Deborah Knott may have lost the district election, but a bigoted judge's sudden death - and some old-fashioned political horse trading - have won h...
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reviews
Dec 22, 2011
Kristen
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I really enjoyed this book, and I am THOROUGHLY enjoying the series. I stumbled upon it by accident and am very glad I did.
I have to say that while the first one only rated 4 stars, I gave the second one a solid 5 stars and am happily looking forward to the rest of the series.
First of all, it's set in North Carolina, which is an interesting part of the US. Second, the characters are really well-developed, and continue to evolve. There are enough of them that the wor More...
I have to say that while the first one only rated 4 stars, I gave the second one a solid 5 stars and am happily looking forward to the rest of the series.
First of all, it's set in North Carolina, which is an interesting part of the US. Second, the characters are really well-developed, and continue to evolve. There are enough of them that the wor More...
Jul 24, 2010
Jerry
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Awesome settings, intriguing dialogue, but light on mystery...
If you've read Ms. Maron's 8-book Sigrid Harald series, you might well wonder if this is indeed the same author who has now given us (a coincidence?) 8 more in the Judge Deborah Knott collection. Sigrid is a straight-laced NYC detective whose psyche just starts to unfold by the end of the set. The stories focus on the crime (usually a murder in chapter one) and the police procedures involved in catching the crook. Litt More...
If you've read Ms. Maron's 8-book Sigrid Harald series, you might well wonder if this is indeed the same author who has now given us (a coincidence?) 8 more in the Judge Deborah Knott collection. Sigrid is a straight-laced NYC detective whose psyche just starts to unfold by the end of the set. The stories focus on the crime (usually a murder in chapter one) and the police procedures involved in catching the crook. Litt More...
Feb 16, 2011
Janice
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Deborah Knott has just started her job as district judge when she becomes part of a murder investigation. While helping to build houses for battered women, she finds a her teenage niece has been nearly raped at the job site and the attacker murdered with Deborah's hammer (which also has her fingerprints on it).
Fun to visit with Deborah and her family, from her bootlegger father to the myriad of brother, sister-in-laws, nieces, nephews and extended family. A town where if you're not re More...
Fun to visit with Deborah and her family, from her bootlegger father to the myriad of brother, sister-in-laws, nieces, nephews and extended family. A town where if you're not re More...
Aug 13, 2011
Blaire
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Like the first book in the series, I found the setting to be the strongest part of this book. The weak writing bothered me, though. I think one of the measures of good writing is transparency (the author disappears; think Shakespeare). The protagonist has 2 inner voices: "the preacher" and "the pragmatist" who appear from time to time to give voice to the protagonist's inner dialog. The device is clumsy, unnecessary, and amateurish. The interactions between the charac
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Feb 05, 2012
Babs
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This one was a bit slow. At first, it appears nothing happens until halfway through the book. (You find out that’s not quite true until much later in the book.)
This was bit of a disappointment; a tiny disappointment, but still a disappointment. I still like Judge Deborah though. She is still an interesting character to me. Her family and related family is interesting too, though I can’t keep up and wrap my head around some of the connections.
The suspense picks up thoug More...
This was bit of a disappointment; a tiny disappointment, but still a disappointment. I still like Judge Deborah though. She is still an interesting character to me. Her family and related family is interesting too, though I can’t keep up and wrap my head around some of the connections.
The suspense picks up thoug More...
Oct 25, 2009
Patty
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Newly sworn in Judge Deborah Knott has a new job and many complications caused by her extended family. Niece Annie Sue along with her friends Cindy and Paige are at *that* age, 16 going on 35 and out to prove that they are all grown up and ready to experience life. Throw in a cocky male and trouble is brewing. When weird things start happening, including a rash of unexpected deaths, and Annie Sue's father (Deborah's brother) Herman comes up sick the wheels are in motion for Deborah to start u
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Apr 20, 2010
Joyce
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Second in the Judge Deborah Knott series set in North Carolina.[return][return]Maron takes social issues and makes them very personal, usually through Knott's family, which is large enough and diverse enough to provide the characters and situations without seeming forced. In this book, the main issue is child molestation. However, the murder mystery is set against the background of a group of Cottton Grove women building a house for battered women; Knott promised during her election campaign t
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Jun 19, 2011
Danie
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Deborah Knott is now Judge Deborah Knott, but that hasn't stopped her life being full of interesting-ness and excitement. When she was campaigning for the Judge-ship she managed to promise (sort of) to help out with a Woman run sort of Habitat for Humanity, or at least Habitat for Dobbs. The organizer catches her and makes her follow through on her promise. One of her brothers gets sick, and then one of the building inspectors gets himself killed (with the hammer that Deborah had been using) and
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May 06, 2008
Maurean
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“Southern Discomfort” is also the second installment of a series, following behind “Bootlegger’s Daughter” which won the Edgar, Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity awards in 1992. This series centers on Deborah Knott, a former DA and now district judge in Colleton County, North Carolina. In this story, she is making good on a campaign promise to help build houses for battered women, and in doing so Knott discovers who assaulted her teenage niece and killed a randy building inspector inside the unfinis
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Jan 28, 2008
Kellie
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-(book #2 of the Deborah Knott series) This author definitely has a unique style of writing. This book has so many different aspects to it. First, let’s start with the obvious. There was mystery and suspense, although, the murder didn’t occur until Chapter 10. The protagonist, Deborah Knott, is from a large southern family of farmers. (Tobacco). She has just been inaugurated as a District Court Judge and the first several chapters are about her first few days in her new position. I will s
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Jul 29, 2011
Jean
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This is my first Moran/Judge Knott book, but i'll go back for more. I like her casual, easy narrative style. I can identify w/ her small-town, family-all-around environment. I didn't read the Bootlegger's Dgt, which was the first in the series. I'm a little concerned that she'll have to introduce all those brothers and that family in every book - hope not, that could be frustrating, but she'll have to explain them somehow. It was a quick, fun read.
Oct 10, 2011
Sandy
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The southern family and hospitality (along with the old language usage) are so-o-o comfortable that the reader is almost half way through the book before the "mystery" really presents. Thoughtful chapter header quotes on building construction were surprisingly education and good compliment to the overall theme. Well done, but the later books seem to get better and better!
Dec 31, 2008
Kitty Tomlinson
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Newly elected Judge Deborah Knott spends her weekends working on building a house for underpriviliged women while her weekdays are spent getting used to sitting on the bench. The murder of a building inspector has Deborah looking at friends and family with new eyes--Annie Sue, Herman, Nadie, Dwight and a hsot others make this book a joy to read.
Jul 30, 2009
Marti
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I had not figured this out and was surprised by the who in the "who dun it". Liked it better than the first book. Enjoying how the characters are rounding out... Wonder if the growth will be like others or will become static. I have book three already - i guess the hunt is started for the others.
Jan 01, 2009
Cindy
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Great setting, likable characters and good humor. Maron's books have been a great light read for me while on break from school. I like the prologue style of her beginning chapters and the entries at the beginning of each individual chapter.
Jul 16, 2009
Bonnie
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This is the second book in the Deborah Knott mysteries. Deborah a former defense attorney is now a district judge. Quick and enjoyable read! Would like to continue reading the rest of the books in the series.
Jan 18, 2012
Jane
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Picked up this book off an "exchange" shelf in Quito. Since I was on vacation, I thought it might be a nice thin read. Got half way through and tossed it - too slow, even for my vacation blood.
Mar 19, 2011
Mum
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I'd like to give this 3.5 stars, the only drawback is the narrator. I love her for other things, but I don't think she is the right person for this characater.
Jul 09, 2008
LJ
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SOUTHERN DISCOMFORT - Okay
Maron, Margaret - 2nd in series
New lady judge Deborah Knott ( Bootlegger's Daughter ) threads her way through the intricacies of district court in a small North Carolina town where familial connections abound. Murder rears its ugly head only after shared family stories and relationships establish a stylistic context. Employing her intimate knowledge of the place, Knott discovers who assaulted her teenage niece and killed a randy building inspector insi More...
Maron, Margaret - 2nd in series
New lady judge Deborah Knott ( Bootlegger's Daughter ) threads her way through the intricacies of district court in a small North Carolina town where familial connections abound. Murder rears its ugly head only after shared family stories and relationships establish a stylistic context. Employing her intimate knowledge of the place, Knott discovers who assaulted her teenage niece and killed a randy building inspector insi More...
Sep 18, 2011
Mary Alice
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A little harder to get into than the previous Judge Knott books because the story developed more slowly. Still a good book, and I plan to continue reading the series.
Jun 01, 2010
Heather
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More fun in this southern mountain community. Time to go to the library for the next one...
Oct 26, 2009
Lynne
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I love this book and this character. This series has become one of my all-time favorites.
Jun 05, 2010
Wendy
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I enjoyed Deborah Knott as a character and I want to read more of this series. Incidentally my librarian loved it too!!
Oct 29, 2007
Jill
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It's nice to find a Southern mystery in which the heroine is neither antebellum-dainty nor trailer trash - just a normal modern woman at odds with her traditional family and struggling to find a love life while getting swept up in a demanding career. Deborah Knott solves crimes, yes, but what she really wants to do is to serve the judicial needs of her neighbors and stay out of trouble. She's an endearing everywoman with an extraordinary job. I'm gobbling up this series.
