Newly-elected Tibbehah County sheriff Quinn Colson investigates an old friend's gun sales when stolen military rifles are found in the possession of a Mexican drug gang, a case that is complicated by his discovery of a black market baby adoption ring.

The extraordinary new novel in the "New York Times" bestselling author s acclaimed series about the real Deep South a joy ride into the heart of darkness ("The Washington Post"). She was just seventeen, a high school dropout named Milly Jones, found walking down the middle of the highway, engulfed in flames. Even in a tough Mississippi county like Tibbehah, it shatters the community, and it is up to Sheriff Quinn Colson, back on the job after a year...

Shot up and left for dead, Sheriff Quinn Colson has revenge on his mind. With the help of his new wife Maggie, rehabilitation, and sheer force of will, he's walking again, eager to track down those responsible for his attempted murder. But someone is standing in his way: an interim sheriff, appointed by the newly elected Governor Vardaman, the man who Quinn knows ordered his murder. Since Quinn's been gone the criminal element in north Mississippi...

He is only in his early thirties, but now Quinn Colson is jobless - voted out of office as sheriff of Tibbehah County, Mississippi, thanks to the machinations of county kingpin Johnny Stagg. He has offers, in bigger and better places, but before he goes, he's got one more job to do - bring down Stagg's criminal operations for good. At least that's the plan. But in the middle of the long, hot summer, a trio of criminals stage a bold, wall-smashing...