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kathieboucher's review
4.0
4.5 stars. As the execution date looms for a prisoner he helped convict, a Tennessee sheriff ponders guilt, innocence, justice, and a 150+ year old murder with startling relevance to present day issues.
Several of my favorite themes converge in this bookâhistory, mystery, and social justice issues.
Several of my favorite themes converge in this bookâhistory, mystery, and social justice issues.
christieb123's review
4.0
This was an interesting book. The detail about the family connections was way too much for me, but I love historical fiction that makes me want to find out how much of the story is true. In this case, a lot of it.
constantreader471's review
4.0
This book has two threads:one is about a trial and execution of Frankie Silver in 1830 North Carolina. The second is about a modern day murder in Tennessee. The author goes back and forth between the two and connects the two at the end. Sheriff Spencer Arrowood is the modern day central character in the book. He is a central character in other ballad books. I give it four stars out of five.
pillywiggin's review
5.0
This is one of my all-time favorite books. It tells two stories--the poignant, heart-breaking tale of Frankie Silver, and that of a Tennessee sheriff who reconsiders the "truth" of a murder investigation he completed, which sent a potentially innocent man to death row. Frankie Silver was a real person implicated in an 1830 murder, which adds to the emotional impact of the book. This is the second time I have read this book, and the emotional impact was even stronger the second time through. It is one of the few fiction books that has actually led me to question my personal beliefs about a political issue--namely the death penalty.
pjgal22's review
4.0
I love Sharyn McCrumb's mysteries and this one was good, but it's not my favorite.
git_r_read's review
5.0
BOT, an amazing book based on a true story. There is an interview at the end of the audiobook and Sharyn tells the reader how she comes up with her thoughts how to write her books. She took an old legend from the Appalachian mountains and synced it with modern time story of the same issue.
I love this series.
I love this series.
henrygravesprince's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, and Violence
Minor: Fatphobia, Ableism, Sexual violence, Fire/Fire injury, Incest, and Racism
tabithar's review
4.0
This got a little slow near the end but was a really great book. I think it might make a good book club book since it raises a lot of questions about capital punishment and the way our court system operates.