Firedamp: A Killing at Kettle Island

by J. Kyle Johnson

Firedamp is the fast-moving, first-person tale of a young deputy sheriff's struggle with ruthless bootleggers and crime bosses. Adding to his troubles are his ne’er-do-well brother, Billy Wade, known locally as “Tick,” and his brother’s “woman,” Jonetta, an exotic Melungeon vamp. The story begins with the shooting of the county sheriff, then spins off into the investigation of a brutal killing at a coal mine in Kettle Island, where a firedamp (or flash fire) in a deep mine is somehow connected to the murder of a newly arrived miner.

210 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 31, 2019

About the author

J. Kyle Johnson lives in retirement among the beautiful mountains and lakes of East Tennessee with his lovely spouse of many years (the “Little Suzi” of stories found at jkylejohnson.net).

Born in Pineville, Kentucky, and raised in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Tennessee Tech University.