local conventions.” (Riverfront Times (St. Louis))“A powerfully intense courtroom mystery/drama that grasps readers’ interest from the first page and never lets up until the dynamic ending . . . an expertly convincing exposé . . . outstanding debut that should not be missed.” (Fresh Fiction)“Unflinching and gritty detail . . . the descriptions of both the court maneuverings and the Ozark community make this an entertaining read.” (Library Journal)