Customer Reviews

A Minister's Ghost : A Fever Devilin Mystery

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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

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.

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

I am a big fan of Sharyn McCrumb's ballad series which deals with the folklore of the Appalachian hill country in east Tennessee, so I am familiar with it and love it. I truly enjoyed the conversations and loved Fever's comments throughout the book, however, I was apparently not as enthralled as others were. It was a good book, and I did enjoy it, but for me, it dragged at times. That said, I will probably read another Fever Devlin mystery because I enjoyed the verbiage, but I just wasn't as excited about this novel as some reviewers.

Despite what some folks thought I liked this book as well as all the others in the Devlin series. I am fascinated by the geographical detail of the area. I'm so ready to go to the local diner for lunch. :)) Always a good, wholesome story without a lot of technobabble.

A simple but interesting mystery, i have read all but the latest of DePoy's Fever Devilin stories. They are entertaining, but what i enjoy the most is the mountain folklore stories and the great character development. You will become well aquainted with Fever and his two best friends. You cant go wrong with these books. I would advise to start with the earlier ones and read them in order but they stand up on their own too.

The story grabs you on the first page and doesn't let go until the last printed word.

I picked this up off the library shelf, and aside from a few "huh" moments, was not at all bothered that this was third in a series.

This is a mystery, yes, but it is not at all formulaic. The hero of the story, Fever Devlin, a folklorist goth-ish man, doesn't even really solve the mystery, though his logic fu is strong.

The characters are well drawn and the mystery is a good, compelling story. The scenes are drawn well, and one almost feels the air of the Appalachains and tastes the food of the south.

All in all, quite a good story.

(*)>

There are so many different parts of the South, it becomes difficult to create a true picture of the region, but Phillip DePoy's A MINISTER'S GHOST is both accurate and electric as he weaves a twisted tale of suspense.
Fever Delvin is a collector of the tales of his home area in the GA mountains. The death of two young women on a railroad crossing leads Fever on a twisted path to discover the truth before someone else falls victim to a crafty killer. He meets unexpected resistance from his old friend Sheriff Skidmore Needle.
This is our first Fever Devilin, but it will not be the last. The characters are so well drawn and the incidents so believable when you have a friend who established a department of folk literature for a university and live in the Cumberland Mountains.
Nash Black, author of TRAVELERS and SINS OF THE FATHERS.

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