Threats, a missing boss, a very dead co-worker, a high-level investigation and a sinister hog farmer: Lowcountry Ag Department manager Carolina Slade is a bean-counting civil servant in hot water.
Carolina Slade is a by-the-book county manager for the Department of Agriculture–a civil servant who coordinates federal loans for farmers in the coastal lowcountry of South Carolina. When one of her … one of her clients, a hog farmer named Jessie Rawlings, offers her a bribe, Slade reports Jessie to her superiors.
The next thing she knows, she’s besieged by Resident Agent-In-Charge Wayne Largo from the Feds’ IG Office in Atlanta. He and his partner have come to investigate Slade’s accusations, and if possible catch Jessie in the act of handing over money. However, the IG isn’t telling Slade everything. The agents are also investigating the disappearance of Slade’s boss the year before in connection to possible land fraud. And when the sting on Jessie goes bad, the case is put on hold and Wayne is called back to Atlanta, leaving Slade to fear not only for her life and job, but for her childrens’ safety.
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Clark is a wonderful writer. I couldn’t believe how vivid her scenes were, and how much I found myself feeling everything in Slade’s shoes. Through every twist and turn, the suspense was incredible, and I couldn’t put the book down. I absolutely can’t wait to read the next one! 🙂
Clark is adept at creating a great sense of place and culture and does it with ease in Lowcountry Bribe. She provides us with spunky, quirky characters that are immediately likeable and recognizable. The reality of small town living is depicted well – everybody knows everybody and their business, wagging tongues ceaselessly work behind the scenes …
This book starts out okay, nothing spectacular. By the middle of it you can’t put it down. Lots of things with land deals and the agricultural agency I really did not understand but it is a great book.