The Gods of Green County

by Mary Elizabeth Pope

Coralee Harper struggles for justice for her dead brother and her own sanity in Depression-era rural Arkansas.

In 1927 in rural Green County, Arkansas, where cotton and poverty reign, young Coralee Harper hopes for a family and a place in her community, but when her brother Buddy is killed by a powerful sheriff, she can't recover from his death or the injustice of his loss. When she begins to spot her dead brother around town, she wonders--is she clairvoyant, mistaken, or is she losing her mind?

What Coralee can't fathom is that there are forces at work that threaten her and the very fabric of the town: Leroy Harrison, a newly minted, ambitious lawyer who makes a horrible mistake, landing him a judgeship and a guilty conscience for life; an evangelical preacher and his flock of snake-handling parishioners; the women of the town who, along with Coralee's own mother, make up their own kind of jury for Coralee's behavior; Sheriff Wiley Slocum who rules the entire field, harboring dark secrets of his own; and finally, Coralee's husband Earl, who tries to balance his work at the cotton gin with his fight for family and Coralee's life.

When Coralee ends up in a sanity hearing before Judge Leroy Harrison, the judge must decide both Coralee's fate and his own. The chain of events following his decision draws him more deeply into the sheriff's far-reaching sphere of influence, and shows him how power can ruin women and corrupt men, even--and especially--himself.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Southern, Mystery, Southern Gothic, Family

300 pages, Hardcover

First published October 5, 2021

About the author

Mary Elizabeth Pope grew up in Michigan with roots deep in the Missouri Bootheel and Northeast Arkansas. She is Professor of English at Emmanuel College in Boston. She is the author of Divining Venus: Stories, and her work has been featured in the literary magazines Arkansas Review, Florida Review, Bellingham Review, Ascent, Passages North, and Fugue, among others. She holds a Ph.D. in English and Creative Writing from the University of Iowa. She lives outside Boston with her husband.

Reviews

[Fran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paradise, Arkansas was a Depression-era town of small minded folk. Cotton fields and poverty reigned supreme. During the drought of 1926, Buddy Harper was shot. His blood, splattered on Main Street, was left for days until a cleansing, heavy rain. Reports indicated that Buddy had stolen cash from the tavern and grabbed a crowbar to defend himself. He was shot dead by Green County Sheriff Wiley Slocum. A prostitute living above the tavern, a potential eyewitness, left town on the day of the shooting.

Mama Harper was very tough on Buddy and younger sister, Coralee. Buddy managed to soothe Coralee when Mama's callousness was in full swing. Coralee took Buddy's death very hard...but [she] could always see things..." Coralee prayed for Buddy's return. Seeing him walking down Main Street, she followed. "Before I could touch him, he moved...[I] tried to follow him...He slipped away".

Leroy Harrison, Esquire was asked by Sheriff Slocum to defend him for shooting Buddy Harper in the line of duty. The plea: self defense. Discrepancies abounded. Why was the wording of 14 witnesses almost identical? Funny, the prostitute, Lorna Lovett, left town the very day she might have provided an eyewitness account. "[Leroy] hoped in a vague way that a positive outcome for the sheriff might mean a positive outcome for Cole." Cole Harrison had applied to open a cotton gin in Paradise, a chance to run his own business. He needed approval by the Paradise Village Council headed by Sheriff Slocum's brother, Virgil. "The very idea that I might not be able to fully investigate Sheriff Slocum's case because I wanted something for myself or my brother...made me feel...like I'd been walking around in my drawers and didn't even know it."

Big Earl Wilkins, Coralee's husband reported that "even if Coralee's problems started with Buddy they had turned into something else entirely...I could tell by the look in her eyes she had no idea where the past few hours had gone". Big Earl started taking Little Earl to the gin with him when he worked nights. "Planting season in Arkansas, nothing but possibility-rows of little cotton plants nosing up through the soil...your job is just to see it through to harvest, best you can." Coralee walked through the cotton fields looking for Buddy.

It was now twenty years since Buddy died. Sheriff Slocum asked Judge Leroy Harrison to oversee a sanity hearing for Coralee Wilkins. "I couldn't help wondering if the justice I might have stolen from that boy's family was about to be visited upon me...".

"The Gods of Green County" by Mary Elizabeth Pope is a riveting, unputdownable novel of Southern Gothic fiction. The residents of rural Paradise had many entanglements. People could be unscrupulous. The evangelical preacher believed one could prove faith by the laying of snakes to cast out demons. Thank you, I'll pass! Caught between a rock and a hard place, a decision made might have far reaching consequences. I highly recommend this excellent read!

Thank you Blair Publishing via Edelweiss for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Penny Zang · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is not enough to say I simply enjoyed The Gods of Green County by Mary Elizabeth Pope. This book surprised me in so many ways. Rarely is a book driven by character and plot, as well as setting and voice, all at once. What struck me most was how each character, even the minor characters, were handled with such care and empathy, such attention to detail. I have no doubt that I will keep thinking about these characters for a long time. The use of multiple perspectives feels especially natural, which is a testament to the outstanding writing here, both generous and subtle at the same time.

The true joy of The Gods of Green County is the way I was just as surprised as the characters were by each twist in the story. The grief and joy of families and friendships echoes until the very last word.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book I've read this year, by a mile.

And to think I almost turned down the review copy because it was pitched as historical fiction and a murder mystery... which are two of the most effective ways to ensure I say nope, not for me, that's a hard pass. But you guys, seriously! This book was so unexpectedly everything I absolutely love about small press fiction!

It's set in rural Arkansas in the 20's and revolves around a young man named Buddy who was shot to death by the town's sheriff and Coralee, Buddy's sister, who is deeply and emotionally rocked by the loss. Told in the alternating viewpoints of Coralee, her husband Earl, and Leroy the laywer, we quickly come to realize that there's more to the story than what was originally told, and it appears the town itself is hiding a whole lot of dark secrets.

It's ridiculous how good this book is! Do yourself a favor and pick it up. Don't read the jacket copy. Just trust me. You're going to love it.

And uhm, hello. That COVER?!?!

[Mary McBride · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it-
Small town in Arkansas with three different story lines all tied to the apparent murder of a young man.
Great complex characters- some good and some not so good. Each had their flaws but were so human and real.
A bit of a mystery but mostly a study of a small town and the corruption of one man..

[Dave Marsland]

DNF

[Gretchen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a book hangover and I am crying.

This is a beautiful, heartbreaking but ultimately hopeful story that is both a mystery and a story about injustice and the nature of forgiveness.

The author has a remarkable ear for dialogue. My grandparents grew up in rural Arkansas around the time of the main setting of the novel, and I frequently felt like I was surrounded by the ghosts of my extended family in the cadence of the characters' conversations. (I very much look forward to being able to experience this book again as an audiobook, because it will be a delight in the hands of a talented narrator.)

If you loved Where the Crawdads Sing, but felt that book was bogged down a bit by descriptions of the marsh, you will love this book. It captures the same sort of atmospheric narrative with leaner prose.

I absolutely loved this book.

(I received a free Advanced Reader's Copy of this book from the publisher, and it's worth noting that this is the first book I've read ON PAPER in almost 4 years, because I am a dedicated Kindle reader (due to my eyestrain from reading tiny legal print all day). This story was so compelling it was worth the eye strain.)

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has many layers. Superficially, it does not at first seen like much, but as you read more closely you begin to see those different layers. What does it mean to be different? Do we see how experiences can change the people we are and how we lead our lives? Do we consider how our actions which might seem justified and bring us some peace can have an adverse effect on others, which we never considered? What do family and community mean? Although this book has fewer than 300 pages, those pages are filled with life lessons and the story stays with you long after you read the last page.

[Steve Holbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pope perfectly captures the south’s conflicting warmth and violence. Through masterful POV shifts and plotting, she unravels a mystery with both beach book ease and Flannery O’Connor edge.

[Jill Brennan · Rating 5 out of 5]

No matter where you are, by the time you finish the first page of The Gods of Green County, you’re in a different time and place and, even if you’ve never been to Arkansas or met a local, you feel right at home. Mary Elizabeth Pope’s writing is so wonderfully vivid, I could see the entire story unfolding. I could taste the Big Earl’s sweet tea. I could feel the hot sun on Coralee, as she walked home from church. I could hear Mabel’s cries of despair. The emotions of these characters umped off the page and stayed with me long after I closed the book.

One a technical level, using multiple narrators is a smart choice and is especially appropriate for this story because an investigation in world depend on several accounts. The characters are fleshed out, real people, all driven by personal motivations. These are real people you wish you could sit down and have a glass of tea with.

Paradise, Arkansas is ruled by Sheriff Wiley Slocum and haunted by the murder of Coralee Harper’s brother, Buddy. When she starts seeing her brother around town, Coralee believes it’s God bringing him back to her, but her faith makes her an easy target – both for a local preacher who sees her as easy way to put money in his pocket and her family who fears she’s gone crazy. After she returns home from a rough stint in an asylum, Coralee develops a new relationship God and the judge, who helped commit her and allowed her brother’s killer to go free. Coralee experiences real tragedy and hardship but sustain her self-reliance and strength, and her faith is inspiring.

Judge Leroy Harrison spends his career doing what he thinks is the right thing for the people of Green County. His desire to be an honest man and do right by his family is something we can all relate to, regardless of gender, socioeconomic status, or faith. Once he’s able to understand the error of his ways, his dedication to righting some of his past wrongs is admirable. But he walks a fine line between dedication and obsession, and he reminds us that patience is crucial, especially in a chaotic world.

Big Earl is Coralee’s husband and father of their son Little Earl and his determination to providing for his family is respectable. When facing adversity, he re-centers himself by thinking about what’s best for his family. His ability to be gentle with his wife and strong with Brother Jeremiah teaches us that kindness is not weakness.

At its core, this is a story about people, and I mean that in the best possible way. It’s always a delight to come across a book where the characters feel so familiar. It’s a story about loss, regret, injustice, and questioning our faith. But it’s also a story about joy, love, and finding family in the most unexpected people.

I wish I could read it again for the for first time.

[Mary Lins · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The Gods of Green County”, by Mary Elizabeth Pope, intrigued me when I heard about it on “Speed Dating” by Book Group, thank you Blair Publishing for sending me an ARC of this wonderful character-driven mystery novel!

It’s 1926 in rural Arkansas and Coralee Harper has return to her mother’s house in shame after leaving her husband. Coralee has “visions” of events that often come true, but she didn’t see that her husband was trouble, or that her brother Buddy would be shot dead by the sheriff, Wiley Slocum, and she doesn’t know an important secret about Buddy.

Leroy Harrison is a young lawyer whom Sheriff Slocum asks to defend him, and Leroy does, even though he has serious misgivings about the evidence used to exonerate the sheriff.

By 1945, Big Earl Wilkins, Coralee’s second husband, begins to suspect that “something is wrong” with Coralee.

This straightforward novel unfolds in first-person narratives from these three fascinating characters. “The Gods of Green County” is as much a character study of these three, and an historical perspective of small towns in the 1920 to the 1940s, as it is a murder mystery. Provocative subjects such as strict gender roles, treatment (or mistreatment) for mental illness, the power of small town sheriffs, and “snake handling” churches, all factor in this compelling narrative.

There were a couple of plot points that were a bit too convenient, but not distracting enough to significantly mar this satisfying story.

Pope’s writing is captivating and perfectly-paced to take the reader into the past to uncover dark secrets and reveal long buried truths.

[Jeana M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mysteries tend to be formulaic, with stock characters and a plot wholly driven by the question of whodunit. The Gods of Green County, by Mary Elizabeth Pope, is anything but. Set in post-Depression era Arkansas, the book is so much more than mystery. There’s murder, yes, but also a mute orphaned boy, a woman deemed incompetent and sent to the state psychiatric ward, a child adopted by his aunt and uncle and raised as their own, a corrupt sheriff, and a snake-handling preacher. To tell these interlocking stories, Pope offers three distinct alternating narrative voices, thus providing a compelling narrative style that drives the plot forward. She wields a sure hand with characterization as she shifts the point of view to show us motherless children, widowed fathers, and women fighting for their sanity. Yet Pope digs even deeper, delving into issues of gender, class, and mental illness with a deftness surprising for a first novel. The plot reels you in, but the clear and elegant writing leaves you wanting more. I couldn’t put it down!

[Jennifer Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received through FirstReads...
I was hoping to like this, but it was so much more than I expected. The only reason I didn't read this in one sitting is because I'm a crazy sports fan. Enthralling from the first page. Right of the bat I have to warn you that this is hands down one of the most depressing novels I've ever read. The sense of smothering, of muted colors, dust and isolation, the utter hopelessness and loneliness come off the page so well it's hard to read. You're almost glad to put it down and remember that, no, you don't live there. Very bleak. Very worth reading.

[Amarjeet Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Gods of Green County being my first fiction of 2022, it made me fall in love with novels once again. Powerfully written, vibrant and tempered with nuance it is a picturesque narration of life's intangible coincidences which are aptly summarized by the following advice: 'don't seek meaning in things as they happen. Await the final outcome to learn why they happened.'

The central protagonist Coralee Harper lives in 1920's Paradise, rural Arkansas, beset by poverty and psychological afflictions. Her brother Buddy's demise at the hands of the local Sheriff in a botched robbery triggers hallucinations which become more powerful when she marries for the second time and has a son.

A few miles away resides lawyer Leroy Harrison who fought to exonerate the Sheriff accused of callously slaying Buddy without cause. Successful, he becomes the Sheriff's most vaunted friend and receives a seemingly gratuitous promotion to Judgehood in his local county. Plagued by multiple miscarriages, he finally adopts his widowed brother's unwanted son Caleb.

Meet Earl; Coralee's second husband who is fearful of his wife's hyper-religious zealotry fed by a snake-wielding pastor and a retinue of equally bloodthirsty congregations. Earl's attempts at having his wife committed to a mental sanitarium for treatment sees him cross paths with Harrison who, contrary to his earlier decision, rescinds his judgement of Coralee being sane and has her committed.

But Harrison's doubts plague him. Gnawing at him until even the Sheriff, his greatest patron, turns against him. Was Buddy Harper truly a criminal or a victim of a deep-rooted conspiracy hatched to silence him? And did he, Harrison, unerringly betray Coralee and exacerbate her inner turmoil by fighting for the wrong cause almost three decades ago? And could the key to solving Buddy's untimely death be held by a mysterious mute boy whose very existence is another mystery?

Set against the backdrop of rural Arkansas during the great depression, The Gods of Green County is fiction at its most powerful and Pope at her greatest. The imagery and the narrative proliferating it are the key pivots on which this story turns. An epochal novel and one of American fiction's greatest.

[Pamela Loring · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I don't think I'll stop recommending or thinking about The Gods of Green County for a long while. Mary Elizabeth Pope seems to be that rare kind of writer who can write a page-turning literary thriller, with characters who you'll know enough to love, hate, and cry for. Southern Gothic, a mystery, a thriller, an elegy to women with little choices whose lives are turned inside out by the men who think they are gods, The Gods of Green County may be set in the early 20th century, but I'll bet a lot of people now would find the reality of those times pretty darn close. A tale about justice and those who wield it, personal history, the trappings of small town life, about empathy and humility, about the impact of social ostracism, and atonement for sins, this novel does so much—and so masterfully. Elegant prose, distinct memorable voices, and to the last page, suspenseful. I can't say enough about this book, except make sure you read it.

[Talya Boerner · Rating 4 out of 5]

During the drought of ’29, Buddy Harper is shot and killed on Main Street in Paradise, Arkansas, by sheriff Wiley Slocum. Twenty years later, Buddy’s younger sister, Coralee, who never quite recovered from her brother’s death (and rightfully so!), is thought to be insane. This southern gothic story by Mary Elizabeth Pope brings to life one small town’s tragedy and the web of lies woven to hide the truth. Compelling and well-written with memorable characters! I especially loved Coralee.

Thank you Green County Library (Paragould, Ar) for gifting this book to me. 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫

Favorite Quote: I did not know that God could feel so calm. I thought God was fierce. I thought you had to shout when the Holy Spirit moved you. I thought you had to let Him roll you. But in this church nobody rolled, and I have to admit that I was glad of that, because after getting the shock, I did not want nothing to run through my body again.

[Ashlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic read! I was glued to this story and truly feel like I took so much from it.

[Kayla Lantos · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a phenomenal book! The characters and their voices add dynamic, unique perspectives. The story is well thought out and the writing is even better. This book will transport you to rural Arkansas and make you feel invested in the characters who reside there.

[Pamela Mansfield-loomis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Told through the authentic voices of three main characters, this novel underscores how the intersection of actions change the course of lives. The author’s tone is compelling and steady throughout. The young woman, Coralee, is forever disturbed by her brother Buddy’s murder, especially because the sheriff gets away with it. I could relate because my own brother was taken away for no reason when he shot at age 25 and the killer only served 5 years - the judge was his uncle. In this story Coralee’s husband’s point of view tells what she does not. But most of all, the judge in the trial realizes how he allowed himself to side with the sheriff and spends years making it right. The southern overtones and culture are very realistic.

[Rob Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Gods of Green County is an amazing story told through three different narrators about life - and a series of events - that happen in the Arkansas Delta in the 1920s. Part historical fiction, but also a little country noir in the vein of Daniel Woodrell, the book reflects on the challenges of life in a small town and issues class, gender, mental health, and power while presenting a compelling narrative that I couldn’t put down. Definitely pick this one up for an engaging, enjoyable read.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Gods of Green County by Mary Elizabeth Pope is a 2021 Blair publication.

In depression era Arkansas, a young man is shot and killed by the local sheriff who claims it was self-defense. He hires an up-and-coming lawyer to defend him. But, when the attorney looks at the evidence, he discovers some gaping holes in the Sheriff’s story…

When I started reading this book, I thought perhaps I had misunderstood the year the book was published. Perhaps this was a reissue? But nope- this book was indeed published for the first time in 2021. I had no idea there were people out there writing books of this caliber anymore. I am duly impressed!

Although the book was occasionally too pat- things coming together just a bit too conveniently, the story is simply too good to hold that angainst it.

Yes, this book does have a mystery- not really a whodunit- because that part is made clear right away- but the whole story behind what prompted this crime slowly unfolds throughout the course of the book. While all the answers we crave are eventually brought to light- this is only one part of the story.

Ultimately, at least in my opinion, this is a story about good, but flawed people, looking for justice, hoping to right wrongs- it’s about their mistakes, guilt, and regrets, it’s about atonement, redemption, and about forgiveness in the wake of unbearable tragedy. This book might break your heart at times but have no fear- before you turn that last page, your heart will be on the mend- warmed, and filled with peace.

This is one of the best books I’ve read in ages and ages. I really wish authors would go back to telling good stories like this one- ones that will stick with you for the ages- the kind that become ‘classics’ someday- as this one should!

5 stars

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd never heard of this family drama/murder mystery until I went hunting for a book set in Arkansas. It's a quiet novel, but one I found quite compelling. The small-town Arkansas setting is atmospheric, the characters are sympathetic and complex, and the prose is dynamic. Although the plot is a bit predictable, it also has some swerves that I didn't see coming. There was more than enough tension and conflict in the story to keep me interested. Although the book is satisfying in that the mystery is solved, THE GODS OF GREEN COUNTY is still awfully depressing. I wanted happier endings for the characters. Overall, though, I enjoyed this book. I don't know if Pope has written other books, but I would absolutely read more from her.

[Maurean · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐ This was probably the best book I've read in a long time. Set in 1926 rural Arkansas, the story paints such a vivid portrait of the time and place of it's telling. Every character was believable. The plotting, the character development, the pace, the three separate storylines that culminated in a way that this reader did not see coming; not necessarily a happy ending, but an honest and satisfying one, none the less. Every aspect of this tale was top-notch.

*book girls read around the USA challenge (July) Arkansas

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much of this novel I truly loved. I’ve been stuck in a book rut and this snapped me right out of it. I’d even give it a 4.5, maybe. The only ding for me was the first-person narration of all 3 of the rotating characters. I don’t feel like their voices varied enough to be plainly discernible and the first-person narration grated on me a little bit. Very compelling story though!

[Mark Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this novel! The characters are memorable and fascinating. Great historical fiction that captures a unique time/place in a way that is completely convincing and makes you feel like you time-traveled there. The plot unfolds like one of the best seasons of True Detective--some unexpected twists and turns--but what will stick with you afterward are the characters themselves.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will say this book wasn't what I thought it would be when I purchased it, and I'll also say I'm so glad that was the case! This might be one of the most gorgeous, heart wrenching, thought provoking stories I've ever been blessed enough to read. Three characters' stories, intricately woven into one of the most incredible books.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has everything you could ask for in a historical novel: extraordinary voices that reveal the complexity of time, place, and character, and a captivating story line that is at once a thrilling page-turner and a thought-provoking literary masterpiece!

[Rose Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very moving story. It is told in first person with 3 different views. The story was easy to read though emotional at times. The layout of how it played out left you sad but it made since. There were life lessons for everyone. It is a great read that I know I will be thinking out for a long while.

[Amy Morrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy Moly readers! I just finished The Gods of Green County by Mary Elizabeth Pope. What a fantastic story with lots of twists and turns. I really enjoyed her writing style. Coralee, Leroy, and Big Earl will stay with me for a long time. I highly recommend!! 5 ⭐️!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this story. It was written so "matter of fact". I'll be thinking of all the citizens of Green County for a while-my sign of a good read.

[Irene · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so beautiful to read! I was captivated from the first paragraph. But I take a star off because the ending broke my heart, which I’m sure was the intention.