A Minister's Ghost

by Phillip DePoy

Book Overview

Fever Devilin is a folklorist who fled the fevered halls of academia to return home to the Blue Mountain region of the Georgia Appalachians and a hopefully quiet life. While on?a trip collecting folklore, Fever spots an apparition at a railroad crossing. Such apparitions are traditionally omens of evil, and when he returns home he finds his suspicions are accurate: his friend Lucinda's two nieces have been killed in a suspicious accident. As he consoles...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312339348
• ISBN13: 9780312339340
• Release Date: December 2005
• Publisher: Minotaur Books
• Length: 277 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.9" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

Fabulous Book!

Another wonderful book in the Fever Devilin series. This author really knows how to tell a story and you will not be disappointed with any of these books.

SPELLBINDING

Phillip Depoy utilizes a fluid and lyrical prose to depict a man whose fractured soul is caught between the realms of his crippling and fairly surreal past and his hauntingly eerie present circumstances. His blending of folkloric legend with the Georgia Appalachian hill-country setting that is backgound to all of his Fever Devilin mysteries results in a tale that is spellbinding and impossible to set down. Patricia Anne Dennison--author of THE SPELL OF SAINT CYRIL'S CEMETERY and STOP THE VOICES

A fascinating book.

This book is not for everyone. As a reader, one must open oneself to the local culture, atmosphere and old beliefs of hill people where what's real can have a different definition. The characters include little people, a ghost, a snake-handling preacher, hobos, a junk-yard dealer with a unique musical instrument and Fever's best friend, the sheriff who is not acting like himself. The mystery is not the strength of the story. The strength is the unusual, intriguing characters and atmospheric, lyrical writing. Personally, I very much enjoyed this book and this series and want to find out more about these fascinating people.

Wonderful!

Depoy's latest work is simply wonderful. Fine characterization, sharp plotting, and engagingly written. Don't miss it!

terrific Blue Mountain amateur sleuth

Georgia folklorist Fever Devilin knows that those residing in Appalachia distrust outsiders. When he gave up the boredom of academia to return to his hometown of Blue Mountain, the local Georgians considered him tainted and treated him like an alien (see THE DEVIL'S HEARTH). Still he perseveres and assisted his friend Sheriff Skidmore "Skid" Needle on an investigation and hooked back up with Lucinda. An accident at a train crossing in nearby Pine City leaves Lucinda's two teenaged nieces, Rory and Tess, dead. Lucinda refuses to believe an accident occurred because as she logically says to Fever that even if their car stalled on the tracks, they could have left the vehicle. Though he believes the tragedy was an accident, he tells Lucinda that he loves her (saying this affection for the first time) and will make inquiries, but he soon finds the obvious conclusion false. The third Blue Mountain amateur sleuth tale is a terrific entry in a strong series (see THE WITCH'S GRAVE) as Fever is caught up with investigating what seems a sad tragedy. The insight into the townsfolk and the local culture is incredible; so strong that in some ways it supersedes the fabulous investigation. Though the ending seems implausible, fans will appreciate Devilin's latest adventure on his hometown turf. Harriet Klausner