The Law of the Dead

by Tess Collins

Contrary, Kentucky is a small community in the haunted and mysterious land of the Appalachian Mountains. After settling in the town she fled in her youth, commonwealth attorney, Alma Bashears uncovers disturbing family secrets, witnesses a new age minister’s charismatic power, and is drawn to a handsome stranger. After the murder of her pregnant cousin and the disappearance of her nephew, Alma realizes a killer has made himself at home.

327 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 1999

About the author

A coal miner’s granddaughter, Tess Collins was born and raised in a crater. Yes, really—a crater formed by the impact of an asteroid millions of years ago, where her hometown of Middlesboro, Kentucky was eventually built. Tess spent her younger years in a one-room Carnegie Library, reading around the room. She started with Blueberries for Sal and ended with War and Peace, at which point she thought, I want to do that.
That ambition took her to the University of Kentucky, where she majored in journalism and creative writing, and eventually to a Ph.D. from The Union Institute and University, with a focus on theatre management and producing. She is the author of eight novels and a non-fiction book on theater management. She now lives in San Francisco, where on a clear day she can see the Golden Gate Bridge, a long way from the crater, but exactly where she was always headed.
Visit her website at TessCollins.com/

BOOKS BY TESS COLLINS

FICTION

The Appalachian Trilogy:
The Law of Revenge
The Law of the Dead
The Law of Betrayal

The Midnight Valley Quartet:
Notown
The Hunter of Hertha

Shadow Mountain Saga:
Shadow Mountain

Other Fiction:
Helen of Troy
A Wave of Breath

Non-Fiction:
How Theater Managers Manage

Reviews

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book from start to finish. When I get a good thriller and don't know exactly who done it, or possibly more than one who done it with this story, until the end then I have read a good book.

This is actually the 2nd in The Appalachian Trilogy a setting I love to read. Tess Collins is a wonderful author and so far I have loved every one of her books.

This one has a serial killer, kidnapping, love, lives in danger. A bit of everything that keeps me turning the pages to the very end. I just wish I had been more careful and read the 1st book and then this one, but I don't think it will take away from the 1st one so I'm just going to enjoy it.

It is a just a really good 5 star book no doubt. I loved it.. :)

[Susie Fiorito · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. Tess Collins has become one of my favorites.
Ms. Collins grew up in Middlesboro Ky, located in South Eastern Kentucky in the Appalachian Mountains. My mother grew up just a few miles from there in Williamsburg, Whitley, Kentucky. I have fond memories of the area and Ms. Collins captures the essence of Appalachia masterfully.

Good story that is the sequel to The Law of Revenge.

[Bea · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book just barely misses being a 4* read for me. It kept my interest and had well written complex characters. The only piece that didn't ring exactly right was the quick acceptance by Alma of Ian into her life. It turned out that this relationship was built into the story nicely at the end, but I just do not believe that Alma would have been so quick to take up with him.

[Carrie Garza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good mystery/murder/small town politics.