OVERVIEW:(FROM AMAZON)
Frankie Silver was arrested in 1832: a small blonde girl, only eighteen, charged with the savage murder of her husband Charlie in their frontier cabin. Lafayette Harkryder was also eighteen when he was arrested, accused of the brutal killing of two young hikers. Two violent crimes, two trials - and two people whose refusal to speak out may well send them to their deaths, separated by one hundred and fifty years of Appalachian history. Burgess Gaither, a twenty-five-year-old-lawyer who witnessed the story from the discovery of Charlie Silver's body to the hanging of Frankie Silver, speaks for Frankie. Sheriff Spencer Arrowood, who arrested Fate Harkryder so many years ago, has been invited to his execution by the state of Tennessee. As the two stories unfold, Gaither and Arrowood both realize that both Frankie Silver and Fate Harkryder have hidden part of their stories - and may have shielded the truly guilty.
REVIEW:
I thoroughly enjoy Ms McCrumb's books. FRANKIE SILVER was the first McCrumb book I read. I was a page turner right away.This book in particular held a lot of historical references.Ms. McCrumb is very accurate in her storytelling.a It didn't carry the mysterious tone that some of her other books do.The favorite psychic, Nora Bonesteel, isn't as large a part of the book as she is in some of the others. I think you might want to read the other four ballad mysteries first and this one last. If you love family history from the backwoods, ghosts and a touch of history, then you'll love these books. They are absolutely wonderful.
When history is dry and and boring, the ballad books seem to be the same way.There is much that can be learned from her books. The author writes in overall themes. These ballad series will make one think. In today's fast paced world, the books are quite slow paced.
I would recommend this book to more of the middle age group of people, not that it wouldn't appeal to others.
The author writes with such truthfulness and accuracy. She's not out to just sell a book. She's out to tell a tale and show a lesson that can be learned.
I'd give this book 4 STARS.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Night Owl Reviews for this unbiased review.
Sharyn McCrumb is
an American writer whose books celebrate the history and folklore of
Appalachia. Educated at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
and Virginia Tech, she has also taught Appalachian studies. She is
married to David McCrumb, a corporate environmental director, and has
two children, Laura and Spencer.http://bemiown.blogspot.com
http://www.nightowllreviews.com
http://www.amazon.com/Ballad-Frankie-Silver-Sharyn-McCrumb/dp/0786114436
No comments:
Post a Comment