If you are a fan of Deborah Knott and her family, you'll like this one.
Great light mystery--some one is burning churches.
Maron's series featuring North Carolina Circuit Court Judge Deborah Knott got off to a great start when the launch novel, Bootlegger's Daughter (1992), swept the Edgar, the Macavity and the Anthony awards for best novel. The series is notable for the smooth way Maron blends the distinctively Southern charms of Deborah's vast extended family with engrossing plots and an intelligentAbut not heavy-handedAconsideration of social issues. In this sixth outing, Maron skillfully incorporates the changes and problems that integration has brought to the New South. Deborah, who narrates, is at the start of a reelection campaign when a nephew is arrested, with two friends, for desecrating a cemetery. When the same spraypainted graffiti appears at an African American church that's been torched, the young men are suspected of arson. Two more black churches are burned and two bodies uncovered before Deborah fingers the culprit. In a separate plotline, the fate of a young civil rights worker, missing for more than 20 years, is brought to light. Both solutions come a bit too easily, although the identity of the arsonist may surprise readers. Maron lays the groundwork with subtlety, however, and she brings much more depth to her portrait of small-town doings than do most mystery writers. Deborah, who dubs her competing inner voices "the preacher" and "the pragmatist," is a wholly engaging blend of country comfort and New South sophistication.
I love the North Carolina author
Judge Deborah Knott is such an engrossing character. This novel involves church burnings in NC, and an African-American female prosecutor.
Another excellent addition to the author's long-running series about North Carolina judge Deborah Knott.
Thoroughly enjoyed all the books in this series. Maron creates great characters
From back cover:
Judge Deborah Knott loves her close-knit Southern family, but know they're not all angels. Still, she's shocked when her rowdy nephew A. K. is caught vandalizing a cemetery with a group of teens -- and then suspected in the torching of an African-American church. Torn between duty and family loyalty, Deborah investigates, stirring up long-smoldering sins and secrets. When several fire-breathing players appear on the scene -- including an African-American female prosecutor and a charismatic preacher - the sparks explode. Now suddenly, Judge Knott faces a dark, deadly case that threatens to consume her family, her beliefs, and her very life.
Judge Deborah Knott loves her close-knit Southern family, but know they're not all angels. Still, she's shocked when her rowdy nephew A. K. is caught vandalizing a cemetery with a group of teens -- and then suspected in the torching of an African-American church. Torn between duty and family loyalty, Deborah investigates, stirring up long-smoldering sins and secrets. When several fire-breathing players appear on the scene -- including an African-American female prosecutor and a charismatic preacher - the sparks explode. Now suddenly, Judge Knott faces a dark, deadly case that threatens to consume her family, her beliefs, and her very life.
Sixth in the series. This series has a great sense of place, I love the descriptions of the country. Once again a member of Judge Knott's enormous family has gotten into hot water and the judge can't help poking around trying to make things right. Written in 1998 but sadly the race relations issue is still front and center in today's news. Maron drags a couple nice red herrings across the reader's path.
A Deborah Knott Mystery.
"A searing crisis of race and region and other burning issues of the heart..."
"A searing crisis of race and region and other burning issues of the heart..."
A favorite series for me and the DH. Thought this one, with a few twists and red herrings, was very well done.
ANDRE' E. J. (Expeditious) -
This entire series of Judge Deborah Knott by Margaret Maron is an absolutely joy to read.
The characters are well thought out and explained and continued throughout the series.
The locations and situations are wonderful too - even with the 'journalistic license' taken.
One feels you know the places, folks, taste the food, experience the wonderful place that is
North Carolina. I simply just loved it and could not wait to read on and on.
The characters are well thought out and explained and continued throughout the series.
The locations and situations are wonderful too - even with the 'journalistic license' taken.
One feels you know the places, folks, taste the food, experience the wonderful place that is
North Carolina. I simply just loved it and could not wait to read on and on.
