It's 1951, and the last place in America any sane man wishes to visit is Thebes State Penal Farm (Colored) in Thebes, Mississippi. Up a dark river, surrounded by swamps and impenetrable woods, it's the Old South at its most brutal -- a place of violence, racial terror, and even more horrific rumors. Of the few who make the journey, black or white, even fewer return.

But in that year, two men travel to Thebes. The first is Sam Vincent, the former prosecuting attorney of Polk County, Arkansas, who has agreed to investigate a disappearance. Before Sam leaves on this dangerous trip, he confesses his fears to Earl Swagger -- a sergeant with the Arkansas State Police. Earl pledges that if Sam is not back by a certain time, he will come looking for him. Sam brings his knowledge of the law and his sense of the rational to Thebes, but Earl brings his guns.

Both Sam and Earl are challenged to the limits of their strength by this prison and struggle with deep questions: What does a man do when confronted with such evil? Can it be remedied? Or must it just be destroyed?

Pale Horse Coming is a stunning story of violence and retribution, written with the same high velocity of Hunter's classic thrillers.