Welcome back to rural Dobbs, North Carolina, located in the
scenic countryside of Colleton County. A place where once
productive farms graced the land, and now housing
developments and strip malls are popping up in their
place. It is also an area where small farmers don't
realize their land is being stolen from them by those they
feel they can trust.
Candace Bradshaw, head of the Dobbs County commissioners
and manager of a very profitable managerial service, is
found dead in her bedroom in what appears to be a suicide.
She even left a note admitting to misappropriation of
monies that benefited her and her friends. However, the
coroner rules Candace's death a homicide. It is common
knowledge that the county commissioners have been taking
kickbacks and bribes from developers, but now it is out in
the open and a lot of people are under the microscope.
County Judge Deborah Knott-Bryant gets involved in a little
undercover investigation of her own regarding Candace's
death. The deceased seemed to have a file with a little
dirt on everyone in Dobbs, and the judge is worried about
the facts of her appointment to the bench coming to
light. Everyone is looking for a flash drive Candace
always had with her, and by everyone that especially
includes the killer. Deborah knows she should share
everything she finds with her husband, Sheriff's Deputy
Dwight Bryant, and she will -- eventually. Another concern
for Deborah is her father, Kezzie Knott. She is convinced
he is up to something "shady", but Kezzie tells her in no
uncertain words to butt out of his business.
What a terrific book! Margaret Maron writes such an easy
reading, reader-pleasing, down home story, with a well-
developed cast of characters, and a wonderful narrative
spoken in a soft, pleasing Southern voice. Ms. Maron's
fans know that the path from Point "A" -- the murder -- to
Point "B" -- the killer -- is never straight or easy, but is
always a lot of fun. This reviewer hangs her head in
shame for having to admit this is my first Margaret Maron
tale, but I rush to add it certainly won't be my last.
DEATH'S HALF ACRE is deliciously enjoyable and is highly
recommended to the reader that enjoys a flawlessly executed
cozy mystery.
Unchecked urbanization has begun to eclipse the North
Carolina countryside. As farms give way to shoddy mansions,
farmers struggle to slow the rampant growth. In the shadows,
corrupt county commissioners use their political leverage to
make profitable deals with new developers. A murder will
pull Judge Deborah Knott and Sheriff's Deputy Dwight Bryant
into the middle of this bitter dispute and force them to
confront some dark realities.
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