2022 Readers’ Favorite Book Awards Honorable Mention - Psychological Thriller Fiction

“...impossible to put down.... A truly unmissable read.” —K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Free From Sin is a gripping psychological crime thriller/mystery story about the intertwining lives of three unlikely women in the hills of Kentucky, and the explosive results when a troubled teenager has her day of reckoning.

Sheriff Sadie Mills navigates the challenges of single motherhood while solving crimes in the rural community of Possum Gap, Kentucky. The recent trailer shootings in her jurisdiction have her on edge, and the new coroner, a Yankee transplant from the east coast, is still adjusting to life in the wilderness when all hell breaks loose. Cases stemming from an out-of-control hillbilly clan, sex trafficking, and a murder in the nearby Amish community collide, and Sheriff Mills finds herself in a race to stop a serial killer before they strike again.
Lucinda Coblentz is a devoted wife, mother, and member of a strict religious order. Her kind and generous ways make her the perfect target of a master manipulator and has put her beloved family in grave danger. Can she make matters right before it's too late?

Charlie Baker endured years of torment by a wicked stepfather and a coldhearted mother before she finally escaped her suffering. Now eighteen, her powerful journey takes her between two worlds, one good and the other evil. Struggling to cope with buried secrets and the demons from her past, she'll stop at nothing in her search for the one thing that has always eluded her—happiness.

More Reviews:

“This exciting psychological thriller adds a human dimension to a hard-nosed crime story…. Readers who relish strong female leads will enjoy this suspenseful but nuanced crime novel…. Great for fans of Linda Castillo’s Kate Burkholder series, Vannetta Chapman’s Shipshewana Amish Mystery series, Chris Offutt’s The Killing Hills.” —BookLife

“Free From Sin is a gentle (if a murder/mystery can be termed such a thing) and beguiling story that takes the reader right into the redneck backcountry that is the hills of Kentucky…. This is a simple, yet immensely satisfying read and one I can highly recommend.” —Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite

“…a suspenseful crime novel. The characters feel authentic and deal with everyday problems that make them and the story surrounding them genuine...” —Delene Vrey for Readers' Favorite

“I loved this book!” —Liz's Book Reviews

Author Bio:

Karen Ann Hopkins writes Amish fiction, mysteries, YA literature, paranormal, dystopian and romance for readers of all ages. She 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.

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