First things first. Every blessed day of Elsie Arnold’s life starts with a cold can of Diet Coke. She drinks it down and dirty, straight from the can. No time wasted pulling a plastic tumbler from the cabinet of her one-bedroom apartment, filling it with ice. The Diet Coke kick starts the day.
Elsie likes coffee, but that can wait until she gets to work at the McCown County Courthouse, which sits in the middle of the town square of her small home town in the Ozark hills. As assistant prosecuting attorney, Elsie is obliged to be at work before nine o’clock, when the courtrooms begin the day’s business. Brewing a pot of coffee at home would waste precious minutes; and the pot would go down the sink when evening comes. Elsie is a single woman, living alone.
Though it’s a habit she can’t seem to acquire, getting an early start at the courthouse would be undeniably wise. Her court appearances generally involve serious felonies, from murder to sex crimes to major property offenses. But on other days, she lounges in Associate Circuit Court, handling traffic tickets and misdemeanors. For a prosecutor in a small county, some days are fraught with high stakes and high tension advocacy, while others are routine.
There is nothing routine, though, about Elsie’s latest assignment: she is prosecuting a juvenile offender for the crime of murder in the first degree. She’s been waiting for a murder case; it’s a badge of honor for a prosecutor. But trying a case with a 15-year-old defendant was not the high-profile assignment she had in mind.
Lunch will involve a dash by a run-through: McDonalds, Dairy Queen, Sonic Drive In. Elsie lives in a small town in the Midwest, where gastronomical choices are limited and appetites are hearty. After she polishes off a foot-long coney dog and tater tots, she might feel a twinge of regret. If only she had skipped the tots, she might aspire to a slim figure someday. But she’s keeping company with Bob Ashlock, the chief of Detectives at the local police department. Ashlock likes a girl with a healthy appetite and an hour-glass figure.
After work, Elsie will head straight for her regular haunt: the Baldknobbers Bar. It’s an old dive, the kind of bar that keeps the windows covered day and night, and where a smoky haze hangs inside like a London fog. Elsie’s boss, the refined Madeleine Thompson, regularly warns her away from the venue; and though Elsie has stumbled into trouble at the Bald more times than she’d like to admit, she always returns. Maybe it’s the hometown vibe; or the friendly barmaid; or the greasy burgers, sizzling from the grill.
Or maybe it’s because Elsie likes to slam beer like a frat boy. And with her new trial assignment, where she has the task of locking up a teenage boy for life, she needs a drink. Or two. Or more. . .
It’s a good thing that Elsie is dedicated to her job, and passionately committed to seeing justice done in her neck of the woods. If not for Elsie’s stellar trial skills, her boss would have shown her the door long ago. Elsie Arnold—a cussing, hell-raising, beer chugging wild child of the Ozarks—is not Madeleine’s idea of a model employee.
But she’s a lot of fun to be around.
You can read more about Elsie in A Killing at the Creek, the second book in the “Ozarks” mystery series, published by HarperCollins. The first book in the series is The Code of the Hills.
GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 12 a.m. eastern on December 17 for your chance to win a print copy of A KILLING AT THE CREEK. (US entries only, please.) Good luck everyone!
Meet the author
Nancy Allen practiced law for fifteen years as Assistant Missouri Attorney General and Assistant Prosecutor in her native Ozarks. She’s tried over thirty jury cases, including murder and sexual offenses, and is now a law instructor at Missouri State University. Her Ozarks Mystery series is published by HarperCollins/Witness Impulse. Her first novel, The Code of the Hills, was released in 2014. A Killing at the Creek is her second novel.
Visit Nancy at www.nancyallenauthor.com, on Facebook and on Twitter
Would love to read this book, Elsie sounds like my kind of girl, thank heavens for drive throughs!
Kathy, drive-throughs make the world a better place. Book 1-The Code of the Hills–is on sale for .99 right now!
I have heard good things about this book and would love to read it.
Prentiss–LOVE to know you’ve heard good things! And Book 1 in the series–The Code of the Hills–is on sale for .99 right now!
Sounds like an interesting read, thanks for telling us about it.
Thanks. Donald! Book 1–The Code of the Hills–is on sale right now: just .99!
This sounds like an interesting read. Thanks for the offer.
From one Nancy to another! Book 1 in the series, The Code of the Hills, is on sale for .99 right now!
Elsie sounds like the kind of friend you want to have. She’s great fun and if you need a good attorney, she’s the one to go too.
Dianne, you nailed it! You can meet Elsie in Book 1, The Code of the Hills- it’s on sale for .99 right now!
This is exactly the type of mystery I love. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
LOVE to hear you’d love it, Barbara! Book 1 in the series, The Code of the Hills, is on sale for .99 right now!
Whoops, I haven’t had this series on my radar.
Gram, I WANNA be on your radar! Book 1 in the series, The Code of the Hills, is on sale for .99 right now!
Since I live close to the Ozarks and have friends there, this sounds like a series I would enjoy. Thanks for the chance to win.
Gail, this series is tailor made for you. And Book 1, The Code of the Hills, is on sale for .99 right now!
I bet Elsie is an interesting character and I would like to read this story. Thanks for a chance to enter.
Donna, my girl Elsie is a hoot. Book 1 in the series, The Code of the Hills, is on sale for .99 right now!
New to me author. I’m smiling while reading so this is a must enter!
Karen, love to hear I made you smile! And Book 1 in the series, The Code of the Hills, is on sale for .99 right now!
Good morning, all! I’m sitting at home in the Ozarks, drinking a cold Diet Coke AND a cup of coffee, and loving these comments. So great to hear from all of you–and thanks, Dru Ann, for letting me visit this morning!!!
I would love a copy of this book!! I want to read more about Elsie!
Kaleigh, delighted to hear it! Book 1 in the series, The Code of the Hills, is on sale for .99 right now!
Lady after my own heart – except I drink Pepsi (and not the diet kind).
thanks for introducing a new (to me) series.
Marylou, I LOVE a real Pepsi! And Book 1 in my series, The Code of the Hills, is on sale for .99 right now!
What a trip this will be! I hope I win.
Oh Amy–my girl Elsie is a trip, I promise. And Book 1 in the series, The Code of the Hills, is on sale for .99 right now!
Another new series and author, sounds like a great read
Thanks, Betty! And Book 1 in the series, The Code of the Hills, is on sale for .99 right now!
I’d l9ve to have the opportunity to sample a new series! thanks.
Barb, I’d love for you to read it! Book 1 in the series, The Code of the Hills, is on sale for .99 right now!
I really like the sound of this one. Thanks for the review and the chance for a copy.
Thanks, Mary Jane! Book 1 in the series, The Code of the Hills, is on sale for .99 right now!
What a captivating book. Thanks for this review and giveaway.
Anne–captivating is my FAVORITE word! Book 1 in the series, The Code of the Hills, is on sale for .99 right now!
She sounds like the person I’d want defending me if I were in court.
My girl Elsie is a real fighter, Libby. And Book 1 in the series, The Code of the Hills, is on sale for .99 right now!
Another new-to-me series to try. Thanks for a chance to win a copy.
Elaine! Book 1 in the series, The Code of the Hills, is on sale for .99 right now!
Really enjoyed the first book. Looking forward to the next. Thanks for the opportunity.
Kevin, I heart you. Book 3 comes out in April–THE WAGES OF SIN!
Looking forward to another great read. Thanks for the opportunity.
New series to me but sure sounds interesting. Hope to win.
Thanks, Candy! And Book 1 in the series, The Code of the Hills, is on sale for .99 right now!
LOL I have a small plastic bottle of Diet Coke every morning along with my coffee and almond milk. Elsie Arnold sounds like a fascinating character. Going to look this author up! Thank you so much for this chance to win,
Carol–Diet Coke is my morning beverage, too! Book 1 in the series, The Code of the Hills, is on sale for .99 right now!
I’m Nancy’s biggest fan, and I have her novels on Kindle, but it’s hard to autograph a Kindle!
New author and series to me
Kaye, check it out! Book 1 in the series, The Code of the Hills, is on sale for .99 right now!
Another new author and new series. My TBR list keeps growing.
Vicki, good news! Book 1 in the series, The Code of the Hills, is on sale for .99 right now!
Sounds like me – diet coke in morning for me – no coffee thank you. I would love to be able to win and read this book. It sounds very interesting , one that I would enjoy reading . thanks
Ann! I start each day with a frosty glass of Diet Coke! Book 1 in the series, The Code of the Hills, is on sale for .99 right now. Cheaper than a Diet Coke!
Mysteries and attorneys—a good combo in my book.
Thanks for the contest.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Sue, you’ll LOVE my girl Elsie! And Book 1 in the series, The Code of the Hills, is on sale for .99 right now!
Elsie sounds like my kind of gal. I would love to be able to get to know her better by winning the giveaway for this book. robeader53@yahoo.com
Robeader, I guarantee you’ll LOVE Elsie! And Book 1 in the series, The Code of the Hills, is on sale for .99 right now!
Definitely need to meet Elsie Arnold! She reminds me in my youth.
Oh, CJ–then we’re like sisters! Because Elsie is a WHOLE lot like me in my younger days. Book 1 in the series, The Code of the Hills, is on sale for .99 right now!
Looking forward to reading Elsie’s latest case.
Thanks, Mary! Book 1, The Code of the Hills, is on sale for .99 right now; and Book 3, The Wages of Sin, comes out in April!
Looks like a great book! Thank you!
Barbara, check it out! And Book 1 in my series, The Code of the Hills, is on sale for .99 right now!
I love reading about female attorneys and this one sounds like one I’d like to get to know
Thanks, Rochf–you’ll LOVE my girl Elsie. And Book 1 in the series, The Code of the Hills, is on sale for .99 right now!
Sounds like an intense story. New series to me, would love to read it.
Sally, I guarantee a riveting read! And Book 1 in the series, The Code of the Hills, is on sale for .99 right now!
I want to visit Baldknobbers.
Oooooh, Barbara. The Ozarks is filled with Baldknobbers-type venues. You can visit Baldknobbers in Book 1 in the series, too. The Code of the Hills is on sale for .99 right now!
I would love to win A Killing at the Creek– it sounds like a fun read. Elise and I share the kicking off our mornings with a Diet Coke- a woman after my own heart.📖📚
MaryAnn–then we’re all sisters! I greet each day with a frosty Diet Coke! And Book 1 in the series, The Code of the Hills, is on sale for .99 right now. Cheaper than a Diet Coke!
This series sounds like a great read! Definitely ordering the first book!
Tricia, delighted to hear it! Hope you love my girl Elsie!