Law of Revenge [Mass Market Paperback]

Theresa Collins (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 28, 1997

The law of survival . . .

Fifteen years ago Alma Bashears fled Contrary, Kentucky, severing her Appalachian roots to forget the memory of a brutal gang rape. Now she's a savvy attorney at a prestigious San Francisco law firm. But an urgent call from her estranged family has summoned her back to defend her kin.

The law of blood . . .

Alma's brother, Vernon, is charged with murdering a crafty, influential businessman. Yet Alma soon discovers that the prosecutor is also the boy who was responsible for her rape. Now a "white-trash hollow girl" is about to dispense a little country justice.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

The law of survival . . .

Fifteen years ago Alma Bashears fled Contrary, Kentucky, severing her Appalachian roots to forget the memory of a brutal gang rape. Now she's a savvy attorney at a prestigious San Francisco law firm. But an urgent call from her estranged family has summoned her back to defend her kin.

The law of blood . . .

Alma's brother, Vernon, is charged with murdering a crafty, influential businessman. Yet Alma soon discovers that the prosecutor is also the boy who was responsible for her rape. Now a "white-trash hollow girl" is about to dispense a little country justice.

About the Author

Tess Collins is a coal miner's granddaughter. Raised in the southeastern Kentucky town of Middleboro, she spent her early years plotting an escape from the Appalachian Mountains. She is currently the manager of the Curran Theatre in San Francisco.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback
• Publisher: Ivy Books (May 28, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0804116849
• ISBN-13: 978-0804116848
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 3.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,871,222 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Tess Collins is a coal miner's granddaughter raised in the southeastern Kentucky town of Middlesboro, she spent her early years listening to mountain tales of haunted hollows, ghosts, moonshiners and unsolved murders. No doubt they influenced her writing. She is the author of THE LAW OF REVENGE, THE LAW OF THE DEAD, and THE LAW OF BETRAYAL, thrillers set in Appalachia. Her non-fiction book HOW THEATER MANAGERS MANAGE (June 2003) is published by Rowman and Littlefield's Scarecrow Press. Her web page can be accessed at www.tesscollins.com/


THE LAW OF BETRAYAL was a 2003 finalist for ForeWord Magazine's Book of the Year in the Mystery Category while HOW THEATER MANAGERS MANAGE garnered the Bronze Award in the Performing Arts Category.


Miss Collins received a B.A. from the University of Kentucky and a Ph.D. from The Union Institute.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding from the first page., September 1, 1999

By 

Karen Schooler - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Law of Revenge (Niagara Large Print) (Hardcover)

Wonderfully written story of southeastern Kentucky and east Tennessee. Ms. Collins book is a pleasure to read. I am from her hometown, but have not had the opportunity to meet her. She describes the people of Applachia in a way that only an insider could. I hope to read many more of her books in the future.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Law of Revenge is a can't-put-down mystery., May 15, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Law of Revenge (Mass Market Paperback)

I was constantly amazed at the fresh insights on Appalachia I got from this book. It's not just married cousins and moonshiners. The characters were compelling, and it was easy to emphathize with them. The twists of plot kept me up reading late into the night. Great vacation read when you have time to race through to find out what happens next. I hope to see the character, Alma Brashears, in another novel.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best books I've read, March 5, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Law of Revenge (Mass Market Paperback)

I love to read legal dramas and this one is one of my favorites. You can tell the author researched the legal system but didn't feel the need the drown the reader in legal jargon to prove it. The character developement is great, and I think Alma is a deep character with many facets and a well develooped personlity, not the sterotypical business woman coming back to the small town after being in the big city. Overall this book is interesting and envolved from cover to cover with an interesting twist at the end. I can't wait to read Collins' next novel.