Scan barcode
bailey_bea's review
3.0
I understand that the book isn't really about the murder trial, but about how it was covered by reporters, but it felt as if 3/4ths of the novel was set-up for a very anticlimactic (and incredibly short) story that offered very little pay-off.
As someone from East Tennessee, I do appreciate McCrumb's approach. To this day, the region is incredibly misunderstood, so it was nice to read a novel that highlights the ridiculous stereotypes that have been (and continue to be) perpetuated in the media.
As someone from East Tennessee, I do appreciate McCrumb's approach. To this day, the region is incredibly misunderstood, so it was nice to read a novel that highlights the ridiculous stereotypes that have been (and continue to be) perpetuated in the media.
pamwiley_547hva's review
2.0
There are others in the S.McC. ballad series that I have enjoyed more. This one felt, I don't know, a little thin, though the element of mountain people with The Sight was very cool. Nora Bonesteel always rocks, and the author is a research and documentation superhero.
sjgrodsky's review
3.0
Sometimes you throw all the right elements into a pot, simmer for awhile, and yet they never evolve into soup.
retiredlibrarylady's review
3.0
Did Emma Morton kill her father? She has attracted national attention as she awaits her fate in a Virginia jail. Journalists compete for the opportunity to get an "exclusive". Mild suspense. Good Appalachian background, as is usual with her.
mariannehdonley's review
5.0
A very good tale.
This was one of my favorite of the Ballad Novels (so far). It's really more about reporters then it is about the murder. Fake news is clearly nothing new. Still a very good read.
This was one of my favorite of the Ballad Novels (so far). It's really more about reporters then it is about the murder. Fake news is clearly nothing new. Still a very good read.
tracey_stewart's review
4.0
The Devil Amongst the Lawyers is the tale of a 1935 trial in Wise County, Virginia, which gains national attention because of two factors: the country (or the newspaper business, at least) is hungry for a new sensation now that the Lindbergh kidnapping has run its course - and the defendant is pretty. The one thing the journalistic community in this book is honest about is that had she been ten years older or half as pretty no one would have paid the least attention outside her own community.
The book features three journalists: Henry Jernigan, with his reputation for high-toned writing and literary reference (when he thinks his audience will "get it"); Rose, a "sob sister", following as all woman reporters of the time do the emotional angle and grateful (as they all are) that the girl really is attractive; both Henry and Rose are from a major newspaper (though not as major as the syndicate that paid for exclusive access to the defendant, in a move that stinks to high heaven from every angle). The third journalist is Carl, a nineteen-year-old just beginning his journalistic career at a tiny hometown paper, and hoping that this will be his break.
There is also Shade, the photographer sent with Henry and Rose, who goes out seeking broken down cabins to take pictures of for the story (preferably one with a pig on the porch) and has a terrible hard time finding one; and Nora Bonesteel, here aged 12, the ghost-touched old lady who is the common thread through the Ballad novels.
The writing is beautiful. The characters – from the old men who try to give Carl a bit of a break to the ones we spend the most time with – are wonderful – Henry with his Japanese ghosts, and Rose with her "dog fox" light o' love Danny, and Carl with his clear-eyed read of the facts battling with what would further his career and get him out of the sticks. And Nora, with her gift that no one understands … I found the ending disturbing, in a way, because it fell out so very differently from what I still – credulous, naïve gull that I am – hoped would be the result of a properly held trial covered by experienced reporters.
The story of the elephant in the prologue is true, I'm sorry to say. The story of Erma Morton is true, or the basic facts are - her name was really Edith Maxwell. I'm sorry to say that, too, because that means that the rest of it is probably close to truth. A beautiful, sad, disheartening book.
The book features three journalists: Henry Jernigan, with his reputation for high-toned writing and literary reference (when he thinks his audience will "get it"); Rose, a "sob sister", following as all woman reporters of the time do the emotional angle and grateful (as they all are) that the girl really is attractive; both Henry and Rose are from a major newspaper (though not as major as the syndicate that paid for exclusive access to the defendant, in a move that stinks to high heaven from every angle). The third journalist is Carl, a nineteen-year-old just beginning his journalistic career at a tiny hometown paper, and hoping that this will be his break.
There is also Shade, the photographer sent with Henry and Rose, who goes out seeking broken down cabins to take pictures of for the story (preferably one with a pig on the porch) and has a terrible hard time finding one; and Nora Bonesteel, here aged 12, the ghost-touched old lady who is the common thread through the Ballad novels.
The writing is beautiful. The characters – from the old men who try to give Carl a bit of a break to the ones we spend the most time with – are wonderful – Henry with his Japanese ghosts, and Rose with her "dog fox" light o' love Danny, and Carl with his clear-eyed read of the facts battling with what would further his career and get him out of the sticks. And Nora, with her gift that no one understands … I found the ending disturbing, in a way, because it fell out so very differently from what I still – credulous, naïve gull that I am – hoped would be the result of a properly held trial covered by experienced reporters.
The story of the elephant in the prologue is true, I'm sorry to say. The story of Erma Morton is true, or the basic facts are - her name was really Edith Maxwell. I'm sorry to say that, too, because that means that the rest of it is probably close to truth. A beautiful, sad, disheartening book.
tabithar's review
3.0
3.5 stars. This book provided an interesting view of the role of journalism in multiple court cases and news events. For fans of Nora Bonesteel, this book shows a snapshot story that occurred when she was 12. Its not the same style or pacing as The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter or The Rosewood Casket but really a story that focuses more on the characters involved and their personalities than the overall plot. That being said, I rather liked it (though it was a bit slower in some places) but understand that some people prefer a more plot driven book. I also liked that she recommended a solid nonfiction book that she thought would be useful to those interested in the known details surrounding the main storyline.
nursenell's review
4.0
A fiction version of the trial of Edith Maxwell in rural VA in the mid 1930's. The author makes the time and place very real. The book held my interest.
dja777's review
Just couldn't get into it. I quit reading about 1/3 of the way through.
srah617's review
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75