In a small Appalachian town, evil takes root-and good people rise to fight it.

In Deacon's Hollar, West Virginia, good people don't just talk about justice-they fight for it.

When a human trafficking network infiltrates a quiet Appalachian town, the locals refuse to stand by. Birdie Spry, Sheriff Harris, Luke Perkins, Gracie Bowers, Dodger Lemon, and a cast of unforgettable townsfolk join forces with a battle-hardened CIA agent, rough men from the 80th Regiment, and a weary Russian KGB officer. Bound together by loyalty and a shared sense of right, they become the town's shield against a ruthless enemy.

Watching over them are three spectral white dogs, guardians from an old Civil War legend, whose presence reminds the people of Deacon's Hollar that some battles are fought on more than one plane of existence.

This gripping, character-driven literary novel blends:

• Appalachian fiction and rich small-town atmosphere

• Human trafficking suspense with moral depth

• Folklore & legend woven into contemporary action

• Complex, morally upright characters facing impossible choices

For readers of William Kent Krueger, Charles Frazier, and Sharyn McCrumb, The Donkey's Millstone is a story of courage, community, and the fierce will to protect the innocent-no matter the cost.

Perfect for fans of: rural suspense, Appalachian literature, character-driven thrillers, and stories where ordinary people rise to extraordinary challenges.