Murder in Mayberry: Greed, Death, and Mayhem in a Small Town [Hardcover]

Mary Kinney Branson (Author), Jack Branson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 28, 2008

When small-town police officers come upon a murder scene in which the victim is a prominent millionaire with multiple blows to the head and nearly 100 stab wounds, they're in unfamiliar territory. Throw in lies, gossip, greed, international extradition struggles, and a conflicted federal agent, and the result is Murder in Mayberry. Lifting the veil on a picket-fenced, Bible Belt town, this chilling drama reveals a tale of secret lives and drug addiction, and is both an involving true crime story and the story of the author’s emotional journey from normal life to life turned upside down.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: New Horizon Press (February 28, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0882823256
• ISBN-13: 978-0882823256
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #991,327 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Riveting story!, February 7, 2008

By 

Daphne "Daphne" (NJ, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Murder in Mayberry: Greed, Death, and Mayhem in a Small Town (Hardcover)

I received this book in the mail yesterday and stayed awake until 3 am to finish it. What a fascinating story! We usually read the headlines and experience the media frenzy when a crime occurs and then pick up the story again when the accused finally comes to trial. "Murder in Mayberry" gives us a behind-the-scenes view of the drama in between.

As I read this book, I got a real feeling for the realities of a murder investigation from the point of view of the victim's family. I was completely engrossed from the shock of the murder to the horrible realization that a beloved family member was the murderer and then through the struggle to bring the murderer to justice. (I learned a lot about the problems of extraditing criminals from Costa Rica in the process, too).

I really admire the way the author manages to keep the melodrama to a minimum while still managing to convey the real feelings of herself and her family throughout the 4 year ordeal.

"Murder in Mayberry" is a great read. I recommend it wholeheartedly.

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Unique view of crime's aftermath, June 1, 2008

By 

Mary G. Longorio "Texasbookgirl" (Eagle Mountain, UT) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Murder in Mayberry: Greed, Death, and Mayhem in a Small Town (Hardcover)

Murder in Mayberry is the newest title from New Horizion Press's Real People / Incredible Stories series. Concerned family discovered the body of Ann Branson on January 12, 2003. The wealthy widow had last been seen at church the night before. The crime scene was surprisingly clean, despite the extreme violence evidenced on the corpse. Nothing seemed to be missing from the house, despite jewelry, furs and rumors of hidden money. There had not been a homicide in a decade in the small town of Madisonville, Ky and family members had doubts about the small town's police department's ability to process and solve the crime. Ann's nephew Jack Branson was especially troubled. His background as a federal agent gave him knowledge of what should be happening to the investigation...and also made him more concerned that Madisonville police might not be preserving evidence or following leads. No one in the small town was prepared for what the evidence revealed. Ann's killer was a family member. Police methodically compiled evidence, Jack hired a private investigator, and the killer manipulates family and friends to stay free. In the four years it took to bring this person to trial, Jack and his wife Mary, struggle with family suspicion, betrayal by family aiding the killer, the emotional and financial strain of the investigation and the loss of a beloved woman. Before the killer finally faces justice they have fled the country, been profiled several times on America's Most wanted and been added to the FBI's Top Ten Most Wanted list.

What makes Murder in Mayberry especially compelling is Jack and Mary tell the story. Ann never had children of her own and had treated Jack as if he was her own son. After her murder, he felt an obligation to use his skills and connections as an agent to help bring her killer to justice. The story is a testament to the doggedness of a small town police force, the determination of family and exposes the cost to the forgotten victims of a violent crime, the family left behind.

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Murder in Mayberry - From Madisonville, KY, February 22, 2008

By 

M. Adams "Nancy and Murf Adams" (Madisonville, KY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Murder in Mayberry: Greed, Death, and Mayhem in a Small Town (Hardcover)

I am a resident of Madisonville, KY, and I had known Ann Branson. I also know Jack and Mary, the authors of the book. I thought the book was very well written, in content and in detail. I commend Jack and Mary, I am sure it was difficult to put all of this in writing, but they did a very commendable job. Once you start reading this book you don't want to put it down. I highly recommend this book as a very intriguing work that captures the author and her husbands deep love for Mrs. Branson. Our prayers go out to them and thank them for sharing such a personal part of their lives with their readers.

Nancy and Murf Adams