Uncle Abner: Master of Mysteries

Uncle Abner: Master of Mysteries is a collection of stories set in the backwoods of West Virginia before the Civil War. The tales follow Uncle Abner, a detective who relies on careful observation and religious conviction to solve crimes in Appalachia. The opening story introduces Doomdorf, a man who arrives with gold and establishes an illegal moonshine operation on barren land. As drunkenness spreads through the countryside, locals grow hostile. When Doomdorf is found dead—shot through the heart in a locked room—Uncle Abner investigates. Throughout the collection, Abner encounters various criminals and suspects, including hunchbacks, drunkards, killers, and thieves. Operating in a region beyond established law, Abner views himself as an instrument of divine justice.