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20th out of 128 books
—
41 voters
If I'd Killed Him When I Met Him... (Elizabeth MacPherson #8)
When forensic anthropologist Elizabeth MacPherson becomes the official P.I. for her brother Bill's fledgling Virginia law firm, she quickly takes on two complex cases.Eleanor Royden, a perfect lawyer's wife for twenty years, has shot her ex-husband and his wife in cold blood. And Donna Jean Morgan is implicated in the death of her Bible-thumping bigamist husband.
Bill's fe...more
Bill's fe...more
Paperback, 288 pages
Published
March 31st 1996
by Fawcett
(first published March 31st 1995)
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Sharyn McCrumb is a favourite author who caught me by surprise with this book. This is from the Elizabeth MacPherson, forensic anthropologist series. Elizabeth is still mourning her husband lost at sea in Scotland, or maybe he is not, we have no idea if he is dead or alive. Elizabeth keeps writing letters to him regardless, but of course she just hides them away. This story brings her back to Virginia when her brother Bill invites Elizabeth to join him and his partner A.J. Hill, offering her wor...more
This fiction novel, published in 1995, focuses on three Southern USA women who have been controlled and emotionally abused by their husbands. One woman was portrayed around the time of the Civil War, and the other two are modern day (although to a Yankee like myself, these two gals still seemed to have ideas of wifehood that my grandmother progressed beyond in 1920. Sorry to any Southern sisters I may have offended.)
I like that this novel portrays a bizarre portrait of humanity. From Eleanor Ro...more
I like that this novel portrays a bizarre portrait of humanity. From Eleanor Ro...more
Sep 06, 2011
MountainShelby
rated it
1 of 5 stars
Shelves:
i-can-t-believe-i-read-this,
audio-reviews
One of the reviews for this book (on another site) is tagged: EVER THOUGHT OF KILLING YOUR HUSBAND. Hmmmmm. Yes, I know this is fiction by a beloved author, it's light entertainment, it's supposed to be fun and witty . . . yet there is an undercurrent of general nastiness that just made me cringe. Literally. Maybe because I was listening to the book on CD, so the narrative and dialogue felt that much more "real." Sexuality, religion, politics, adultery, murder, marriage, beastiality (yup) . . ....more
This is one of the funniest books I have ever read! I have had two friends who were in, or leaving, abusive relationships, and they found this novel hugely cathartic.
Be aware that this is VERY dark humor. Don't hand it to your 12-year-old, even if they can read it. If you do not care for edgy humor, this may not be your book. I won't go into plot and spoil it. Sharyn McCrumb generally writes mysteries (but not always) and they are set in her Appalachian homeland. (The middle a is soft, as in "ap...more
Be aware that this is VERY dark humor. Don't hand it to your 12-year-old, even if they can read it. If you do not care for edgy humor, this may not be your book. I won't go into plot and spoil it. Sharyn McCrumb generally writes mysteries (but not always) and they are set in her Appalachian homeland. (The middle a is soft, as in "ap...more
"When forensic anthropologist Elizabeth MacPherson becomes the official P.I. for her brother Bill's fledgling Virginia law firm, she quickly takes on two complex cases. Eleanor Royden, a perfect lawyer's wife for twenty years, has shot her ex-husband and his beautiful late-model wife in cold blood. And Donna Jean Morgan is implicated in the death of her Bible-thumping bigamist husband.
"Bill's feminist firebrand partner, A.P. Hill, does her damnedest for Eleanor, an abused wife in denial, and Bil...more
"Bill's feminist firebrand partner, A.P. Hill, does her damnedest for Eleanor, an abused wife in denial, and Bil...more
Jan 20, 2008
Samantha Shepherd
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
early readers of Appalachian lit
Recommended to Samantha by:
my grandma
Shelves:
highly-recommended
Another white-trash delicacy. This book is one in a series, but it started my obsession with Sharyn McCrumb who is one of the best Appalachian writers currently working. She's funny, she has wild imagination and, most of all, she incredibly talented.
This is a story of polygamy. Some backwoods preacher gets it in his head that God has told him to marry again after he sees some sweet thang staring up at him from the pews. (Honestly, the joke opportunities are limitless and McCrumb takes some seri...more
This is a story of polygamy. Some backwoods preacher gets it in his head that God has told him to marry again after he sees some sweet thang staring up at him from the pews. (Honestly, the joke opportunities are limitless and McCrumb takes some seri...more
This was the first Sharyn McCrumb book I read, years ago. I read it because I loved the title, but the story is fascinating! I have re-read it several times, as I have most of her work. Twists and turns and past murders intruding into the present. It is about women who are different in many ways, except that they all might just have been better off had they simply killed the offending male when they met him. I know I have felt like that at least once... A great story!
I love McCrumb's characters. They're fully realized and a joy to read. About the only thing I didn't like was one of the cases taken on in this book. Eleanor felt a little too much like Betty Broderick. I like my mysteries when the victims are unknown to me. I knew too much about the Broderick case and it made me really uncomfortable. While I figured out the ending before I got there - it was really a fun ride.
Wow! I've found a new Southern author that gives great stories, unusual characters and out-loud chuckles! A friend recommended her books. Am I ever glad! I chose this one to read first because it has lawyers and its a mystery. Now my lawyer husband wants to read this because he kept hearing me laughing out-loud. I learned some unusual facts in this story. All I have to say is watch out for dolphins.
Despite no longer being enchanted by mystery novels, I knew I'd be pleased with a Sharyn McCrumb when I got this book at the Bookmobile. It's been a week and I had to remind myself of the plot and characters, but I do recall the the reading was smooth (good writing), and there were quirky characters and situations galore! A little bit of humor made it enjoyable to read.
Feb 10, 2011
Dolly
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Mystery fans
Shelves:
2011,
mystery,
other-usa,
military,
scotland-scottish,
virginia,
van-noy-book-club,
agatha-award
I read this book because it was the selection of the month for a local book club. I liked it, although it was a bit slow-going at first with all of the transitions from plot to plot, past to present. I didn't know the characters and it was a bit confusing at first. But I forged on and finally caught up. It was an engaging story (at least once I got halfway through) and I was fascinated by the intertwined mysteries. The sideplot that involved the dolphin seemed to be a bit Carl Hiaasen-esque in i...more
This is a new author for me. I liked this book, though some of the details were hard to take. I now know more than I ever wished to know about arsenic poisoning. I was glad that she had a male character in there like Bill, because the rest of the men were fairly dire. A good read and I would like to read more of her books.
The Elizabeth MacPherson mystery series are enjoyable reading. They are the first time I was introduced to forensic anthropology, and I learned a lot about the subject. Now the field is flooded with others like Bones, but this is the first series I know about. Well written stories.
The murder in this book was pretty easy to figure out. I felt the overly feminist topic was too much since every character was experiencing some relation to a husband leaving the first wife for a younger one. The woman with the dolphin was a little over the top and completely ridiculous.
Outstanding! The protagonists feel real, even the most whacked-out of them. We see the selfishness that created pain and understand the chaacters laughing it away. The dialog is hilarious, the situations and plot are extraordinary but credible. This book is very, very funny.
I'm a big fan of Sharyn McCrumb's crime novels. Too bad she felt the need to go "literary" for the sake of her reputation, although she's developed the history in her books more, which is good. I liked the title of this book so much I wrote a c-w song using it.
I first saw this book on the shelf while standing in line at the grocery store.
I bought the book, paying full price; an event of historical immensity on a par with the first manned space flights!
And I never regretted one red cent of that expenditure.
I bought the book, paying full price; an event of historical immensity on a par with the first manned space flights!
And I never regretted one red cent of that expenditure.
If I'd Killed Him When I Met Him... has murder, but not much mystery, and not much courtroom drama for a novel about small-town lawyers. However it's continuously entertaining in its constant riff on women's lib in the Lorena Bobbitt era.
This was a fun, a light-hearted lark with a serious undertone. The characters are wonderful. I want to sit down and have coffee with them - and occasionally to grab them by the shoulders and give them a good shake.
I really like the MacPherson mysteries, but I actually prefer her mysteries set in rural Appalachia. The MacPherson stories are witty and clever, while the Appalachian mysteries are haunting and mesmerizing.
This is one of the most fun books I have ever read. It is a quick read, with memorable characters. When you find out what the title means, you are amazed at the basic logic it imparts. I HIGHLY recommend this!
Luckily this is the last book in this series that I have. I won't be buying the others.
At the first, when I realized there was multiple related stories all told together, I was really happy. That's how my favorite Ballad novels were told - many intertwined stories in a single narrative, all variations on a theme. I should have recalled that it's an Elizabeth McPherson mystery, where nothing gets taken seriously -- to the point where it becomes a farce.
So, I started with low expectations, worked...more
At the first, when I realized there was multiple related stories all told together, I was really happy. That's how my favorite Ballad novels were told - many intertwined stories in a single narrative, all variations on a theme. I should have recalled that it's an Elizabeth McPherson mystery, where nothing gets taken seriously -- to the point where it becomes a farce.
So, I started with low expectations, worked...more
None of the Elizabeth MacPherson books are exactly great works of literature, but this one has what I have to say is the best tragicomic dolphin bestiality scene I have ever read in a murder mystery.
I'll definitely be reading more Sharyn McCrumb mysteries. I like the characters, I like the setting, and I especially like the quirky nature of the mysteries themselves.
There are as many reasons for murder as there are murderers. What these women have in common are cruel and abusive husbands. Is murder ever justified? And can you get away with it? In her captivating manner of story-telling, Sharon McCrumb explores these issues. Grounded in reality and history, this fiction read will keep you turning pages. Put yourself in the place of these women . . . or on the jury. What would you do?
I read this book when it first came out years ago, and I've read it twice since then.
Sharyn McCrumb takes Southern Fiction to a whole new level.
Sharyn McCrumb takes Southern Fiction to a whole new level.
Knew both outcomes due to poisoning before they were 'revealed' but it is likely many readers wouldn't so would have been a good read otherwise.
I liked this author's writing style, but the character that died trying to do IT with a dolphin (I'm serious here) was beyond my imaginative stretch.
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A woman is arrested for murdering her minister husband after he brings home a second wife. Parallels a murder from the 1800s. Good read.
FM Elizabeth MacPherson helps her brother, a lawyer, with two cases of women who allegedly killed their spouses. Humoruous.
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Sharyn McCrumb is an American writer whose books celebrate the history and folklore of Appalachia. Educated at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Virginia Tech, she has also taught Appalachian studies. She is married to David McCrumb, a corporate environmental director, and has two children, Laura and Spencer.
-Wikipedia
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-Wikipedia
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