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Nurse Phoebe #1
Out on a Limb: A Smoky Mountain Mystery
By 7-time Wall Street Journal and Audible Top-10 national best selling author. In "Out on a Limb" Phoebe McFarland has just moved back to her hometown of White Oak, Tennessee, a sleepy rural community nestled in the mist-shrouded ridges and isolated hollows of the Smoky Mountains.
Now she spends her days working as a rural home health care nurse, making calls on a quirky roster of housebound characters she’s determined to take care of whether they cooperate or not.
She applies this same optimism to her love life, despite the fact that she’s been dating for 38 years without locating any husband material. When she runs into her childhood sweetheart, Henry Matthews, a wildlife ranger for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, it looks like she might have found her man.
But Phoebe and Henry’s chance for romance has to be put on hold while they undertake a desperate search for a young woman who mysteriously vanished from the park during a gathering of world famous biologists and botanists, including a charismatic Frog Whisperer.
Now she spends her days working as a rural home health care nurse, making calls on a quirky roster of housebound characters she’s determined to take care of whether they cooperate or not.
She applies this same optimism to her love life, despite the fact that she’s been dating for 38 years without locating any husband material. When she runs into her childhood sweetheart, Henry Matthews, a wildlife ranger for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, it looks like she might have found her man.
But Phoebe and Henry’s chance for romance has to be put on hold while they undertake a desperate search for a young woman who mysteriously vanished from the park during a gathering of world famous biologists and botanists, including a charismatic Frog Whisperer.
180 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 31, 2013
457 people are currently reading
920 people want to read
About the author
Carolyn Jourdan
25 books169 followersUSA Today,Top-10 Audible & 6-time Top-10 Wall Street Journal best selling Author of Memoir, Biography, Wildlife, and Mystery
USA Today Best Seller Out on a Limb was also voted a Best Kindle Book of 2014.
#9 Wall Street Journal Best Seller Medicine Men in 2022.
#9 Wall Street Journal Best Seller Heart in the Right Place in 2017.
#7 NYT-Audible Best Seller Bear in the Back Seat in 2016.
#6 Wall Street Journal Best Seller Medicine Men in 2015.
#5 Wall Street Journal Best Seller Medicine Men in 2014.
#9 Wall Street Journal Best Seller Bear in the Back Seat in 2013.
#7 Wall Street Journal Best Seller Heart in the Right Place in 2012.
Visit Carolyn online at her website, her personal Facebook page, her Facebook Author page, her Twitter page, or her Instagram page.
Jourdan's newest books are Dangerous Beauty: Stories from the Wilds of Yellowstone and Waltzing with Wildlife: 10 Things NOT to do in Our National Parks.
Other recent works are Nurses: The Art of Caring, Radiologists at Work: Saving Lives With the Lights Off, and Talking to Skeletons: Behind the Scenes With a Radiologist.
The nurse book is a collection of the most memorable moments from the careers of over 60 nurses. It covers nearly 70 years of practice from World War II to the present day.
The extraordinary situations described here are the result of more than 1,000 years of hands-on bedside knowledge. The vignettes contain wisdom and insight gained the hard way, from long experience in the trenches (sometimes in actual trenches) performing tasks that range from the most humble to the most skilled.
The radiology books form a set of companion books, one dealing with the most memorable moments of 40 radiologists and the other chronicling 7 extraordinary nights spent shadowing a single radiologist.
Bear in the Back Seat - Adventures of a Wildlife Ranger in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a series of true stories from “[a]n extraordinary landscape populated with befuddled bears, hormonally-crazed elk, homicidal wild boars, hopelessly timid wolves, and nine million tourists, some of whom are clueless."
In Kim DeLozier’s world, when sedated wild black bears wake up unexpectedly in the back seat of a helicopter in mid-flight, or in his car as he’s driving down the highway, or in his office while he’s talking on the phone, it’s just another day in the park.
In Out on a Limb Phoebe McFarland has just moved back to her hometown of White Oak, Tennessee, a sleepy rural community nestled in the mist-shrouded ridges and isolated hollows of the Smoky Mountains.
Now she spends her days working as a rural home health care nurse, making calls on a quirky roster of housebound characters she’s determined to take care of whether they cooperate or not.
She applies this same optimism to her love life, despite the fact that she’s been dating for 38 years without locating any husband material. When she runs into her childhood sweetheart, Henry Matthews, a wildlife ranger for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, it looks like she might’ve found her man.
But Phoebe and Henry’s chance for romance has to be put on hold while they undertake a desperate search for a young woman who mysteriously vanished from the park during a gathering of world famous biologists and botanists, including a charismatic Frog Whisperer.
Medicine Men
USA Today Best Seller Out on a Limb was also voted a Best Kindle Book of 2014.
#9 Wall Street Journal Best Seller Medicine Men in 2022.
#9 Wall Street Journal Best Seller Heart in the Right Place in 2017.
#7 NYT-Audible Best Seller Bear in the Back Seat in 2016.
#6 Wall Street Journal Best Seller Medicine Men in 2015.
#5 Wall Street Journal Best Seller Medicine Men in 2014.
#9 Wall Street Journal Best Seller Bear in the Back Seat in 2013.
#7 Wall Street Journal Best Seller Heart in the Right Place in 2012.
Visit Carolyn online at her website, her personal Facebook page, her Facebook Author page, her Twitter page, or her Instagram page.
Jourdan's newest books are Dangerous Beauty: Stories from the Wilds of Yellowstone and Waltzing with Wildlife: 10 Things NOT to do in Our National Parks.
Other recent works are Nurses: The Art of Caring, Radiologists at Work: Saving Lives With the Lights Off, and Talking to Skeletons: Behind the Scenes With a Radiologist.
The nurse book is a collection of the most memorable moments from the careers of over 60 nurses. It covers nearly 70 years of practice from World War II to the present day.
The extraordinary situations described here are the result of more than 1,000 years of hands-on bedside knowledge. The vignettes contain wisdom and insight gained the hard way, from long experience in the trenches (sometimes in actual trenches) performing tasks that range from the most humble to the most skilled.
The radiology books form a set of companion books, one dealing with the most memorable moments of 40 radiologists and the other chronicling 7 extraordinary nights spent shadowing a single radiologist.
Bear in the Back Seat - Adventures of a Wildlife Ranger in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a series of true stories from “[a]n extraordinary landscape populated with befuddled bears, hormonally-crazed elk, homicidal wild boars, hopelessly timid wolves, and nine million tourists, some of whom are clueless."
In Kim DeLozier’s world, when sedated wild black bears wake up unexpectedly in the back seat of a helicopter in mid-flight, or in his car as he’s driving down the highway, or in his office while he’s talking on the phone, it’s just another day in the park.
In Out on a Limb Phoebe McFarland has just moved back to her hometown of White Oak, Tennessee, a sleepy rural community nestled in the mist-shrouded ridges and isolated hollows of the Smoky Mountains.
Now she spends her days working as a rural home health care nurse, making calls on a quirky roster of housebound characters she’s determined to take care of whether they cooperate or not.
She applies this same optimism to her love life, despite the fact that she’s been dating for 38 years without locating any husband material. When she runs into her childhood sweetheart, Henry Matthews, a wildlife ranger for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, it looks like she might’ve found her man.
But Phoebe and Henry’s chance for romance has to be put on hold while they undertake a desperate search for a young woman who mysteriously vanished from the park during a gathering of world famous biologists and botanists, including a charismatic Frog Whisperer.
Medicine Men
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 186 reviews
February 2, 2013
Wrote it!
December 16, 2019
I really liked this mystery. The setting was great...Everyone who follows my reviews for a while knows that I love the outdoors and this just hit the spot. I enjoyed the peek into a rangers life and also the scientific information that was shared on the botanical aspect of the Smokey mountains. I didn't think it was too much or too boring.
The mystery was quite fast paced and the final showdown also had some humorous aspects. Great story. I will read more in this series.
The mystery was quite fast paced and the final showdown also had some humorous aspects. Great story. I will read more in this series.
May 21, 2014
This book was a big disappointment. I chose to read it because my book club will soon read another book of the author's and because someone compared this book favorably to The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Series.
There is no comparison between this book and Alexander McCall Smith's series. The McCall Smith series is well written and features a woman of great depth who uses her skill in understanding human nature to solve problems. The characters in the Jourdan book have little depth and run around the national park with little thought to the consequences of their actions.
McCall Smith shows great respect for most people. Jourdan makes fun of tourists and the accent of East Tennessee natives. Many of their words are misspelled in an attempt to show their accent, but becomes demeaning.
The mystery itself is interesting at times, but is probably more scientific than necessary. This could have been a good book if more care had been given to the writing. It lacks smoothness in its sentence structure and care in the words chosen. Also, the reader needs characters with more depth. This might be the first book in a Phoebe series, but we really don't know much about Phoebe by the end of the book. We know that she does not mourn long for her dead boyfriend, that her job is so slow that she can sit for long periods with her patients and that she will accept and use stolen medicines of unknown origin.
I look forward to a better experience with Jourdan's Heart on the Right Place.
There is no comparison between this book and Alexander McCall Smith's series. The McCall Smith series is well written and features a woman of great depth who uses her skill in understanding human nature to solve problems. The characters in the Jourdan book have little depth and run around the national park with little thought to the consequences of their actions.
McCall Smith shows great respect for most people. Jourdan makes fun of tourists and the accent of East Tennessee natives. Many of their words are misspelled in an attempt to show their accent, but becomes demeaning.
The mystery itself is interesting at times, but is probably more scientific than necessary. This could have been a good book if more care had been given to the writing. It lacks smoothness in its sentence structure and care in the words chosen. Also, the reader needs characters with more depth. This might be the first book in a Phoebe series, but we really don't know much about Phoebe by the end of the book. We know that she does not mourn long for her dead boyfriend, that her job is so slow that she can sit for long periods with her patients and that she will accept and use stolen medicines of unknown origin.
I look forward to a better experience with Jourdan's Heart on the Right Place.
March 16, 2013
A lesson in medicine and biology, likable characters in familiar professions, and a cozy mystery was a recipe for a wonderful story. Carolyn Jourdan has a knack for storytelling... This is her her second 5 star review from me. Thankful there is still one written by her that I have yet to read!
March 7, 2013
So glad that a friend suggested that I try out Carolyn Jourdan's books. Loved `Medicine Men', and loved `Out on a Limb'...can't wait to read `Heart in the Right Place'!
This cozy mystery was exciting right from the first page. Jourdan sets the stage in the National park in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina. Part National Geographic - part Beverly Hillbillies, the setting is factual and genuine while the characters are quirky, often comical, people of the Appalachians.
I hope the protagonist character of Phoebe McFarland will be continued in future novels.
This is a fast-paced mystery full of vivid imagery and plot twists. Funny and gripping all at once!
This cozy mystery was exciting right from the first page. Jourdan sets the stage in the National park in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina. Part National Geographic - part Beverly Hillbillies, the setting is factual and genuine while the characters are quirky, often comical, people of the Appalachians.
I hope the protagonist character of Phoebe McFarland will be continued in future novels.
This is a fast-paced mystery full of vivid imagery and plot twists. Funny and gripping all at once!
July 27, 2017
Sparkly Mystery with my Hometown Smokies History
Another jewel recommendation via Bookbub to add onto my Kindle! As I am originally from Knoxville, TN and love mysteries...I opted to try this author out. So glad I did! Living in the border towns of Yuma, AZ and El Paso, TX...I'm perpetually homesick for my Smoky Mountain home. I realize how much I miss things that I previously took for granted, such as trips with family around The Loop at Cades Cove. I miss the fresh air smells while driving up the winding road to the park. I miss the green of summer, the brilliant colors of fall and the crispness of winter in the mountains. All of this and more brought laughter and a few tears as I read Carolyn's fictional story...knowing there is truth in her descriptions of the people and places where I grew up. The bulk of the characters were endearing, but I would have enjoyed a bit more development there. I was impressed by the biology and medical topics, which made me curious about my hometown slime potential in real life. When you grow up in a place, it's sometimes difficult to see how much you truly love it until you've been away for so long. It tickles my soul to see there are others who respect and love the Smokies as much as a homegrown TN Volunteer. Loved reading this story. Great job!
Another jewel recommendation via Bookbub to add onto my Kindle! As I am originally from Knoxville, TN and love mysteries...I opted to try this author out. So glad I did! Living in the border towns of Yuma, AZ and El Paso, TX...I'm perpetually homesick for my Smoky Mountain home. I realize how much I miss things that I previously took for granted, such as trips with family around The Loop at Cades Cove. I miss the fresh air smells while driving up the winding road to the park. I miss the green of summer, the brilliant colors of fall and the crispness of winter in the mountains. All of this and more brought laughter and a few tears as I read Carolyn's fictional story...knowing there is truth in her descriptions of the people and places where I grew up. The bulk of the characters were endearing, but I would have enjoyed a bit more development there. I was impressed by the biology and medical topics, which made me curious about my hometown slime potential in real life. When you grow up in a place, it's sometimes difficult to see how much you truly love it until you've been away for so long. It tickles my soul to see there are others who respect and love the Smokies as much as a homegrown TN Volunteer. Loved reading this story. Great job!
March 22, 2014
I read Jourdan's book "Medicine Men: Extreme Appalachian Doctoring", tales from doctors who work in that area. I enjoyed her story telling style and decided to give her fiction book a read as well. I am not familiar with this area of the U.S., so I enjoyed her description of the geography and the people. It is about a home care nurse, Phoebe, who gets involved with a mystery in a state park. There seems to be a few mysteries going on, and I expected them to end up tying together somehow, but they did not. That was disappointing it turns out. Some of the characters deserved more attention - they would have been entertaining. There were two many long scenes of just Phoebe and her old friend Henry driving around the state park, and not enough on the quirky side characters. Perhaps she will revisit them in future books.
May 21, 2016
Hey Hey! A great book to read while on a hiking vacation in the Smokies, as I was. The accurate portrayal of the beautiful Smoky mountain setting in this little mystery is one of Out on a Limb's best selling points. The very true to life, spot on depiction of local characters and their dialect also made for interesting reading; I was less enthralled with the magical thinking, even if it is common belief in the region. Precognition added nothing to the plot and could have been left out entirely.
May 9, 2013
I've read all of Carolyn Jourdan's books, and can hardly wait for her latest one. Thoroughly enjoyed all of them, being a fan of the Appalachian settings, characters and her writing. This one is a mystery, and I learned alot from it as far as plants, fungus, and slime used for medicines. You'll have to read it to fully understand the biological parts of it, I can't do justice to it as a review other than that I really liked it, humor, danger, and a great mystery.
December 30, 2013
Loved this book! Not only was it a terrific holiday read but a wonderful introduction to the Smoky Mountain hillbilly culture. I love the way Carolyn carries the reader through so many layers of knowledge and personal understanding of the environment and culture that she lives in. Her writing had me "hooked" from the start and I particularly loved the characters who I can imagine as the real people that inspired them.
July 31, 2013
Wonderful mystery set in the Great Smokey Mountain National Park. Great characters, lots of different threads that the author gathers up perfectly in an ending that makes you want to cheer! On top of enjoying this light read, I learned quite a bit about the park, botanical fields of study, and interesting medical facts! I will be looking for more books by Carolyn Jourdan.
February 21, 2013
I loved "Out on a Limb"! I don't usually read mystery/suspense, but a book by Carolyn Jourdan is an exception! The book was fantastic! I read it in one sitting; could not wait to see what happened! The first chapter was a cliffhanger, lol!
November 17, 2018
This is the first book that I have read from Carolyn Jourdan. I only recently discovered that someone who graduated from my high school is a seven time New York Times best selling author. Because of this, I was excited about reading one of her books. I am so glad I did as she did not disappoint. She writes with authority about science, humanity, and the Smokey Mountains. In this book she portrays East Tennessee mountaineers with the dignity and respect they deserve while acknowledging their unique culture and language. It is an easy and entertaining read that I recommend. I will be reading more from Carolyn Jourdan.
October 27, 2021
I read Out on a Limb: A Smoky Mountain Mystery all in one day. It’s been a long time since I have done that. I started by taking it to the dentist’s office and was so intrigued by what I read there that I kept reading after I got home until I finished the whole thing.
I grew up in Knoxville, and although we didn’t visit the Smokies nearly as often as some of my classmates from school, we went enough that I know at least the areas of the park around the visitor’s center and Cades’ Cove. Even though I am pretty sure that the town of White Oak, where most of the action in the book takes place, is a fictional town, I guess that it is modeled on many other towns at the edges of the park that are just squeaking by. I felt right at home throughout the book.
A graduate student out hiking and tree-climbing in the park is attacked and left for dead in the top of a tall tree. At first, I thought she was certain to die of her injuries, or exposure, or both. But thanks to the assistance of several local people who just happen to spot something flashing in the treetops, she is finally rescued and, due in particular to the efforts of a dedicated park ranger, who seems to be just about the nearest thing to a police officer in or near the town, her attacker is finally located and dealt with.
The characters are all wonderful. You feel like you know them right away. I only hope that the part about the funding cuts for the park rangers is not so drastic as it sounds in this book, or that it has been improved since then. There are millions of people who visit the Smokies every year, and even if all they did was keep the humans and the animals safe from each other, it seems like it would take an awful lot of them to do the job well.
I grew up in Knoxville, and although we didn’t visit the Smokies nearly as often as some of my classmates from school, we went enough that I know at least the areas of the park around the visitor’s center and Cades’ Cove. Even though I am pretty sure that the town of White Oak, where most of the action in the book takes place, is a fictional town, I guess that it is modeled on many other towns at the edges of the park that are just squeaking by. I felt right at home throughout the book.
A graduate student out hiking and tree-climbing in the park is attacked and left for dead in the top of a tall tree. At first, I thought she was certain to die of her injuries, or exposure, or both. But thanks to the assistance of several local people who just happen to spot something flashing in the treetops, she is finally rescued and, due in particular to the efforts of a dedicated park ranger, who seems to be just about the nearest thing to a police officer in or near the town, her attacker is finally located and dealt with.
The characters are all wonderful. You feel like you know them right away. I only hope that the part about the funding cuts for the park rangers is not so drastic as it sounds in this book, or that it has been improved since then. There are millions of people who visit the Smokies every year, and even if all they did was keep the humans and the animals safe from each other, it seems like it would take an awful lot of them to do the job well.
February 5, 2014
I visited the Smoky Mountains for the first time in August 2013, so this Kindle book caught my attention. A mystery set in a place I had fallen in love with? Yes! And it certainly did not disappoint me. I came to feel I knew the characters - and some of them were real "characters". The story is based on a crime motivated by pride and greed. The main character, a nurse who returns to her roots in the Smoky Mountains, is appealing and sympathetic. Her patients and friends are interesting and are an important part of this story.
And - I learned more about the Smokey Mountains and this wonderful national park while I enjoyed the suspense of the mystery.
And - I learned more about the Smokey Mountains and this wonderful national park while I enjoyed the suspense of the mystery.
June 27, 2013
I like Out on a Limb more than I thought I would. It's a straight up mystery set in the lush surroundings of the Smoky Mountains National Forest. The pacing was really well done. The story moved along well and kept me wanting to find out what happens next. It doesn't hurt that the book is a little on the short side. I really enjoyed that plot wasn't overly complicated. Out on a Limb is simply a well told story.
September 11, 2015
The author, Carolyn Jourdan, lives 15 minutes from where I grew up and writes about the places I used to haunt as a kid--mainly the Smoky Mountains National Park. This novel is a semi-thriller that involves the theft of rare molds found only in the park that can be synthesized by drug companies to cure certain types of brain cancer. Killings, chases, park rangers, University of Tennessee labs and professors...what's not to like!
March 24, 2019
It was okay. I enjoy cozy mysteries and am actually a nurse outside of Yellowstone National Park, so I thought I would really like this book... but it was just okay. The first responder's knowledge seemed to far exceed the nurse's knowledge, and Phoebe, though a likable character, didn't come across as a very good nurse (what nurse doesn't know what the blood/brain barrier is?) It was still a fairly fun read though it didn't live up to my expectations.
May 10, 2014
OK, I particularly like to read stories set in cities/countries/places I have lived in or visited. So I was happy to pay $.99 to read about The Smokies in Tennessee. But it was really nice that it turned out to be an entertaining mystery as well - even though the "bad" guy was a little overdone. And who knew slime molds could so interesting ?
July 31, 2014
Unique
Unique
An interesting group of characters, a creative plot, and well written to boot...something rare these days in too many e-books. it was one of those all-too-rare books I was almost sad to finish, one which left me wanting other installments. Keep up the good work, Ms. Jordan!
Unique
An interesting group of characters, a creative plot, and well written to boot...something rare these days in too many e-books. it was one of those all-too-rare books I was almost sad to finish, one which left me wanting other installments. Keep up the good work, Ms. Jordan!
March 2, 2013
Great fascinating story...loved it.
February 18, 2013
Wonderfully entertaining. Great storyline and fascinating characters. I can't wait for the next one.
September 1, 2015
I enjoyed this mystery set in the national park and nearby UT.
May 1, 2020
Give me a story that is full of twists and turns and I am a happy listener. Carolyn Jourdan’s Out On a Limb is full of them! It starts with a woman climbing a tree in a national park when someone tries to shoot her down. Definitely caught me up from there, wanting to know who she is, will she survive, who shot her and why! Phoebe has just moved back to White Oak, and she is our local nurse and is interested in her old boyfriend, Henry. Henry is a wildlife ranger and just when these two begin their second chance at love, they are now frantically searching for the stranded tree climber! Not only do we have this mystery, but the driving force behind the shooting of the woman is incredibly interesting. This book is one that will keep you guessing and the results surprising! I love these kinds of stories, the quirky characters, the hometown feel, trying to decide who to trust, and the creepy woods, all bring out the suspense. Jourdan’s descriptive visuals take us right there in the park and let us enjoy the ride to the answers.
Jodi Gaylord gives it her all with the narration of this book. She has a great variety of voices and her storytelling is on mark. Each character has a distinct voice and personality and she brings it all to life.
Jodi Gaylord gives it her all with the narration of this book. She has a great variety of voices and her storytelling is on mark. Each character has a distinct voice and personality and she brings it all to life.
January 26, 2020
I was a little worried about this one because of the explanation of the speech and grammatical patterns. The author and I have completely opposite points of view on this. I believe there is a big difference between spelling and pronunciation. Just because you pronounce a word a certain way, does not mean it should be spelled that way. However, I gave the book a chance and really enjoyed it. There was a good use of red herring, interesting characters and animals. It was a bit disingenuous about the word "hillbilly" and to be spending so much time on healthcare issues but not even mention the opioid problem was a bit weak. Leon and Fate also were one dimensional and I was creeped out by them because of my knowledge of the opioid problem in the Appalachians....I have trouble believing people connected with crime would be so accommodating and kind.
August 12, 2017
This is the first book by this author I have read, and I really enjoyed it, especially the setting and characters. Having grown up in the foothills of the Smokies, I enjoyed reading about familiar locations, and the characters are just like many individuals I have known. I loved that they are developed as authentic individuals and not caricatures of the Southern hillbilly. Another aspect of the novel that I enjoyed were the scientific passages regarding naturally occurring medicines. Traditionally, the people of Appalachia depended on herbalists who believed in the power of nature to keep the human body balanced and well. We've gotten so far from these traditions with the complexities of modern medicine. Overall, a very enjoyable read.
July 28, 2018
This is not a bad whodunit in the Redneck-lite category. It's part thriller, and pretty well done. It contains however all the tropes of America Loves Trump that will either please or horrify mystery readers.
Although apolitical, it stuck in my craw that on the very same page where the protagonist, a nurse dismisses the Nobel prizes for useless research, she lauds genome study, and then goes on to prefer "natural" medicine. This cognitive disconnect that doesn't understand genetic research (Watson, Crick and Wilson won a Nobel for their discovery of the structure of DNA laying the groundwork for a truckload of modern discoveries including stuff like new antibiotics alluded to) and prefers homeopathy is a very modern social mess that includes among other things, anti-vaxers. Over to y'all for your own tolerance levels.
For the record I've come to refer to American lit that completely lacks anyone not of Anglo descent as Redneck lite. They may even believe they are not racist, but their described world (and likely the authors own world) is absent anyone of obviously different descent, or Jewish, or gay, or ....
Although apolitical, it stuck in my craw that on the very same page where the protagonist, a nurse dismisses the Nobel prizes for useless research, she lauds genome study, and then goes on to prefer "natural" medicine. This cognitive disconnect that doesn't understand genetic research (Watson, Crick and Wilson won a Nobel for their discovery of the structure of DNA laying the groundwork for a truckload of modern discoveries including stuff like new antibiotics alluded to) and prefers homeopathy is a very modern social mess that includes among other things, anti-vaxers. Over to y'all for your own tolerance levels.
For the record I've come to refer to American lit that completely lacks anyone not of Anglo descent as Redneck lite. They may even believe they are not racist, but their described world (and likely the authors own world) is absent anyone of obviously different descent, or Jewish, or gay, or ....
February 22, 2018
Outstanding!
I learned so much from this book! Not only was the story well written, it was very educational. The characters were amazingly described in great detail. I felt like I was living in the small rural community. I definitely want to visit the area and see what I read about. I wish more books had been written as a series, but I'm happy there was at least this one book written. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I want to tell the author, "Bravo! Well done! And thank you!"
I learned so much from this book! Not only was the story well written, it was very educational. The characters were amazingly described in great detail. I felt like I was living in the small rural community. I definitely want to visit the area and see what I read about. I wish more books had been written as a series, but I'm happy there was at least this one book written. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I want to tell the author, "Bravo! Well done! And thank you!"
March 5, 2018
Great mystery set in the Mountains
I absolutely loved these well developed characters! The setting of the Great Smoky Mountains was perfect and I enjoyed the science lessons included with the story. Even though I have lived near these mountains most of my life I learned more about them while experiencing this story. The characters were very believable and I couldn’t help but laugh at some of the quirkiness of several. I can’t wait to read more with these characters and from this author!
I absolutely loved these well developed characters! The setting of the Great Smoky Mountains was perfect and I enjoyed the science lessons included with the story. Even though I have lived near these mountains most of my life I learned more about them while experiencing this story. The characters were very believable and I couldn’t help but laugh at some of the quirkiness of several. I can’t wait to read more with these characters and from this author!
July 29, 2018
Loved everything about it. Characters I would like to be my friends. Traditional patchwork that becomes valued by city folks. Simple, affordable, personal healthcare available to all, an evil villain and some great heroines. Crooks who turn into Robin Hoods. It reveals an overwhelming strength of community which is familiar to me, but rarely described so well in fiction. It all made perfect sense. Bill Bryson, bears, bullets, tree climbing, pigs and an unfortunate Mazda appear. Read on.........
Displaying 1 - 30 of 186 reviews