Lovely in Her Bones

Rating:
Summary: Cute and witty
Review: Having been my first mystery novel ever, I enjoyed Lovely in Her Bones. Not for the developed writing style or character development, but for the simple plot that was thoroughly enjoyable to read. Need to relax? Grab hold of this who-dun-it!

Rating:
Summary: Too witty
Review: I've read two of McCrumb's mystery novels now and had the same reaction: witty murder is hard to take. I won't be reading more because I seem to take murder a bit too seriously for this light, fluffy sort of treatment, where the author's emphasis is often on cute dialogue and witty repartee.

That said, the story here has three young people dabble in murder detection and forensic science because-naturally-grownups don't care. Several passages are very well written and McCrumb maintains a tongue-in-cheek touch elsewhere. Don't rely on either the science terminology and interpretations to be accurate even for the 1985 paleo-computer age. Other than the pedagogy, this story will entertain young readers and introduce them to an unusual Appalachian setting and the issue of proving Indian land claims.

Rating:
Summary: Pleasing lightweight mystery
Review: This belongs at the lighter end of the crime novel spectrum,although this does not prevent it from making a sharp point or two about ethnicity and the way it impacts on the bureaucratic mind,especially in these days of political correctness.
Trying to establish their right to Native American tribal status, and by so doing preserve the land from the depredations of strip mining,the Cullowee people of the Appalachians invite the local University to carry out an archaelogical dig on theor land.When the expedition leader Professor Lerche,is murdered suspects are not exactly in short supply.
A local deputy sheriff does not want the dig to proceed as he stands to gain financially from any mining operation;the professor has broken off an affair with a graduate student ,to her intense displeasure and he has publicly humiliated a pompous undergraduate.Events taken an even darker turn with a second murder folowing hard on the heels of the professor's demise.
Heroine and series regular Elizabeth MacPherson steps in to unravel the case.
it is well written but lightweight and I suspect will be enjoyed mainly by devotees of the cosy and academic mysteries
McCrumb's Ballad novels are brilliant.This is not but it is a polished and professional diversion that satisfies on its own terms

Rating:
Summary: Don't waste your time or money!
Review: This is a typical drug store mystery set in the mountains of North Carolina with an improbable plot, almost no character development, sophomoric writing, and an Indian tribe who turn out to be descendants of slaves owned by an Indian tribe. The only redeeming virtue of the book is a use of herbal medicine within the plot. It contains its own bromide, so to speak. Don't waste your time and money!

Rating:
Summary: Pure reading pleasure.
Review: Yet another warm and witty treasure from the very talented McCrumb. Offers all the pleasures of mystery reading with considerably more depth of setting, character and significance of plot than in most crime novels. Not to mention a whole heck of a lot funnier.