The Walls Came Tumbling Down

by Babs H. Deal

Seven women are drawn together and pushed apart as the skeleton of a baby is found in the walls of their old sorority house.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery

312 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1968

About the author

Ethel “Babs” Hodges Deal is the author of more than nine novels, including High Lonesome World and The Reason for Roses. Her short stories have appeared in magazines and she was the winner of the Mystery Writers of America Award in 1967 for her novel, Fancy's Knell. "Mrs. Deal...has the great gift of capturing a whole countryside and season in a few short sentences. Nobody does that thing any better," wrote the New York Times, while the Nashville Tennessean added, "...in her ability to create suspense and psychological interest, in her mastery of scene, tone, and characterization, Mrs. Deal emerges as a major Southern writer."

Mrs. Deal was born in Scottsboro, Alabama, and lived in Florida with her author-husband, Borden Deal, and their three children.

Reviews

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was beautiful, in language and in content. But, too difficult to follow all the characters.

[Faye Condo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in the 80's and came across it last month when I was thinning out my shelves and read it again. It was as good this time as I remember it being when I read the first time. While it is older and some of the background is dated (i.e.. no cell phones, no Starbucks, iPads, etc.) but the relationships between these women translates easily to today. How each of their lives have changed since they left college and how they had lost contact after having been so close in college. Is full of emotion as each of their regrets, mistakes, loves and loss come to the surface. Add in to that, the question of the baby in the wall of the old sorority house that had brought them all back together again. Reminiscence of their time at the house, and it keeps you wondering throughout, whose infant could it be and what circumstance brought to end up in the wall.

[Lisa Mcbroom · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a soroity house is demolished , an infant is found within the walls.

[Pat Chandler]

Not as great as I expected. Local author made it more interesting.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

The plot was an interesting concept, and I was much invested in seeing it through. I finished it over a weekend.

Published in 1968, Bab H. Deal wove a story based on secrets. One summer, seven sorority sisters shared the house, and one of them buried a secret that they never intended to unearthed. Flash forward to present day, the sorority house is being torn down, and the skeleton of a baby is discovered. And, now the whole town is talking, whose baby is in the airshaft?

The writing was difficult to follow with numerous characters and flashbacks and flashforwards for each with little or no segue breaks offered in between. With that being said, it is still a haunting story and well worth the read.

[Barbara Nutting · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book I just finished reminded me I’d read this one, probably some 50 years ago, and I still remember it!!👍

[Deborah Gunter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book. I don't know if the problem was the constant switching of character's viewpoints or the dated sensibilities. The idea that finding bones of a still born baby in a sorority house was amusing to the public seemed unbelievable to me. Since I was born in 56, it should have resonated more.
A very trivial point was the excessive reference to cigarettes and smoking. That, too, is probably a function of era. I think every single character smoked. Each time smoking was mentioned, my brain instantly was reminded of how awful every single one of these characters would smell. Their homes must have reeked. The mention of perfume was wasted. Putting perfume on a smoker is even more sickening.

[Sandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found this book among many on my mom’s bookshelf and was curious enough to give it a read.

Well written, haunting story about seven sorority sisters, and their lives, loves and secrets. Their lives are disrupted some twenty years later when their sorority house is being torn down, and the skeletal remains of a baby are discovered in the walls.

The story can be somewhat difficult to follow as the plot switches from past to present and character to character without any flow or transitions.

All in all, I found the plot to be intriguing and kept me reading to discover which one of the sisters buried her secret in the wall.

[Cheryl Wray · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fascinating novel! Written in 1968 and set at a fictional version of the University of Alabama (my alma mater). It’s a suspense novel that would fit into today’s bestsellers, but it would also make people mad because the ending is open ended with no real answers. The characters are so well developed. I loved it!

[Danni G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story, but as others have said - lots of booze and cigarettes ....what a time to be alive.

But not extreme for the times - you would think the racist stuff to be more of a shock but again this is written in the 1960's

well written.

[Jonna]

I read this in high school and this came up on a deep dive on a discussion board.
This story still haunts me to this day. Over 40 years ago. I have never forgotten this book. All of us passed it around and read it. This book sent me to Planned Parenthood to get birth control.

[Tuathla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book, although it was pretty difficult to follow at times, especially because it was not clear when the author was switching narratives. The mystery storyline was good and I enjoyed how the author portrayed the changing relationships between sorority sisters.

[Vicki Gooding · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting, Intriguing, and a sad testimony to genuine friendship, stigmas, and a child left solitaire in the past.

[Penny Hanover · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought it was a really good story but the manner it switched between characters got a little frustrating.

[Cadie Holmes · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy this one...the plot sounded interesting enough, but the only reason I made it to the end was because it changed characters and from past to present every page or two. I didn't understand half of it (apparently life has changed since 1968?). The story finally wrapped up well enough, with my question answered two pages before the final sentence. I'm just not sure why I finished it...