Into the Fire

The Hanging Tree by Mark Dawson is Book 25 in A John Milton Novel Series. 

Of all places, John Milton (aka John Smith) is in a small town in Kentucky called Blackridge where one "hillbilly" family rules the town and does their own executions when someone/anyone crosses them. Ray and Maebelle Roper own the sheriff, his deputies, and their daughter runs the diner and an ultra-cheap motel. The townspeople are afraid of the Roper family. 

John is there to buy a food truck of all things with a desire to drive across the country selling his original "Yorkshire Burritos" at county fairs until he gets to California. Sadie Roper, the diner owner, has an old food truck for sale cheap so John buys it to participate at the local fair. The Ropers aren't known for being honest, and after he has an obnoxious introduction to two of Sadie's brothers at the fair, on the way to his parking spot, the truck breaks down. The burritos were a hit, he ran out of food, and he made a good amount of money but realized it'd probably get put into repairing the truck. 

Retired military, spy, assassin, now free from "The Group," John just wants to live life and make amends when he can for his previous life. However, as he's been told many times, trouble has a way of finding him, and Blackridge offers it up in a variety of ways that of course all lead him into conflict with the Roper family. Added to that trouble, there's a cyber-criminal with three heavies, former military, trying to scam the people via a slimy banker. It's an ugly mess and John ends up in the middle of it all "trying to do the right thing" which, as it turns out, nobody in this mess really wants to do. 

Just when you think things might get resolved, chaos erupts and continues until everyone winds up at the hanging tree.  

This is an unusual enterprise compared to John's previous worldwide escapades, having had to escape the assassins of The Group that used to employ him. It will take a little getting used to having John in the states – especially preparing food and driving to fairs. We'll see what Mark has in mind in the next adventure for "John Smith." 

(Plenty of profanity.)

Father, you know all of our hearts and minds. Apart from you, we can do nothing – whether we know it or not. Thank you for giving Mark his talents and gifts. Bless him and his family. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.