Sharyn McCrumb, The Unquiet Grave

This novel proved to be a very different beast of a crime book. Ghosts, murderers, and coverups, oh my! There’s a lot about this novel that screams quintessential southern murder mystery. Taking place post-Civil War in Appalachian mountain towns and based on the true story of Zona Heaster, otherwise known as the Greenbriar Ghost, this novel approaches difficult topics with grace and respect for both the victim and family.

Mary Jane Heaster does not like “Trout” Shue from the moment she learns about him. When her beloved daughter marries him almost immediately after meeting him, she is right to worry. Continue reading “Sharyn McCrumb, The Unquiet Grave” →

Amy Greene, Bloodroot

TW: Abuse and depictions of violence

Amy Greene’s debut novel, Bloodroot, is a striking work of literary fiction set in the Appalachian region of Tennessee. Rather than following a traditional plot, Bloodroot is a collection of life stories spanning four generations, each narrator connected to the novel’s central figure: Myra Lamb. By progressing in a non-linear fashion, Bloodroot’s character-driven storytelling allows readers to slowly navigate the depths of this tragic family. This is largely achieved through coupled perspectives, the first alternating between Myra’s childhood friend, Doug, and her grandmother, Birdie; and later shifting to Myra’s own children, Johnny and Laura. Though these stories are brought together by their connection to Myra, I found each incredibly compelling in its own right. Continue reading “Amy Greene, Bloodroot” →

Toni Morrison, Beloved (1987)

Trigger warnings follow the book review.

How should we categorize Beloved? Its opening pages designate it as a paranormal novel. Sethe, a woman who escaped enslavement on the terrifying Sweet Home plantation, lives with her teenage daughter, Denver, in their Cincinnati house. However, their home also hosts a vengeful presence: the ghost of Sethe’s infant daughter. Like a magician flourishing her best tricks, the spirit draws from the classics of ghostly activity. Mirrors shatter. Handprints appear in cakes. And, in the baby’s strongest expression of rage, the house shakes. But early on, Paul D–a man who was enslaved alongside Sethe and with whom she develops a complicated romance–arrives and seemingly banishes the ghost. Mere chapters later, Beloved again veers into the paranormal, but with a flesh-and-blood twist. A woman appears at Sethe’s house, whose name–Beloved–mirrors the epitaph on Sethe’s daughter’s tombstone, and who is chillingly adept at bonding with Denver, chasing Paul D away, emotionally manipulating Sethe, and overindulging her sense of abandonment and anger… Continue reading “Toni Morrison, Beloved (1987)” →

Greg Iles, True Evil

Plot Summary:

True Evil by Greg Iles is a psychological crime thriller. The novel follows Dr. Chris Shepard, a man with the perfect wife, a beautiful child, and his own practice. Everything is perfect, except for the fact that his wife is plotting his murder. FBI Agent Alexandra Morse discovered that a local divorce attorney named Andrew Rusk has a trail of clients whose spouses died from seemingly natural causes, not long after meeting with him. One of those clients happened to be Agent Morse’s own brother-in-law – and now her sister is dead. Special Agent Morse is on a warpath to solve this mystery, and in doing so tells Dr. Shepard of his wife’s murder plot. Will Dr. Shepard help Agent Morse on her investigation, or will he ignore the signs and become the next victim in this bone- chilling murder plot? Continue reading “Greg Iles, True Evil” →

George Dawes Green, The Kingdoms of Savannah

The Book

Set in the summer heat of Savannah, Georgia, The Kingdoms of Savannah is a critique of the city’s dark history and an enthralling mystery. As the title suggests, this is very much a book about Savannah, almost to a fault. The landmarks, touchpoints, and local features are highlighted throughout, like the A-Hole, the Cathedral, River Street, and the numerous antebellum mansions. While this is a crime and mystery novel, the plot could not occur anywhere else as the story and characters are intertwined with their environment and complex history. Continue reading “George Dawes Green, The Kingdoms of Savannah” →

Attica Locke, The Cutting Season

Sitting on the banks of the Mississippi river, Belle Vie has everything one could want in a southern plantation turned historic site and venue: an opulent big house, beautifully groomed grounds, and an unsettling past. But when the body of a migrant worker is found in one of the enslaved workers’ cabins, the present proves just as challenging. Continue reading “Attica Locke, The Cutting Season” →

William Faulkner, Light in August (1932)

…but is it a crime novel?

William Faulkner’s Light in August isn’t a traditional mystery in any sense, but it certainly is a crime novel. It’s the story of Joanna Burden’s death – a middle-aged single woman living alone on the edge of town – and Joe Christmas, the reclusive bootlegger accused of her murder. It’s also the story of a trio of social outcasts Continue reading “William Faulkner, Light in August (1932)” →