Justified Bitch

A life-long resident of Las Vegas and alumna of the University of Nevada, H.G. McKinnis knows her city as only a local can. By night, she fluffs feathers and attaches rhinestones to the exotic wardrobes of the most glamorous venues on the strip, by day McKinnis writes about the often hardscrabble lives of her fellow desert denizens and the unlikely city they inhabit. A Justified Bitch, a twisted tale of insanity, murder, and redemption, is her first novel.

"When a mentally ill woman is the only witness to a murder, her family rallies around her even though it means running all over Las Vegas in this hard-hitting but affectionate debut...Fast-paced, funny, and gritty—the perfect read for lounging by a casino pool."--Kirkus Reviews"A Justified Bitch” by H.G. McKinnis is great for teens, adults, and anyone who wants a great read on a lazy Sunday afternoon. It’s also great for those who love to solve the mystery before the book ends. It took a different twist than I expected, so good luck to you sleuths out there!"--Anna Riley, Reader Views"An insightful, delightful, madcap read. The story is as much a look into the issues of mental illness as it is a mystery. But Helen, and how she tries to cope with her issues is, for me, the best part of the book. She is a terrific character and I was hooked right from the first chapter." --Marian Misters, SLEUTH of Baker Street, bookseller"One of the most intriguing aspects of the book -- besides its unexpected humor -- is the thread of mental illness depicted...But it’s also about murder, how families work or don’t work and healing, all deftly woven into the fabric of an intriguing whole." —John Przybys, Las Vegas Review-Journal"From its swap-meet beginning and its too-real emotions to its funky title, H.G. McKinnis’ debut novel is rooted in the real Las Vegas.”--Desiree Sheck, Desert Companion KNPR Magazine"The true story here is one of a sister helping a sister, a mother-and-child-reunion, and a woman on the road to recovery…The novel captures Helen’s condition, and her dead-husband repartee, with a lightness that belies the real-life notion of a woman so far gone that police reel away from her body odor. This sets an early tone for a murder mystery full of chuckles and lovable characters, though the novel grows more serious as it progresses."—Leia Menlove, Foreword Reviews“McKinnis really knows how to tell an story and she knows how to build full portraits of the people in her story. I loved the characters, the plot, the Old Las Vegas vibe, and the book’s message of recovery and redemption.”--Ruth Mormon, RoadTripAmerica.com"With a deft hand and a light touch, H.G. McKinnis takes us on a wild Vegas ride, tempering the mischief with a poignant tour through mental illness." -- Deborah Coonts, author of the Lucky O’Toole Vegas Adventure Series“A Justified Bitch is an engaging mystery with dark humor and witty repartee between characters.”--Diane Taylor, Living-Las-Vegas.com"H.G. McKinnis has given us a captivating story populated with charming neurotics, psychotics, crooks, cons, cops and lost souls." -- Casandra Firman, author of One Christmas in Old Tascosa"A Justified Bitch is a justified good read." — Brian Rouff, author of The House Always Wins “In this brilliant tale of mental illness, murder, and families ties, H.G. McKinnis captures life on the side of Las Vegas tourists seldom see and throws light on the often misunderstood phenomenon of hoarding. Suspenseful, funny, moving, and inspiring, A Justified Bitch is well-crafted and engaging from beginning to end.” —Megan Edwards, author of Getting off on Frank Sinatra