A well-written mystery taking place in the Blue Ridge Mountains and along the Appalachian Trail in northern North Carolina and southern Virginia near the highest mountain peak in Virginia (Mt. Rogers which stands 5,728 feet above ground level). The scenery is beautiful (and inviting a visit, in better days), standing in dark contrast to the gruesome murder of Scott Curry.
The young gay man’s body was found at the most inappropriate time - as Ava Logan’s 12-year-old daughter was about to be baptized in the muddy waters of Jackson Creek. The discovery would put an end to the day’s celebration and force Ava Logan, publisher of the Jackson Creek Chronicle and Scott Curry’s employer, and her boyfriend, Jackson County Sheriff Grayson Ridge, to follow the clues to find more about the victim and the murderer.
The story moves along quickly including a couple of brief visits to Mary McCarter, one of several women in the area who were said to have “the gift”. We also get to visit the “Higher Heavens Holiness Church”, located along the slopes of Mt. Rogers, along with a glimpse at its Sunday morning snake-handling service.
The author crafts a believable story, though its exploration of faith will leave some disappointed. It is clear that the author is convinced that faith can be expressed in a variety of ways, though there is no clear role model for the evangelical or, even, a mainline protestant believer. Though the book explores the nature of faith, the author makes no clear statement as to the nature of that faith. Though that was not the intent of the book, it was disappointing to this reader.
For the reader looking for a good summer read this book may fill the bill. A bit beyond the average cozy mystery, but still worth the time I took to read it.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are my own.
