Effigies: A Faye Longchamp Mystery

by Mary Anna Evans

Book Overview

2007 - Florida Book Award Bronze Medal Winner

"As an archeological tour alone the book would be worth reading, but it's the fascinating and complex characters that give the story life and vibrancy." --Rhys Bowen, New York Times bestselling author

Faye Longchamp and Joe Wolf Mantooth have traveled to Neshoba County, Mississippi, to help excavate a site near Nanih Waiya, the sacred mound where tradition...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1590583426
• ISBN13: 9781590583425
• Release Date: January 2007
• Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
• Length: 301 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.8" x 8.8"

Customer Reviews

Effigies

Effigies is well written. It goes into a background of early American History that hasn't been researched and written up as much as it should have been. It does make one think and it just might be the way to get some of the younger people to think about their ancesters. I like archaeology so this is up my alley.

Mystery, Archeology Make For Great Reading

The author's setting in Mississippi gives the reader an insight on the little known history of the Choctaw nation in the Mississippi region. Evans write a fast-past murder mystery while bringing in the racism, bigotry and prejudice still embedded in certain areas of the deep south. Her expertise in archeology makes the story a great combination of archeology, mystery, romance and the heroine a female sleuth with brains. I cannot compare her writing to Hillerman's because their styles are totally different. The only comparison with Hillerman's is that both write of Native Americans. Her characters come to life and I found it a very enjoyable read. Bettye Johnson, award-winning author, Secrets of the Magdalene Scrolls.

MUST READ MYSTERY

I've just finished the second reading of this third installment, which only happens with books I truly enjoy, and it was as entertaining as a the first. This is one of my favorite mystery series' because I get so caught up in the story that I don't spend a lot of time trying to think ahead of the author's vision and simply let the story unfold naturally. The characters are so thoroughly developed that I never find myself questioning their actions, as I often do with most mystery series. I don't feel that the protagonist or sidekick is ever doing something completely out of character; instead, I find myself understanding them more clearly, which is thoroughly refreshing. Fay's honest objectivity and Joe's quiet strength and complete loyalty makes this duo irresistible and endearing, although it's obvious to everyone but herself that no one else will ever "get" Fay the way Joe does. Mary Anna Evans, I admire your work - keep them coming!

another deep dig!

In this third mystery of this series, we are in the world of archeology with Faye Longchamp and her yummy sidekick Joe Wolf Mantooth. They have, once again, left their comfort zone of Joyeuse Island in north Florida to excavate a site for a company building a highway in Neshoba County, Mississippi. The site happens to be very close to Nanih Waiya, a mound considered sacred by the Choctaws. When the archeologists, one of them local to the area, see another `mound' across the street from where they are digging, they ask for permission to excavate it, as well. The owner, Carroll Calhoun, a local man of many years, runs them off the property and then tries to destroy the mound with a bulldozer. A community uprising ensues, with many different tensions causing it. The local sheriff is able to control the crowd and protect the mound until the laws are interpreted, but that didn't stop someone from deciding that Calhoun should die. When Joe and Faye find his body, throat slit, in a grove of marijuana plants, suspicions abound, especially on Joe because of his flint-knapping abilities. As Faye is trying to protect Joe from the outside world, she is trying to work on her assignment while also attempting to save a possible effigy, not to mention her own life and the lives of her friends. While it appears like there are many characters and stories to follow, the plot is sound, as well as the research that went into the story. There is definitely a lot of character development, and some of the descriptions make you want to go out and sift through the dirt with them.

A must read for mystery fans

Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (10/06) "Effigies" has it all. Mary Anna Evans manages to incorporate romance, archeological information, Native American history, and issues with racial prejudice in to her mystery. I loved reading this fiction novel. At the end of the book, the author has a section that discusses aspects of her story that are actually true. This made "Effigies" much more enjoyable because as she slips the well-researched information into her story, she also slips this knowledge into our minds. The tale takes place in Mississippi. Faye and her friend Joe are excavating a Choctaw Indian site that sites near Naih Waiha which is a sacred mound. This mound sits on private property. The owner, Carroll Calhoun, is a farmer that does not want his land touched. He is afraid that he will lose the right to farm on his land if it is discovered how important this site actually is. This problem creates an interesting dilemma for the local people. The farmers want to support this farmer because they are also in danger of having to go through the same experience. The local Indians do not want the site disturbed at all. They see the archeologists as grave robbers. This creates an additional problem for one of the Choctaw Indians on the team. This matter becomes really serious when Calhoun tries to tear the mound down. He ends up getting murdered. Before Calhoun's murder, a black politician steps forward to tell a story about an attempt that was made on his life when he was a young man in this town. He would like the people who attacked him to step forward, and to learn the identity of the man who helped rescue him. The question arises as to whether or not Calhoun was involved with this, and if his murder was related to this or to his attempted destruction of the mound. The plot thickens as certain people try to cover up the past. "Effigies" is a story that should not be missed. I really enjoyed how well the characters are developed. It is really easy to visualize them. The descriptions of the surrounding area are vivid. I also enjoyed the Indian folklore stories that area put in between some of the chapters. It enriched my experience as a reader. I felt more in touch with the Choctaw tribe. The twists and turns of the plot kept me on the edge of my seat guessing. This story is third in the Faye Longchamp archaeological series. It was the first one for me to read and now I cannot wait to go back and read her earlier stories.