Sharyn McCrumb
She Walks These Hills (1994)
Author: Sharyn McCrumb
Genre: Mystery (Police Detective)/Suspense
Plot Summary:
Setting and stories are the focal point in this mystery. It takes place in Hamelin, Tennessee, and the surrounding county as the townsfolk discover that one of their most infamous/famous residents, Harm Sorley, has escaped from state prison and might be heading in their direction. Now the local police as well as the local radio DJ and some of the convicts’ family members are trying to figure out what exactly happened 30 years ago to get Harm convicted of murder and if he’s a harmless old man or a crazed murderer. In the meantime, Jeremy Cobb, a graduate student from Virginia sets out in the hills around Hamelin to follow the path of Katie Wyler, a settler from the 1790’s who escaped from the Shawnee and traveled over a month through the wilderness only to be killed when she returned home. As Harm in making his trek home through the wilderness, meeting Jeremy and the ghost of Katie on the way, murders are commited in Hamelin that appear to be his handiwork. SPOILER: The story ends as we learn exactly what happened to Harm and Katie and how their stories are so very similar.
Geographical Setting: Appalachians, Tennessee, and North Carolina
Time Period: present (1994)
Series: the third book in The Ballad Mysteries series
Appeal Characteristics:
The book is very setting driven, it is almost as if the Appalachians are a character themselves, you can feel the land and what it means to the people. McCrumb is also good at developing characters, and even though there are numerous characters in this tale, each one is more than suitably described. The book is written in third person so you know what is going on in the character’s heads, which can be good or bad (especially if you know they are doing something wrong). The book isn’t fast-paced but it is very compelling, you want to know what’s going to happen next. McCrumb also uses hymn and ballad lyrics from the region to start out and set the tone for each chapter.
Read-alikes: Authors that focus on setting, stories and community in Appalachia (but aren't mystery writers) are Wendell Berry and Fred Chappell. For more mysteries set in Appalachia turn to Ron Rash or Phillip Depoy. Deborah Grabien writes mysteries set in England revolving around traditional ballads (English Ballad Mysteries). Tony Hillerman's mysteries are set accross the country in the Southwest but are similar to McCrumb's in that they focus on traditional culture and myth.
Red Flags: There are descriptions of suicide, not graphic, but sad. Also, a mother kills her baby, again not graphic, but very sad.
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