Deep in the heart of Appalachia, the red-light district of Cinder Bottom is notorious for its scandals and debauchery. People from surrounding cities flock to the small coal-mining town to gamble, drink moonshine, and visit brothels in the "Free State of McDowell." Anything that is said or done on its streets stays tucked away down in the holler like the town itself-and that makes Cinder Bottom the perfect place for fourteen-year-old troublemakers Smokey and Do What to get into mischief.

It's 1958, and in the world outside, a junior congressman's disappearance is the current Big News. When the investigative trail leads a federal agent to the isolated town of Cinder Bottom, Smokey sees his chance for some excitement. But when his snooping reveals a darker plot that reaches far beyond the quiet slopes of his hometown, he and Do What are dragged into a tangled web of corruption, conspiracy, and danger like they never could have imagined.

Packed with unforgettable characters and compelling mystery, this Hardy Boys-style coming-of-age story melds the true historic setting of the gritty streets of Cinder Bottom with the youthful spirit of brotherhood and adventure.