THE MOONSHINE MESSIAH by Russell W. Johnson will be released on May 26, 2023 by Shotgun Honey Books.
Mary Beth Cain, sheriff of a backwoods county in West Virginia, is facing corruption charges for her questionable police tactics when her ex-boyfriend, Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Connelly, arrives on the scene with a deal that will drop all charges as long as Mary Beth agrees to arrest her brother. Thanks to his anti-government radio broadcasts, Sawyer has become the leader of a militia group who is gathering at a defunct coal mine. Before Mary Beth can act, Sawyer's followers blow up the local courthouse. With federal agents swarming the coal mine, it's up to Mary Beth to prevent a Waco-style massacre from happening in West Virginia.
THE MOONSHINE MESSIAH is a fast-paced novel full of corruption and plot twists. Personally, I didn't find any of the main characters to be likeable or even sympathetic. Sheriff Mary Beth Cain is the best of the worst. Her police tactics may be questionable—and her loyalty to her criminally inclined family members leads to poor decisions—but she genuinely cares about her county and it's law-abiding citizens. I definitely recommend reading THE MOONSHINE MESSIAH.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.