Short Synopsis
With the haunting atmosphere of Winter's Bone and the riveting suspense of Alafair Burke's thrillers, The Code of the Hills is Nancy Allen's powerful debut novel.

Full Synopsis
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." ---Hank Phillippi Ryan, Agatha Award-winning author of The Wrong Girl

“An authentic legal thriller from an exciting new voice.” ---Mari Hannah, Polari Prize-winning author of The Murder Wall

“The plot, characters, and dialogue are beyond riveting . . . the requisite thrills and chills, but also a nugget of hope for the many people in the world who are hurting, letting them know that the ‘good and brave’ still exist.” ---Suspense Magazine

“Unflinching and gritty detail . . . the descriptions of both the court maneuverings and the Ozark community make this an entertaining read." ---Library Journal