A review by dennisfischman
The Ballad of Tom Dooley by Sharyn McCrumb

2.0

Sharyn McCrumb can carry a book on atmosphere alone. This one suffered from J.K. Rowling syndrome, however: the author has become famous enough that she doesn't get or listen to a good editor. The only reason I can imagine for the ways this book beats its character descriptions and plot points into the ground was that McCrumb wanted to prove beyond the shadow of a doubt, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, that she had established not only who killed Laura but how and why.

It's also a pity that she is so enamored of the historical character Zebulon Baird Vance that she seems not to notice what a prig she is making him out to be.