Rush Into Evil

Possum Gap #3

by Karen Ann Hopkins

Rush Into Evil is a chilling and atmospheric continuation of the addictive Possum Gap series. When a fiery haired Dover woman is found dead in a remote mountain campsite, the matriarch of the hill people demands justice. The gruesome murder scene is like nothing Sheriff Sadie Mills has ever seen before and as she navigates backwoods’ politics, her search for the truth becomes a fight for survival. Surrounded by wilderness is Possum Gap, the isolated town in Kentucky where dark secrets and violence runs rife among its people. In this forlorn place, no-nonsense, down-to-earth sheriff, Sadie Mills, does her best to bring order and justice to a community struggling with crime, drug overdoses, and hopelessness. Aiding her is Coroner Raymond Russo, who fled New Jersey for a simpler life in rural America in a last-ditch effort to escape a family crime syndicate. As a battle between rival clans looms, Sadie and Russo race to find the killer before he strikes again.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

226 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 13, 2024

About the author

You can visit Karen Ann Hopkins at her website: www.karenannhopkinsfiction.com.

"I loved joining Rose and Noah during their journey in the Temptation series by Karen Hopkins."-Katie McGarry, acclaimed YA author

Karen Ann Hopkins resides in northern Kentucky with her family on a farm that boasts a menagerie of horses, goats, sheep, peacocks, chickens, ducks, rabbits, pigs, dogs, and cats. Karen rescues and fosters a variety of pets and farm animals, but she also finds time to give riding lessons, coach a youth equestrian drill team, and of course, write. She was inspired to create her first book, Temptation, by the Amish community she lives in. The experiential knowledge she gained through her interactions with her neighbors drove her to create the story of the star-crossed lovers, Rose and Noah.

Karen grew up about a mile from Lake Ontario in Upstate New York. She was bitten by the horse bug at the age of five, and after diligently taking riding lessons for several years, she was rewarded with her first horse at the age of eleven. The feisty horse's name was Lady, a Quarter Horse-Thoroughbred cross, who became Karen's steadfast companion. Through the years, the constant force in her life was horses. Eventually, Karen found her place as a riding instructor herself. Before accepting her fate in the barnyard, she worked a short stint as a paralegal, traveled abroad, and guided tourists on horseback riding tours in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee.

Karen is currently working on her two interconnecting mystery/crime fiction series, Serenity's Plain Secrets and Possum Gap, along with several new projects.

To learn more about Karen and her books, please visit her website.

Reviews

[Loretta Gabriel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A real thriller.

The author has written a very intriguing and interesting story a sheriff’s actions as she tries to solve a murder, fight the effect of heavy rain and stop a bloody feud. A great deal of action that is sure to keep you entertained.

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the hills of Possum Gap, rivals between clans are alive and well. Too well for Sheriff Sadie Mills. Not only that but all the rain they are getting is causing problems with flooding and everyone hoping the dam holds together. But it is the murder of a clan member that has Sadie's attention the most. Can she solve the murder without having an all-out war going on? I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

These just keep getting better. I could barely but this one down. I didn't hate that I had to read it out of order since it's connected to another series, trust me I will be powering read to get caught up on that series as well. I truly enjoy these characters and the insights in to the life in and around this small town. Tons of drama for such a small town!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rush into Evil is the third book in the Possum Gap Series. It is an intense action-packed story.

Sheriff Sadie Mills has returned to work after recovering from being shot. Her first day back she is concerned about the dam holding in place with the threat of heavy rains. As she is enjoying her coffee, she learns that a woman has been reported murdered, believed to be Willow Dover. It's the last thing she needs with the storm and the dam threatening to fail. She races with Russo to the murder scene and is sorry to see that it is indeed Willow. This adds to the already heightened stress level she feels. She heads to the Dover family compound and encounters Geraldine Dover the matron and leader of the clan. Angry and threatening war after blaming someone she feels is responsible, she riles up the family to get their guns and head out to take action. This family is at odds with rival clans where Sadie tries to keep the peace. The Dovers head out and take the back roads for a surprise attack. Sadie calls members of her team for assistance and to stop the potential bloodbath she believes is inevitable.

With the addition of the dam failure, it added to the intensity of this riveting storyline. You could really feel the overall tension Sadie was feeling on her first day back. I really enjoy this series. The writing is fantastic and draws you in with these great characters. I highly recommend this series as well as the other books Karen Ann Hopkins has written. There are crossovers that I have not read yet in other series, but I plan to add them to the list of books I want to read.

I received an ARC from BookSirens for an unbiased review.

[Jacqueline]

I am an ARC reader and this is my honest opinion. This is book 3 in Karen Ann Hopkins' Possum Gap series. Having read books 1 & 2 and enjoyed them, plus an intertwined story from the Serenity Plains series, I was eager to read this book and I was not disappointed. Sheriff Sadie Mills certainly has her hands full in

Possum Gap. An apparently quiet little town in the Kentucky Appalachian mountains, the town is plagued by the problems bought about by the closure of the industries that gave employment in the past, and the clannish hill people, a law among themselves. The author brings the life and troubles of this town and it's characters very much to life, and I have learned more about the Amish people than I ever knew. In this book, it's near the end of the year and an exceptional rain event threatens the town with flooding, plus the state of the aging dam is in question. Sheriff Sadie has to make sure everyone knows to keep safe but the favourite granddaughter of the hill clan's matriarch is brutally murdered and amid flooding rivers and pelting rain, Sadie and her coroner put themselves in life of death situations as she tries to prevent a clan war. When the romantic and sexual tension between Sadie and an attractive member of the hill clan, like a Romeo and Juliet situation added in, I could not put this book down until the end - but even then, the author ends each book with the beginning of the story that will start the next. Great writing

[Susan Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

At first I gave this four stars, but then I remembered that the second book in the series ended in a cliffhanger, and this one did not pick up at that point. It picked up a few months later, and simply summarized in a couple of paragraphs how the last mystery was resolved. After investing my time to read the second book, my reward was the Cliffs Notes version of the big reveal. I felt cheated and wondered why the author did that.

So what did I like about this book? Lots of action in this one - sometimes a bit over the top, but it's certainly not boring! Sheriff Sadie Adams is one tough cookie! Half of what she went through would have stopped many people. This was the third book in the series and it was recommended to read at least one of the first book prior to this, and I would agree. (I read both others.) Prior books set the scene and establish relationships. You wouldn't start a TV series in the middle and expect to know what was going on. Fun series with some different twists, including an Amish community and some clan wars.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Gee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sheriff Sadie Mills finds herself dealing with a really gruesome murder of a local girl, as well as having to deal with possible evacuations should the dam up river be breached. She is still recovering from injuries suffered during her last investigation and this book starts on her first day back at work.

Sadie is a really interesting character, single mum, tough cookie and having a really difficult area to try to police, with feuding clans about to start mixing it up again. I like her relationship with John Dover, but it’s also getting interesting with the county coroner, Russo, too. Both men have very different backgrounds, neither of which is anything that Sadie really wants to get involved in. The Amish way of life is briefly mentioned but adds an extra dimension to the challenges Sadie comes up against. Nicely written, very fast pacing, possibly slightly too fast for me, but it does conjure up how challenging Sadie’s job is. An enjoyable series, neatly interlocking with this authors Sheriff Serenity Adam’s series too. 3 1/2 ⭐️

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rush into Evil is the 3rd in the Possum Gap mystery series. There is enough detail brought into book 3 from the previous books to be able to read as a stand-alone novel. Although, I'd recommend reading the series.

Possum Gap is a small town in Kentucky full of drug abuse, poverty, and crime. In this book you have three groups that are quite opposite each other, a tight knit family group (clan) that doesn't take well to authority, the Amish community and the law enforcement of the small town. Book 3 focuses less on the Amish community but introduces a clan war with a clan from a neighboring community.

A member of the Dover clan is found brutally murdered at an empty campground in the off-season. Sheriff Sadie Mills, just back to work after having been shot, is contending with the rain storm of the century and potential catastrophic flooding, and now she has to worry about a clan war as the matriarch of the Dover clan accuses a member of a rival family, the Boone's, of her granddaughters murder and mobilizes the Dovers to seek revenge.

This book was a quick read, at 226 pages. The investigation was fast-paced and gripping, making the book unputdownable. I love that the sheriff in this series is portrayed as smart and capable. She's got a great moral compass, but she also knows how to manage the complicated relationships and goings on in her town in order to keep peace and order. The secondary characters are great characters as well, and Sheriff Mills finds assistance in the most unlikely of places.

If you are looking for a quick mystery read, this book will keep you more than entertained, and I'd highly recommend it.

I received an advance copy of this book for free, and I'm leaving this review voluntarily.

[Teresa Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think Rush Into Evil was my favorite of the books in this series so far. But I must admit, I was a bit confused when I first started reading. Book 2 ended with Sheriff Serenity Adams and I had forgotten that one of the mysteries in Dark Hollow Road was resolved in the Serenity Adams' book Sinful Alliance. It took me a couple of paragraphs to figure out why I felt so lost, but I quickly caught on. Once I figured that out, the story moved at a breakneck pace.
By this time, I have come to feel like the characters who populate Possum Gap and Wilkins County are people I could really know. They are flesh and blood and I enjoy my visits with them. (I actually know they're not real, but that's how well Ms. Hopkins writes.) Sadie manages to get herself into one situation after another in this book and I'm never completely sure how she's going to get out of it. Luckily, she does. If she didn't, I wouldn't have another book to read and that would not be a good thing.
I highly recommend this series and I have to keep reading to find out if Sadie ever makes up her mind whether she wants to be with Russo or John or if she's going to stay single. I know which one I'm pulling for, but I'll have to see what Ms. Hopkins decides.
The books in this series don't have to be read in order, but I think they are more enjoyable if you do.

[Margaret Yelton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rush Into Evil is the 3rd book in the Possum Gap series, this was another amazing book in the series. Action packed, I believe this book improves with each book. I found this a hard book to put down once I had the opportunity to start reading it. When murder happens, and the one murdered is a member of one of the fueding clans, can the sheriff find the killer before more blood is shed. I definitely would recommend this book to others.

I received an ARC from BookSirens for free, and am leaving my review voluntairly.

[Anne G. Kasaba · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy this series and this book was definitely one of my favorites so far. The story was interesting and well written. The mystery was well plotted but almost took a backseat to the rest of the storyline. There is a complex mix of characters from different backgrounds and their interactions are dictated by their diverse viewpoints and beliefs. I look forward to seeing what happens next in this series.

I received an arc of this book and voluntarily provided a review.

[Caroline 'relaxing with my rescue dogs' · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this series and found that reading in order helps. The key reason that I like this series is the different location for me it really works as something so different. This attracted me in the first and the writing has kept me there. The stories are getting better and better, looking forward to the next one.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[John Penrose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great one!

Another great novel by Karen! I have a great pleasure of knowing Karen personally I remember when she wrote her very 1st book How about the Amish. She has a great understanding of the Amish people and can take stories and tie them together and take 2 book series and tie them together It's a great pleasure to read her books. If you haven't already you need to read or other series of books!

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

only enjoyable if you aren't bothered by errors. rated PG

I almost quit reading this and then I got to the bits about the flooding and the river. The characters are semi-interesting. John Dover was dreamy.There were just way too many spelling and grammar errors. I had a hard time focusing on the story because of them. This book needs proofreading. The scenes of clan conflict were well done.

[Debbie Stephens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read. It’s been 2 years since I read book 2 in the series but when I started reading book 3 I just picked right up remembering the story from 2 years ago like aI just read it last week.. (Which is surprising because I can’t remember what I did last week). But these characters just stick with you. Sadie is one tough character who truly cares about the people of Possum Gap. Will definitely finish the series now. Rooting for her and John Dover.

[Glenna Turney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Book 3 of The Possum Gap series.
Each book ties together the characters in some manner. Each book, like this one is more exciting than the last one.
From a Natural disaster to a clan war that the dedicated sheriff is trying to prevent. Relationships that evolve are very interesting as each character develops.
I don’t think you can go wrong with these books. You don’t necessarily need to read them in order but you’ll miss the building of relationships if you don’t.

[Lottie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a little slow reading at the beginning. There was a little too long of a wait from the last book, so it took some reading before the pieces came together. I usually enjoy a series more, but the time delay took away from enjoying it as much.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thrilling

Five stars goes to the author and her book. It kept me reading until the very end . I can't wait to read the next installment of possum Gap with sheriff Sadie trying to keep things under control in the back hills of kentucky

[Joe Vitucci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two clans in the hills are about to go to war over the death of one of the women. The torrential rains are complicating matters a little and there is a sidebar when the sheriff notices an Amish buggy floating by with a horse but no riders.
Always interesting.

[Mary Roya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rush Into Evil

This was an exciting story to read. Dear Author, does Sadie have a death wish? Hero complex? I was surprised she lived. This was a great story with strong emotions, and characters.

[Nathan Parris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Needs a good proofreader!

The story is a fairly good soft crime...... meaning it didn't create stress to read , just entertained. The many grammatical errors were distracting, as always.

[Angela Sutton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't stop reading

This book kept me guessing from beginning to end. Always good to read about familiar characters I can't wait for the next book.

[Barbra Reeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it!

I love all these books! I really hope Sadie and John find a way to have a relationship. I can't wait to see what happens with the Dover clan now.

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to follow.

[patricia sendelbach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amusing venue and a unexpected ending.

[Marcie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ridiculous

None of the characters were likable. The plot was ridiculous and the amount of gore unnecessary. Wish I had not wasted my time.

[Judy Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

Good characters and plot. It was fun to read and it kept you interested and you wanted to keep reading to see who done it.

[WENDY · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

I loved reading this book and was kept guessing who the killer was until the very end of the book, The story line was very unique which made it interesting,

[Casey Arntz]

DNF at 38%

I’m not sure if I needed to read the other two books before this one, which might influence me picking the book back up again. But I couldn’t get into it.

[Barbara Birchall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it in one. Almost as good as the Blood Rock books. Very atmospheric, I felt the cold and the wet.