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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
dark
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
4 stars for a historical fiction book set in 1991-92, rural Tennessee Appalachia. This book has several main characters:
Laura Bruce, wife to a church minister, who has been activated as a chaplain by his reserve unit and is now in Saudi Arabia
Spencer Arrowood, Sheriff of Wake county
Deputy Sheriff Joe LeDonne
Nora Bonesteel, a woman who lives in the shadow of Hangman's Mountain. She is believed to have the ability to see the future.
Tavy Annis, a man dying of cancer, which may have been caused by pollution in the Dove river.
Taw McBryde, Tavy's friend from childhood
Tammy Robsart, a nineteen year old single mother,who lives in a trailer.
Maggie and Mark Underhill surviving children of a family all killed by murder/suicide.
The book opens with the Sheriff calling Laura to come and stay with Maggie and Mark in the middle of the night. She agrees and has to drive the dark mountain roads for the first time at night.
What follows is a story of tragedy and hope, as Laura steps into a role that she did not expect with her husband gone. This book gives the reader some insight into the lives of rural people in Appalachia.
One quote: "Nora Bonesteel lived in a two-story white house that dated further back than anybody could remember. It sat in a meadow on top of Ashe Mountain, shaded by century old oaks, with an apple orchard, a pond, and a view of all creation."
This is book 2 in the ballad series, but is not connected to the other books.
This was an inter library loan book.
Laura Bruce, wife to a church minister, who has been activated as a chaplain by his reserve unit and is now in Saudi Arabia
Spencer Arrowood, Sheriff of Wake county
Deputy Sheriff Joe LeDonne
Nora Bonesteel, a woman who lives in the shadow of Hangman's Mountain. She is believed to have the ability to see the future.
Tavy Annis, a man dying of cancer, which may have been caused by pollution in the Dove river.
Taw McBryde, Tavy's friend from childhood
Tammy Robsart, a nineteen year old single mother,who lives in a trailer.
Maggie and Mark Underhill surviving children of a family all killed by murder/suicide.
The book opens with the Sheriff calling Laura to come and stay with Maggie and Mark in the middle of the night. She agrees and has to drive the dark mountain roads for the first time at night.
What follows is a story of tragedy and hope, as Laura steps into a role that she did not expect with her husband gone. This book gives the reader some insight into the lives of rural people in Appalachia.
One quote: "Nora Bonesteel lived in a two-story white house that dated further back than anybody could remember. It sat in a meadow on top of Ashe Mountain, shaded by century old oaks, with an apple orchard, a pond, and a view of all creation."
This is book 2 in the ballad series, but is not connected to the other books.
This was an inter library loan book.
Probably my favorite mystery; unfortunately, I didn't like any of McCrumb's other books as much as this one although they were enjoyable.
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Love the Appalachian setting of this series. Makes me want to go visit the region.
This is Ballad book #2 by McCrumb, and really you can start the series here, it is just a beautiful book tying in several characters and their stories. This book introduces Nora Bonesteel - can she be the Hangman's beautiful daughter? ( The hangman is a mountain formation).
The author weaves in different stories all related in being about death, or maybe not death, but different ways of not being fully alive.
And the magic spell she weaves putting us on the mountains, or in the hollows, or in town, just wonderful
Characters:
Regulars:
Nora Bonesteel
Spencer Arrowood
Joe LeDonne
Martha Ayers
Vernon Wooline
Other:
Laura & Will Bruce
Taw McBryde
Tavy Annis
Tammy & Morgan Robsart
Parents: Paul and Janet Underhill and their children Mark, Maggie, Joe and Simon
The author weaves in different stories all related in being about death, or maybe not death, but different ways of not being fully alive.
And the magic spell she weaves putting us on the mountains, or in the hollows, or in town, just wonderful
Characters:
Regulars:
Nora Bonesteel
Spencer Arrowood
Joe LeDonne
Martha Ayers
Vernon Wooline
Other:
Laura & Will Bruce
Taw McBryde
Tavy Annis
Tammy & Morgan Robsart
Parents: Paul and Janet Underhill and their children Mark, Maggie, Joe and Simon
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Well written but I'm not sure of the reason for some side stories. It just didn't really mesh for me, plus it's a totally depressing book.
Another really good book from Sharyn McCrumb. I started reading this one as I spent the weekend in the Appalachian hills near the setting of her books. It isn't a typical 'whodunnit' mystery, but rather explores several issues that affect several lives in the aftermath of a tragic shooting. There is plenty to think about, and to me the most interesting issue was the one not overtly explored: how otherwise good, honest, and caring people can still be self-absorbed enough to miss the tragedies brewing right under their noses.
There was one false note that ran through this book, and that would be the dalliance with country music subculture. Perhaps when the book was published it was a bit more meaningful, but nearly twenty years later it came off as dated and irrelevant at best.
There was one false note that ran through this book, and that would be the dalliance with country music subculture. Perhaps when the book was published it was a bit more meaningful, but nearly twenty years later it came off as dated and irrelevant at best.
I am slightly bias in my review because I grew up in the location mentioned in the book. With the polluted river and all. Also grew up with the mountain magic that came from bony fingered women with wise riddles. Thus the whole book felt like home to me. Even with all that it is a great book filled with mystery and plot twists galore! The chacarters are not always the most lovable or relatable and you may find yourself feeling detached and indifferent about some of them.
This is one of the best mysteries I have read in a while. It gives you such a visceral sense of the setting where it takes place that when you look up from the page, you're surprised not to see the mountains looking over your shoulder. The characters you meet in the first book of the series get deeper, and the new ones (especially Nora Bonesteel and Laura Bruce) are unforgettable. The subplot involving an old man dying from an industrially polluted river adds to the sense of place...and also, to the theme of struggling to make meaning out of a hard but beloved life.
The mystery itself, involving the death of parents and two of their four children, is sad to the core. But the relationship between the minister's wife and one of the surviving children is redemptive. It's a very Christian book that way, and even though I am not a Christian, I could recognize and appreciate that faith.
The mystery itself, involving the death of parents and two of their four children, is sad to the core. But the relationship between the minister's wife and one of the surviving children is redemptive. It's a very Christian book that way, and even though I am not a Christian, I could recognize and appreciate that faith.