Under The Fish Pond

by Glenda Yarbrough

Publication of this book was banned for over five hundred days by a local judge in Decatur, Alabama. This ruling was overturned by the Alabama Supreme Court enabling publication of the manuscript. Under The Fish Pond is a novel based on a true story that kept the local community guessing where the young mother of three was. Rumors spread throughout the neighborhood, but no one could prove what happened to the young mother, but a determined sister would not accept the story her brother-in-law told about his wife. Virginia is a strong-willed Southern lady, driven by love for her sister and determination to ensure that Debbie's children know the depth of their mother's love. They must be assured that she would never willingly desert them. At 2323, a house on a quiet street in Decatur, Alabama's, visitors are drawn to a small decorative fishpond in David's backyard. David's handiwork is a masterpiece with each stone perfectly placed, each flower planted with care. What they can not see just beneath the surface of the pond is David's other handiwork. They are too busy comforting him, whose wife according to David left him and their small daughters for another man. Then Virginia realizes just where Debbie is, but there's nothing she can do about it—but wait until...

388 pages, print

First published September 12, 1992

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 2 out of 5]

Could be way better.

I enjoyed the way Yarbrough went about sharing this story or such a horrid crime that took place in my hometown. I enjoyed the way she crafted it and the different perspectives she used. However, this book could have definitely used a few more rounds through beta reads and copy-editing. The use of “um” in place of sounds like “mmm” and “hmm” left me feeling constantly confused. There were several grammar and spelling errors (such as using “than” instead of “then” and vice versa). There were also a few careless mistakes - mistypes that included an extra dash (or even a 7) in a place it did not belong. I appreciate the author wanting to share this very important story of hometown history, I just wish that it had been done in a manner that didn’t have so many mistakes. It took away from the story because I was constantly thinking about how the quotation marks were randomly placed and the wrong form of your/you’re was used.

[Kimberly M · Rating 1 out of 5]

First of all, “based on a true story” with the caveat that many characters, their actions, etc… is the imagination of the author. I understand changing names, but if it is based on a true story tell only the facts you know. Knowing this, I was thoroughly disappointed before I even started reading the book. Not knowing what was real and what was the author’s imagination did not tell me the real story of this woman. If you can set that aside, be ready for an atrocious display of poor grammar, use of words whose definition does not even work in the sentence, spelling errors, and so much more. It was so painful reading this book. I only hope this author took a basic English class or hired a proofreader before ever publishing another book. I will never read another one of her books. You have been warned.

[Lisa Hodges · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's everything I been waiting for!

I have been waiting for a book about this true crime story that occurred in my hometown Decatur Alabama when I was a young married women with small children myself. Glenda Yarbrough has wrote a account of thus terrible murder that was worth my wait. Prefect. I am excited to have discovered this local Author. I plan to read other books that she has released starting tonight !

[Rhonda Loyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Under the Fish Pond

The reading was good but my literary part of me kept crying, “ Why was this not proofread?” Many incorrect usages.