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A Mountaineer Mystery #1
The Moonshine Messiah
As if being a woman sheriff in the West Virginia coal fields wasn’t tough enough, Mary Beth Cain’s life is complicated by the fact that the local hillbilly crime syndicate is run by her mother, Mamie. It's an association that, along with Mary Beth’s head-busting ways, has her staring down a corruption investigation when she gets a surprise visit from Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Connelly.
Twenty years earlier, Patrick was Mary Beth’s high school sweetheart, but they broke up because Mary Beth couldn’t cut the loose ties she maintains with her villainous family. Now Patrick’s worked out a deal to wipe Mary Beth’s slate clean if she'll just do one thing: arrest her brother, Sawyer, who is the cult leader of a booming anti-government militia that's been giving the Feds headaches.
It's an offer Mary Beth refuses until Sawyer's followers blow up a federal courthouse and G-men start swarming into town, preparing for a siege of the commando's compound. Suddenly Mary Beth is tasked with trying to head off a bloody, Waco-style massacre and the question isn't whether she should arrest her brother, but if she can do it in time.
Twenty years earlier, Patrick was Mary Beth’s high school sweetheart, but they broke up because Mary Beth couldn’t cut the loose ties she maintains with her villainous family. Now Patrick’s worked out a deal to wipe Mary Beth’s slate clean if she'll just do one thing: arrest her brother, Sawyer, who is the cult leader of a booming anti-government militia that's been giving the Feds headaches.
It's an offer Mary Beth refuses until Sawyer's followers blow up a federal courthouse and G-men start swarming into town, preparing for a siege of the commando's compound. Suddenly Mary Beth is tasked with trying to head off a bloody, Waco-style massacre and the question isn't whether she should arrest her brother, but if she can do it in time.
310 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2023
86 people are currently reading
3775 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
July 14, 2023
The Moonshine Messiah is an immensely enjoyable and fast-paced read. I read some Goodreads reviews prior to requesting it from NetGalley and was assuming that I wouldn't like the main character, Mary Beth, much (think Mullins from The Heat but with extra questionable policing tactics and a lot more hillbilly) but she ended up being a whole bunch of fun. Actually, all of the characters were great – as a teenager I spent six long years in rural Southeastern Ohio, a stone's throw from the West Virginia border (we grocery shopped over the state line), and the author's portrayal of Appalachian hillbillies was spot on. Several of the characters in this book could have been pulled straight from my high school graduating class.
I guess you could say that this book was kind of The Heat meets Deliverance? (Yes, I know Deliverance takes place in Georgia and no one makes anyone else “squeal like a pig” in this book, but whatever.) Mary Beth is rough around the edges and doesn't work exactly within the confines of the law, but she's a kick-ass sheriff and ultimately does what's right … at least as far as the major illegal transgressions go. I really enjoyed her sass and humor and and her interactions with her felonious family.
Overall, I thought this book was fantastic and it far exceeded my expectations. It's a wild, twisty ride and I loved every minute of it.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Shotgun Honey for providing me with a copy of this book to review!
I guess you could say that this book was kind of The Heat meets Deliverance? (Yes, I know Deliverance takes place in Georgia and no one makes anyone else “squeal like a pig” in this book, but whatever.) Mary Beth is rough around the edges and doesn't work exactly within the confines of the law, but she's a kick-ass sheriff and ultimately does what's right … at least as far as the major illegal transgressions go. I really enjoyed her sass and humor and and her interactions with her felonious family.
Overall, I thought this book was fantastic and it far exceeded my expectations. It's a wild, twisty ride and I loved every minute of it.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Shotgun Honey for providing me with a copy of this book to review!
April 7, 2023
West Virginia coal country may be the star of this book as its people are as crooked as the roads passing through the hills and hollers. The sheriff isn’t much better than her crooked family as she tends to bend rules to get the result she wants. Add in lots of bikers, an attorney general ex-boyfriend, and feds stirring things up and you get an enjoyable read. I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher and voluntarily provided an honest review.
April 7, 2023
Russell Johnson’s THE MOONSHINE MESSIAH is Justified meets Fargo and with as many twists and turns as a Blue Ridge mountain pass you won’t put this book down. It’s one I wish I could read again with fresh eyes. —Mark Westmoreland, A Violent Gospel and A Mourning Song
August 28, 2023
In “The Moonshine Messiah” by Russell W. Johnson, the novel chronicles the lives of those in Jasper Creek, Virginia, particularly the life of Jasper County’s Sheriff, Mary Beth Cain. Cain is a no-nonsense sheriff known for bending the rules to get things done, and she constantly finds her plate overflowing with challenges.
Although Cain’s jurisdiction is Jasper County, her problems are set to intensify with the anticipated annexation of the neighboring McCray County due to its economic collapse.
Complicating matters further, not only is Cain under serious federal scrutiny, facing a possible criminal indictment, but two of her biggest challenges come from her own family: her mother and brother. Cain’s mother, known as “Mountain Mammie,” controls criminal operations in adjacent McCray County. Because of corruption and unofficial pacts, including one with her daughter, Mammie encounters little law enforcement interference as long as her criminal activities are confined to McCray County. However, with the impending annexation of McCray County, Mountain Mammie sees opportunities for expansion, leading her to believe that previous agreements can now be renegotiated, irrespective of promises made to her daughter.
As if that’s not enough for Sheriff Cain to contend with, her brother Sawyer, once perceived merely as a local folk hero, has evolved into a fervent anti-government activist, heading a diverse and rapidly expanding cult-like following. Now recognized as “The Moonshine Messiah,” Sawyer has rallied this potentially violent group to defend the rural way of life by any means necessary. With his accumulation of weapons and the establishment of a fortified compound within an old mining site, Sawyer has caught the attention of federal law enforcement. This interest includes the intervention of a federal prosecutor and a figure from Sheriff Cain’s past.
Sheriff Cain faces the daunting task of mitigating violence, even if it means arresting her own family members.
Johnson’s novel weaves together a diverse cast, each with captivating backgrounds, creating a narrative relevant to contemporary society that is entirely believable. Fans of writers such as Ace Atkins and Brian Panowich, along with other authors in the rural noir genre, will appreciate “The Moonshine Messiah.”
Netgalley provided a copy of “The Moonshine Messiah” in exchange for an honest review, and the book is available for purchase.
This review was originally published at MysteryandSuspense.com.
Although Cain’s jurisdiction is Jasper County, her problems are set to intensify with the anticipated annexation of the neighboring McCray County due to its economic collapse.
Complicating matters further, not only is Cain under serious federal scrutiny, facing a possible criminal indictment, but two of her biggest challenges come from her own family: her mother and brother. Cain’s mother, known as “Mountain Mammie,” controls criminal operations in adjacent McCray County. Because of corruption and unofficial pacts, including one with her daughter, Mammie encounters little law enforcement interference as long as her criminal activities are confined to McCray County. However, with the impending annexation of McCray County, Mountain Mammie sees opportunities for expansion, leading her to believe that previous agreements can now be renegotiated, irrespective of promises made to her daughter.
As if that’s not enough for Sheriff Cain to contend with, her brother Sawyer, once perceived merely as a local folk hero, has evolved into a fervent anti-government activist, heading a diverse and rapidly expanding cult-like following. Now recognized as “The Moonshine Messiah,” Sawyer has rallied this potentially violent group to defend the rural way of life by any means necessary. With his accumulation of weapons and the establishment of a fortified compound within an old mining site, Sawyer has caught the attention of federal law enforcement. This interest includes the intervention of a federal prosecutor and a figure from Sheriff Cain’s past.
Sheriff Cain faces the daunting task of mitigating violence, even if it means arresting her own family members.
Johnson’s novel weaves together a diverse cast, each with captivating backgrounds, creating a narrative relevant to contemporary society that is entirely believable. Fans of writers such as Ace Atkins and Brian Panowich, along with other authors in the rural noir genre, will appreciate “The Moonshine Messiah.”
Netgalley provided a copy of “The Moonshine Messiah” in exchange for an honest review, and the book is available for purchase.
This review was originally published at MysteryandSuspense.com.
December 29, 2023
Biker gangs, a religious cult, a backwoods crime syndicate, and a (too?) tough-as-nails sheriff trying to police all this chaos makes for a powder-keg of a story. The action is virtually nonstop, with twists and turns around every corner. At no point did I know where I was being lead during this wild rollercoaster ride, which kept me flipping pages, wanting to see what was next. Readers will be hard-pressed to find an experience as flat-out *fun* as this one.
June 7, 2023
Really enjoyed this one by Russell W. Johnson.
Crisp writing, great characters, fast paced story and a great setting that's an integral part of the story. I hope we get more of Mary Beth. Another winner from Shotgun Honey Books.
Crisp writing, great characters, fast paced story and a great setting that's an integral part of the story. I hope we get more of Mary Beth. Another winner from Shotgun Honey Books.
June 20, 2023
Enjoyed being immersed in West Virginia culture and having the female lead guide the reader through the hills to fight crime! Sheriff Cain is tough as nails. She fits right in but stands out! A real page turner.
June 2, 2023
Engaging characters, mystery and drama kept me reading from cover to cover. The descriptions of the coalfields and the people there are spot-on. The story of a tougher-than-nails female sheriff are exciting and impressive. I am eager for the next book, hoping to hear more about the characters the author has created.
March 22, 2024
Mary Beth Cain, the brash and unconventional sheriff of Jasper Country in West Virginia, has a problem: there is an ever-increasing number of bikers in her town, and she 100% feels that they are up to no good.
Add to this, she's under investigation for something her criminal mother did, there is an opiate epidemic in her deeply economically depressed part of the U.S., her younger brother Sawyer is broadcasting a stream of anti-government and anti-corporate messages online, and Mary Beth is concerned about keeping her college-aged son Sam safely away from the pile-up of messes she's dealing with.
Then an old flame comes back to town, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Connelly has a deal for her. All Mary Beth has to do is arrest her brother, and all her legal problems go away.
Mary Beth underestimates the effect Sawyer's words have on others, and discovers, to her dismay, that the bikers have rallied to his cause, guns in hand. Before she knows it, a bomb goes off, FBI are in town and angry when one of their own is killed.
Mary Beth has some fast-talking and hard thinking to do, putting together a number of seemingly disparate actions and facts about various deals underway, including the one Patrick is dangling in front of her.
This was a lot of fun. Mary Beth is a captivating main character. She is very good at her job and at reading people, but makes questionable decisions. Though big hearted and intelligent, she is rough around the edges and impulsive; her relationship with her deputy, Isaiah "Izzy" Baker, is great, and he's often the voice of reason to her seat-of-the-pants plans.
The book starts out with a chase, and just keeps going. There are many conflicts, murders, bombings, and a lot of great conversations. I had no idea what to expect going into this book, but thoroughly enjoyed this funny, dark, and violent story.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Shotgun Honey for this ARC in exchange for my review.
Add to this, she's under investigation for something her criminal mother did, there is an opiate epidemic in her deeply economically depressed part of the U.S., her younger brother Sawyer is broadcasting a stream of anti-government and anti-corporate messages online, and Mary Beth is concerned about keeping her college-aged son Sam safely away from the pile-up of messes she's dealing with.
Then an old flame comes back to town, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Connelly has a deal for her. All Mary Beth has to do is arrest her brother, and all her legal problems go away.
Mary Beth underestimates the effect Sawyer's words have on others, and discovers, to her dismay, that the bikers have rallied to his cause, guns in hand. Before she knows it, a bomb goes off, FBI are in town and angry when one of their own is killed.
Mary Beth has some fast-talking and hard thinking to do, putting together a number of seemingly disparate actions and facts about various deals underway, including the one Patrick is dangling in front of her.
This was a lot of fun. Mary Beth is a captivating main character. She is very good at her job and at reading people, but makes questionable decisions. Though big hearted and intelligent, she is rough around the edges and impulsive; her relationship with her deputy, Isaiah "Izzy" Baker, is great, and he's often the voice of reason to her seat-of-the-pants plans.
The book starts out with a chase, and just keeps going. There are many conflicts, murders, bombings, and a lot of great conversations. I had no idea what to expect going into this book, but thoroughly enjoyed this funny, dark, and violent story.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Shotgun Honey for this ARC in exchange for my review.
August 17, 2025
I felt this book needed a prequel. It was if we were thrown into the story already in progress. The backstory of the Sheriff's relationship with her mother and her brother deserved a deeper dive. A couple of over-the-top things had me shaking my head - Sheriff drives a Camero as her police car and her deputy a Monster Truck? Come on. That aside, I did enjoy the story and would have liked to have gotten more of the "family" story. If this is a series, I would pick up the 2nd book.
September 19, 2023
Very fun read! The influences of Elmore Leonard drip off the page with the West Virginian scenery and righteous forms of Appalachian justice.
June 12, 2023
Sherriff Mary Beth Cain is not having the best week. She is under investigation by the DoJ for corruption after an expose revealed her unorthodox and sometimes illegal policing ways. Her brother, Sawyer, is holed up in an abandoned mine and preaching about waging war on the government. Her mother, who runs the hill billy crime syndicate, is trying to work out a deal with Mary Beth regarding crime in the area. But things came to a head when Mary Beth’s former high school sweetheart, a lawyer for the DoJ, approached her with a deal. Any charges against her will go away if she can arrest her brother. Stuck between a rock and a hard place, Mary Beth agrees. But, as Mary Beth starts investigating the case, she finds some discrepancies and decides to follow the trail. What she discovers changes everything but doesn’t change the fact that she needs to arrest Sawyer. What did Mary Beth uncover? Will Mary Beth be able to capture her brother?
When I agreed to review The Moonshine Messiah, I thought I would be reviewing a book that followed the generic mystery/crime genre. Let me stop you right here and tell you that this book is anything but typical. This is a twisty-turny mystery with morally gray characters that are multifaceted. To say that I enjoyed reading The Moonshine Messiah is an understatement.
The Moonshine Messiah is a fast-paced book. The pacing of this book was spot on. It would have thrown everything off if this book had slowed the pace. There was a bit of lag when Mary Beth led Sawyer through the tunnels and during the big battle scene, but it wasn’t enough to bother me.
The Moonshine Messiah is set entirely in the state of West Virginia. More importantly, the author set the book in the coal fields of West Virginia. I haven’t visited West Virginia (unless you count stopping at a rest stop while traveling to Massachusetts visiting). So, I was very much interested in how the author described that area. And to be honest, it didn’t sound much different than where I currently live, except for maybe a slightly bigger city.
The main storyline in The Moonshine Messiah centers around Mary Beth. The storyline was well-written and was supported by several secondary storylines. I didn’t feel lost or confused while reading. I knew exactly where I was and what I was dealing with (until the last few chapters when the author turned everything upside down). What I liked the most about this storyline was that the characters were morally gray. That allowed the characters more range than if the author had decided to follow the traditional good guy vs. bad guy storyline.
Mary Beth is the main character in The Moonshine Messiah. I didn’t necessarily like her and didn’t at first. But, as with all the characters in this book, she was layered, and what I saw at the beginning of the book wasn’t exactly who Mary Beth was. She was tough when she needed to be, and she did deserve that DoJ investigation. But she was also brilliant, and she used those smarts to outwit the DoJ and strike a deal with someone she probably shouldn’t have (her mother).
Patrick is the other main character that I am going to highlight here. Like Mary Beth, he was multi-layered, and like Mary Beth, I didn’t like him at first. But, unlike Mary Beth, my dislike and distrust of him stayed. There was something about him that rubbed me wrong, and I was happy that I was proven right about him in the end. But he did help Mary Beth when she needed it the most, which counts for something.
The mystery angle of The Moonshine Messiah was wonderfully written. It was your typical mystery until after Sawyer was arrested. Then, the author does something that I didn’t expect. He turns everything upside down. There were a couple of massive twists that I didn’t see coming. Both involved Mary Beth and members of her immediate family. I finished the book with my mouth hanging open; that’s how off guard I was taken. And bravo to the author for being able to do that.
As I stated above, the end of The Moonshine Messiah is twisty-turny. The author ended all of the storylines in ways that I liked (and took me by surprise). The author also left open enough at the end for there to be a book 2.
I would recommend The Moonshine Messiah to anyone over 21. There is graphic violence, sexual situations, and language.
Many thanks to Russell W. Johnson for allowing me to read and review The Moonshine Messiah. All opinions stated in this review are mine.
When I agreed to review The Moonshine Messiah, I thought I would be reviewing a book that followed the generic mystery/crime genre. Let me stop you right here and tell you that this book is anything but typical. This is a twisty-turny mystery with morally gray characters that are multifaceted. To say that I enjoyed reading The Moonshine Messiah is an understatement.
The Moonshine Messiah is a fast-paced book. The pacing of this book was spot on. It would have thrown everything off if this book had slowed the pace. There was a bit of lag when Mary Beth led Sawyer through the tunnels and during the big battle scene, but it wasn’t enough to bother me.
The Moonshine Messiah is set entirely in the state of West Virginia. More importantly, the author set the book in the coal fields of West Virginia. I haven’t visited West Virginia (unless you count stopping at a rest stop while traveling to Massachusetts visiting). So, I was very much interested in how the author described that area. And to be honest, it didn’t sound much different than where I currently live, except for maybe a slightly bigger city.
The main storyline in The Moonshine Messiah centers around Mary Beth. The storyline was well-written and was supported by several secondary storylines. I didn’t feel lost or confused while reading. I knew exactly where I was and what I was dealing with (until the last few chapters when the author turned everything upside down). What I liked the most about this storyline was that the characters were morally gray. That allowed the characters more range than if the author had decided to follow the traditional good guy vs. bad guy storyline.
Mary Beth is the main character in The Moonshine Messiah. I didn’t necessarily like her and didn’t at first. But, as with all the characters in this book, she was layered, and what I saw at the beginning of the book wasn’t exactly who Mary Beth was. She was tough when she needed to be, and she did deserve that DoJ investigation. But she was also brilliant, and she used those smarts to outwit the DoJ and strike a deal with someone she probably shouldn’t have (her mother).
Patrick is the other main character that I am going to highlight here. Like Mary Beth, he was multi-layered, and like Mary Beth, I didn’t like him at first. But, unlike Mary Beth, my dislike and distrust of him stayed. There was something about him that rubbed me wrong, and I was happy that I was proven right about him in the end. But he did help Mary Beth when she needed it the most, which counts for something.
The mystery angle of The Moonshine Messiah was wonderfully written. It was your typical mystery until after Sawyer was arrested. Then, the author does something that I didn’t expect. He turns everything upside down. There were a couple of massive twists that I didn’t see coming. Both involved Mary Beth and members of her immediate family. I finished the book with my mouth hanging open; that’s how off guard I was taken. And bravo to the author for being able to do that.
As I stated above, the end of The Moonshine Messiah is twisty-turny. The author ended all of the storylines in ways that I liked (and took me by surprise). The author also left open enough at the end for there to be a book 2.
I would recommend The Moonshine Messiah to anyone over 21. There is graphic violence, sexual situations, and language.
Many thanks to Russell W. Johnson for allowing me to read and review The Moonshine Messiah. All opinions stated in this review are mine.
July 5, 2023
Russell Johnson's debut novel is an absolute winner and the well-rounded and interesting characters within demand an encore.
Mary Beth Cain is a sheriff in the coal fields of West Virginia but her position as a law enforcement officer is complicated. She is also the daughter of a lady who runs a hillbilly crime syndicate and while the sheriff's ties to her family are not strong, they are still there, presenting a whole host of problems for Mary Beth and also, it's a huge headache for the federal government. Mary Beth's brother Sawyer is the cultish leader of an anti-government militia who is hell bent on causing destruction and mayhem and one of their first acts is blowing up a federal courthouse. As if Mary Beth doesn't have enough problems, she is also a target of a corruption investigation and it's headed up by an ex-boyfriend, U.S. attorney Patrick Connelly. Patrick comes in offering a deal to clear Mary Beth of the charges against her, but the deal swings on the demand that she has to arrest her brother Sawyer. The offer is refused but that's before the Feds swarm into town to take out Sawyer in a compound that he and his followers are holding down. Sheriff Cain is certainly no push over and she comes at you with an attitude and a determination to kick ass; and she makes no apologies.
The title immediately captured my interest and when I opened the book, I witnessed a woman sheriff willing and able to take on a group of mean, ugly and determined bikers who rolled into her town. I was hooked. Conflict should be one of the most important things that an author works at when sitting down to craft a story. Grade this one an A+ on that note. There is no greater conflict or interest in a story than when someone is pitted against a family member. Hard to put this one down. It has just the right amount of action, dialogue and intrigue to send it flying up the best sellers list. Russell Johnson's debut novel is an absolute winner and the well-rounded and interesting characters within demand an encore. This is a must read!
Mary Beth Cain is a sheriff in the coal fields of West Virginia but her position as a law enforcement officer is complicated. She is also the daughter of a lady who runs a hillbilly crime syndicate and while the sheriff's ties to her family are not strong, they are still there, presenting a whole host of problems for Mary Beth and also, it's a huge headache for the federal government. Mary Beth's brother Sawyer is the cultish leader of an anti-government militia who is hell bent on causing destruction and mayhem and one of their first acts is blowing up a federal courthouse. As if Mary Beth doesn't have enough problems, she is also a target of a corruption investigation and it's headed up by an ex-boyfriend, U.S. attorney Patrick Connelly. Patrick comes in offering a deal to clear Mary Beth of the charges against her, but the deal swings on the demand that she has to arrest her brother Sawyer. The offer is refused but that's before the Feds swarm into town to take out Sawyer in a compound that he and his followers are holding down. Sheriff Cain is certainly no push over and she comes at you with an attitude and a determination to kick ass; and she makes no apologies.
The title immediately captured my interest and when I opened the book, I witnessed a woman sheriff willing and able to take on a group of mean, ugly and determined bikers who rolled into her town. I was hooked. Conflict should be one of the most important things that an author works at when sitting down to craft a story. Grade this one an A+ on that note. There is no greater conflict or interest in a story than when someone is pitted against a family member. Hard to put this one down. It has just the right amount of action, dialogue and intrigue to send it flying up the best sellers list. Russell Johnson's debut novel is an absolute winner and the well-rounded and interesting characters within demand an encore. This is a must read!
April 19, 2024
It was a solid 4 star. I had a few issues with it. I noticed at least one spelling error. The author had Bush for Busch beer. Otherwise, the author did a pretty good job with it.
He wrote about the people "That was the classic wrap on Appalachian people. Stubborn. Stoic. Scared." That's a pretty good take on us. That's the basis for the story. People are scared and they end up looking for someone to follow. They end up following Sheriff Mary Beth Cain's estranged brother Sawyer. He's something of a messiah/anti-establishment type. Think Fox News talking head with more tattoos and fewer teeth. Sawyer ends up being more doing and less talking when he has his followers blow up a courthouse. In the process, people die.
Mary Beth was already under investigation by the Feds, as any good West Virginia sheriff should be. Her mother is a crime boss in the area. Her father was killed when she and Sawyer were children by the DEA when he getting ready to surrender to them. She's the black sheep by being a good guy. She's not exactly clean, because she has bent the law to make arrests and the like, but she believes that she has always done right.
The story really starts after the courthouse is blown up so no spoilers. The story is set in the southern coal fields. We see the poverty and the effects of the drug epidemic which are still ravaging the area. It's not pretty. Being a West Virginian, this was a difficult book to read because it really hit close to home.
It's a compelling read. There's not a lot of good guys in the book. The plot is good. The character development is great. I recommend it.
He wrote about the people "That was the classic wrap on Appalachian people. Stubborn. Stoic. Scared." That's a pretty good take on us. That's the basis for the story. People are scared and they end up looking for someone to follow. They end up following Sheriff Mary Beth Cain's estranged brother Sawyer. He's something of a messiah/anti-establishment type. Think Fox News talking head with more tattoos and fewer teeth. Sawyer ends up being more doing and less talking when he has his followers blow up a courthouse. In the process, people die.
Mary Beth was already under investigation by the Feds, as any good West Virginia sheriff should be. Her mother is a crime boss in the area. Her father was killed when she and Sawyer were children by the DEA when he getting ready to surrender to them. She's the black sheep by being a good guy. She's not exactly clean, because she has bent the law to make arrests and the like, but she believes that she has always done right.
The story really starts after the courthouse is blown up so no spoilers. The story is set in the southern coal fields. We see the poverty and the effects of the drug epidemic which are still ravaging the area. It's not pretty. Being a West Virginian, this was a difficult book to read because it really hit close to home.
It's a compelling read. There's not a lot of good guys in the book. The plot is good. The character development is great. I recommend it.
April 25, 2023
Welcome to West-by God- Virginia!
I had mixed expectations going into this book since so many things could have gone wrong. You are talking about a strong feminist sheriff Mary Beth, her sociopathic cult leader brother Sawyer, her narcissistic brothel-owning drug-dealing mother Mamie, and assistant attorney general/old flame Patrick. This is a mixed bag of characters who when you throw in a showdown of Waco proportions, you are in for a wild ride!
Mary Beth is not a woman (or a sheriff) that you want to mess with. While making some dubious legal decisions, she knows her role and how to play the game. She is fiercely loyal to her hometown and the community that she was elected to protect and will do almost anything for them. However, when the love for her family comes in direct conflict with the community she is sworn to protect, Mary Beth has to make some challenging decisions.
Does she always do the right thing? No.
The Moonshine Messiah was a fast and enjoyable read. Would I follow the Moonshine Messiah? No, but I sure would love to have a Mary Beth to back me up when the going gets rough!
I had mixed expectations going into this book since so many things could have gone wrong. You are talking about a strong feminist sheriff Mary Beth, her sociopathic cult leader brother Sawyer, her narcissistic brothel-owning drug-dealing mother Mamie, and assistant attorney general/old flame Patrick. This is a mixed bag of characters who when you throw in a showdown of Waco proportions, you are in for a wild ride!
Mary Beth is not a woman (or a sheriff) that you want to mess with. While making some dubious legal decisions, she knows her role and how to play the game. She is fiercely loyal to her hometown and the community that she was elected to protect and will do almost anything for them. However, when the love for her family comes in direct conflict with the community she is sworn to protect, Mary Beth has to make some challenging decisions.
Does she always do the right thing? No.
The Moonshine Messiah was a fast and enjoyable read. Would I follow the Moonshine Messiah? No, but I sure would love to have a Mary Beth to back me up when the going gets rough!
May 9, 2023
Complex Almost Anti-Hero Leads Layered World Into Promising New Series. This is one of those books that touches on a lot of things - the opioid epidemic, the crash of coal in the push for so-called "green" energy, land speculation, family, the complexities of being on the right side of the "law" when your family isn't, high school romance and the fallout thereof, traditional Southern living vs the newer get-rich-quick ethos... and even a strong dash of the militia movement and the mistakes on both sides of Ruby Ridge and Waco and the long shadows both of those events cast in certain communities. In the process, it creates a truly layered and compelling world that while just as complex as our own, still allows for a high degree of escapism (for most). And yet, it is also a brutal tale of survival and betrayal, of losing yourself and finding yourself over and over and over again. Of trying to become something you want to be, even as your community and even family are doing their damndest to drag you in other directions. Overall truly a remarkable tale for what it is, and one I am very much looking forward to coming back into this world. Very much recommended.
May 23, 2023
The Moonshine Messiah brought me back to the world of the Timothy Olyphant series, Justified, which I love. What a great start to a promising series!
We are in Jasper County, West Virginia, Mary-Beth Cain is the sheriff, following in the footsteps of her husband. Now her family is not what we would consider "good citizens". Her mother, Mountain Mamie, deals drugs in a neighboring county and her brother, Sawyer, is a cult leader/conspiracy nut known as THE MOONSHINE MESSIAH. He lives in a militia-like compound, think Waco, and goes on the radio blasting the Federal government. The arrival of a biker gang leads to trouble. A respected local is murdered and the biker gang moves into Sawyer's compound. Adding to all this is an ex-flame, Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Connelly, who wants Mary-Beth to help the Fed's arrest her brother.
The novel moves along at a brisk pace. Just when I thought I had things figured out, the author threw in a twist. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and their world. I highly recommend!
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC. The review is my own.
We are in Jasper County, West Virginia, Mary-Beth Cain is the sheriff, following in the footsteps of her husband. Now her family is not what we would consider "good citizens". Her mother, Mountain Mamie, deals drugs in a neighboring county and her brother, Sawyer, is a cult leader/conspiracy nut known as THE MOONSHINE MESSIAH. He lives in a militia-like compound, think Waco, and goes on the radio blasting the Federal government. The arrival of a biker gang leads to trouble. A respected local is murdered and the biker gang moves into Sawyer's compound. Adding to all this is an ex-flame, Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Connelly, who wants Mary-Beth to help the Fed's arrest her brother.
The novel moves along at a brisk pace. Just when I thought I had things figured out, the author threw in a twist. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and their world. I highly recommend!
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC. The review is my own.
July 1, 2023
I love Mary Beth. Russell Johnson writes a damn good 3-D character that you want to stick with, especially across every twist of these serpentine WV roads, threatening you with hurtling off a cliff into oblivion. He's a master of the cliffhanger too. Mary Beth, Izzy, Patrick, and Sawyer (and don't forget Mamie) are a found and not-chosen family, depending on who we're talking about. Because I'm the kind of reader who chooses family sagas, literary fiction, and YA fiction first, I'm looking for fully-realized characters. Johnson delivers. He's made Mary Beth into the kind of heroine that makes sense for having survived the crazy of her parents' particular dysfunction while being pretty hilarious. She rushes into everything ready for a fight and you want to start slinging chairs right alongside her. Johnson also makes sure that there's a bigger point to all the thrills and mystery: what big government, big corporations, and big mafia families want to do to a local community. It's the little folks banding together that will save the locals, only not in a messiah kind of way. Johnson shows us how the Moonshine Messiah gets it wrong while Mary Beth makes it right.
August 4, 2023
I received this eARC from Netgalley.com and am providing an unbiased review.
This story was a bit of a hidden gem that I found (my thought anyways) in the Netgalley gallery. After reading it, I had to look up the author and see if there were any other works he has completed. Unfortunately, the sources I used showed only this one story, and what a story it was! The writing style reminds me of Craig Johnson (Walt Longmire series) telling a tale about a sheriff in the backwoods of West Virginia. Not a big thing, unless you throw in family ties to a 'mountain mafia', and a few rumors of the sheriff using those connections.
Either way, the story is very well told, and I felt like I was 'in the action' as I read it. I also found it quite hard to put down the one night I had to do so. Character backgrounds were good, and the world building was on-spot for what I imagine those small towns and area would be for WV. There were a couple misdirects in the story that caught me, and making the ending come out better than what I thought would happen. Definitely would read more from this author, and almost would like this to become a series if there is somewhere for the stories to go.
This story was a bit of a hidden gem that I found (my thought anyways) in the Netgalley gallery. After reading it, I had to look up the author and see if there were any other works he has completed. Unfortunately, the sources I used showed only this one story, and what a story it was! The writing style reminds me of Craig Johnson (Walt Longmire series) telling a tale about a sheriff in the backwoods of West Virginia. Not a big thing, unless you throw in family ties to a 'mountain mafia', and a few rumors of the sheriff using those connections.
Either way, the story is very well told, and I felt like I was 'in the action' as I read it. I also found it quite hard to put down the one night I had to do so. Character backgrounds were good, and the world building was on-spot for what I imagine those small towns and area would be for WV. There were a couple misdirects in the story that caught me, and making the ending come out better than what I thought would happen. Definitely would read more from this author, and almost would like this to become a series if there is somewhere for the stories to go.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 7, 2023
I really enjoyed this book and all of the characters in it as well. The sheriff is the daughter of the local moonshine moma along with other things. Her brother is now causing problems with not only the local radio station but also with arming people in his compound. Mary Beth Cain has so much going on that she even has her old boyfriend from high school who is now an assistant U.S. Attorney showing up and wanting her to make a deal with them to get her brother out. Everything sounds so simple but really it is not. There are many other deals that have been had that she is not aware of but when she finds out she is a force to be reckoned with. That is as she is trying to get her brother to still give up when the government shows up in full force and she is looking at Waco all over again but in West Virginia. That is just a little of what is going on. A really good book from start to finish and very much worth the read. I received this book from Netgalley.com
May 9, 2023
Russell W. Johnson's debut novel, The Moonshine Messiah, is a rural route odyssey of conspiracy and vice, and it's a fantastic read. The story follows Mary Beth Cain--a believable, well-defined sheriff that Johnson has shaped in several previous shorts--through the backroads of West Virginia, investigating a militia cult led by her brother. Cain's familial issues figure prominently in the plot, creating an underpinning of drama and tension as the story builds toward the prospect of a violent standoff on the scale of Waco.
Johnson writes with musicality and rhythm, draws characters with vivid depth, and paints a West Virginia that comes alive on the page. It's excellent world building on top of a great story. Highly recommend.
Johnson writes with musicality and rhythm, draws characters with vivid depth, and paints a West Virginia that comes alive on the page. It's excellent world building on top of a great story. Highly recommend.
June 20, 2023
I read the book only because it was set in West Virginia. But, I loved it! It is about a renegade sheriff under federal investigation for corruption, her mother who runs the Mountain Mafia, and her brother, a militant known as The Moonshine Messiah. It's about relationships, the one Mary Beth has with her family, and the two men she loved--her deceased husband and her high school sweetheart who's now a federal prosecutor. It's about her love affair with the state where she's always lived.
It's gritty at times. It's funny at times. It also breaks your heart.
I wish it were turned into a movie that had screenwriters who can do justice to the book and a director with a vision.
This is my contribution to celebrating WV Statehood day--to read a story written by a WV author.
It's gritty at times. It's funny at times. It also breaks your heart.
I wish it were turned into a movie that had screenwriters who can do justice to the book and a director with a vision.
This is my contribution to celebrating WV Statehood day--to read a story written by a WV author.
July 30, 2023
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC!
What a rollicking bunch of redneck fun! The main character, who is the town's Sheriff, has relatives with illegal activities, her brother is not above blowing up the part of the town that doesn't support his conservative agenda, and her Mom's hands are also not clean of crime. Meanwhile, being not only the town Sheriff, but a single mother to boot carries it's own very unique set of challenges (no spoilers here, read the book to discover the secrets in store, I will just let you know there are a few juicy secrets!
Had a lot of fun reading this book, and I will come back to revisit this author's amazing creations!
Until next time, how well does one really KNOW his or her "close" family members?
What a rollicking bunch of redneck fun! The main character, who is the town's Sheriff, has relatives with illegal activities, her brother is not above blowing up the part of the town that doesn't support his conservative agenda, and her Mom's hands are also not clean of crime. Meanwhile, being not only the town Sheriff, but a single mother to boot carries it's own very unique set of challenges (no spoilers here, read the book to discover the secrets in store, I will just let you know there are a few juicy secrets!
Had a lot of fun reading this book, and I will come back to revisit this author's amazing creations!
Until next time, how well does one really KNOW his or her "close" family members?
June 2, 2023
The Moonshine Messiah: A Mountaineer Mystery
If you are "just wondering and wandering" for a brilliant book to read try The Moonshine Messiah by Russell W Johnson, you will be intoxicated by the realistic characters and plot twists that move at white lightning speed to tell a story of a female sheriff reeling between her passion to protect people in her jurisdiction and to knock back the illegal activities of her family.
You will be pleased you imbibed.
If you are "just wondering and wandering" for a brilliant book to read try The Moonshine Messiah by Russell W Johnson, you will be intoxicated by the realistic characters and plot twists that move at white lightning speed to tell a story of a female sheriff reeling between her passion to protect people in her jurisdiction and to knock back the illegal activities of her family.
You will be pleased you imbibed.
December 19, 2023
I was reminded a lot of Justified here: not so much Elmore Leonard's writing (though it does have a similar caustic humour to it), but the show with its coal mining country of hollers and mountains, scheming matriarchs, the oxy trade and some good ole boys. Mary Beth came across like a female Raylan in some ways. Conflicted. She'll bend the rules for the greater good.
But this is far from a pastiche. The book is smartly written with enough twists and turns in the story to keep it from getting predictable even if it trades in some familiar settings. Rural crime fiction out of the US has been having a moment for some time now, and this novel is a worthy addition to the list.
But this is far from a pastiche. The book is smartly written with enough twists and turns in the story to keep it from getting predictable even if it trades in some familiar settings. Rural crime fiction out of the US has been having a moment for some time now, and this novel is a worthy addition to the list.
January 16, 2024
Reading this book, deep in the mountains of West Virginia, gives it a poignancy that reading it elsewhere would have to transport you to. I cannot speak highly enough of this experience of meeting Sheriff Mary Beth, Cain, and unraveling this mystery and tragedy with her. She’s unlike any character I’ve ever met – All rough and arbitrary edges and soft yet infinite soul. As I struggled through the words, I needed to describe her. It hits me perhaps she has Appalachia herself. Brutal and loyal, evolving and seemingly unchanging. I fell in love with her world, veined with pain and grit. I was grateful to get to be so intimately introduced.
May 6, 2023
A butt-kicking West Virginian female sheriff from an outlaw family on a fast-moving adventure! This is a wild ride, full of action and adventure. Crime, 'crooked' DOJ employees, white supremacists, a strip-joint owning narcissistic mother, a little romance, and a fast moving story all build to a satisfying conclusion. The author has developed a fresh new character that has not been done before. I sincerely hope that this is the first in a series. I really want to see where he can take the story. This is a fast read, I had a very hard time putting it down. And thoroughly enjoyable. Bravo!
May 26, 2023
This was a very fun read. The author has a great voice and the prose keeps the pages turning.
Our hero, Sheriff Marry Beth Cain keeps the peace in rural Appalachia. Unfortunately, she is closely related to a powerful local crime boss. When the United States Government is attacked, she has to decide whether to do the right thing, or look out for family.
The Moonshine Messiah is crazier than a Saturday night at Waffle House, spicier than Nashville Hot Chicken, and as surprising as snow in Savannah.
Our hero, Sheriff Marry Beth Cain keeps the peace in rural Appalachia. Unfortunately, she is closely related to a powerful local crime boss. When the United States Government is attacked, she has to decide whether to do the right thing, or look out for family.
The Moonshine Messiah is crazier than a Saturday night at Waffle House, spicier than Nashville Hot Chicken, and as surprising as snow in Savannah.
June 14, 2023
Page Turner
I don’t claim to be a literary critic, because I am not, I only know that I like to read what I like to read. I love novels based in the south that have to do with law, the southern mafia, or anything that falls into that area and I thought this was a real page Turner. I usually only read John Grisham books, but I wanted something to read in between new Grisham books and I think I may have found my next author. I would highly recommend and I’m going to look for others from the same author to read.
I don’t claim to be a literary critic, because I am not, I only know that I like to read what I like to read. I love novels based in the south that have to do with law, the southern mafia, or anything that falls into that area and I thought this was a real page Turner. I usually only read John Grisham books, but I wanted something to read in between new Grisham books and I think I may have found my next author. I would highly recommend and I’m going to look for others from the same author to read.
June 29, 2023
A sheriff who has to make a thousand compromises to save her head in an area with an abandoned coal mine. Not quite as hopeless but hairy as hell. Terrorists, bikers, moonshiners, swivel-eyed loons and windy prosecutors appear. Also, the novel gives a look at a region where jobs are going away and more and more people are moving away, and crime, hopelessness and despair are on the rise. Oh well, not quite as bad, but kind of reminds me of the industrial cities in the east Germany in the 90s (baseball bat years).
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