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Murder in Coweta County
Murder in Coweta County received the coveted Edgar Allan Poe Special Award as an outstanding fact-crime study by the Mystery Writers of America and has been used in sociology and criminal law courses at schools and universities throughout the United States. Filmed as a CBS television movie starring Johnny Cash and Andy Griffith in 1983, the story gained even more acclaim and is still available on video and DVD.
287 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 1977
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311 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
November 23, 2015
Last month, while helping "weed" old books from a library in Georgia, I discovered this Coweta county (GA) true story. A must read if you want to get a feel for what it was like to live (and die)in these parts of GA in the 40s.
Well written, with brutal clarity.
Well written, with brutal clarity.
August 8, 2014
And another little jewel on my mount true crime shelves.Back when I first started true crime I bought a lot of lots on ebay. Loved it. Back then shipping costs was not so outrageous as it is now so I loved buying tons of books. As a matter of fact talking about it makes me want to buy more. You know auctions with at least 30 books or so so it is a surprise what you get?
I have read nearly all but there were a few still unread and apparently some were very good. This is one of them. Very well written again. Just the way I like it. Very suspenseful as well and I also enjoyed the outcome.
4 stars at least
I have read nearly all but there were a few still unread and apparently some were very good. This is one of them. Very well written again. Just the way I like it. Very suspenseful as well and I also enjoyed the outcome.
4 stars at least
February 10, 2010
I loved the book. My grandfather served on the jury so I have a little background knowledge of the story.
January 11, 2024
The depiction of each and every moment had me hooked. I've never read anything so heart-grabbing. I could have read it forever if I wanted to. God bless Anne Barnes, and god bless justice.
May 8, 2015
Discovered this on recommendation from my tour lecturer as I visited Georgia, USA. Several others on tour also started reading the book - and it gripped us all. Somewhat eerie to be reading this heinous 1948 true crime in the state where it was committed. John Wallace from Meriwether County, GA, chased one of his poor tenant farmers across the county border (into Sheriff Lamar Potts' Coweta County) and killed him deliberately and violently in front of eight witnesses. Such was Wallace's arrogance, delusion and lies, power, corruption and fear-inducing influence, he remained confident throughout his trial that he would not be convicted. Potts had to establish a clear line of evidence that could not be denied... and did. This is an intense yet sickening story of a man who considered he was above the law, and how justice triumphed for the common man.
August 2, 2015
I live in Coweta County and to this day this event is still talked about. A couple of weeks ago there was a meeting where you could meet the director and producer of this book and many people brought items they had either been handed down or was save from the movie. John Wallace's Bible, watch, a homemade tie made by his wife and a journal he kept were on display, along with enlarged news print of filming of the movie.
It is a very interesting book and well written, some say some of the facts are not correct in the book, but I don't know what those are they reference. I enjoyed re-reading this from 1996.
It is a very interesting book and well written, some say some of the facts are not correct in the book, but I don't know what those are they reference. I enjoyed re-reading this from 1996.
October 18, 2022
I have known about this book for many years and finally got around to reading. I was interested because it all took place near my hometown of LaGrange, GA. Well-told factual account of the events of the highly publicized 1948 murder of a poor tenant farmer by powerful local man -- John Wallace.
Sheriff Lamar Potts does brilliant investigative work to bring justice to a man who believed he was above the law. My parents were from Heard County, GA and Mother used to tell about Mayhayley Lancaster, a local legend. Lancaster was consulted on the case. Very interesting page-turner.
Sheriff Lamar Potts does brilliant investigative work to bring justice to a man who believed he was above the law. My parents were from Heard County, GA and Mother used to tell about Mayhayley Lancaster, a local legend. Lancaster was consulted on the case. Very interesting page-turner.
February 17, 2015
Riveting--read by car light on trip home to Colorado from Coweta County, GA. Couldn't put it down. Author (Marilyn Barnes) excells at leading reader from one chapter to the next. Believe a movie was made of story with Johnny Cash as sheriff. Very good. Good story of civil rights struggle and how it was played out so many times on so many stages. Remembered it while reading Melissa Fay Greene's Praying for Sheetrock.
January 21, 2016
A wonderful read. The author strikes the perfect balance: she gives you the complete story, but doesn't bore you to death with every detail and curlicue of the case. There are many more interesting aspects in here than you ever got to hear about in the movie version, but I also highly recommend the movie.
April 14, 2015
I did not want to put this book down partly due to the fact that my family came from this area & knew certain people in the story and because it was a very good book! This is a true crime story that is very well written.
February 12, 2017
I couldn't stop thinking about this book all day. It was difficult to put it down and get some sleep at night. That's pretty much the mark of a good book. This book is well-written and compelling. I highly recommend it.
October 5, 2018
Great true story about a courageous sheriff in mid 20th century rural Georgia. Very interesting dynamics in the two primary counties involved. One ruled by honor, law, and order. The other ruled by lawlessness and corruption. In this case, the good guys win. I love the history found in it.
December 7, 2023
John Wallace has lived his entire life in Meriweather County, Georgia. He’s a farmer, a bootlegger, and the most powerful man in the county – everyone knows you just don’t cross John Wallce. Wallace’s ego leads him to make arrogant decisions, flaunting his power and giving him an air of untouchability. Which is exactly why the community is stunned when Sheriff Lamar Potts arrests Wallace and several accomplices for Murder in Coweta County.
Margaret Anne Barnes was a journalist and writer from Newnan, Georgia – the seat for Coweta County where this murder and trial took place. She won the Edgar Allen Poe award for this debut work, which was later made into a movie staring Johnny Cash and Andy Griffith as Sheriff Potts and John Wallace respectively. This book delves into the gruesome details of the murder and the coverup perpetrated by Wallace’s team, as well as Pott’ work to bring justice.
I give Murder in Coweta County 4 out of 5 stars. Growing up just one county over from Coweta, I had heard of this case, but only in passing – I learned so much more by reading this book. However, I also noticed quite a few typos and mistakes in the writing. This may have just been the translation into the e-book format, but should have been corrected by the publisher prior to release. I also wouldn’t say this book is one I’d shout from the rooftops – you’d definitely have to have a reason to pick this one up. It’s a great documentary-style book about the murder and trial, but not something that someone would probably choose for a fun read.
I would recommend this book for readers looking to learn about the history of our area. With discussions of the murder and later destruction of the body, along with Wallace’s execution, I would recommend this book for readers over the age of 13. If you are a true crime junkie, you will love this book!
I chose Murder in Coweta County for the Friends and Fiction Book Club November prompt “nonfiction by an author from your state”. It was interesting seeing the names of several friends of the family and people I have met in the past among the cast of characters here! An interesting note for anyone reading this book – Mayhayley Lancaster, the “seer” who aided in the case, was a well-known figure in the state for her participation not only in this murder trial, but also in the case of Leo Frank. Lancaster spoke in support of Frank when he was wrongfully convicted of the murder of a 13-year-old worker in his factory and later lynched. In 1926, she became the first woman to run for the State Legislature, though she did not win. Nearly 20 years later, she would become one of the witnesses that helped convict John Wallace. The actual spot of the murder (the Sunset Tourist Camp) no longer exists, but was located in Moreland, Georgia, whose most famous resident was columnist Lewis Grizzard. If you choose to read Murder in Coweta County, it can be easy to fall into a trap of wondering how anyone could think they would get away with a murder like this, but consider these events happened in the 1940s when bootleggers were the law in rural areas but as the mafia was in inner city areas. Most of the residents of Meriweather County lived in fear of Wallace and knew better than to cross him. The bravery and leadership shown by Sherriff Potts truly changed the course of history in this area by ending the legacy of the Strickland clan and leaving no felony cases unsolved when he left office.
Margaret Anne Barnes was a journalist and writer from Newnan, Georgia – the seat for Coweta County where this murder and trial took place. She won the Edgar Allen Poe award for this debut work, which was later made into a movie staring Johnny Cash and Andy Griffith as Sheriff Potts and John Wallace respectively. This book delves into the gruesome details of the murder and the coverup perpetrated by Wallace’s team, as well as Pott’ work to bring justice.
I give Murder in Coweta County 4 out of 5 stars. Growing up just one county over from Coweta, I had heard of this case, but only in passing – I learned so much more by reading this book. However, I also noticed quite a few typos and mistakes in the writing. This may have just been the translation into the e-book format, but should have been corrected by the publisher prior to release. I also wouldn’t say this book is one I’d shout from the rooftops – you’d definitely have to have a reason to pick this one up. It’s a great documentary-style book about the murder and trial, but not something that someone would probably choose for a fun read.
I would recommend this book for readers looking to learn about the history of our area. With discussions of the murder and later destruction of the body, along with Wallace’s execution, I would recommend this book for readers over the age of 13. If you are a true crime junkie, you will love this book!
I chose Murder in Coweta County for the Friends and Fiction Book Club November prompt “nonfiction by an author from your state”. It was interesting seeing the names of several friends of the family and people I have met in the past among the cast of characters here! An interesting note for anyone reading this book – Mayhayley Lancaster, the “seer” who aided in the case, was a well-known figure in the state for her participation not only in this murder trial, but also in the case of Leo Frank. Lancaster spoke in support of Frank when he was wrongfully convicted of the murder of a 13-year-old worker in his factory and later lynched. In 1926, she became the first woman to run for the State Legislature, though she did not win. Nearly 20 years later, she would become one of the witnesses that helped convict John Wallace. The actual spot of the murder (the Sunset Tourist Camp) no longer exists, but was located in Moreland, Georgia, whose most famous resident was columnist Lewis Grizzard. If you choose to read Murder in Coweta County, it can be easy to fall into a trap of wondering how anyone could think they would get away with a murder like this, but consider these events happened in the 1940s when bootleggers were the law in rural areas but as the mafia was in inner city areas. Most of the residents of Meriweather County lived in fear of Wallace and knew better than to cross him. The bravery and leadership shown by Sherriff Potts truly changed the course of history in this area by ending the legacy of the Strickland clan and leaving no felony cases unsolved when he left office.
March 14, 2023
I vaguely recall when this first came out, as it was a thing in the metro Atlanta area. I did not read it until 40+ years late, but it was worthwhile. The story revolves around a small town county sheriff who ends up investigating and convicting some kingpin of the next county over. The criminal’s mistake was committing a murder just across the county line, *outside* of his sphere of influence. It takes place just after WWII, on the cusp of the civil rights era. I’ve seen the town square and courthouse where the trial was held; though conditions are vastly different there now, it isn’t terribly hard to imagine things in the 1940s.
I had never seen the associated made-for-TV move of the book until a few years ago. Some local organization (in Coweta County) organized a 40th anniversary event. The producer showed up for a Q&A after they showed the film in an event/theater venue. It was a neat experience to see the film within sight of the courthouse! I thought the film itself was also interesting in that it sort of played the involved actors against type – Andy Griffith was the ‘heavy’ and not the sheriff. Johnny Cash played the sheriff.
This was definitely a worthwhile read.
I had never seen the associated made-for-TV move of the book until a few years ago. Some local organization (in Coweta County) organized a 40th anniversary event. The producer showed up for a Q&A after they showed the film in an event/theater venue. It was a neat experience to see the film within sight of the courthouse! I thought the film itself was also interesting in that it sort of played the involved actors against type – Andy Griffith was the ‘heavy’ and not the sheriff. Johnny Cash played the sheriff.
This was definitely a worthwhile read.
January 7, 2023
If you like reading historical accounts of crimes and how the local sheriff solves the mystery then this is a good one for you!
My family moved to the area back when I was 11 years old (I’m 64 now) and literally from the day we arrived I the small town of Palmetto, GA., we heard the story of John Wallace and the man he killed on the Coweta County line and how he was put to death because of it.
As soon as I was able I read this book and WOW …. This is a story that will sadden you, make you very angry and laugh all the way through.
There is a movie of the same name starring Andy Griffith and Johnny Cash that is excellent but I highly recommend but you’ll do well to read the book first. It answers a lot of questions that the movie doesn’t.
My family moved to the area back when I was 11 years old (I’m 64 now) and literally from the day we arrived I the small town of Palmetto, GA., we heard the story of John Wallace and the man he killed on the Coweta County line and how he was put to death because of it.
As soon as I was able I read this book and WOW …. This is a story that will sadden you, make you very angry and laugh all the way through.
There is a movie of the same name starring Andy Griffith and Johnny Cash that is excellent but I highly recommend but you’ll do well to read the book first. It answers a lot of questions that the movie doesn’t.
September 18, 2023
This is a true story with which I am very familiar as I am a distant relative of the killer John Wallace and the Strickland clan, although I never knew any of them. The made for TV movie based on the book, starring Johnny Cash, Andy Griffin and June Carter Cash is well worth seeing particularly with Andy as a bad guy. My mother in her late teens/early 20s use to go visit Mayheyley with her girl friends to find out who they would marry( this was in the mid to late 1930s). Mother said she never got close on her, but was very accurate on her friends. The book and the movie are both fairly accurate historical accounts.
September 2, 2019
Living in the general area, I recognize the places mentioned in the book and find it interesting from that point as well as the true story. Times haven't changed that much as far as human nature goes. There are still upstanding citizens, sleezy scumbags, people who just want to be anonymous, and people who put on fronts that crumble under pressure. I wish we had more with the principles that the sheriff of Coweta county.
November 3, 2023
Very difficult read, but worthwhile. This is a true story about a man with power and privilege but lacking a moral compass. His obsession with one man who challenged his authority led to his being hunted by a man who was "just as determined as he." I don't do trigger warnings, but this crime happened in the south at the height of Jim Crow. The people are the product of their time and use language that is forbidden in the 21st century. Be aware.
December 19, 2019
Read an article about this trial; look it up on a wiki, but please don’t bother reading it, especially if you are a person of color. This book has not aged well with its use of dialect, blind reverence for law enforcement and infantilization of women. It does serve as a point in time look at racism in the south but there are other, better ways of taking that look.
August 28, 2024
Excellent book.
I don’t believe it was just the account of a murder or the promotion of a police story- there is no hero. The book offers a snapshot of a time and place 70+ years ago that is still relevant today.
Of note, this is the 3rd time I read this book.
Once in about 1977 when first published, second in about 2004 and now.
It’s always is fresh and fascinating story.
I don’t believe it was just the account of a murder or the promotion of a police story- there is no hero. The book offers a snapshot of a time and place 70+ years ago that is still relevant today.
Of note, this is the 3rd time I read this book.
Once in about 1977 when first published, second in about 2004 and now.
It’s always is fresh and fascinating story.
November 28, 2019
A small southern town in the late 1940’s. A rich and powerful man used to having things his way. A group of poor folks to do his bidding. A fortune teller. And a murder. This book has every ingredient of a classic murder tale, including surprise twists and turns. Best of all? It’s a true story.
March 27, 2020
This is the second book by Barnes I have read, and although not as good as ‘A Buzzard is my Best Friend’ it is a fairly good read. It’s title tells the reader what it is about, and she does an excellent job thoroughly covering every aspect of this murder crime and the trial.
March 13, 2022
Great Book!
The pages led to a desire to turn every page with the anticipation of what would happen next. I really enjoyed the suspense and the drama created by the author. I highly recommend this book.
The pages led to a desire to turn every page with the anticipation of what would happen next. I really enjoyed the suspense and the drama created by the author. I highly recommend this book.
January 13, 2023
I remember watching this movie with my grandmother as a kid. I had no idea at the time that it was based on a true story, or that there was a book. When I saw this book in my library app, I had to read it. If you like true crime stories, check this book out.
February 10, 2023
Having lived in the area for many years, I knew a lot about this crime and many of the characters already, but that didn't lessen my enjoyment of the book. Barnes does a good job of condensing a great deal of material into a fast-paced, very readable telling.
January 28, 2025
An Amazing Book
This was an incredible story about an amazing Georgia County Sheriff and Good Citizens taking on the powerful because it was the right thing to do. Citizens can do Great Things
This was an incredible story about an amazing Georgia County Sheriff and Good Citizens taking on the powerful because it was the right thing to do. Citizens can do Great Things
November 15, 2019
A great tale of a true story of murder!
June 12, 2020
This was a simple straight-toward read. I enjoyed it. It really offered a insight into the small town inner workings of the police departments & sheriffs offices. I recommend it.
December 22, 2022
Taking place into the same county I live and being based on true events helps, but that aside, it’s still a great book.
December 29, 2022
I love true story crime novels, and this one was so close to where I live, I'm shocked I didn't know about it sooner.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews