Last year, I was so impressed with
Chris Offutt's first Mick Hardin novel
The Killing Hills that I immediately got my hands on the second (
Shifty's Boys). It doesn't take much imagination for you to visualize my happy dance when I learned that the third Mick Hardin--
Code of the Hills-- will be released this year. Let me tell you more about it.
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Available June 13, 2023!
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Synopsis:
"
Master storyteller and award-winning author Chris Offutt’s latest book, Code
of the Hills, is a dark, witty, and propulsive thriller of murder and
secrets in a town where little is as it seems.Mick Hardin is back in the hills of Kentucky. He’d planned to touch down
briefly before heading to France, marking the end to his twenty-year Army
career. In Rocksalt, his sister Linda the sheriff is investigating the murder
of Pete Lowe, a sought-after mechanic at the local racetrack. After
another body is found, Linda and her deputy Johnny Boy Tolliver wonder if the
two murders are related. Linda steps into harm’s way just as a third body turns
up and Mick ends up being deputized again, uncovering evidence of illegal
cockfighting, and trying to connect all the crimes.
An explosive return to the mayhem of the Kentucky hills, Code of
the Hills is a harrowing novel of family—of what we’re willing to do
to protect and avenge the ones we love."
These Mick Hardin books tend to be a bit darker than many of the others I read, but I love the way Offutt puts a story together. He grabs hold of me and drags me right in, and the lyrical way he describes the landscape makes it so vivid. If you haven't read any of his books yet, I recommend that you start with The Killing Hills. You might just find yourself looking for the others-- just like me!
This does sound good, Cathy. I've not (yet) read The Killing Hills, so I wouldn't be quite ready for this, but the series does sound well-written. For me, it takes special talent to create a darker set of novels, so that they don't become too bleak, if that makes sense.
ReplyDeleteIt makes perfect sense, and Offutt has been able to do that.
DeleteAnother new series to check out! :D
ReplyDeleteWe'll never run out of books to read, Lark!
DeleteYet another series for my long, long TBR list.
ReplyDeleteBetter a long, long TBR than none at all, Dorothy.
DeleteI have booka in every room except the bathroom. That may change.
ReplyDeleteAs long as there's no threat of your being buried alive, who cares?
DeleteNo threat of that. I am trying to pawn off books on people who visit. I have boxes of books to donate to shops that raise money to help sick people.
ReplyDeleteWhich reminds me of the books I have to either be donated or to be given away here on the blog.
DeleteI was up all night reading The Killing Hills. I love the descriptions of flora and fauna combined with a good protagonist and country humor and characters,
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you're enjoying it.
Delete