Slow Dollar

I thought the last several books in the Deborah Knott series were pretty poor. Mechanical plots, dull characters, uninteresting and implausible mystery solutions. In one of them, I intuited the murdered from the beginning because s/he was given too much "air time" when s/he was introduced - a common giveaway for untalented mystery writers. I feared that Maron had run out of ideas and was just churning out books for the money.Happily, "Slow Dollar" more than restores my faith. As is typical with Maron, the point is less the mystery than the characters. As others have indicated, the new characters in "Slow Dollar" are delightfully drawn and wonderfully real. They add more depth to the incredibly complex relationships within Deborah's family.And I absolutely, positively LOVED the new relationship with Dwight. Yes, I consider myself to be on a first-name basis with these people; they are that real to me.Thank you, Margaret Maron, from this grateful reader. You're back on track.

Deborah Knott, youngest of twelve children and only daughter of ex-bootlegger Kezzie Knott, is a circuit judge in rural North Carolina. On the bench, she's compassionate but firm; off the bench, she manages to avoid both marriage and speeding tickets -- barely. A carnival comes to Deborah's own Colleton, County, North Carolina. Deborah and assorted cousins are enjoying the rides when the carnival owner's elder son is found murdered. Deborah's personal and professional lives are intertwined as she helps her old friend, Sheriff Dwight Bryant, investigate the crime. The mystery is not a whodunit and many readers won't care when the villain is revealed. The strength of the book comes from strong writing, three-dimensional characters and the North Carolina rural setting. As usual, Deborah's young cousins teeter on the edge of the law while her assorted brothers and sisters-in-law carry on family traditions of southern hospitality. And as Deborah faces re-election, she regrets her checkered history of relationships and considers a surprising proposition from someone close to her. Slow Dollar evokes an unsentimental but loving picture of the Old South. Like the author, Deborah grew up in North Carolina, lived "up north" and returned home. She respects the heritage of the south while defying its traditions in her own life. And the series is as warm and delicious as a southern baked biscuit with melted butter -- after you've consumed one, you're eager for the next. The Knott family might try Deborah's patience but they manage to be warm and supportive without degenerating into sentimental syrup. If you're new to the series, read a few of the earlier volumes first -- you'll enjoy this one even more.

Judge Deborah Knott, her incredible family and their southern-fried lives are a big part of what makes this series so satisfying to me. I love the way she values her friends and families and her home, warts and all. This book was a great addition to Deborah's story and the story of her beloved Colleton County. I was glad to see the developments in her personal life -- after all the ups and downs of this area of Deborah's life, I wished this book had devoted a little more time to this part of the storyline. Nevertheless, this was a satisfying book in its plot line and its rich cast of characters.

I have loved Margaret Maron's books for years, and have loved Deborah Knott and her huge family since "Bootlegger's Daughter.""Slow Dollar" has it all- the vivid, lovable, characters, rich local colour, a challenging mystery.Set in a carnival, Maron gives us a glimpse into a life many of us never know, and may never know.As others have said, there is an unexpected branch of the Knott family tree.While Cyl DeGraffenried is sorely missed, there is a delightful turn for the better in Deborah's private life.I found "Uncommon Clay" to be less compelling than "Storm Track," but "Slow Dollar" certainly makes up for it.

When the carnival comes to Dobbs, Deborah has already met the owner. Two drunken fools damaged one of her rides and Deborah was the judge to hear the case. More trouble occurs in Dobbs. The eldest son of the owner is found dead, by Deborah, at the Dozer with a mouth full of quarters. While investigating the case, she finds that Tallahassee Ames, the part owner of the carnival is really, her niece, Olivia. She hasn't seen Olivia since she was a small child, but promised her late mother to always treat her as family. Too bad Olivia's father doesn't feel the same way, since it was his grandson that was murdered. Deborah is also changing her relationship with Dwight Bryant. This is one of the best novels of the series. Ms. Maron is always at her best when she involves Deborah's huge family and its different characters in the story. A new family member is always welcome and Tally and her family add color to an already colorful brood. Deborah's new relationship with Dwight makes me wonder why nothing ever happened before. I can't wait to find out what happens in the next book.