“Before you contradict an old man, my fair friend, you should endeavor to understand him.” George Santayana
Quite honestly, at first I didn’t like Mountain Prey. It seemed implausible and not well-thought out. Then, I realized that that was the whole point! Alex’s plan isn’t very well-thought out. And Stunt, poor Stunt. He always seems to just stumble onto trouble everywhere he turns.
Mountain Prey is set in the Appalachian Mountains, home to generations of moonshine makers. Stunt (Stewart Folger) received his nickname the hard way; he earned it. A bunch of dumb stunts as a kid and a known penchant for BDSM with other men has made him know as Stunt. He is a forestry technician. Basically he trims back trees so the trail is usable. But to the folks in the mountains, he is still a Fed. The federal government signs his checks, so he is a Fed, the moonshiner’s natural enemy.
One thing sure to bring the Feds to the mountains and expose the mountain folks’ moonshine businesses are drug dealers living nearby. Well, Lyn Gala sets up the perfect scenario for this to happen when she moves known drug king-pin Michael Garrido onto the land next to one of the oldest of the moonshiners, Elijah Pierpont. This is where Alex Soto comes into the picture.
Garrido ordered the murder of Alex’s brother while Alex was in jail. Alex has decided to take justice into his own hands and kill the man who ordered his brother’s murder. While scoping out the security situation, he stumbles upon Stunt. Alex ties Stunt up and puts him in the back of his truck. This is an enormous turn-on for both men. They are both gay and Alex is a Dom to Stunt’s sub.
Adventure and hilarity ensue. Alex and Stunt decide to enlist the help of Elijah to get revenge on Garrido. Elijah is willing to help, after some convincing and with some conditions attached. The three cook up a plan involving a real kidnapping turned fake, a forced marriage and the involvement of the dreaded local and federal law enforcement.
Somehow it all comes together. The Feds think the local sheriff is incompetent and the sheriff keeps accidentally on purpose losing evidence. Even he doesn’t believe for one minute that Elijah Pierpont worked with Stunt. But, the hill people protect their own and that includes the sheriff. Stunt has no memory of the details of his kidnapping because of a real concussion.
Even without the kidnapping evidence, justice is done. Mountain Prey is like a hillbilly crime caper. The book comes together because it is so inconceivable. Whether Lyn Gala intended it or not, that’s why it worked for me. Highly recommended.
Reviewed by: Tina
You can buy Mountain Prey here:
Thank you so much! The tone here is very intentional. This started with a chat about guilty pleasures with shotgun weddings, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, and Dukes of Hazard all leading the guilty pleasure pack. When I put those together, Alex and Stunt came out the other end.
Thank you Lyn for taking the time to comment. I am glad we both have twisted senses of humor. It’s good to not be alone!