Reviews

The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter by Sharyn McCrumb

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attytheresa's review against another edition

4.0

In the prologue we find ourselves with the aging Nora Bonesteel, up on Ashe Mountain with her needlework, pet whistle pig (hedgehog to most of us), and her Scottish 'sight'. Nora is unsettled, ultimately starting a new quilt, one of a graveyard scene. Death is coming soon to the Underhill family in Dark Hollow. This quilt image [bc:The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter|28443121|The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter (Ballad #2)|Sharyn McCrumb|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1451861537l/28443121._SX50_.jpg|1175186] on the front of the Kindle Edition I read is exactly as described in the book, even to the fabric textures. I wish there was attribution for the cover quilt in the ebook. Once again someone's beautiful handiwork is deemed unworthy of identifying.

That is just an aside to my review. After Nora has warned us of what is coming, we meet Laura, a local minister's wife, a newlywed who is new to the community and left alone to manage while her husband is off serving his reserve tour in the Middle East. The sheriff calls her out to the murder scene to help with the 2 still living children. From here the plot stops being any real mystery, or any kind of murder investigation. Instead, the reader follows several characters through the next several months of their lives as they cope with various deaths, terminal illness, grief, and learning to embrace life again. There is also a very strong environmental theme about pollution and its effects on Appalachia. The efforts, humorous and ultimately uplifting, of 2 elderly men to make the up stream paper plant in the neighboring state clean up the river it has been dumping in for decades has me looking askance at the reams of paper under my desk, wondering at how environmentally compliant is the source.

This is a beautifully sad work of literary fiction masquerading as a murder mystery. But then it is part of the author's Ballad series, each of which takes you on a different ride through Appalachia.

nmcspadd's review against another edition

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2.0

Eh. I understand that the author was trying to paint a portrait of a community in crisis, and I suppose there was some thematic resonance between the various plots. But for me, the plots and characters were clumsily woven together (if at all) and really didn't make for a cohesive whole. Overall, I didn't find it to be a very insightful work. (Very creepy at times, though!)

mimima's review against another edition

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4.0

Another one that could do with a half star. However, what I loved about this book was that it wove in Shakespeare, the Irish heritage of Appalachia, and the ballads that nurture the area so beautifully. In a lot of ways it reminded me of "Christy" - it's not necessarily a compelling story, but a compelling setting and characters. The mystery is, quite frankly, a sideline.

I look forward to reading more of her novels.

lyricallit's review against another edition

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3.0

This book seemingly wanders. There is not a strong plot driving the story forward, nor even characters truly pushing it onward. It is more an exploration of an idea, of death, life, and that transition from the former to the latter. I read this pretty leisurely at first, not too hooked to find more, but mid-way through, I was interested to see where McCrumb goes with it all. Her best writing comes in the last quarter of the book, where I was finally on the edge of my seat, eager for more.