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Ballad #11
Prayers the Devil Answers
In Depression-era Appalachia, a desperate sheriff’s widow takes on her late husband’s job and discovers that a prayer the devil answers comes at a terrible price.The year is 1936 and society provides no safety net for newly widowed Ellie Robbins, a woman in a small mountain town who suddenly has to support her family on her own. She’s not trained to be a teacher or a nurse, the only respectable careers for a woman. So in order to care for her children, Ellie takes the only job that of her late husband, the sheriff.Ellie has long proven that she can handle herself, and her role as sheriff is largely symbolic. Yet the wariness of her male subordinates and the townspeople is palpable. Soon, as dark secrets come to light, Ellie is forced to grapple with the tenuous ties she shares with a convicted killer and the small-town superstitions that have plagued her for years.When a condemned killer is sentenced to death for his crime, her opportunity to do so presents itself in a way she never expected. There’s one task that only a sheriff can carry the execution of a convicted prisoner.Atmospheric and suspenseful, Prayers the Devil Answers is rich with the same masterful attention to historical detail and captivating folklore that you cherished in McCrumb’s renowned Ballad novels. Her luscious writing brings her unforgettable characters to life with the “pure poetry” ( The New York Times Book Review ) that defines her astounding novels. Prayers the Devil Answers is a mesmerizing depiction of one woman’s tenacity and strength in even the most harrowing of circumstances.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 10, 2016
223 people are currently reading
1117 people want to read
About the author
Sharyn McCrumb
134 books1,120 followers
Sharyn McCrumb, an award-winning Southern writer, is best known for her Appalachian “Ballad” novels, including the New York Times best sellers The Ballad of Tom Dooley, The Ballad of Frankie Silver, and The Songcatcher. Ghost Riders, which won the Wilma Dykeman Award for Literature from the East Tennessee Historical Society and the national Audie Award for Best Recorded Books. The Unquiet Grave, a well-researched novel about West Virginia's Greenbrier Ghost, will be published in September by Atria, a division of Simon &Schuster.
Sharyn McCrumb, named a Virginia Woman of History by the Library of Virginia and a Woman of the Arts by the national Daughters of the American Revolution, was awarded the Mary Hobson Prize for Arts & Letters in 2014. Her books have been named New York Times and Los Angeles Times Notable Books. In addition to presenting programs at universities, libraries, and other organizations throughout the US, Sharyn McCrumb has taught a writers workshop in Paris, and served as writer-in-residence at King University in Tennessee, and at the Chautauqua Institute in western New York.
Sharyn McCrumb, an award-winning Southern writer, is best known for her Appalachian “Ballad” novels, including the New York Times best sellers The Ballad of Tom Dooley, The Ballad of Frankie Silver, and The Songcatcher. Ghost Riders, which won the Wilma Dykeman Award for Literature from the East Tennessee Historical Society and the national Audie Award for Best Recorded Books. The Unquiet Grave, a well-researched novel about West Virginia's Greenbrier Ghost, will be published in September by Atria, a division of Simon &Schuster.
Sharyn McCrumb, named a Virginia Woman of History by the Library of Virginia and a Woman of the Arts by the national Daughters of the American Revolution, was awarded the Mary Hobson Prize for Arts & Letters in 2014. Her books have been named New York Times and Los Angeles Times Notable Books. In addition to presenting programs at universities, libraries, and other organizations throughout the US, Sharyn McCrumb has taught a writers workshop in Paris, and served as writer-in-residence at King University in Tennessee, and at the Chautauqua Institute in western New York.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 349 reviews
May 28, 2016
Set in the Appalachian mountains, this period piece is the return of McCrumb to her mountain stories. I loved her Ballad series but found this one to be a slow moving though extremely atmospheric effort. The Halloween Dumb Supper, folklore has it that if everything is done right, the young women in attendance will see the man they will eventually married. But for one young woman, a misstep in the tradition may have serious repercussions, a curse if you will, later in life. Is this possible?
When Ellandor's husband, the local sheriff dies, leaving her with two young sons and no way to provide for them, she asks to be appointed to finish out the remainder of her husband's term. The commissioner's agree and she will find herself tasked with something she never expected.
Parts of this story were interesting, a woman sheriff in these times, her deputies who supported her, all made for good reading. But, the different threads of this story were just not cohesive, not tightly drawn or not drawn enough to have an impact. Tenuous connections, maybe. So while I liked it, I didn't love it. It was not one of those books that kept you reading because you didn't want to put it down. It was a slow unfolding of a set of circumstances that would have a huge effect on many. Did love the end though, a bit nasty but sometimes the act is fitting.
ARC from publisher.
When Ellandor's husband, the local sheriff dies, leaving her with two young sons and no way to provide for them, she asks to be appointed to finish out the remainder of her husband's term. The commissioner's agree and she will find herself tasked with something she never expected.
Parts of this story were interesting, a woman sheriff in these times, her deputies who supported her, all made for good reading. But, the different threads of this story were just not cohesive, not tightly drawn or not drawn enough to have an impact. Tenuous connections, maybe. So while I liked it, I didn't love it. It was not one of those books that kept you reading because you didn't want to put it down. It was a slow unfolding of a set of circumstances that would have a huge effect on many. Did love the end though, a bit nasty but sometimes the act is fitting.
ARC from publisher.
May 19, 2016
I wanted to love it, but I only liked it a little. I miss the older Ballad novels with Nora Bonesteel & Spencer Arrowood.
June 6, 2016
PRAYERS THE DEVIL ANSWERS paints a realistic picture of what life was like in the Appalachian Mountains during the Depression. It certainly wasn't easy, especially for a young widow trying to feed two growing boys like the main character, Ellie Robbins. Her husband was the town's sheriff, and when he dies suddenly, Ellie decides to finish out his term. Thinking that the job would be mostly paperwork, Ellie is put to the test when there's a murder in her jurisdiction, and she's faced with carrying out the convicted killer's execution.
Overall, I liked the book. I enjoyed how it wove traditions and history of that region into the story. I especially liked Ellie's character and the challenges she faced as a rare "lady sheriff." She was tough and knew how to handle herself. The book opens with a tale of a "dumb supper," and it's there that we meet Celia, who later becomes a schoolteacher. And then there's Lonnie, a struggling artist who lands a job in town. Were their fates decided on the night of the dumb supper?
The plot was a bit slow moving, and the three storylines seemed to have trouble coming together, but I was still intrigued by the book (which is based on a true story). It definitely made me curious about Sharyn McCrumb's other novels - this was the first I've read. 3.75 stars.
The audiobook was narrated by Candace Thaxton (a favorite narrator of mine), and she captured Ellie's stoic, nonsense demeanor very well.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Overall, I liked the book. I enjoyed how it wove traditions and history of that region into the story. I especially liked Ellie's character and the challenges she faced as a rare "lady sheriff." She was tough and knew how to handle herself. The book opens with a tale of a "dumb supper," and it's there that we meet Celia, who later becomes a schoolteacher. And then there's Lonnie, a struggling artist who lands a job in town. Were their fates decided on the night of the dumb supper?
The plot was a bit slow moving, and the three storylines seemed to have trouble coming together, but I was still intrigued by the book (which is based on a true story). It definitely made me curious about Sharyn McCrumb's other novels - this was the first I've read. 3.75 stars.
The audiobook was narrated by Candace Thaxton (a favorite narrator of mine), and she captured Ellie's stoic, nonsense demeanor very well.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
June 29, 2017
Ellendor Robbins is a wife and mother in the Appalachian Mountains in 1936. When her husband unexpectedly dies, she’s faced with raising her two young sons alone. She must decide whether to return to her brother-in-law’s home as a charity relative or try to take on her husband’s job, which was sheriff of their town. Ellie is a courageous, independent woman and since the job is mostly paperwork and she’ll have capable deputies to work with, the town officials decide to give her a chance. Unfortunately, they have forgotten one of the duties of the sheriff – to conduct executions of condemned men.
What I love most about Ms. McCrumb’s books are the Appalachian superstitions, folklore and traditions that run through her stories. They create such a unique atmosphere that I’ve only found in this author’s books. However, this story only refers to one tradition, the Dumb Supper. The book starts off with a scene of six young women going through the enactment of a Dumb Supper where they supposedly will learn who they will one day marry. There are ancient rules that must be strictly followed for this magical event to go right and if not, well, there will be consequences. However, I never felt any connection with the beginning of the story to the supposed consequence. Plus the book is very slow moving which usually is not a negative to me; however, I did feel that parts of the book were repetitive.
All that being said, I still enjoyed the book very much. Sharyn McCrumb has such a way with words and while the atmosphere created wasn’t quite what I usually expect in one of her books, it still placed me right into the time period and location of those gorgeous mountains and its people. The book is said to be based on a true story. Elllie Robbins will work her way into your heart with her courage and determination. Ms. McCrumb is a wonderful storyteller and her characters will long be remembered.
This book was given to me by the publisher through Edelweiss in return for an honest review.
What I love most about Ms. McCrumb’s books are the Appalachian superstitions, folklore and traditions that run through her stories. They create such a unique atmosphere that I’ve only found in this author’s books. However, this story only refers to one tradition, the Dumb Supper. The book starts off with a scene of six young women going through the enactment of a Dumb Supper where they supposedly will learn who they will one day marry. There are ancient rules that must be strictly followed for this magical event to go right and if not, well, there will be consequences. However, I never felt any connection with the beginning of the story to the supposed consequence. Plus the book is very slow moving which usually is not a negative to me; however, I did feel that parts of the book were repetitive.
All that being said, I still enjoyed the book very much. Sharyn McCrumb has such a way with words and while the atmosphere created wasn’t quite what I usually expect in one of her books, it still placed me right into the time period and location of those gorgeous mountains and its people. The book is said to be based on a true story. Elllie Robbins will work her way into your heart with her courage and determination. Ms. McCrumb is a wonderful storyteller and her characters will long be remembered.
This book was given to me by the publisher through Edelweiss in return for an honest review.
May 25, 2017
I found this historical fiction book extremely disappointing, as I have read other McCrumb books and have liked her Appalachia set novels in the past. The story started promisingly with six girls participating in an old fashioned Dumb Supper tradition, a ritual they thought would help them find husbands. When a rule was broken during the ceremony by one of the teens, many of the girls thought the tragedy that befell her later in life was directly caused by this mishap.
We then meet Ellendor, an appealing mountain wife and mother, who has moved to town with her family for job opportunities during the Depression. She seemed real and forthright, and I enjoyed learning about her background. She tends her ailing husband, but when he unexpectedly dies, she and her two boys are left destitute. She takes on the job of town sheriff to fulfill the term her husband had recently won in election. An easy job is made harder when the community has to deal with a man who killed his wife and he is sentenced to death. The woman who died is Celia, who was formally the girl who made a mistake at the Dumb Supper. Her artist husband Lonnie's reason for killing her is paper thin and unrealistic, but Ellendor still has to go ahead with the execution.
While the story had some excellent parts- the region and era was described well, family discord is shown realistically, and the idea of a woman taking on the sheriff's role in a time not known for equality was interesting. But there was so much repetition. At first I had enjoyed Ellie's musings, but she repeated that she was a shy mountain woman who didn't take charity over & over & over. I get it! Lonnie & Celia's marriage was "offscreen" so I wasn't invested in them or understood why Lonnie felt he had to do what he did. Plus, what Ellie did at the end for revenge was petty and cruel and seemed uncharacteristic to her earlier kindness. As a whole, this story did not work at all. But I have read enough other books written by the author to try her again.
We then meet Ellendor, an appealing mountain wife and mother, who has moved to town with her family for job opportunities during the Depression. She seemed real and forthright, and I enjoyed learning about her background. She tends her ailing husband, but when he unexpectedly dies, she and her two boys are left destitute. She takes on the job of town sheriff to fulfill the term her husband had recently won in election. An easy job is made harder when the community has to deal with a man who killed his wife and he is sentenced to death. The woman who died is Celia, who was formally the girl who made a mistake at the Dumb Supper. Her artist husband Lonnie's reason for killing her is paper thin and unrealistic, but Ellendor still has to go ahead with the execution.
While the story had some excellent parts- the region and era was described well, family discord is shown realistically, and the idea of a woman taking on the sheriff's role in a time not known for equality was interesting. But there was so much repetition. At first I had enjoyed Ellie's musings, but she repeated that she was a shy mountain woman who didn't take charity over & over & over. I get it! Lonnie & Celia's marriage was "offscreen" so I wasn't invested in them or understood why Lonnie felt he had to do what he did. Plus, what Ellie did at the end for revenge was petty and cruel and seemed uncharacteristic to her earlier kindness. As a whole, this story did not work at all. But I have read enough other books written by the author to try her again.
June 21, 2016
Sharyn McCrumb has such a beautiful, lyrical writing style that I went into this one with very high hopes. The story wasn't bad, but I found myself skimming parts which I didn't expect. I miss the original Ballad books with Nora Bonesteel & Spencer Arrowood. I'm sure many will love this book...I'm just not one of them!
June 14, 2016
Another example of a horrible editing job. What is it with authors repeating whole sections of narrative? The story was fine but the annoyances got in the way of enjoying it.
July 2, 2016
I really had high hopes for this book. Sadly, it was a big let down.
The premise sounded great, a widow as a stand-in sheriff to a small mountain town, a gruesome murder, and the consequences of that grim act afterwards.
Sadly, this book fell apart at a quarter of the way through when things began to get a bit repetitive and characters started to flatten out.
The author fell into the trap of repeating information about the situation and characterizations of the people chapter by chapter, again and again. As if afraid that the readers may have forgotten some crucial bit of information that the author had just given us in the prior chapter.
It got to the point where I was telling the book out loud that, yes, I know she's got an issue with shyness around folks who aren't her family, yes, I get it, the deputies are skittish around grieving women, I get that Celia messed up a 'sacred' ritual with upcoming DUN-DUN-DUUN! Dire consequences sure to come.
There was no build up to the crime, it came off as contrived and out of the blue. When we get to the reasoning behind the crime, it came off as flat and unconvincing. I had no sympathy for this man. I had no interest in him at all as a character. He was boring and his act of murder was nonsensical.
There was no mystery or suspense to the circumstances of the crime, no atmosphere, and the weak attempt to bring it back to the ritual of the 'Dumb Supper' at the opening of the book just felt hastily added in at the very last moment. It felt as though the author had only realized that she forgot to tie that into the equation. Besides that, it was entirely pointless. The book could've done away with that entire subplot because it went nowhere.
Personally, I also didn't care for the constant reminder that Celia was unattractive. And the crime wasn't quite so bad, because, well, she was plain, boring and worst of all, unattractive.
This story went nowhere. Everything was on the nose, from the dialogue, to the crime. There was no mystery, nor any suspense. Nearly zero conflict of any kind. The main character might have been more interesting, but sadly, she remained pretty much the same from start to finish. I had to fight to finish the book.
I wanted to like this book, but it was extremely disappointing.
The premise sounded great, a widow as a stand-in sheriff to a small mountain town, a gruesome murder, and the consequences of that grim act afterwards.
Sadly, this book fell apart at a quarter of the way through when things began to get a bit repetitive and characters started to flatten out.
The author fell into the trap of repeating information about the situation and characterizations of the people chapter by chapter, again and again. As if afraid that the readers may have forgotten some crucial bit of information that the author had just given us in the prior chapter.
It got to the point where I was telling the book out loud that, yes, I know she's got an issue with shyness around folks who aren't her family, yes, I get it, the deputies are skittish around grieving women, I get that Celia messed up a 'sacred' ritual with upcoming DUN-DUN-DUUN! Dire consequences sure to come.
There was no build up to the crime, it came off as contrived and out of the blue. When we get to the reasoning behind the crime, it came off as flat and unconvincing. I had no sympathy for this man. I had no interest in him at all as a character. He was boring and his act of murder was nonsensical.
There was no mystery or suspense to the circumstances of the crime, no atmosphere, and the weak attempt to bring it back to the ritual of the 'Dumb Supper' at the opening of the book just felt hastily added in at the very last moment. It felt as though the author had only realized that she forgot to tie that into the equation. Besides that, it was entirely pointless. The book could've done away with that entire subplot because it went nowhere.
Personally, I also didn't care for the constant reminder that Celia was unattractive. And the crime wasn't quite so bad, because, well, she was plain, boring and worst of all, unattractive.
This story went nowhere. Everything was on the nose, from the dialogue, to the crime. There was no mystery, nor any suspense. Nearly zero conflict of any kind. The main character might have been more interesting, but sadly, she remained pretty much the same from start to finish. I had to fight to finish the book.
I wanted to like this book, but it was extremely disappointing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 19, 2016
I thoroughly enjoyed Prayers the Devil Answers. The story was compelling and easy to follow. Ellie is a tough, sensible main character. Some developments took me by surprise and I particularly appreciated the ending.
August 2, 2018
See synopsis elsewhere.
As usual, I enjoyed Sharyn McCrumb's characters (which include towns and homes), references to old superstitions and historic situations. This particular novel didn't consistently fascinate me; some of the plot lines could have been more suspenseful and others were drawn out a little too long (the execution). I also felt like it had a few loose threads that could have been tugged on a bit more.
As usual, I enjoyed Sharyn McCrumb's characters (which include towns and homes), references to old superstitions and historic situations. This particular novel didn't consistently fascinate me; some of the plot lines could have been more suspenseful and others were drawn out a little too long (the execution). I also felt like it had a few loose threads that could have been tugged on a bit more.
September 10, 2016
This book was a big disappointment; it started off well, but by the end I was pretty much just spite-reading it. If there's such a thing as perseverative writing, this would be a good example. I got it the first 20 times the author wrote about the main character's almost crippling shyness and inability to talk to strangers; I didn't need it rammed down my throat 30 more times! She's shy; OK, we get it, move on!
Then, amazingly, as soon as she starts her new job as sheriff she seems to be miraculously cured of her shyness! She's talking to everybody, no problem. Her shyness is never mentioned again! What the what?!?!? I would've thought for as much time as we spent hearing about her timidity that this would be addressed as she dealt with the new job, but nope, it's never brought up. Why bother setting something up over and over and over and over and over....... only to just drop it?
I also lost all respect for this character with the thing she did at the very end. I thought that was out of character for her and especially since she was the sheriff - she just incited a crime. No matter how betrayed she felt, that was out of line and I no longer had any sympathy for her. Good thing the book was over at that point.
Then, amazingly, as soon as she starts her new job as sheriff she seems to be miraculously cured of her shyness! She's talking to everybody, no problem. Her shyness is never mentioned again! What the what?!?!? I would've thought for as much time as we spent hearing about her timidity that this would be addressed as she dealt with the new job, but nope, it's never brought up. Why bother setting something up over and over and over and over and over....... only to just drop it?
I also lost all respect for this character with the thing she did at the very end. I thought that was out of character for her and especially since she was the sheriff - she just incited a crime. No matter how betrayed she felt, that was out of line and I no longer had any sympathy for her. Good thing the book was over at that point.
June 3, 2021
Not as good as earlier novels in McCrumb's ballad series, this one is set in a small Tennessee town in the 1930s. When Albert, the county's new sheriff (and one newly elected) dies unexpectedly, his widow very improbably convinces the town leaders to appoint her to take his place. All goes reasonably well until a murder occurs and she's forced to preside over a hanging. There are several stories going on in novel -- story of the murder, of the sheriff's marriage and they don't always tie together very well, until the end. While I only gave the book 3 stars, I never hesitated about finishing it.
6/3/2021 Just finished listening to this as an audiobook; excellent narration. I remembered few details of book; thought it had been at least 10 years since I had read it so surprised to find my review was from 2016. Still agree with review though, definitely not one of the best McCrumb Appalachian novels.
6/3/2021 Just finished listening to this as an audiobook; excellent narration. I remembered few details of book; thought it had been at least 10 years since I had read it so surprised to find my review was from 2016. Still agree with review though, definitely not one of the best McCrumb Appalachian novels.
June 1, 2016
nteresting story which is generally well written but which would have benefited from some editing and tightening. Notably, more than once Ellie "thought" something and then "said" the exact same thing in the next paragraph. Some sections (the critical walk through the woods) went on too long while others were not quite long enough. You will like this little slice of historical fiction.
January 28, 2017
It's been awhile since I read a book that felt like a 5 star book all the way through. I absolutely loved being in 1930s Tennessee. I loved Ellendor Robbins, raised as "mountain folk" ending up as a female sheriff in the little town. So strong, so brave. I LOVED this book!
December 31, 2021
Prayers the devil answered happens when one asks for something and your wish is granted in such a way that it does you no good at all.
This work of historical fiction is based on a true story about a woman who assumes the position of Sheriff when her husband, the current Sheriff, dies of pneumonia. As the story begins, the eligible ladies of the county have gathered for the Dumb Supper, a ritual steeped in superstitions surrounding meeting your future husband. But unbeknownst to all but one, while setting the table, one young woman drops a knife on the floor and instead of informing the other participants of the mishap, Celia who dropped the knife 🔪 maintained the silence of the ritual. Is Celia now cursed? Is everyone at the Dumb Supper cursed?
This story takes place in 1936, post depression, when times were hard. High rate of infant mortality. Jobs and food were scarce. After they marry, Ellendor and Albert move to town so Albert can get a job and their young sons can attend school. Initially, Albert works for the railroad, but the decides to run for Sheriff to improve their way of life. Unfortunately, a few months into the job, Albert falls ill 🤒 and eventually succumbs to pneumonia. Remember, antibiotics had not been invented. Ellendor, who finds herself a widow at the age of 36, decides to apply for Albert’s position to avoid having to move back home with her taciturn brother-in-law and his equally taciturn wife.
As fate would have it, Ellendor is faced with the task of the execution of a confessed murder. In the midst of preparations for a public hanging, Ellendor discovers a secret her husband took to his grave which shakes her faith in Albert to the core.
This work of historical fiction is based on a true story about a woman who assumes the position of Sheriff when her husband, the current Sheriff, dies of pneumonia. As the story begins, the eligible ladies of the county have gathered for the Dumb Supper, a ritual steeped in superstitions surrounding meeting your future husband. But unbeknownst to all but one, while setting the table, one young woman drops a knife on the floor and instead of informing the other participants of the mishap, Celia who dropped the knife 🔪 maintained the silence of the ritual. Is Celia now cursed? Is everyone at the Dumb Supper cursed?
This story takes place in 1936, post depression, when times were hard. High rate of infant mortality. Jobs and food were scarce. After they marry, Ellendor and Albert move to town so Albert can get a job and their young sons can attend school. Initially, Albert works for the railroad, but the decides to run for Sheriff to improve their way of life. Unfortunately, a few months into the job, Albert falls ill 🤒 and eventually succumbs to pneumonia. Remember, antibiotics had not been invented. Ellendor, who finds herself a widow at the age of 36, decides to apply for Albert’s position to avoid having to move back home with her taciturn brother-in-law and his equally taciturn wife.
As fate would have it, Ellendor is faced with the task of the execution of a confessed murder. In the midst of preparations for a public hanging, Ellendor discovers a secret her husband took to his grave which shakes her faith in Albert to the core.
July 27, 2016
I like Sharyn McCrumb's novels for the slice of America she brings back to mind. It's been a long time since I read one of her books, and picked this up solely because of her name, but quickly became drawn into the story of a Depression-era widow who takes on the job of her dead husband, to become sheriff of a small mountain town in Tennessee. McCrumb took an actual historic event, woman sheriff presiding over the execution of a prisoner, and skillfully built the novel around it. As always, her careful crafting of story, intertwined with the folklore, customs, and beliefs of the day, made for a good read.
January 9, 2017
I'm a big fan of McCrumb and her ballad series because she gets the language and lore of Appalachia right. This one, however, was disappointing. As many reviewers mention, it's repetitive. Usually, McCrumb varies language and vocabulary use by character. In this book, everyone speaks pretty much the same way. Characters use language that seems unlikely in this time period. There are some interesting details in this story, but overall, it's not one of her best.
July 28, 2025
What a dark story. It starts slow and picks up speed halfway through, then ends up as a revenge story. The character development didn’t engage me. She becomes more confident in who she is… but she seems to become someone different by the end. She’s so bent on following the law that I guess I didn’t buy the ending and what she did.
October 1, 2017
This wasn't my favorite book by this author, but after reading her acknowledgements page, I agree that she did a good job accomplishing her stated goal. She showed a lot of different views about the same event.
May 14, 2022
This is a book with 2 main stories that intersect at the end. The timeline can be a bit difficult on audio but is fine in print.
One story is that of a girl who makes a mistake at a ritual that is supposed to show young women their future husbands.
The other is of a couple that leaves the mountains for the town and the man, and later the woman, enter a life a of law enforcement.
The title is an interesting bit of lore from the area of the county where the story is set. Prayers the devil answers are prayers that come true but not in the way the praying person wants.
One story is that of a girl who makes a mistake at a ritual that is supposed to show young women their future husbands.
The other is of a couple that leaves the mountains for the town and the man, and later the woman, enter a life a of law enforcement.
The title is an interesting bit of lore from the area of the county where the story is set. Prayers the devil answers are prayers that come true but not in the way the praying person wants.
April 7, 2017
While this book is undeniably slow, McCrumb's real talent is her voice, and I'm willing to cut her some slack about ponderously moving both the plot and the unveiling of her main characters. Don't read this unless you really want to be immersed in the attitudes of mountain folk in the 1930s.
August 14, 2017
Sharyn McCrumb offers a creative story line for Prayers the Devil Answers. Set in depression era Appalachia, I found the depiction of the mountain burg, it's citizens, councilmen and sheriff's department incongruous to time and place. The players are colorful, but inconsistent to staying in character. All in all, I found both the players and story line unbelievable. Add to that a tedious, slow moving beginning, I'm somewhat surprised that I stayed with the book to completion. Perhaps it being an upcoming book club discussion was the motivation.
February 16, 2018
Review coming soon; I need to digest it a bit more before I start writing.
April 24, 2021
i loved learning about life in the Depression in Appalachia so that bumped it to a five star review. I did feel as though some of the characters did some things that were hard to believe, but well within possibility. It almost knocked a star off the rating, but overall, a very interesting read.
September 8, 2024
Since I loved all the ballad books by Sharyn McCrumb I started this title with high hopes. Alas, the book was repetitive and just had a flat quality. The author continues to portray a good sense of place and nails the Appalachian speech patterns but this is not her best effort.
August 2, 2019
I LOVE The Ballad series. So glad that this one came out.
Fascinating characters and story (based on real events).
Great details of women's lives in the time and place described.
Fascinating characters and story (based on real events).
Great details of women's lives in the time and place described.
June 16, 2016
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
While I really enjoyed the early Ballad books by Sharyn McCrumb, her last few have rung false notes for me. Either there was a very obvious agenda, things happened that were just too dark for me, or both.
This book was quite enjoyable up until the end, which felt rushed.
The book begins with a Dumb Supper. This was a ritual done by mountain girls to find out if they would marry soon. I wasn't familiar with this bit of lore and found it pretty interesting. All does not go as planned, and the disruption of the ritual bodes ominously for the future.
This thread is mostly left behind as we get to know Ellie Robbins, a young wife whose family has moved to town from the mountains in hopes of a better life. This is set during the Depression, and everyone is pretty hand-to-mouth, but Ellie's husband slowly begins to find a place for himself in this new environment. Ellie is tough and practical, although she's also shy with new people and has to work hard to fit in.
A prayer the devil answers is a wish that is granted, but in such a way that you wish you'd never prayed in the first place. There are a couple of such prayers in the book, although I don't want to spoil the details.
What I liked most about the book was Ellie. We read her voice in the first person and I really got to like her. The Depression era Smoky Mountains and the people who live there are vividly drawn by someone with deep understanding of that culture.
The problems I had with the book: first, the Dumb Supper, after all the build-up, never really is a factor in the plot. It does come up later in the book, and I suppose you could reach and say that it had something to do with what happens, but it was never really spelled out and I, as a pragmatic reader, didn't feel that the action was because of anything supernatural. Second, Ellie is beautifully developed, but once she becomes sheriff, everything gets glossed over. We get some build-up about how difficult it will be for a woman to be sheriff, but don't ever really see that difficulty. She quickly builds a relationship with her deputies and everyone's pretty professional. When it develops that she will have to supervise a hanging, Ellie is taken aback but quickly works to accept what she's got to do for her job and does her duty to the best of her ability. The idea of what it would really be like to execute someone is explored in some depth, and gave me the shudders. And although the final scenes are rendered quite vividly, they were somewhat anticlimactic- I'm not sure how, but that's how I felt while reading.
Finally, the author is pretty clear who the good guys and the bad guys are in the book. There's a woman who's "blowsy, with piggy eyes" and she's pretty much a one-dimensional antagonist. Ellie herself is pretty black and white in her thinking, and when she learns a secret about her husband, quite implacable. I couldn't follow her on the path she took at that point.
So, the book was wonderfully set up and developed, but then it rushed ahead, glossed over details, and ended in an unsatisfying way. I'd really probably give it about 3 1/2 stars, but rounded up on the strength of past books by this author.
While I really enjoyed the early Ballad books by Sharyn McCrumb, her last few have rung false notes for me. Either there was a very obvious agenda, things happened that were just too dark for me, or both.
This book was quite enjoyable up until the end, which felt rushed.
The book begins with a Dumb Supper. This was a ritual done by mountain girls to find out if they would marry soon. I wasn't familiar with this bit of lore and found it pretty interesting. All does not go as planned, and the disruption of the ritual bodes ominously for the future.
This thread is mostly left behind as we get to know Ellie Robbins, a young wife whose family has moved to town from the mountains in hopes of a better life. This is set during the Depression, and everyone is pretty hand-to-mouth, but Ellie's husband slowly begins to find a place for himself in this new environment. Ellie is tough and practical, although she's also shy with new people and has to work hard to fit in.
A prayer the devil answers is a wish that is granted, but in such a way that you wish you'd never prayed in the first place. There are a couple of such prayers in the book, although I don't want to spoil the details.
What I liked most about the book was Ellie. We read her voice in the first person and I really got to like her. The Depression era Smoky Mountains and the people who live there are vividly drawn by someone with deep understanding of that culture.
The problems I had with the book: first, the Dumb Supper, after all the build-up, never really is a factor in the plot. It does come up later in the book, and I suppose you could reach and say that it had something to do with what happens, but it was never really spelled out and I, as a pragmatic reader, didn't feel that the action was because of anything supernatural. Second, Ellie is beautifully developed, but once she becomes sheriff, everything gets glossed over. We get some build-up about how difficult it will be for a woman to be sheriff, but don't ever really see that difficulty. She quickly builds a relationship with her deputies and everyone's pretty professional. When it develops that she will have to supervise a hanging, Ellie is taken aback but quickly works to accept what she's got to do for her job and does her duty to the best of her ability. The idea of what it would really be like to execute someone is explored in some depth, and gave me the shudders. And although the final scenes are rendered quite vividly, they were somewhat anticlimactic- I'm not sure how, but that's how I felt while reading.
Finally, the author is pretty clear who the good guys and the bad guys are in the book. There's a woman who's "blowsy, with piggy eyes" and she's pretty much a one-dimensional antagonist. Ellie herself is pretty black and white in her thinking, and when she learns a secret about her husband, quite implacable. I couldn't follow her on the path she took at that point.
So, the book was wonderfully set up and developed, but then it rushed ahead, glossed over details, and ended in an unsatisfying way. I'd really probably give it about 3 1/2 stars, but rounded up on the strength of past books by this author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 20, 2016
Sharyn McCrumb is a reliably good read and this one was very good. There's always a sense of desperation and hardscrabble struggle in the stories she sets in the mountain regions of the Eastern United States, and especially so in this one which occurs during the Depression. But there is always family and indomitable strength in her characters as well, and the haunting folktales and legends that are part of the Smoky Mountain culture. It is one of these tales, the Dumb Supper, that forms the background of this tale. I had to look that up, and I think the origin is Scotland or Ireland, from which many of the Appalachian folk emigrated, but it's a fascinating ritual that young girls used to conduct in an effort to predict who they would marry and perhaps force their reluctant suitors to commit. In this case, it supposedly leads to great tragedy years later, and affects the life and duties of Ellie Robbins, the main character of the story. The story is really about her and her heroic efforts to support her small boys after the death of her husband, the local sheriff. She assumes his job, and the author (as she does in so many stories) ties the historical account of the last public hanging in the U.S. carried out by a female sheriff to Ellie's role in the story. Everything but the hanging and the female sheriff is fiction, but it's a heck of a story, rich with detail, local color, and fascinating characters.
July 7, 2016
Once upon a time a group of girls in a Tennessee town held a "dumb supper." This supper is based on old lore only partly understood and filled with occult but forgotten meaning. The outcome is to reveal the identities of the men the women would someday marry. Many old rules are involved and must be followed exactly. One of the young women commits a grave error and this story follows the mysterious results.
Ellendor Robbins watches her young husband die of pneumonia unable to help him. She is left with two boys and no means to survive in her depression era town. She boldly asks to take over her husband's job as sheriff of their town.
Celia, the young woman who committed the error in the dumb supper, a schoolteacher, meets and then marries Lonnie Varden an artist paid by the WPA to paint murals in public locations throughout rural Tennessee. When she is murdered, it eventually falls to the town's sheriff to hang the murderer. This is their story.
There was a woman sheriff in Tennessee in 1936 who indeed did have this task fall to her while in office, but from there the story follows its own path. I sometimes struggled with the reality of the story so when I found it was based on history this did help my understanding. McCrumb is well-known for her Appalachian backgrounds to the books she has written and demonstrates here her continuing understanding of the genre.
Ellendor Robbins watches her young husband die of pneumonia unable to help him. She is left with two boys and no means to survive in her depression era town. She boldly asks to take over her husband's job as sheriff of their town.
Celia, the young woman who committed the error in the dumb supper, a schoolteacher, meets and then marries Lonnie Varden an artist paid by the WPA to paint murals in public locations throughout rural Tennessee. When she is murdered, it eventually falls to the town's sheriff to hang the murderer. This is their story.
There was a woman sheriff in Tennessee in 1936 who indeed did have this task fall to her while in office, but from there the story follows its own path. I sometimes struggled with the reality of the story so when I found it was based on history this did help my understanding. McCrumb is well-known for her Appalachian backgrounds to the books she has written and demonstrates here her continuing understanding of the genre.
October 13, 2016
I enjoyed listening to this book. Sharyn McCrumb has a knack with the Appalachian voice and life. I started listening to this last July except it was due back at the library before I had finished. So I got it again this week. I listened to the rest of it today.
Maybe my memory is a bit hazy about the first part. There was a dumb supper - the kind of thing silly girls do to prophesize their future husbands. I thought it sounded like fooling around on the ouija board. I looked it up tonight and apparently it was supposed to involve spirits from beyond. So I guess it actually was a lot like the ouija board.
It follows three different storylines. But they all meet up in the end. An artist, a teacher and a boy and girl who came up in hardscrabble Appalachia (presumably East Tennessee).
I thought Candace Thaxton nailed the voices. I would listen to her reading other books.
Maybe my memory is a bit hazy about the first part. There was a dumb supper - the kind of thing silly girls do to prophesize their future husbands. I thought it sounded like fooling around on the ouija board. I looked it up tonight and apparently it was supposed to involve spirits from beyond. So I guess it actually was a lot like the ouija board.
It follows three different storylines. But they all meet up in the end. An artist, a teacher and a boy and girl who came up in hardscrabble Appalachia (presumably East Tennessee).
I thought Candace Thaxton nailed the voices. I would listen to her reading other books.
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