Defiance County

A bloody double murder and the kidnapping of the couple's baby shakes the small town of Galilee, Texas. Townsfolk are even more aghast when one of the most popular men in town, Billy Fletcher, is arrested for the crime. Billy is not only the manager of the factory responsible for the town's prosperity, he is also the brother of District Attorney Mogan Fletcher. A special prosecutor must be appointed. Enter young prosecutor Kelsey Thatch, who is completely unfamiliar with and to the town of Galilee. It doesn't take her long to understand the hostility directed at her. But Kelsey is there to do the job, assisted by one of the few friendly faces she meets, Deputy Sheriff Peter Stiller. The case is thick with mystery and hard to prove, with apparently continuing mysteries. (Who keeps setting those fires in the woods around Galilee?) While Peter investigates in traditional ways, Kelsey tries a different traditional destination: the town beauty shop. Some people are eager to tell her about the case and the Fletcher family. But others will do almost anything to stop her, and she doesn't know who all of those are. "In court and out, this deviously plotted and masterfully written novel represents Brandon at his very best." -- Jon L. Breen, Armchair Detective "Brandon does courtroom drama as well as John Grisham or Scott Turow. And he des love stories better." -- David Delman, Philadelphia Inquirer