Character List for The Killing Hills

Mick Hardin—the protagonist; aka “Jimmy Hardin’s boy”; Chief Warrant Officer in US Army Criminal Investigation Division, specializing in homicide, on emergency leave from post in Germany

Linda Hardin—Mick’s sister, the sheriff of Elridge County, Kentucky

Peggy Hardin—Mick’s wife, who’s pregnant

Murvil Knox—big coal operator in Fayette County, Kentucky

Veronica “Nonnie” (Turner) Johnson—the murdered woman

Frankie Johnson—Nonnie’s son

Lee Ann Johnson—Nonnie’s sister-in-law

Wade Johnson—Lee Ann’s oldest son

Noel & Joel Johnson—Lee Ann’s twin sons

Mr. Tucker—the former school janitor who finds Nonnie’s body

Fuckin’ Barney—a possible witness to Nonnie’s murder; he showed up asking questions right after the body was discovered but then went into hiding

Shifty Kissick—aka Camille Littleton; Fuckin’ Barney’s mother

Johnny Boy Tolliver—deputy sheriff, reporting to Linda Hardin

Marquis Sledge III—the funeral director and county coroner

Wilson—FBI special agent brought in by Murvil Knox to assist sheriff’s office with investigation into Nonnie’s murder

Tanner Curtis—aka the “Dopted boy”; murder suspect brought in by Special Agent Wilson

Charley Flowers—big-time Detroit drug dealer; his “main man” in the local hills is Fuckin’ Barney

Vernon Victor Amrstrong, Jr.—muscle sent by Flowers to check out Mick

Frederick “Freddie” Clarence Kornspudt—muscle sent by Flowers to check out Mick

Bobby Renfro—a young man who confesses to killing Tanner Curtis

Delmer Collins—Murvil Knox’s nephew; identified by Fuckin’ Barney as Nonnie’s boyfriend and possible killer