Death's Half Acre

AGAIN, MRS. MARON DOES A GREAT JOB OF KEEPING YOUR INTEREST THROUGH OUT THE BOOK. SHE MAKES YOU FEEL THAT YOU KNOW THE CHARACTERS AND ARE A FRIEND AND NEIGHBOR FOR A SHORT TIME. ENJOY

Reviewed by Sandie Kirkland for RebeccasReads (9/08) Deborah Knott, district judge in a small town in North Carolina, is concerned about the changes taking place in her area. The old farms are being broken up and ritzy housing developments are growing up everywhere, most on half-acre lots. Along with the new houses come outsiders who think their money trumps the family relationships and trust built on generations of local families, and that their culture should displace the existing one. As worrisome as the new money is, things get dramatically worse when Candace Bradshaw, chairman of the county commissioners, is found murdered in her big new expensive house. Allegations of political misconduct and insider corruption abound. Deborah's husband, who is a sheriff's deputy, investigates the case, and Deborah finds herself getting drawn in. In addition, her dad, patriarch of one of the old families and a former bootlegger, is acting strange and Deborah is worried about what is going on with him. The fourteenth mystery in this series is a big hit for Margaret Maron. Those readers who have followed the series will be pleased to come back for another visit with Deborah and her eccentric family. Those readers for whom this is a first read will be quickly drawn into the series and immediately go look for earlier books in the series. I especially liked this one as I live in the area and could relate to the locations and the social relationships outlined. A solid win for Maron.

Margaret Maron's latest novel is the best one, yet! Death's Half Acre has it all: tantalizing politics, family secrets (that you never knew) and a revealing plot starring the old bootlegger, her aged father. You won't be able to put the book down, once you begin. The ending is the best! Never before has Maron's book stumped me this well. Highly recommended for Maron's faithful followers, and a great first read if you are a newcommer to this author's award-winning novels.

Once again, Margaret Maron writes a compelling mystery with all the right ingredients: a strong believable heroine, a suspenseful plot, a strong sense of place and even a few touches of humor. Luckily I set aside some time on a rainy weekend. It's not a book I can put down easily. Fans of Deborah Knott will be relieved to find that Deborah's marriage has not weakened the series. We don't get drowned in domestic details but we see glimpses of Deborah enjoying the challenges and rewards of her new roles as wife, stepmother and dog owner. She's caught up in the dynamic economy of North Carolina and the plot details are firmly grounded in 21st century technology and culture. The plot has been summarized elsewhere. I didn't feel the solution was given away (or else I'm particularly dense) but the ending was consistent, believable and totally satisfying. As other reviewers noted, Maron has a gift for creating characters who are neither angels nor devils. We might raise an eyebrow at some actions of the "good guys" and it's hard not to be sorry for the villains as they're carted off to jail, served with lawsuits or (in one delightful subplot) simply outwitted by a cunning old-timer. This series has become one of my favorites. I look forward to each volume and get withdrawal pangs when I finish and realize there's a long wait for the next.