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Showing posts with label U.S. Settings: West Virginia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label U.S. Settings: West Virginia. Show all posts
Thursday, November 26, 2020
Cozy Series Opener Too Far-Fetched and Silly
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Macy Hatfield's at loose ends after divorcing her cheating husband of seven years. When her older brother suggests she join him in a new business venture, she jumps at the chance to start over in the little West Virginia town where they were raised. Macy's excited to make the Barks and Beans Café—a coffee shop with a special area for shelter dogs needing homes—a success. Not only will she and Bo be serving delicious joe, but they will be helping needy animals.
When the golf instructor at a local spiritual retreat facility is found dead, his Great Dane is left an orphan. Macy's immediately taken with the giant pup, who becomes her ward. When she finds a mysterious message under Coal's collar, she begins to wonder if the purebred dog was the reason his owner died. Worried for the animal's safety, Macy vows to figure out who killed Gerard Fontaine before it's too late for her precious new pet.
I needed a book set in West Virginia for the Literary Escapes reading challenge, so I grabbed No Filter by Heather Day Gilbert, the first book in a cozy mystery series. Just as I suspected, it's a quick, easy read that was engaging enough to keep me reading. Unfortunately, the plot is far-fetched and silly, with a killer who's pretty obvious from the get-go. The characters, including the siblings at the story's center, have little personality, which makes them feel bland and generic. So, while I appreciated No Filter for being a clean, easy read, I only continued with it because of its setting. I won't be moving on with the series ... unless, of course, I need a West Virginia book for next year's challenge ...
(Readalikes: Reminds me of other cozy mysteries, although no particular title or series is coming to mind. You?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence and scenes of peril
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Wednesday, December 18, 2019
Always Compelling Bell Elkins Series Just Keeps Getting Better
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
(Note: While this review will not contain spoilers for The Cold Way Home, it may inadvertently reveal plot surprises from earlier Bell Elkins mysteries. As always, I recommend reading books in a series in order.)
On probation for killing her abusive father when she was ten, 54-year-old Belfa "Bell" Elkins can no longer work as a county prosecutor. Along with two of her colleagues—former county sheriff Nick Fogelsong and Jake Oakes, whose injury in the line of duty as a deputy has left him wheelchair-bound—she's formed a private investigation firm. While working a case involving a missing teenager, Bell is searching an isolated stretch of land that once housed the Wellwood psychiatric hospital when she discovers a corpse. Marks on the body suggest its owner was brutally murdered.
The remains are identified as those of Darla Gilley, a 56-year-old local who was newly divorced from her alcoholic husband. As Bell, Nick, and Jake look into the woman's past, they discover her strange connection to Wellwood. Sixty years ago, Darla's grandmother was also killed at Wellwood. Her murder was never solved and Bell can't help but think the two deaths must be related. As she digs into the family's connection with Wellwood, Bell uncovers horrifying truths about the hospital's past. Is Bell correct in her assumption that the murders are linked? Or is she barking up the wrong tree, one that will distract her from finding Darla's killer? If Bell and her team don't unmask the murderer soon, will another Acker's Gap local turn up dead on Wellwood's haunted grounds?
I've been a fan of the Bell Elkins series by Julia Keller since I randomly grabbed A Killing in the Hills—the first installment—off a library shelf. I felt immediately drawn to Bell, a tough but compassionate county prosecutor, who cares deeply about the well-being of her down-on-its luck Appalachian hometown. Keller's descriptions of the fictional West Virginia hamlet are vivid and heartbreaking, highlighting the sad (and very real) decline of towns in that region—a place of lush and aching beauty that is being slowly but savagely destroyed by the poverty of its people and the resulting plagues of crime, opioid addiction, alcoholism, and despair. While the town becomes a character in its own right, the series is also filled with humans who are just as intriguing and complex. Keller can always be counted on for compelling plots filled with enough twists to keep a reader hooked. The Cold Way Home, the series' eighth installment, is no exception. It's engrossing, eye-opening, and surprising. Although the killer's motive seemed a little thin to me, the murderer's identity surprised me. I definitely didn't see it coming, which is always nice in a mystery/thriller. It won't shock you to know that I enjoyed this newest book in a favorite series. Keller just keeps getting better, so I'll just keep reading her!
(Readalikes: Reminds me of Stone Mothers by Erin Kelly as well as of other books in the Bell Elkins series, including A Killing in the Hills, Bitter River, Summer of the Dead, A Haunting of the Bones (novella), The Devil's Stepdaughter (novella), Ghost Roll (novella), Last Ragged Breath, Evening Street (novella), Sorrow Road, Fast Falls the Night, and Bone on Bone)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language, violence, mild sexual content, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of The Cold Way Home with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Monday, December 31, 2018
Appalachian Midwife Novel Interesting, But Sluggish
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Although Patience Murphy hardly feels qualified to call herself a midwife, she's been delivering babies in Hope River, West Virginia, ever since her mentor died two years ago. With the Great Depression raging across the country, hitting Appalachia especially hard, Patience receives much thanks for her services, but little payment. Still, she can't deny a woman in need. As times worsen, with no money available for fuel or food, Patience fears she will slowly freeze or starve to death. In the meantime, she helps as many new mothers as she can, assists her handsome neighbor with his veterinarian practice, and protects her black roommate, Bitsy, from hateful Klan members. It's a difficult life Patience leads, but a satisfying one. As long as she keeps her real identity hidden, it's also a relatively safe one ...
It's evident from The Midwife of Hope River, Patricia Harman's first novel, that she has plenty of experience with midwifery, but not a lot with fiction writing. The tale Harman tells here is interesting and authentic, true; it's also slow, episodic, and plotless. It reads more like a doctor's journal than a story with a defined beginning, middle, and end, which makes sense since Harman's previous two books are both memoirs. I'm not saying I didn't enjoy The Midwife of Hope River—all in all, I did—it was just a very slow read for me. Intriguing, but sluggish. Considering how long it took me to get through the novel, I'm not sure I'll bother reading the book's sequels. Harman's memoirs, though? I'll definitely give them a chance because it's obvious from The Midwife of Hope River that the author has had some fascinating experiences delivering babies in poor, rural communities. I definitely want to read more about that.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of the BBC television show Call the Midwife, which is based on the memoirs of Jennifer Worth)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (a couple of F-bombs, plus milder expletives), violence, blood/gore, and mild sexual content
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of The Midwife of Hope River from Barnes & Noble with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Thursday, August 09, 2018
New Bell Elkins Mystery Hits Me Right in the Feels
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Note: While this review will not contain spoilers for Bone on Bone, it may inadvertently reveal plot surprises from previous Bell Elkins mysteries. As always, I recommend reading books in a series in order.
After insisting on serving a jail sentence for killing her abusive father, Belfa "Bell" Elkins has paid her debt to society but lost her job. Although she's been fired and disbarred, Bell retains her loyalty to her "small, poor, done-in county" (34). When a local banker is murdered, she can't help looking into the case. With Rhonda Lovejoy—Bell's long-time friend and successor—and Jake Oakes—a former deputy sheriff who's reluctantly adjusting to life as a paraplegic—by her side, she's determined to figure out who killed Brett Topping. As the usual suspects fall by the wayside, however, Bell will have to look uncomfortably close to home to find the murderer.
While Bone On Bone (available August 21, 2018), the seventh installment in the Bell Elkins series by Julia Keller, isn't as unique as some of its predecessors, it's still a poignant, compelling novel full of everything I love about this series. Keller excels at bringing Acker's Gap, a worn-out Appalachian town, to life in all its problems and pleasures. While some of the Bell Elkins books rely more heavily on plot, Bone On Bone is definitely about the characters. I always love our understated hero and it was fun to get to know her and her compadres even deeper. Although the killer becomes fairly obvious in this one, the book's finale still caught me by surprise—and hit me right in the feels. Now, I really can't wait to see where this series goes next!
(Readalikes: Other books in the Bell Elkins series, including A Killing in the Hills; Bitter River; Summer of the Dead; A Haunting of the Bones [novella]; The Devil's Stepdaughter [novella]; Ghost Roll [novella]; Last Ragged Breath; Evening Street [novella]; Sorrow Road; and Fast Falls the Night)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language, violence, depictions of illegal drug use, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: I received an ARC of Bone On Bone from the generous folks at Minotaur (a division of St. Martin's Press/Macmillan). Thank you!
Thursday, December 14, 2017
Keller Changes Things Up In a Very Good Way With Sixth Bell Elkins Mystery
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Note: While this review will not contain spoilers for Fast Falls the Night, it may inadvertently reveal plot surprises from earlier Bell Elkins novels. As always, I recommend reading books in a series in order.
When a young woman overdoses on the dirty floor of a gas station bathroom, it's a sad, tragic death. Not an out-of-the-ordinary one, however. Not in Appalachia, where life is tough, people are discouraged, and illegal drugs are plentiful. Addiction and all the ugliness that goes along with the "Applachian virus" are just part of life, especially in the small town of Acker's Gap, West Virginia. When another overdose occurs within hours of the first, however, then another, then another, it quickly becomes apparent that the victims have partaken of a bad batch of heroin. Laced with a lethal tranquilizer, the drugs are toxic.
Bell Elkins, the Raythune County prosecutor, is as alarmed as everyone else by the escalating death toll in her little town. In order to stop the madness, she and the police need to locate the dealer responsible for the tainted drugs. It's a frantic, adrenaline-fueled, race-against-the-clock hunt that is unlikely to result in a happy ending. Not everyone believes county resources should be used to fight a losing battle, but it's happening anyway. At least for one night.
As if Bell doesn't have enough on her plate with the desperate drug investigation, she has to deal with a sister who's dying of cancer, a boyfriend who's pressuring her into marriage, and a shocking revelation that will shake her to her core. For the 45-year-old prosecutor, it's going to be a very, very long night ...
I've enjoyed all the books in the Bell Elkins mystery series by Julia Keller and have come to expect a certain formula from them. That's why Fast Falls the Night—the sixth installment—surprised me so much. Keller changes things up this time around in a few ways. First, this story takes place over a 24-hour period, which makes for a much faster paced novel than usual. Second, she focuses on new characters and relationships. As much as I love Bell and miss Nick Fogelsong, injecting some new blood helps make Acker's Gap feel more interesting and alive. Third, Keller ends the book with a cliffhanger. Although this is par for the course with lots of mystery/thriller series, Keller always wraps her stories up at the end. At first, I thought Fast Falls the Night's very abrupt conclusion was due to a printing error in my ARC. Nope. While the not-so-satisfying finale was definitely unexpected, I can't deny that it's making me crazy for the next installment in the series. I have to know what happens, darn it! I also have to say that I like the changes Keller makes in Fast Falls the Night. They've injected new energy into the series. I would have been anxious for the next Bell Elkins book anyway, but now I'm chomping at the bit. August 2018, come quick!
(Readalikes: Reminds me of other books in the Bell Elkins series, including A Killing in the Hills; Bitter River; Summer of the Dead; A Haunting of the Bones [novella]; The Devil's Step-Daughter [novella]; Ghost Roll [novella]; Last Ragged Breath; Evening Street [novella]; and Sorrow Road)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for strong language, violence, blood/gore, depictions of illegal drug use, and other disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: I received an ARC of Fast Falls the Night from the generous folks at Minotaur Books, a division of St. Martin's Press/Macmillan. Thank you!
Monday, December 04, 2017
Appalachian Snow White Retelling Inventive, Intriguing
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Snow-in-Summer Martin lives an idyllic life in the lush mountains of Appalachia. She frolics in the hills with her lovely mother and wraps herself in the magic of her father's abundant garden. With a baby on the way, the Martins are all feeling especially content. For them, life is simple but happy.
Everything changes when the infant and his mother die. Paralyzed with grief, Lemuel Morton barely seems to remember that he has a daughter. If it weren't for the kindly ministrations of Cousin Nancy, Snow-in-Summer would be completely forgotten. Things get even worse when Lemuel marries a mysterious woman whom Snow is convinced must be a witch. As life becomes increasingly difficult for the young woman, she makes a horrifying discovery—Stepmama, whose power feeds off the life force of others, has plans for her bewitching stepdaughter. Very sinister plans, indeed ...
I find the people and culture of Appalachia endlessly intriguing, so when Lark recommended Snow in Summer by Jane Yolen to me, I knew I had to read it. I've never been a big fan of Snow White, but the mountain setting with its natural beauty and magic, both charming and chilling, kept me riveted to the page. The story is familiar, of course, but Yolen adds enough intrigue to make the tale interesting. While I didn't absolutely adore the novel, overall I found it entertaining and enjoyable.
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild language (no F-bombs) and violence
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Monday, January 30, 2017
Creepy Took An Odd, Odd Book
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
When Daniel's dad loses his job in Connecticut, the family must make a dramatic change. Moving to an old abandoned home in rural Woodville, West Virginia, results in profound culture shock, especially for Daniel and his 7-year-old sister, Erica. The city kids are picked on by the locals, who spin terrifying yarns about an evil conjure woman who lives in the woods near the home in which the Andersons are living. Fifty years ago, a young girl disappeared from their house—it's said she was "took" by Old Auntie, forced into slavery for the witch and her bloodthirsty razorback hog.
Daniel refuses to believe the tall tales, no matter how creepy they are. Then, he realizes just how strangely Erica has been acting since they moved to West Virginia. His parents are so wrapped up in their own drama that they haven't noticed anything, but Daniel has. And it's freaking him out. When Erica disappears one day, he knows she's been "took." How can Daniel get his sister back? And who is the ragged girl who appeared in her place? Can a puny 7th grader really take on a powerful conjure woman—and win? Daniel is about to find out ...
I'm not sure what to say about Took by Mary Downing Hahn except that it is an odd, odd book. I seriously can't think of any other way to describe it. It's creepy, yes, and compelling in a way. It's also unrelentingly sad and scary—too much so for its intended audience, in my opinion. I can't imagine handing Took to a child, even one who enjoys scary stories. It's not all that well-written either, considering the characters are flat and the prose is much more tell than show. I did finish reading the book as I wanted to find out what happened, but overall, I didn't find it a very satisfying read.
(Readalikes: Reminded me a little of Doll Bones by Holly Black)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence and scary images
To the FTC, with love: I borrowed a copy of Took from my children's elementary school library as part of my volunteer work with the school's reading program.
Wednesday, December 28, 2016
Newest Bell Elkins Mystery Taut, Compelling, and Atmospheric
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
(Note: While this review will not contain spoilers for Sorrow Road, it may inadvertently reveal plot surprises from earlier Bell Elkins mysteries. As always, I recommend reading books in a series in order.)
Like Belfa "Bell" Elkins, Darlene Strayer grew up in Appalachia, went to law school, and now works in the profession. Unlike Bell, Darlene is well-known and makes good money as a federal prosecutor in northern Virginia. Despite her lofty status, the high-powered lawyer has come to ask for Bell's help. Darlene's 89-year-old father, a patient at a local care home for people with Alzheimer's, has died. Although the care center's staff insists Harmon perished of natural causes, Darlene is not convinced. In the weeks before his death, Darlene's father was trying to communicate something urgent to his daughter. She believes Harmon was killed to prevent him from divulging the secrets locked away in his damaged mind.
Bell is not wholly persuaded by Darlene's pleas. Then, the lawyer is killed in a freak accident and other patients at the care center die under suspicious circumstances. Bell can't ignore the case any longer. Something sinister is definitely going on. How and why did Harmon Strayer die? Is the care center trying to cover up its own incompetence? Or did the old man's secrets go deeper than anyone could have imagined? As Bell looks into the situation, she discovers a tragic story of three boyhood pals and the dark secret they've been keeping for more than 50 years. How far will someone go to keep it buried forever?
I've enjoyed every installment of Julia Keller's Bell Elkins series. Sorrow Road, the fifth book, is no exception. Like its predecessors, the novel is atmospheric, bringing the complicated glory of Applachia to vivid life. The serial characters continue to intrigue me, as do the new ones we meet in Sorrow Road. Plotwise, the story remains taut and compelling throughout. The back-and-forth in time gives the tale an extra layer of depth, a device that I always find immensely appealing. Although Sorrow Road (like Keller's other mysteries) isn't exactly a happy story, it is a hopeful one. Not surprisingly, I enjoyed Keller's newest addition to the Bell Elkins series. I'm definitely looking forward to the next installment, Fast Falls the Night, which comes out in August 2017 (not soon enough, in my humble opinion).
(Readalikes: Other books in the Bell Elkins series, including A Killing in the Hills; Bitter River; Summer of the Dead; Last Ragged Breath; and Fast Falls the Night)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language, violence, mild sexual content, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of Sorrow Road from the generous folks at Minotaur Books (a division of St. Martin's Press/Macmillan). Thank you!
Thursday, December 24, 2015
Unflinching But Compassionate Appalachian Murder Mystery Series Just Keeps Getting Better
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
(Note: While this review will not contain spoilers for Last Ragged Breath, it may inadvertently reveal plot surprises from previous Bell Elkins mysteries. As always, I recommend reading books in a series in order.)
February 26, 1972—A coal slurry dam breaks in Logan County, West Virginia, days after passing a government inspection. Thousands of gallons of black water pour over the area, destroying homes and businesses, leaving thousands homeless, and over 100 people dead. Known as the Buffalo Creek flood, reverberations from the disaster lingered long after its survivors settled with the Pittston Coal Company for millions of dollars in damages.
Last Ragged Breath, the fourth and latest installment in Julia Keller's compelling Bell Elkins series, uses this tragic event as an intriguing backdrop. The novel features Royce Dillard, a man who lost his parents in the Buffalo Creek disaster. Royce would have been killed as well if it hadn't been for his mother, who tossed him to safety before she disappeared in the inky floodwaters (although Royce is fictional, his backstory is very loosely based on the real experience of "miracle baby" Kerry Albright). Now a recluse living off the grid with seven stray dogs, Royce is accused of murdering a slick land developer who was set on building a multi-million dollar resort in Royce's backyard.
For prosecuting attorney Belfa "Bell" Elkins, few things about the case ring true. But with damning evidence against Royce, there's little she can do to stop the proceedings. She longs for the good ole days when she could sit down with her colleague and best friend Nick Fogelsong, putting their heads together to solve puzzling crimes. But there's a new sheriff in town and Nick is busy with his new job as the head of security for a gas station chain. Bell misses him with a fierceness that manifests itself as anger. Resigned to prove Royce's innocence on her own, Bell now faces her toughest case yet. Who really killed Ed Hackel? Why? Can she find a way to exonerate Royce in time? Or will the seemingly gentle recluse rot in jail for a crime he (probably) didn't commit?
There are so many elements that keep me engaged by the Bell Elkins series. First, I love Bell, who's as tough and devoted as she is vulnerable. She's very real, as authentically flawed as the rest of us. Second, I'm always fascinated by Keller's unflinching, but compassionate depiction of rural poverty. Her ruminations on the devastating affects of unemployment, drug abuse, and alcoholism are both eye-opening and heartbreaking. Third, Keller always manages to surprise me. Like with other Bell Elkins mysteries, I thought I had Last Ragged Breath's murderer pegged long before Bell did. Nope. I was totally wrong. For all of these reasons, I'm always eager to see what Julia Keller will do next. As evidenced by Last Ragged Breath, her books just keep getting better. The next comes out in August 2016 and I, for one, cannot wait.
(Readalikes: Other books in the Bell Elkins series, including A Killing in the Hills; Bitter River; and Summer of the Dead)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for strong language, violence, and sexual innuendo/content
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of Last Ragged Breath from the generous folks at Minotaur Books (a division of Macmillan). Thank you!
Friday, October 16, 2015
Appalachian Murder Mystery Series Goes Deeper, Gets Better As It Goes
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
(Note: While this review will not contain spoilers for Summer of the Dead, it may inadvertently reveal plot surprises from previous Bell Elkins mysteries. As always, I recommend reading books in a series in order.)
High summer in Acker's Gap, West Virginia, means more time for its mountain residents to enjoy the rugged beauty around them. And yet, few seem to be outside, taking advantage of the long, arid days. With a killer on the loose, the hill people are scared. Too frightened to linger, too scared to stray far from their homes. It's up to Belfa "Bell" Elkins, Raythune County's prosecutor, and her old friend, Sheriff Nick Fogelsong, to stop the killing. If only they had a clue where to look. For all its breathtaking natural wonders, Acker's Gap is a hard, dead end kind of town, one where desperation leads to violence of every kind. Who could be harboring homicidal tendencies? Just about everyone.
Bell's got enough problems to deal with, never mind the recent murders. Her 45-year-old sister, Shirley, has moved in with her after serving 30 years in prison for killing their abusive father. Trying to re-form the close relationship they shared as girls isn't easy now that they're independent, headstrong adults. Especially since Shirley refuses to listen to reason. Bell's also missing her 17-year-old daughter, who lives with her flashy father in D.C. The last thing she needs is more problems to solve. Or, maybe it's the best thing to get her mind off her domestic troubles?
When Bell's investigation leads her to 19-year-old Lindy Crabtree, the prosecutor believes she's finally getting somewhere. The jumpy teenager is hiding her sad, angry father in the locked basement. The ex-miner, whose failing mind prefers the lonely darkness, could be the exact person for whom Bell and the sheriff have been searching. If only the case were that simple ...
Julia Keller's exploration of Odell Crabtree's issues gives Summer of the Dead, the third installment in her Appalachian mystery series, a greater depth than what is found in the two previous books. Keller always excels at bringing to life the struggles and stresses of her beloved hill people, but Odell's plight feels especially poignant. As does Bell's constant worry over her older sister. It's always been the characters and setting more than the plot that draws me to this series—still, there's plenty of action to be had in a Keller novel, no worries about that! Although I pieced together some of the answers to the mysteries in Summer of the Dead, I didn't see all of them coming. That suspense, as well as my interest in the daily dramas of Acker's Gap's salt-of-the-Earth residents, kept me turning pages. Not to mention hankering for more from the indomitable Bell Elkins.
(Readalikes: Other books in the Bell Elkins series [A Killing in the Hills; Bitter River; and Last Ragged Breath])
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for strong language, violence, sexual innuendo, and adult subject matter (child abuse, drug abuse, etc.)
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Thursday, October 01, 2015
Bitter River Another Complex, Compelling Thriller
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
(Note: Although this review will not contain spoilers for Bitter River, it may inadvertently reveal plot surprises from the first Bell Elkins mystery. As always, I recommend reading books in a series in order.)
Despite its quaint appearance, Acker's Gap, West Virginia, is no stranger to violence. Especially not the rough, desperate kind that grows from the hopeless, soul-sucking poverty so common in down-on-their-luck mountain towns. Still, no one can quite comprehend how a girl with such a bright future ended up dead on the bottom of the Bitter River. A 16-year-old honor student, Lucinda Trimble could have really gone places—unlike the average Acker's Gap high schooler. The discovery of her hidden pregnancy just adds to the shock. Did the baby's father freak out and murder Lucinda? If not, then who did?
It's up to Sheriff Nick Fogelsong to figure out what happened to Lucinda Trimble. As Nick's longtime friend and confidante, prosecuting attorney Belfa "Bell" Elkins will play his unofficial assistant. The case is consuming enough, but Bell's got other problems. Her older sister, who spent three decades in prison for killing their abusive father, is out on parole. Bell wants to help Shirley reenter society—Shirley wants nothing to do with her. Then, there's Carla, Bell's 17-year-old daughter, who's living in D.C. with her flashy lobbyist father. Carla's already fragile emotionally—how is Bell going to break the news about Lucinda, who was her good friend? To add to her troubles, Nick's acting weird and Bell's own emotions are all over the place when it comes to her new relationship with her much younger boyfriend. As trouble in town escalates, Bell must put her personal problems on the back burner and focus on finding a killer. The closer she gets, of course, the more dangerous things become. Can Bell keep an eye on everyone she loves while watching her own back? Or will she become the killer's next target?
I fell in love with Acker's Gap and its fearless prosecuting attorney after reading A Killing in the Hills, the first book in the Bell Elkins series by Julia Keller. Bitter River, the second, continues her story in a novel even more compelling than its predecessor. Like the first book, it offers a twisty plot (my guesses about the murderer's identity were ALL wrong), a complex heroine (her very human flaws make her even more appealing), and an intimate (but unflinching) portrait of West Virginia's mountain people. All of these elements combined to create another deep, affecting thriller that kept me riveted to the page—and eager to continue on with this excellent series.
(Readalikes: Other books in the Bell Elkins series, including A Killing in the Hills; Summer of the Dead; and Last Ragged Breath)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for strong language, violence/gore, and sexual content
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
Mystery Series Brings Appalachia Alive in All Its Brutal, Complex Beauty
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Like much of Appalachia, Acker's Gap, West Virginia, is a place marked by paradox. Nestled between two craggy mountain peaks, the tiny town fairly glows with the kind of lush, natural beauty that steals people's breath away, surprising even the most frequent viewer with its stunning vistas. No matter how verdant the hills, however, the sweet smell of mountain laurel and black huckleberry can't hide the rancid stink of poverty that pervades the area. It's a desperate, soul-sucking thing that breeds "a thoughtless, automatic, knee-jerk violence" (28) that's becoming all too familiar to Acker's Gap's salt-of-the-earth citizens.
As the prosecuting attorney for Raythune County, Belfa "Bell" Elkins sees the result of this reckless brutality every day. Tasked with protecting her vulnerable hometown, the 39-year-old feels the crushing pressure that comes with fighting a losing battle. And yet, she refuses to give up. The youth of Acker's Gap deserve a better future, something more than the bleak hopelessness that defined Bell's growing-up years. With the help of Sheriff Nick Fogelsong, the 52-year-old who took Bell under his wing after the shocking death of her abusive father, her burden feels a little bit lighter. Some days, their long-time friendship is the only thing that keeps her coming back to the peeling courthouse where they both work, with the fate and faith of Raythune County resting on their shoulders.
When three elderly men are gunned down while sipping coffee at a local diner, it shocks the whole town. Carla Elkins, Bell's 17-year-old daughter, is especially tortured by the event, since she witnessed it firsthand. Determined to find the shooter, not just to bring the killer to justice, but also to calm Carla's fears, Bell resolves to solve the case. With no leads, that will be a tough job. The deeper Bell's investigation goes, the more frustrated she becomes. When Carla realizes she may be the key to closing the case, both women find themselves in harm's way. Will the murderer be caught in time? Or will Bell and her daughter become the next victims?
Back in the Dark Ages, I spent a lot of time browsing library shelves, looking for enticing books to lug home and enjoy. These days, I rarely roam the stacks. It's much more convenient to find the titles I want online, place them on hold at my library, whip them off the reserved shelf when they come in, check out, and be on my merry way in 5 minutes flat. That's my usual M.O. But one day, not so long ago, I was searching for another mystery in the K section when I came across A Killing in the Hills by Julia Keller. Because of its appealing cover and intriguing premise, I plucked it off the shelf. Not only did I read it, but I enjoyed it, so much so that I immediately put the next two books in the series on hold at the library. Why did I find A Killing in the Hills (as well as the subsequent novels) so absorbing? Let me give you three reasons:
- Bell Elkins. Our heroine is a complex woman, haunted by her past and the pervasive ways it still affects her in the present. Her flaws make her realistically human. Bell makes mistakes, she gets angry, discouraged, and bitter, but she always presses on, determined to do her best for the town she loves. It's this doggedness that makes her so compelling.
- Acker's Gap. I like stories with rich, vivid settings, especially when authors dig beyond surface beauty to show the reality of a place in all its complicated, conflicting charm. At this, Keller is truly a master.
- The mystery. Keller creates mysteries as twisty as a West Virginia mountain road. I never see the surprises coming. The suspense keeps me riveted to the page.
Is that enough to convince you? It should be! A Killing in the Hills sucked me in and made me care about Bell, Acker's Gap, and, most importantly, the poverty epidemic in so many of America's small mountain towns. Keller's debut novel stuck with me because of its complexity in plot, characters, and sense of place. Despite the quaint setting, this is no cozy—it gets gritty (note the R-rating). Still, the story feels somehow hopeful. A Killing in the Hills isn't an easy read, but it is an affecting one. As are its sequels. It's always exciting to find such treasures in the stacks. Maybe I should browse more often, eh?
(Readalikes: Other mysteries in the Bell Elkins series—Bitter River; Summer of the Dead; and Last Ragged Breath)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for strong language, violence/gore, sexual content, and depictions of prescription and illegal drug abuse
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
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