Grovel To None

Possum Gap #6

by Karen Ann Hopkins

While tying up loose ends with the cartel that invaded Possum Gap, Sheriff Sadie Mills embarks on a dangerous excursion to Mexico with the town’s coroner and her sometimes love interest, Raymond Russo. Things get complicated south of the border, when a request from her counterpart and friend, Serenity Adams, takes her off course, and a witchy woman who’s up to no good keeps Sadie on her toes.

Just when Sadie realizes that perhaps Russo isn’t the man who she thought he was, their paths shoot in different directions, and Sadie finds herself back in the Appalachian wilderness, pursuing a murderer before he strikes again. Only this time, it’s extremely personal.

Sadie knows that there will be no peace in her rugged little town until she somehow takes charge of the hill people and ends her affiliation with Russo’s crime family, who just so happen to be investors in Sadie’s dream—the renovation of the Helena House Mansion.

Grovel to None is an edge-of-your-seat, action-packed thriller which begins with a mystery and becomes a desperate struggle for survival when Sadie pushes herself to the limits to save the men she loves. Prepare to be fully immersed in Sadie’s vivid and haunting world, where Appalachia and its harsh realities are stunningly brought to life in this chilling Possum Gap novel.

217 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 13, 2025

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

[Teresa Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed my latest visit to Possum Gap, KY. Yes, I know it is just a figment of Ms.Hopkins' imagination, but the characters and setting feel very real. Once again, Sadie finds herself in a mess. Well, this time she finds herself in two messes, created more or less by the men in her life. I wonder if her life would be simpler if she could just decide between them? I doubt it would, and I'm not ready to lose either John or Russo, so she'll have to continue to have a complicated life. It's one of many things that make Ms. Hopkins' stories so compelling. Plus, her characters quickly feel like people the reader could know in real life, so you are wrapped up in the story, quickly turning one page after the other to see what is going to happen next. If you haven't read any of the Possum Gap mysteries, I highly recommend them. I can't wait to read the next one. I received a review copy from the author via BookSirens, and this review reflects my honest and voluntary opinion.

[Gee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy the Possum Gap series, as well as the Serenity’s Plain Secrets series. There is interaction between the two women, both law enforcement officers, as would be done in real life, which I think makes it more realistic and interesting.

This time Sadie is helping Russo and his family in Mexico, almost against her principals, but the situation takes a turn she wasn’t expecting, which changes everything. Unable to act as she would in her own environment she is torn between doing what she knows is right, and doing what will help Russo and keep them both safe.

I enjoyed this book, and it really is a tale of two halves. Sadie’s relationship with daughter Chloe continues to be a typical mum/teenage daughter one, but fortunately Tanya is able to act as a surrogate mum while Sadie concentrates on her work, which comes too close to home for her liking. I actually preferred the second half of,the book to,the first, but enjoyed it all. Having read an awful lot of the books in this series, I’m glad to say that the standard is still high. Recommended. 4 1/2⭐️

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

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am an ARC reader and this is my honest opinion. I am a fan of Karen Ann Hopkin's two, sometimes interelating, series about two female sheriffs, Serenity Adams of Serenity Plains, Indiana and this one, Sadie mills of Possum Gap, Kentucky in the southern Appalachians. This book is interesting in a number of ways. Sadie has agreed to go with Possum Gap's coroner, Russo (or forensic pathologist) to Mexico with his crime family cousins to make sure he returns to Possum Gap. Before leaving, she attends a dinner with the whole family and there is a tense comparison between the number of crimes and the "Hill-billy" clan in Possum Gap, and the crime in New York. The attraction between Sadie and Russo is tense. Returning home, the dangers and contradictions continue. This author writes characters that the reader quickly gets to know, and the non stop action makes for a page turner.

[Kathryn Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

This probably would be 5* if I'd read all the previous books in the series, but sometimes I felt I was maybe missing some of the back story that would have highlighted the story even more.

I enjoyed that the story moved between the Appalachians, NY and also Mexico and back, as well as the fact that "doing the right thing" doesn't always bring the best results.

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

This is certainly a series that I want to read more of, to find out how the open loops in the secondary threads will be closed. Or maybe those are the primary threads after all?

[Margaret Yelton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grovel To None is the next book in the Possum Gap series, Sadie heads to Mexico with Russo in hopes of keeping him as the towns coroner but what follows will test her and what she believes in. Once back home after the trip, she walks into a murder investigation that connects several people in her town, including her ex and John Dover. How far will Sadie go to protect those she loves. I definitely would recommend this book to others.

I received an ARC from BookSirens, and I am leaving my review voluntarily.

[Mallory Blackford · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much. It was full of action and suspense. I found Sadie to be a very strong female main character that fit the book very well. But I felt like the first quarter of the book wasn’t very relevant to the last 3 quarters. I think there were a lot of different stories and would have liked focusing on one in more detail. But overall, this was a good read. Kept me entertained and turning the page.

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

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sheriff Sade Mills has her will tested in this book. She goes to Mexico to help Russo and her friend Serenity Adams. But things aren't working out like she planned. Once home, things really aren't any better when a jealous husband goes on a shooting spree in their small town. There are decisions she needs to make...can she, do it? I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lisa Melzer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not believable and too many ideas

Sadie is involved in too many plots at the same time. She is the first female protagonist whom nobody fears or respects that I have read. Her best friend trying to grill her at lunch, the ending when the criminals are criminally insane and she goes with it. Also I am over the 2 bad boys she can’t seem to choose between. I will not read anymore in this series.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

This seemed to be a shorter story in the Serenity's Plains Secrets. I enjoyed reading the book but it did not seem to pull me in as much as the last book.

[Kenneth Grimes · Rating 5 out of 5]

What is justice?

Sadie must decide if her justice is worth her life. Karen keeps the twisting locations and choices coming. What does the future hold. Will Sadie survive, will she finally find love or give up on it.

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this one! I have read so many of her books and honestly they just keep getting better. This one was an amazing edge of your self thrill ride. I didn't want to put it down. Read this series.

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

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

I am enjoying this series, it really does help if you have read the other books in the series. For me it is a completely different scenerio and makes a change from the standard crime novels that I read. Looking forward to the next one.

[Katie Jablonka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another exciting read!

Sadie strikes again! Her newest adventure has no shortage of action or adventure, you never know what’s going to happen next! Can’t wait to keep following her story!

[Randall Muelot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series. Each story is different but characters follow each book with their story.
The crimes to be solved are interesting, realistic, and solved in believable manner.
Writing is enjoyable with very few editing errors.

[Paula Huot · Rating 5 out of 5]

You gotta pick

Great story which deepens the understanding of the three main characters and how our heroine deals with their human flaws.

[Barbra Reeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh so good!

This one had me on the edge of my seat! I'm still do not like the dynamic between Sadie and Russo. I hope she comes to her senses and gives John a chance!

[Lyle M. White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Series

I love all her books. They are the only ones that I read in one day. I just can't put them down. I especially love the Possum Gap series. Very very good.

[Eula Bustle Nolan · Rating 5 out of 5]

More Possum Gap!

Love this town! I even know a few places like it!
From an Ole Ky Coal Miner’s Daughter!

More Possum Gap! PLEASE!!!

[Debbie Stephens · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series. It’s like old friends. Never a dull moment in Possum Gap.

[Kay E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

great read

I have loved this series from the beginning! Good characters, lots of action!
Get to know everyone and enjoy it like I do!