If Ever I Return, Pretty Peggy-O

Sharyn McCrumb is one of our finest novelists. Her characters have depth and nuance; there are surprises and suspense along the way; and she manages to touch our emotions in a way few writers do. Readers expecting a puzzle mystery may be disappointed, but that's only because McCrumb transcends the mystery genre and writes real stories about real places and real people.I've just reread the entire Apalachian series straight through and they were just as good this time as last. Can't wait for Ghost Riders in July.

I run two book discussion groups in the library where I work and am always on the look-out for good titles for both. Our general (eclectic) club is usually not such a problem, since the participants know to expect a wide variety of materials. The mystery discussion sessions have been a little more problematic, partly because it's a specialized genre, and one that I'm not as familiar with myself, and partly because mysteries, while extraordinarily poplular at my library, don't always lend themselves to a lengthy discussion unless they have well-rounded characters and well developed plotlines or if they touch upon broader themes than the solving of the mystery itself.This book, Sharyn McCrumb's first work in her "Ballad Series," met all these criteria--and for my money was an intriguing and effective mystery besides. The book tackles such weighty themes as the legacy of the Viet Nam era, family conflicts and resolutions and even the lesser trauma (or maybe not, if we'e honest about it) of not having the greatest time in high shool. McCrumb is able to address all these themes with humanity, wit and a keen eye for detail. All in all, I'd say this is the BEST title our little mystery group has discussed yet.I was a little surprised to see that others here have given this book decidedly mixed reviews. Since I am not a long time mystery buff myself, I guess it could be true that the "whodunnit" question might be more obvious to a genre expert. But I tend to doubt that actually, since many in our group would qualify as such--and they didn't necessarily see the ending coming. McCrumb throws out enough in the way of red herrings to keep most readers guessing.But for me, the main appeal of this book is indeed the masterful characterization. These are complex people, whom you genuinely come to care about. I wouldn't hesitate at all to introduce McCrumb's work to my more "literary" discussion group. She is, simply stated, a darned good writer.

Peggy Muryan moves into an idyllic Tennessee town to escape the shadows of her past. Set in 1986, Peggy copes with the loss of her music partner, Travis, who was killed some twenty years earlier in Vietnam. She saves every letter from Travis and the recordings they did in smoky coffeehouses (were there any coffeehouses in the 1960s that WEREN'T smoky) and college circuits. Alone and confused, she comes to the quiet community to regroup. Sheriff Arrowood, a town fixture takes to Peggy. Attractive and blessed with a beautiful voice, she provides a spark of interest into the small community. Arrowood's brother was a casualty of the war and he feels immediately bonded to the enigmatic Peggy.Peggy leans on Arrowood when she becomes the target of a series of threatening letters, seemingly written by Travis. Since he has been dead for 20-odd years, she wonders who knows Travis well enough to ape his writing style.Pix-Kyle, a Vietnam era Rambo wannabe, latches himself onto Peggy. A high school misfit with a weird name, he has an unflagging obsession with anything related to the Vietnam War. He riles Arrowood with his incessant questions about the latter's brother, who died in combat. He riles other male adults in the community by asking them to revisit the horror of Vietnam War atrocities. Once he learns Peggy's former flame/collaborator Travis is a war casualty, he turns his war obsession onto her. He breaks into her house, reads her letters and apes the writing style Travis used in them. He sends Peggy letters, trying to make it sound like Travis is not really dead, but somewhere in the area watching her. The story is intense and unforgettable. The characters hold the readers' interest. This one is well worth reading.

This book is filled with fascinating characters, vivid prose, and uniquely American historical drama about the Vietnam war. With a brilliant surprise ending that reveals not only who's been killing young women in this small Appalachian town but also what burdons have been all along killing the other characters inside, this gem of a book is perfectly plotted and definitely worth reading.

What a delightful cast of characters! Nora Bonesteel has "the sight." Sheriff Spencer Arrowood is trying to solve the murder of a young town girl. Folk singer Peggy Muryan unwittingly becomes part of a twisted murder committed to "avenge" a soldier she left behind before he was killed in Vietnam. Lovingly shows insight into Appalachian manners, customs, and ways. Ms. McCrumb writes about Appalachia from the inside