A Review of Sharyn McCrumb’s Prayers the Devil Answers by Warren Bull
Image from Kirk Thorton on Upsplash
Although not part of the author’s remarkable Ballad series
of novels, McCrumb once again demonstrates her ability to bring to life the
lives of people in Appalachia. This time the setting is 1936 when there was
no social net. Recently widowed Ellie Robbins, a woman from a small mountain
community where charity is frowned on and friendship has to be earned, has to
support her two children or return to become a burden to a family that clearly
does not want her. She is not qualified to become a teacher or a nurse, the two
occupations open to a respectable woman. So, with a boldness that overcomes her
natural reticence, she applies to take over the role of sheriff to serve out
the term of her deceased husband.
Ellie has strength and grit not apparent from her reserved
and ordinary physical appearance. She must adopt the friendly demeanor and
outward pleasantness her husband had in order to convince small-town
authorities and the deputies who will serve under her that she can do the job.
When a murder is committed, a job everyone expected to be limited to doing paperwork
and scheduling shifts for deputies turns out to be much more demanding than
anyone suspected.
McCrumb shows us the superstitions, beauty and hardscrabble
life of people in depression-era Appalachia treating the place and the people with
sensitivity and respect. I very highly recommend this book.
I've read a number of reviews of this book lately. They were all positive and encouraged me to purchase it. I am looking forward to reading it.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to it, too. McCrumb always nails her setting and character.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great novel in a hardscrabble setting at a desperate time in our country's history.
ReplyDeleteI'll read anything by Sharyn McCrumb!
ReplyDelete