SAVAGE RECKONING STORY LINE
Author C. Hoyt Caldwell has crafted a first-rate crime thriller in Savage Reckoning. Set in the Appalachian Mountains of Tennessee, Mr. Hoyt reveals the most horrendous crime and acceptance of the mountain people of Baptist Falls. Dani Savage, known as the little deputy due to her size, works for her Uncle in Baptist Falls enforcing the law. By chance, Dani stumbles on a decade old crime and what she finds is horrifying.
Mountain people have their own code of honor, justice, and looking the other way. The local crime boss, aka Boss, has many fingers in many pies including selling of young girls. With law enforcement in his back pocket, Boss, has a lucrative operation of murder, kidnappings, and slavery using “closeout kings”, aka assassins, to control the area. Meanwhile, Dani discovers two closeout kings, Step and Kenny, have a story to tell. While they are, lowlifes and killers, even they have limits, and kidnapping and selling young girls is beyond the pale for them. Dani will find these two killers will become trusted allies in the coming battle.
While everyone has kept quite and looked the other way for decades, Dani is ready to stir the pot and see what comes to the top. It is time for justice in the mountains.
Grab your favorite beverage, set back, and enjoy several hours of riveting entertainment.
CHARACTERS, PLOTTING, AND DEVELOPMENT
First I feel I must say, Author C. Hoyt Caldwell, created an intriguing novel filled with mountain attitudes, language and isolation. Mr. Caldwell set the hook early and kept me enthralled to the last page. Insight into the close-knit and impoverished communities of the Appalachian Mountains was revealing. Mr. Caldwell skillfully portrayed the degree to which crime and its minions can instill fear into the soul of the mountain people. So much so, they will look the other way as their young girls disappear to never return.
The crude language and morals in the book will not be for everyone as Mr. Hoyt reveals the underbelly of a poor community. I found myself riveted; unable to put the book down. The story-line roared to the finish without lagging or bogging down. Mr. Hoyt had many threads to weave into the finished product, which he did skillfully.
The characters development was amazing as you will come to like Step and Kenny. Men, with a code of honor all their own, who will fight for right and justice beside Dani. Kenny’s character was funny and insightful. Seen as a dumb county hick, Kenny has questions and seeks answers on a variety of subjects. Step is a vicious killer with a sad past and a thirst for his own brand of justice. Mr. Caldwell crafted a strong independent woman in Dani. She may be small, but she makes up for it with personality and grit.
The book has one surprise after another as Mr. Caldwell set the plots and revealed revelations. Riveting, intriguing, fill of mystery and crime, you will love this book. Mr. Caldwell included several surprising near the end of book. I did not put the pieces together to come to the correct conclusion.
In concluding the review of Savage Reckoning, I found the story-line riveting and the mountain community revealing. Mr. Caldwell’s writing style is clear and easy to read as he draws pictures with words that will keep you enmeshed in the story-line. Furthermore, the premise of the story could take place in any town when crime’s allowed to take control and foster fear.
SAVAGE RECKONING RECOMMENDATION: STARS 4.5
In conclusion, I found this book skillfully written with well-developed characters and a story-line that will hold your interest to the last page. Savage Reckoning contains cuss words and mild sex. Therefore, I feel young adults and adult are the proper age groups.
Final Note: I received this book from Netgalley and the publisher in return for an honest book review. All book reviews of any novel are dependent on the book review author’s opinion; consequently, all book reviews on line and on my blog under my name are my opinion.