The Law of Betrayal
By Tess Collins

     Alma Bashears is the Commonwealth attorney in a rural Kentucky community. In an area of the country known for its relaxed atmosphere and friendly people, Alma lives an amazingly complex life. Her father mysteriously disappeared when she was ten and in her teen years, she was the victim of a brutal gang rape. The perpetrators of that crime were never charged and one of them is now a prominent attorney in the same town.

Energized by some information given her by a dying man, Alma is on a mission to find her fathe,r but the Appalachian culture can be very protective of its secrets, even to the exclusion of some natives. Alma is relentless in her pursuit of the truth and her persistence results in another man, a mountain recluse, being murdered, which opens up a full-scale police investigation.

    Alma's boyfriend, Grady Forester, is the local police chief. They've been having some fairly public lover's spats lately and when Grady becomes a murder victim and another close friend id critically wounded, Alma emerges as the prime suspect. She knows that his killing is somehow connected to her quest to find her father, but must find some evidence to back it up and clear her name. Her efforts are severely hampered by the presence of Judith Drake, an attorney sent by the State to take over the investigation into the murder of the Police Chief. Judith seems to want an all-out blood feud with Alma and she persecutes Alma with a vengeance.

    Alma must turn to her alchemistic heritage for the answers. Descended from an unusual culture known as Melungeons, she returns to her roots seeking paranormal answers to her dilemma. The results are sometimes chilling.

      Author Tess Collins does a skillful job of blending modern technology with mountain folklore without compromising either world. Her characters are believable and the elaborate plot is laid out well and easy to follow. The story is distinctive and a pleasure to read.