Devil's Knob

by Rachel Callaghan

Deputy Sammie Rae Wheedle thought she'd seen it all in her small Appalachian town, but stumbling upon Jesse Napier's brutally murdered body is just the beginning of the nightmare. As zombies and voodoo become the talk of the town, Sammie Rae finds herself juggling an investigation, a drug epidemic, and two mysterious men with secrets of their own.

Being the only woman in the sheriff's department is tough enough, but now Sammie Rae's got to navigate the charming DEA agent Al Lansing and the enigmatic Dr. Thaddeus Overton, a former addiction doctor from Haiti. Oh, and let's not forget about keeping the town's pill-popping locals, including her own dad, out of trouble.

As bodies pile up and trust becomes a luxury, Sammie Rae's left wondering if she can solve the case before becoming the next victim. With her meddling best friend Darla, trigger-happy dad, and a cast of crazy friends "helping" her out, she might just crack the case... if they don't drive her nuts first.

Can Sammie Rae catch the killer and restore some semblance of normalcy to Lark County? Or will the town's secrets be the death of her? Buckle up for a wild ride through the heart of Appalachia, where nothing is as it seems.

354 pages, Paperback

Published July 15, 2025

Reviews

[Tara Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

The atmosphere and setting of Devil’s Knob is just incredible. Rachel Callaghan has created this perfectly gritty, unsettling setting where Appalachian superstitions feel just as dangerous as the actual crime. Sammie Rae is exactly the kind of FMC I root for. She’s sharp, exhausted in the most relatable way, and watching her try to keep the peace while her own family and a town full of eccentric personalities make her life difficult is half the fun.

What really hooked me is the dark humor. It’s that dry, witty sarcasm that hits perfectly even when things are getting intense. It’s moody and layered, and the narrative voice is so strong that you feel like you're right there in the middle of the small-town madness. If you’re looking for a mystery that balances a heavy, secretive vibe with laugh-out-loud absurdity, you definitely need to get this on your radar!

[Steve Exeter · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first glance “Devil’s Knob” feels like a classic small town mystery, but there is a slightly darker current running underneath. The setting does a lot of the heavy lifting. Lark County is one of those places that feels closed off, watchful, and quietly steeped in its own mythology. The hints of folklore and superstition are handled well. Rachel Callaghan never tips fully into the supernatural, but adds just enough unease to keep you second guessing what is really going on.

Sammie Rae makes for an engaging lead. She is not written as some hyper-competent detective figure, which I appreciated. Instead she feels grounded, curious, and occasionally out of her depth in a believable way. Her perspective anchors the story nicely, especially as the layers of the mystery begin to unfold around her.

What surprised me most was the balance of tone. There are cosy elements here, particularly in the structure and pacing, but the themes are a shade grittier than you might expect. The inclusion of the drug epidemic and the sense that the town itself is hiding something gives the story a bit more bite. It stops things from feeling too neat or predictable.

If I had one small criticism, it is that some of the threads feel like they could have been pushed even further. The atmosphere is strong enough that you almost want the story to lean harder into its darker edges at times. That said, it never drags, and the momentum keeps you turning pages.

Overall, this is a solid, slightly off-centre mystery that will appeal to readers who enjoy a cosy framework with a bit more shadow and texture. I would happily return to this world again if it develops into a series.

[Rachel K Thorne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Devil’s Knob takes place in the hills of West Virginia. A place where survival of the fittest often means enduring the harsh economy, watching out for goats, and solving the mysteries of the dark woods. Deputy Sammie Weedle is a strong, female cop in a world where females aren’t supposed to want to be in the men’s world. Mysteries of drug lords, murders and potential zombies challenge this Deputy to up her game.
There was humor, a little spice; and a lot of unexpected turns of events in this book. If you are looking for a mystery that you can get behind, this book might be for you.
I don’t know if this is a sequel, but if so… it will be interesting to see what happens next. Deputy Weedle is just getting started.
I received a copy of this book from the author and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Patti Procopi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well I kind of knew from the first chapter that this was not going to be your typical mystery. When Sammie Rae helped the drug dealer hide his stash before arresting him, the mind spins off into many questions, mostly - is she a dirty cop? Then it was a wild ride with Haitian gangs, voodoo, Zombies and two bodies with missing faces. What the hell is going on in Lark County, West Virginia???
There are also two hunky good-looking men who come to the county - and the question is - are they part of the good guys or the bad guys? You'll just have to find out!
And there is one really mean Billy Goat.
I also loved all the characters - the good, the bad and the ugly. They were all believable and well written.
Can't wait for the sequel. You need to give this one a read!

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book! All of the characters are very well written and I thoroughly enjoyed their interactions. The storyline kept me guessing until the end. I enjoyed learning about historical events and how they shaped the lives of the people. It is very well researched. There is plenty of dark humour too. I highly recommend this story to anyone 18 or over.

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

[Steven Shepherd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book, it keeps you on your toes throughout the storyline, as you veer from thinking it's taking you one way, before it heads off in a completely different direction. Set in a small town, it follows our heroine, Sammie Rae, as she battles against dark forces that defy rational logic. Throw in local tensions, workplace dramas, and some well written (and slightly mad friends) and you begin to get a small understanding of the adventure within these pages.

[Alina Rubin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I rarely read thrillers, and this one was far from what I expected. It felt like an interesting and refreshing mix of several genres. Sammy Rae is a great protagonist, and I enjoyed the humor of the story as well as twists and turns.

[Helen Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

The standout element here is the cast. Vivid, funny and full of personality. The story unfolds at a relaxed pace, but readers who enjoy humorous, character‑led fiction will likely enjoy the charm and voice.