Rating: 
Summary: An obvious culprit, but worth the time.
Review: As a mystery, "Peggy-O" falls a trifle short; there simply aren't that many possibilities for the killer. But as a study of present-day Appalachian life, it's superb. The characters are compelling, their worries, aspirations etc. expertly handled. McCrumb obviously has tremendous pride in being of the region and it shows. Richly detailed and executed.
Rating: 
Summary: 4 stars for the mystery; 5 for the story
Review: I had the mystery killer figured out before I was half way though the book. That was the reason for the 4 star rating of this book. However, the story that goes along with the mystery is so much better. It is the story of getting over a single event that positively or negatively shaped your life (or the lives of those living in the small Tennessee town). I'm glad I found out about Sharyn McCrumb (thanks Joe!). Even though I'm not from Appalachia, I'm from the South. McCrumb brings a new vioce to the South with a combination of old tales. I feel like I understand the characters in this book even though they are from a different generation than me. I couldn't put the book down after I started reading it. I am very much looking forward to reading the rest of the series of the Appalachian Ballads. This book series is being taught at universities and high schools around the "New South." Don't put off reading this author upon recommendation from your child.
Rating:
Summary: 4 stars for the mystery; 5 for the story
Review: I had the mystery killer figured out before I was half way though the book. That was the reason for the 4 star rating of this book. However, the story that goes along with the mystery is so much better. It is the story of getting over a single event that positively or negatively shaped your life (or the lives of those living in the small Tennessee town). I'm glad I found out about Sharyn McCrumb (thanks Joe!). Even though I'm not from Appalachia, I'm from the South. McCrumb brings a new vioce to the South with a combination of old tales. I feel like I understand the characters in this book even though they are from a different generation than me. I couldn't put the book down after I started reading it. I am very much looking forward to reading the rest of the series of the Appalachian Ballads. This book series is being taught at universities and high schools around the "New South." Don't put off reading this author upon recommendation from your child.
Rating: 
Summary: A Real Find!
Review: I run two book discussion groups in the library where I work and am always on the look-out for good titles for both. Our general (eclectic) club is usually not such a problem, since the participants know to expect a wide variety of materials. The mystery discussion sessions have been a little more problematic, partly because it's a specialized genre, and one that I'm not as familiar with myself, and partly because mysteries, while extraordinarily poplular at my library, don't always lend themselves to a lengthy discussion unless they have well-rounded characters and well developed plotlines or if they touch upon broader themes than the solving of the mystery itself. This book, Sharyn McCrumb's first work in her "Ballad Series," met all these criteria--and for my money was an intriguing and effective mystery besides. The book tackles such weighty themes as the legacy of the Viet Nam era, family conflicts and resolutions and even the lesser trauma (or maybe not, if we'e honest about it) of not having the greatest time in high shool. McCrumb is able to address all these themes with humanity, wit and a keen eye for detail. All in all, I'd say this is the BEST title our little mystery group has discussed yet. I was a little surprised to see that others here have given this book decidedly mixed reviews. Since I am not a long time mystery buff myself, I guess it could be true that the "whodunnit" question might be more obvious to a genre expert. But I tend to doubt that actually, since many in our group would qualify as such--and they didn't necessarily see the ending coming. McCrumb throws out enough in the way of red herrings to keep most readers guessing. But for me, the main appeal of this book is indeed the masterful characterization. These are complex people, whom you genuinely come to care about. I wouldn't hesitate at all to introduce McCrumb's work to my more "literary" discussion group. She is, simply stated, a darned good writer.
Rating:
Summary: A Real Find!
Review: I run two book discussion groups in the library where I work and am always on the look-out for good titles for both. Our general (eclectic) club is usually not such a problem, since the participants know to expect a wide variety of materials. The mystery discussion sessions have been a little more problematic, partly because it's a specialized genre, and one that I'm not as familiar with myself, and partly because mysteries, while extraordinarily poplular at my library, don't always lend themselves to a lengthy discussion unless they have well-rounded characters and well developed plotlines or if they touch upon broader themes than the solving of the mystery itself. This book, Sharyn McCrumb's first work in her "Ballad Series," met all these criteria--and for my money was an intriguing and effective mystery besides. The book tackles such weighty themes as the legacy of the Viet Nam era, family conflicts and resolutions and even the lesser trauma (or maybe not, if we'e honest about it) of not having the greatest time in high shool. McCrumb is able to address all these themes with humanity, wit and a keen eye for detail. All in all, I'd say this is the BEST title our little mystery group has discussed yet. I was a little surprised to see that others here have given this book decidedly mixed reviews. Since I am not a long time mystery buff myself, I guess it could be true that the "whodunnit" question might be more obvious to a genre expert. But I tend to doubt that actually, since many in our group would qualify as such--and they didn't necessarily see the ending coming. McCrumb throws out enough in the way of red herrings to keep most readers guessing. But for me, the main appeal of this book is indeed the masterful characterization. These are complex people, whom you genuinely come to care about. I wouldn't hesitate at all to introduce McCrumb's work to my more "literary" discussion group. She is, simply stated, a darned good writer.
Rating:
Summary: Good book but left me with many questions.
Review: I wanted to know why the sheriff didn't turn in Muryan. How does this related with the killings we have today by young school aged people. It seems that the author touched on murder by students without giving any suggestions to help this problem. I had a problem with reading the letters from Travis. It seems like I couldn't read them through. I had to stop and try to keep myself from going too much into the feeling he was having while serving in Vietnam. They were very powerful letters. Are they real letters or did the author just make them up from a collection of real Vietnam experience letters.
Rating:
Summary: Pretty Impressed
Review: I was pretty impressed with this book. I am planning on reading all of the "Ballad's Novels" and I know this is the first, so as I read it, I cut the author a little slack (being this was her first). I did enjoy the story and the suspense. And I found the characters loveable. I'd give it a try if I were you!
Rating: 
Summary: NOT VERY GOOD!!!
Review: I was very disappointed in this book. This is the first one on McCrumb's books I have read but had heard they were real good. I found my self not wanting to put the book down, not because I was enjoying it but because I just wanted to get done with it. Sheriff Spencer Arrowood is a Sheriff in a small town. First a dog is killed, then a sheep and then a girl. We are led to believe a Vet. no one has heard from in 20 years is the killer. Peggy Muryan, a 60"s folk singer is supposed to be the final target. No one solves the crime until the killer shows up. A lot of the book is spent planning a class reunion. I may try one of the MacPherson books but think I am done with the Ballard books. I know different people like different things but this is just not for me. If you have another author you enjoy I would read it and skip this.
Rating:
Summary: A LYRICAL BALLAD OF A GREAT STORY
Review: Peggy Muryan moves into an idyllic Tennessee town to escape the shadows of her past. Set in 1986, Peggy copes with the loss of her music partner, Travis, who was killed some twenty years earlier in Vietnam. She saves every letter from Travis and the recordings they did in smoky coffeehouses (were there any coffeehouses in the 1960s that WEREN'T smoky) and college circuits. Alone and confused, she comes to the quiet community to regroup. Sheriff Arrowood, a town fixture takes to Peggy. Attractive and blessed with a beautiful voice, she provides a spark of interest into the small community. Arrowood's brother was a casualty of the war and he feels immediately bonded to the enigmatic Peggy. Peggy leans on Arrowood when she becomes the target of a series of threatening letters, seemingly written by Travis. Since he has been dead for 20-odd years, she wonders who knows Travis well enough to ape his writing style. Pix-Kyle, a Vietnam era Rambo wannabe, latches himself onto Peggy. A high school misfit with a weird name, he has an unflagging obsession with anything related to the Vietnam War. He riles Arrowood with his incessant questions about the latter's brother, who died in combat. He riles other male adults in the community by asking them to revisit the horror of Vietnam War atrocities. Once he learns Peggy's former flame/collaborator Travis is a war casualty, he turns his war obsession onto her. He breaks into her house, reads her letters and apes the writing style Travis used in them. He sends Peggy letters, trying to make it sound like Travis is not really dead, but somewhere in the area watching her. The story is intense and unforgettable. The characters hold the readers' interest. This one is well worth reading.
Rating:
Summary: A LYRICAL BALLAD OF A GREAT STORY
Review: Peggy Muryan moves into an idyllic Tennessee town to escape the shadows of her past. Set in 1986, Peggy copes with the loss of her music partner, Travis, who was killed some twenty years earlier in Vietnam. She saves every letter from Travis and the recordings they did in smoky coffeehouses (were there any coffeehouses in the 1960s that WEREN'T smoky) and college circuits. Alone and confused, she comes to the quiet community to regroup. Sheriff Arrowood, a town fixture takes to Peggy. Attractive and blessed with a beautiful voice, she provides a spark of interest into the small community. Arrowood's brother was a casualty of the war and he feels immediately bonded to the enigmatic Peggy. Peggy leans on Arrowood when she becomes the target of a series of threatening letters, seemingly written by Travis. Since he has been dead for 20-odd years, she wonders who knows Travis well enough to ape his writing style. Pix-Kyle, a Vietnam era Rambo wannabe, latches himself onto Peggy. A high school misfit with a weird name, he has an unflagging obsession with anything related to the Vietnam War. He riles Arrowood with his incessant questions about the latter's brother, who died in combat. He riles other male adults in the community by asking them to revisit the horror of Vietnam War atrocities. Once he learns Peggy's former flame/collaborator Travis is a war casualty, he turns his war obsession onto her. He breaks into her house, reads her letters and apes the writing style Travis used in them. He sends Peggy letters, trying to make it sound like Travis is not really dead, but somewhere in the area watching her. The story is intense and unforgettable. The characters hold the readers' interest. This one is well worth reading.
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