The Toymaker

by J.D. Ballam

A young man investigating his father's untimely death. A woman's initials, carved in an ancient tree. A half-forgotten hex sign revealing a crooked path. An Appalachian community that closes ranks to preserve its secrets. A tale of moonshine, murder and Blue Ridge Mountain magic by the author of "The Road to Harmony."

200 pages, Paperback

First published January 7, 2008

Reviews

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a bit biased, since this book was written by one of my favorite professors, but I found it to be a novel of simplicity and passion. Though the book feels narrow at times, focused as it is on a small Appalachian town, overall, it's a book about family and community, and makes for a quick read that feels at once comforting and disturbing.

[Dona Matthews · Rating 4 out of 5]

thoughtful, poetic, beautifully written novel: a man retracing his family roots, and trying to solve an an old mystery in the Appalachian mountains