Savage Reckoning — C. Hoyt Caldwell

In the vein of Elmore Leonard's Justified, C. Hoyt Caldwell introduces a thriller series set in the dark side of the Appalachian mountains -- featuring a heroine who's playing both sides of the law.
 
Deputy Dani Savage would like nothing better than to shoot the wife beaters, carjackers, drug dealers, and all the rest of the low-life good ol' boys that make policing Baptist Flats, Tennessee, near impossible. Instead, she grits her teeth and serves the God-fearing townsfolk without complaint. The “little deputy,” as she's known, is often overlooked and ridiculed for being a small-statured woman in a big man's world. But while investigating a cold case involving a missing teen, Dani stumbles onto some disturbing facts that cannot be ignored.
 
Soon Dani realizes that this case goes back decades. There's a history of young women being stolen from the Tennessee hills, and a legacy of corrupt cops looking the other way. Dani's investigation leads her to the “closeout kings,” a pair of hired killers with a tale to tell -- a tale of a missing girl and a crime worse than murder. Somehow these two deranged hit men are Dani's last, best allies. They know that it's time for payback -- and in the backwoods, justice takes only one form.

Praise for Savage Reckoning

“A highly addictive read from start to finish.” -- Carrie's Book Reviews
 
“Author C. Hoyt Caldwell has crafted a first-rate crime thriller in Savage Reckoning.” -- Vera's Book Reviews and Stuff
 
“One heck of a wild ride.” -- No Glitter Blown

“The book is great, action-filled, amusing, mysterious and heartbreaking.” -- A Bookaholic Swede
 
“Genuinely one of the funniest novels I've read in such a long time even if it does deal with some pretty gruesome stuff.” -- Book Bum
 
“A well-developed mystery with strong characters and thrilling progression!” -- The Black Sheep Project