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Fried Pies and Blood Money
Every town has its secrets.
This café refuses to keep them.
In a quiet Arkansas mill town, the coffee is strong, the fried pies are fresh—and the truth is far more dangerous than anyone is willing to admit.
Milltown Café sits at the heart of it all. By day, it’s a place of comfort. Familiar faces. Quiet conversation. The kind of place where nothing ever seems to change.
But something has.
Whispers are spreading. Tensions are rising. And the closer people look, the more they realize that the town they thought they knew is built on secrets someone is desperate to protect.
Because in Milltown, loyalty can be bought…
silence can be deadly…
and the truth comes at a cost.
And someone is willing to kill to keep it hidden.
Set against the gritty backdrop of 1930s Arkansas, Fried Pies and Blood Money is a gripping small-town mystery filled with atmosphere, tension, and heart—where faith is tested, justice is complicated, and every choice carries consequences.
Once you step inside, you won’t want to leave.
This café refuses to keep them.
In a quiet Arkansas mill town, the coffee is strong, the fried pies are fresh—and the truth is far more dangerous than anyone is willing to admit.
Milltown Café sits at the heart of it all. By day, it’s a place of comfort. Familiar faces. Quiet conversation. The kind of place where nothing ever seems to change.
But something has.
Whispers are spreading. Tensions are rising. And the closer people look, the more they realize that the town they thought they knew is built on secrets someone is desperate to protect.
Because in Milltown, loyalty can be bought…
silence can be deadly…
and the truth comes at a cost.
And someone is willing to kill to keep it hidden.
Set against the gritty backdrop of 1930s Arkansas, Fried Pies and Blood Money is a gripping small-town mystery filled with atmosphere, tension, and heart—where faith is tested, justice is complicated, and every choice carries consequences.
Once you step inside, you won’t want to leave.
317 pages, Paperback
Published July 1, 2026
About the author
Kristin Sumpter
13 books6 followersKristin Sumpter is a writer drawn to stories shaped by heritage, place, and the quiet threads that connect generations. Her work is deeply influenced by her own family history, with roots stretching across Ireland, the United Kingdom, France, and even tracing back to Viking ancestry in Norway. It is within these landscapes—both remembered and imagined—that her stories most often unfold.
Kristin spent thirteen years living in Canada, where the rugged beauty of Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia left a lasting impression. Surrounded by ocean, mountains, and a pace of life that invited reflection, her love for richly layered settings and atmospheric storytelling began to take deeper form. Today, that influence can still be felt in the way she builds the worlds her readers step into.
Now based in the Ozarks, Kristin shares life with her husband, Jon, whose passion for serving others helped inspire the founding of Mission 4:19 Outdoors, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting veterans and first responders through meaningful experiences in the outdoors. Together, they are deeply committed to faith, family, and creating spaces where others can reconnect, restore, and find purpose.
Kristin’s love for the outdoors extends beyond Arkansas to Alaska, where she and her family own property and continue to find inspiration in its vast and untamed beauty. Whether traveling, writing, or spending time with her children and grandchildren, she remains drawn to places that tell a story long before words are ever written.
Her novels often reflect both history and heart, weaving together elements of family legacy and imagined lives. Hawthorne Vale, her debut in a forthcoming series, offers a quiet nod to her own heritage, with names and details inspired by those who came before her—including Victoria “Tinnie” Webb, Rile Webb, the Winbury family, and Christine Teague.
At home, she is rarely far from her beloved dog, Cooper, a long-haired mini-dachshund who has become a constant companion in both life and creativity.
Kristin spent thirteen years living in Canada, where the rugged beauty of Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia left a lasting impression. Surrounded by ocean, mountains, and a pace of life that invited reflection, her love for richly layered settings and atmospheric storytelling began to take deeper form. Today, that influence can still be felt in the way she builds the worlds her readers step into.
Now based in the Ozarks, Kristin shares life with her husband, Jon, whose passion for serving others helped inspire the founding of Mission 4:19 Outdoors, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting veterans and first responders through meaningful experiences in the outdoors. Together, they are deeply committed to faith, family, and creating spaces where others can reconnect, restore, and find purpose.
Kristin’s love for the outdoors extends beyond Arkansas to Alaska, where she and her family own property and continue to find inspiration in its vast and untamed beauty. Whether traveling, writing, or spending time with her children and grandchildren, she remains drawn to places that tell a story long before words are ever written.
Her novels often reflect both history and heart, weaving together elements of family legacy and imagined lives. Hawthorne Vale, her debut in a forthcoming series, offers a quiet nod to her own heritage, with names and details inspired by those who came before her—including Victoria “Tinnie” Webb, Rile Webb, the Winbury family, and Christine Teague.
At home, she is rarely far from her beloved dog, Cooper, a long-haired mini-dachshund who has become a constant companion in both life and creativity.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Fried Pies and Blood Money by Kristin Sumpter was such an interesting read. It has that rich Southern storytelling feel that pulls you into a small town filled with secrets, family struggles, and the kind of history that seems to linger in every corner. The setting felt vivid and real, and I could almost picture the dusty roads, warm kitchens, and tension hiding beneath everyday life.
What I enjoyed most was how layered the story felt. It wasn’t just a mystery or historical fiction novel. It explored loyalty, greed, family ties, and the weight of choices people make when survival and pride are on the line. The characters felt flawed and human, which made them easy to connect with. Nobody felt overly perfect or unrealistic.
The pacing was steady, and the suspense built naturally instead of relying on constant shock value. Every chapter seemed to reveal another piece of the story, keeping me curious about what would happen next.
The title itself perfectly fits the book because the story balances warmth and comfort with darker themes of secrets, corruption, and hidden motives. If you enjoy Southern fiction, historical stories with emotional depth, or mysteries centered around family and small-town life, this book is definitely worth reading. It’s the kind of story that stays with you after you finish it.
What I enjoyed most was how layered the story felt. It wasn’t just a mystery or historical fiction novel. It explored loyalty, greed, family ties, and the weight of choices people make when survival and pride are on the line. The characters felt flawed and human, which made them easy to connect with. Nobody felt overly perfect or unrealistic.
The pacing was steady, and the suspense built naturally instead of relying on constant shock value. Every chapter seemed to reveal another piece of the story, keeping me curious about what would happen next.
The title itself perfectly fits the book because the story balances warmth and comfort with darker themes of secrets, corruption, and hidden motives. If you enjoy Southern fiction, historical stories with emotional depth, or mysteries centered around family and small-town life, this book is definitely worth reading. It’s the kind of story that stays with you after you finish it.
July 1, 2026
A huge thanks to the author for an Advanced Readers Copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This was a great read! I loved the deep faith that anchored every chapter. It wasn’t just a fictional retelling of historical events, it was an ever changing journey of the character’s in their path through life and to or away from God.
The story telling style and the narrator’s voice are very distinct and unique. It is obvious that the Kristin cares deeply about her own family ties and the history of Sheridan, Arkansas. I loved that it was a mystery without the constant suspense that gets your anxiety up.
This book connects the events of history in the South and requires you to remember that those were real people, real stories, real family lines. Definitely read this book if you have any ties to the South, it’s a great story with deep ties to faith.
This was a great read! I loved the deep faith that anchored every chapter. It wasn’t just a fictional retelling of historical events, it was an ever changing journey of the character’s in their path through life and to or away from God.
The story telling style and the narrator’s voice are very distinct and unique. It is obvious that the Kristin cares deeply about her own family ties and the history of Sheridan, Arkansas. I loved that it was a mystery without the constant suspense that gets your anxiety up.
This book connects the events of history in the South and requires you to remember that those were real people, real stories, real family lines. Definitely read this book if you have any ties to the South, it’s a great story with deep ties to faith.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Review of advance copy received from author.
"I thought about the Lord, and what He was doing with all this and whether he would see fit to share his reasoning in the near future. He did not immediately indicate that He would."
Kristin Sumpter has woven a wonderful story with deep, rich characters, set in a gritty small town in Arkansas in an even grittier period of history. The voice of her main character, Tinnie, is so unique, and so strong. It took me a bit to find the rhythm, but the story would not have been so real without such an authentic voice. I especially loved how Tinnie watched, worked, and prayed in equal measure. Salt of the earth, and soul of the town. This is a book that will grab you and pull you in.
"I thought about the Lord, and what He was doing with all this and whether he would see fit to share his reasoning in the near future. He did not immediately indicate that He would."
Kristin Sumpter has woven a wonderful story with deep, rich characters, set in a gritty small town in Arkansas in an even grittier period of history. The voice of her main character, Tinnie, is so unique, and so strong. It took me a bit to find the rhythm, but the story would not have been so real without such an authentic voice. I especially loved how Tinnie watched, worked, and prayed in equal measure. Salt of the earth, and soul of the town. This is a book that will grab you and pull you in.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Review of advance copy received from author. This book put me in mind of my own grandmother telling stories from the past, told the same way my grandma told them, one piece at a time until the whole of it was told. The characters were depicted honestly without sugar coating anything because it's possible to be a good man who makes bad choices and to be a bad man and have some goodness in your heart. This is the first book I've read by this author but it will not be the last.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was a unique story with a very different style of writing. It took place in the south during the Great Depression, which included prohibition and the KKK. It was not during the best of times and very difficult for lots of families. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and looking forward to more from this author. I was given a complementary copy of this book and the opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Having gone to school in Sheridan, Arkansas and knowing some of the sordid past of Grant County, this was an eye opener, even for me! GREAT storytelling! I,ve known Kristin for many years and am awed by her writing abilities! I WILL read all of her books!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I loved the writing style! I felt like I was in a cozy kitchen with a friend, listening to them telling a story.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Written well but not my style
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book was so moving. I loved the Faith in it. The prayers and the scripture was so touching, the Faith being lived out. There are so many life lessons in this book.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews