The Night Riders of Hardin County is a gripping tale of justice delayed but not forgotten. Set in 1880s Iowa, the book unearths a dark and little-known chapter of American history, where local power and prejudice conspired to destroy a family’s reputation—and nearly their lives.

At the heart of the story is Dr. Morse, a principled man who receives a confession that could exonerate the wrongly accused Rainsbarger brothers. With steady resolve and at great personal and professional risk, Dr. Morse embarks on a quest to uncover the truth and restore their names. Frank and Nate Rainsbarger, far from being murderers, were scapegoats in a deeply corrupt system that had more to do with protecting the guilty than prosecuting the innocent.

The narrative moves swiftly, combining the slow-burn suspense of a legal thriller with the raw tension of a Western. The stakes are high, the villains are real, and the moral questions resonate well beyond the 19th-century setting. The local leaders’ complicity, the injustice of the original accusations, and the community’s silence all add layers of depth to the story.

Though based on real events, The Night Riders of Hardin County reads like historical fiction at its finest—with richly drawn characters, a strong moral core, and just enough mystery and action to keep the pages turning. It’s the kind of story that feels destined for the screen.

For anyone interested in the hidden histories of small-town America, this book is a compelling, and ultimately redemptive, read.

Purchased and read this book because these events happened only 20 miles from where I live. Also, attended the book signing by the author recently. He shared that the is much more informative material that he didn’t get into the book. Hopefully his screen play will be produced and made into a mini-series.