Elizabeth Goodweather and her husband built a rewarding life in the hills and hollows of their adopted Appalachian home. But now Elizabeth is alon...
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reviews
Aug 12, 2011
Jason
rated it: 
I started this book following reading the best book I have ever read. Therefore, I did set up some pretty low standards for this one. Unfortunately, I did not give this book it’s due credit. Not only was this a good follow-up to “The Last Child”, this is an incredibly well written and executed book all by itself. It’s set in the mountains of North Carolina. The book has two stories, one present, one approximately 100 years prior to the other, simultaneously. At first this was a bit difficu
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Mar 12, 2011
Gail
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Elizabeth Goodweather lives a lovely and simple life in the hills and hollows of North Carolina, across the mountain from Tennessee. Even though she's lived there more than 20 years, raised her daughters there, and made warm friends, she's still a newcomer in many ways. After her husband died eight years ago, she threw herself in keeping their herb farm and business going and getting her daughters into their own lives. Now the daughters are living away and the farm is being managed by a nephe
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Dec 20, 2008
Joan
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I discovered Vicki Lane at Malaprops in Asheville - Great discovery. Her settign is in the North Carolina mountains near Asheville. Her character, Elizabeth Goodweather is a widow trying to put her life back together. (I do relate) She has two daughters, Laura, an artist in Nashville and Rosemary, a professor at Chapel Hill. Her nephew Ben, is a partner in caring for the farm and her business of making things from wildflowers, etc. In this first of her series, she meets Phillip Hawkins, an
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Jul 08, 2009
LeeAnne
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I picked up this book because I Appalachian folklore. This mystery contains a story within a story and bounces back and forth between the early 20th century and today. I found the story of Little Sylvie to be the most compelling part of the book and it is what kept me plugging along. The "current" story was just sort of blah. In fact, there were two or three story lines that more or less got resolved in a fumbling sort of way.
Having said all that, I think that Vicki Lane More...
Having said all that, I think that Vicki Lane More...
Jan 03, 2011
Tinav
rated it:
Elizabeth Goodweather runs an herb and flower farm in the North Carolina
mountains with the help of her nephew. She's a 'newcomer' to the area since she
and her husband settled there only 20 years before. When the book opens,
Elizabeth is nearly paralyzed in the grip of depression that began when her
husband died five years before. And then a neighbor's son, rather 'simple' but
with a strong knowledge of the mountains, turns up dead after one of his normal
walkabout More...
mountains with the help of her nephew. She's a 'newcomer' to the area since she
and her husband settled there only 20 years before. When the book opens,
Elizabeth is nearly paralyzed in the grip of depression that began when her
husband died five years before. And then a neighbor's son, rather 'simple' but
with a strong knowledge of the mountains, turns up dead after one of his normal
walkabout More...
Apr 23, 2008
Jeff
rated it:
Recommended. I discovered this author on a trip to Asheville NC, when her just-released latest book was prominently displayed in the windows of Asheville's wonderful independent bookstore, Malaprop's. That book was a sequel, so I sought out this one, the first in her series set in rural NC. Provides a nice snapshot of Appalachian life and culture, both contemporary and a century ago -- though hardly comprehensive. My parents came from southeastern Kentucky, a bit west of this novel's setting
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Apr 02, 2008
Nikki
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Recent discussions on the DorothyL list caused me to order this book before I started my State Mystery Project. It takes place in North Carolina and I couldn't wait that long to read it; plus, having already read books by Sharyn McCrumb and Phillip DePoy, I'm familiar enough (vicariously) with the western NC mountains that, when I get to the state in my project, I'll be looking for something different, maybe coastal or the Research Triangle. Nevertheless, I hope Vicki Lane writes many more book
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May 24, 2009
Thejamiemarie
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I'm pretty judgemental on these types of books. Honestly, one of the few authors of this genre that I really enjoy is Patricia Cornwell. I, sadly, finished all of her books so I randomly picked up this one. It kept my very interested.I didn't get really into the book until about halfway through, but once I got to that point I had a hard time putting it down. The ending was a twist as well. Well to me at least, but then again I am oblivious to a lot of clues that books give haha.
May 19, 2008
Leigh
rated it:
Signs in the Blood is an absorbing read set in the mountains of Appalachia. This story has it all -- snake handlers, charismatic preachers, prophecy, a religious cult, right-ring militia men, lost dogs, terminal illness, a spark of romance, and much more. Oh, and I almost forgot murder.
The dialect is dead-on, and the author paints a moving portrait of the mountain people of this region. (She lives there herself.) And, although Elizabeth is an intellectual and an agnostic, she i More...
The dialect is dead-on, and the author paints a moving portrait of the mountain people of this region. (She lives there herself.) And, although Elizabeth is an intellectual and an agnostic, she i More...
Apr 06, 2010
Judith
rated it:
A very different book for me. I enjoyed the descriptions of the mountain people and thought the characters were well written. I did feel that there was excess padding that made the book overly long. Some things could have been left out without hurting the story. It was interesting to read about the young girl in the early 1900's that was murdered and to follow that story line mixed in with the rest of the story. I will read more.
Mar 01, 2010
Bobbi
rated it: 
Unfortunately, Vicki Lane has not gotten anything right in this book, except perhaps her descriptions of the mountains. The plot is very thin, the dialect is not like anything I've ever heard around here (I live in the place where this book takes place) and she is at best patronizing to the native people. She give Elizabeth a superior attitude, demeaning to her neighbors and her readers. If you detect nothing untoward in her thoughts and descriptions of local people, then you must not understa
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Nov 15, 2010
Really enjoyable. Liked the loving way that the natives were described.
Nov 20, 2010
Vicki
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After many nudges from my friend Karen to start this series, I finally made the leap and am very glad I did. It brings to life one of my favorite areas of the country, in all of its Appalachian-gothic glory, and treats its oft-maligned inhabitants and culture with deep respect. I liked the protagonist, a woman of a certain age, who is not exactly an outsider after 20 years in the mountains, but stands apart enough to serve as a good liaison for the reader to that world. I look forward to readi
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Jan 17, 2010
Janet
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I really enjoyed this one, and promptly on finishing bought the Kindle edition of the next one in the series.
Apr 14, 2009
Julia
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good regional NC mystery. She explores all the different types of folks living in the mountains. Hippies, mountain folk, religious and military cults, etc.
Jun 22, 2009
Sandra
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I expected this to be first-rate. It wasn't. The characters, plot, and the writing are adequate but lack the complexity and sophistication of professional handling. The dialect of the mountain folk seems overdone and inauthentic.
The author is at her best when she's telling the tale of Little Sylvie, the young mountain girl who lived on the land generations before and whose story echoes the current action.
The author is at her best when she's telling the tale of Little Sylvie, the young mountain girl who lived on the land generations before and whose story echoes the current action.
Jul 11, 2010
Steve
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A murder mystery set in appalachia. I really liked the appalachian dialogue. It story is intriguing and the characters are colorful.
Dec 07, 2007
Gwennie
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I gave someone a practice reference question, intending for her to find the non-fiction "Foxfire" series. Instead, she gave me this title, a mystery set in the Appalachian mountains. I LOVED it...great characters, and the author really captured the feel of Appalachia. Can't wait to read the next one. (Oh, and I did send her back out to search for the non-fiction series I was looking for...)
Oct 07, 2008
Stephen
rated it:
This author lives in North Carolina, somewhere northwest of Asheville. She has a keen ear for the language of the hills, and treats the culture with respect. This is a mystery. Protagonist is a 50-something widow. All the women are strong. With two exceptions, the men are mostly foolish, nasty or just take up space. She has another in the "Blood" series which I haven't read.
May 20, 2009
Carol
rated it:
mystery lovers will enjoy this excellent series this is the first one and it introduces you to a group of very interesting characters--I am looking forward to the whole series-Elizabeth Goodweather is a well drawn character and I wish I could meet her in real life-Vicki Lane also has an interesting blog and web site.
Mar 31, 2008
Cheryl
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First in a series - I like it so far. The setting is the whole story. Elizabeth Goodweather tries to help a friend by finding out how her son died in the Appalachian hills.
Apr 19, 2008
Rae
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A dark mystery set in the hills of Appalachia. Only mildly absorbing, although I did ejoy all the references to snake-handling religions.
Feb 07, 2012
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