The Code of the Hills

First in the Ozarks Mystery series featuring small-town prosecutor Elsie Arnold. "An authentic legal thriller from an exciting new voice." —Mari Hannah, award-winning author of Her Sister's Killer

In the Missouri Ozarks, some things aren't talked about . . . even abuse. But prosecutor Elsie Arnold is determined to change that.

When she is assigned to prosecute a high-profile incest case in which a father is accused of abusing his three young daughters, Elsie is ready to become the Ozarks' avenging angel.

But as Elsie sinks her teeth into the case, everything begins to turn sour. The star witness goes missing; the girls refuse to talk about their father, who terrorizes the courtroom from the moment he enters; and Elsie begins to suspect that their tough-as-nails mother has ulterior motives. To make matters worse, Elsie receives gruesome threats from local extremists, warning her to mind her own business.

While Elsie swears not to let a sex offender walk, she realizes the odds—and maybe the town—are against her, and her life begins to crumble. But amidst all of the conflict, the safety of three young girls hangs in the balance . . .

"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, USA Today–bestselling author of One Wrong Word

"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." —Riverfront Times (St. Louis)