Deputy Dani Savage never thought she’d be answering a call to find a dead man with his pants around his knees just outside of a horse stall. Thinking it looked like the victim had gotten a little too frisky with the critters it seemed like it might be a simple case until Dani finds an ID on the victim that doesn’t belong to him but to a missing female ATF agent.

Dani finds herself teaming up with an unlikely pair to try to solve the new case. The new mystery man named Jack Spivey had come to town asking questions about the ATF agent’s disappearance and an Amazonian ex-Marine finds herself in Dani’s corner and onto the case. Following the clues the trio find a twisted conspiracy that runs deeper than they ever suspected.

Savage Rising is the second book in the Backwoods Justice series by C. Hoyt Caldwell. Set in the town of Baptist Flats, Tennessee the cast of characters in this series are certainly colorful and bring the meaning to the title of Backwoods. Both books in the series center around the five foot nothing Deputy Dani Savage trying to fit into the male dominated police force in the backwoods town while she tries to solve the case her rather sometimes incompetent co-workers cannot.

Now while I loved the first book in this series finding it an engaging mystery along with a hilarious cast of characters I just somehow didn’t find this edition quite as compelling as the first. I’m not sure if it was the case working in the story or the newer characters or just a matter of it possibly being slower paced or just feeling that way to me but while it was still a creative story it just seemed more OK than outstanding this time around.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

I received a free electronic copy of this novel from Netgalley, C. Hoyt Caldwell, and Random House Publishing - Alibi in exchange for an honest review. Thank you all, for sharing your hard work with me.

This was a nice change of pace read. This is a continuation novel of the Backwoods Justice series, but completely stand alone. Our main protagonist is Dani Savage, a sheriff's deputy in the small county of Baptist Flats, Tennessee. Her Uncle Otis Royal is Sheriff, and the two other deputies, Friar and Randle, while not blood kin, are also family. As are Step and Kenny, who tend to go outside the law to right wrongs. Mix together fried macaroni and cheese, moonshine, the vicious and inbred Pike family, and couple of independent contractors to Homeland Security. Add Grey Rise, an illegal militia masquerading as an innocent gun club, and you have an interesting parody of a southern novel/police procedural/family saga. This is a fast read,often hilarious but at times it cuts too close to the bone. I will look for the rest of this series. I believe in Bad Way Out and Savage Reckoning I will find that bone deep definition of "kin through circumstance".

Savage Rising is the 2nd book in the Backwoods Justice series by C Hoyt Caldwell. Like the first book, this book grabbed me from page one. Lots of unique characters and one kick ass little deputy. Well written with humor and realistic (scary) details that'll keep you on the edge of your seat. This crime thriller packs a punch and I know I'll be looking for more!

*ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review.

I really liked the way this book pulled me in and I couldn't stop reading it until the end. Its definitely a don't put don't or you might miss something book.

4 stars

I found myself chuckling at time while reading this book. Perhaps it was somewhat inappropriate, but there it is. C. Hoyt Caldwell has injected a refreshing sense of humor into his books.

A dead man named Parnell Carson was found in a horse stall. The odd things are that his pants are down around his ankles and he has the ID of someone else in his pocket; a woman someone else - an ATF Agent who is currently missing. Deputy Dani Savage answers the call.

The Sheriff Otis Royal is Dani’s uncle and she relishes teasing him.

Two mysterious people show up to inject themselves into the investigation. A man named Jack Spivey who gives no clues to his background. Then a woman shows up who want to get involved too. Should Dani team up with these two? What is their agenda?

Reluctantly, Dani teams up with the two to discover what happened to the missing ATF agent and how Parnell Carson got her ID. Following clues, some of them odd, they discover a conspiracy.

The conclusion comes quickly. This book is nicely written, funny in places and well plotted. The suspense level is good. I enjoyed the novel. This is my first time reading C. Hoyt Caldwell and I am going to look into his other books.

I want to thank Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group – Alibi for forwarding to me a copy of this good book to read.