Lost in the Holler

Disillusioned with his soulless New York career, RJ Burnette returns to his Appalachian home to find himself, only to discover a web of family secrets, including a decades-old murder. As he peels back layers of deception, RJ must confront the community’s rigid code of silence that forces him to question his identity, his past, and the very definition of justice in the insular world of Gizzard’s Holler.

The vivid and authentic descriptions of the food, the bluegrass jams, the slow pace of life, and the landscape place the reader in Gizzard’s Holler. There's a beautiful warmth in how the mountain folk care for one another, from cooking casseroles to sharing music on the porch. But that same closeness creates a formidable wall of silence, a protective, yet suffocating, nature of a closed community.

This story is haunted, not by ghosts, but by memories and secrets that refuse to stay buried.

The final confession is chilling. Delivering a thematic payoff that is immense, solidifying the story's exploration of family loyalty and mountain justice in a way that is both shocking and deeply satisfying.

A slow-burn reveal that is sure to keep you hooked.