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Ballad #3
She Walks These Hills
In the Appalachian community of Dark Hollow, Tennessee, some believe that the ghost of Katie Wyler, kidnapped by the Shawnee two hundred years ago, is once again roaming the hills. Only an old woman gifted with "the Sight" and policewoman Martha Ayers can put the superstitions to rest—and stop a flesh-and-blood predator as elusive as the whistling wind...
448 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
96 people are currently reading
2324 people want to read
About the author
Sharyn McCrumb
116 books1,127 followers
Sharyn McCrumb, an award-winning Southern writer, is best known for her Appalachian “Ballad” novels, including the New York Times best sellers The Ballad of Tom Dooley, The Ballad of Frankie Silver, and The Songcatcher. Ghost Riders, which won the Wilma Dykeman Award for Literature from the East Tennessee Historical Society and the national Audie Award for Best Recorded Books. The Unquiet Grave, a well-researched novel about West Virginia's Greenbrier Ghost, will be published in September by Atria, a division of Simon &Schuster.
Sharyn McCrumb, named a Virginia Woman of History by the Library of Virginia and a Woman of the Arts by the national Daughters of the American Revolution, was awarded the Mary Hobson Prize for Arts & Letters in 2014. Her books have been named New York Times and Los Angeles Times Notable Books. In addition to presenting programs at universities, libraries, and other organizations throughout the US, Sharyn McCrumb has taught a writers workshop in Paris, and served as writer-in-residence at King University in Tennessee, and at the Chautauqua Institute in western New York.
Sharyn McCrumb, an award-winning Southern writer, is best known for her Appalachian “Ballad” novels, including the New York Times best sellers The Ballad of Tom Dooley, The Ballad of Frankie Silver, and The Songcatcher. Ghost Riders, which won the Wilma Dykeman Award for Literature from the East Tennessee Historical Society and the national Audie Award for Best Recorded Books. The Unquiet Grave, a well-researched novel about West Virginia's Greenbrier Ghost, will be published in September by Atria, a division of Simon &Schuster.
Sharyn McCrumb, named a Virginia Woman of History by the Library of Virginia and a Woman of the Arts by the national Daughters of the American Revolution, was awarded the Mary Hobson Prize for Arts & Letters in 2014. Her books have been named New York Times and Los Angeles Times Notable Books. In addition to presenting programs at universities, libraries, and other organizations throughout the US, Sharyn McCrumb has taught a writers workshop in Paris, and served as writer-in-residence at King University in Tennessee, and at the Chautauqua Institute in western New York.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 318 reviews
February 9, 2020
I cried at the end. This was an atmospheric tale and I loved it. My favorite character was Martha. I loved how the author fully emerges the reader in the folklore and the landscape and then, connects us with the characters. Once we're hooked, the action begins.
Favorite passages:
I loved the author's description of the landscape around Ashe Mountain in September, which places me right there in the midst of it all: "the sharp chill of the lengthening nights and the dulling of the asters as they shrank from the slanting light of a fading season. For now the landscape was still bosky: woods glowing deep green, fields bronzed with hay, and orchards apple-laden on the hillsides. Soon the autumn chill would turn the mountains to flame, shading each ridge a different color."
I also loved that I learned about folklore and something new about geology, which I found deeply touching. A geologist had given her mother a symbolic gift of a serpentine necklace and she goes on to explain its significance: "Serpentine is a light green rock, sort of like jade. There's a vein of it that runs all the way along the Appalachians from Georgia up through eastern Canada. Then it stops. But if you look in the mountains of Scotland, you find it again. See it's a connection."
Favorite passages:
I loved the author's description of the landscape around Ashe Mountain in September, which places me right there in the midst of it all: "the sharp chill of the lengthening nights and the dulling of the asters as they shrank from the slanting light of a fading season. For now the landscape was still bosky: woods glowing deep green, fields bronzed with hay, and orchards apple-laden on the hillsides. Soon the autumn chill would turn the mountains to flame, shading each ridge a different color."
I also loved that I learned about folklore and something new about geology, which I found deeply touching. A geologist had given her mother a symbolic gift of a serpentine necklace and she goes on to explain its significance: "Serpentine is a light green rock, sort of like jade. There's a vein of it that runs all the way along the Appalachians from Georgia up through eastern Canada. Then it stops. But if you look in the mountains of Scotland, you find it again. See it's a connection."
November 24, 2014
I love books with strong plots, and the architecture of McCrumb's novel has an admirable set of relationships between past and present. The foundation of her novel is based on the legend of Katie Wyler, an 18th century settler, captured and held by the Shawnee until she escaped and walked miles and miles home (roughly from Morgantown to Ashville)in hopes of reconnecting with her people. McCrumb juxtaposes this tale with several characters who live in Appalachia in the late 20th Century. Each contemporary tale expands and elevates the themes of the legend, showing how people today "walk these hills," still struggling with many of the same hardships and sorrows as Katie.
McCrumb uses research and her insider's knowledge of Appalachia to create a novel that conveys some of the complexities of this region's landscape and heritage. She imbeds these facts within a compelling mystery--actually five mysteries: one about Katie, one about Harm, one about Rita, one about Martha, and one about Sabrina. By the end of the novel, McCrumb reveals startling secrets about each of these five characters, each secret making sense within the subsequent attitudes and behaviors in their own lives but also showing connecting themes with several others' lives--and with the landscape as well. On the surface, this book looks like pulp fiction, but if you look closely at this book, like cabin in the holler, it's adorned with remarkable craftmanship.
McCrumb uses research and her insider's knowledge of Appalachia to create a novel that conveys some of the complexities of this region's landscape and heritage. She imbeds these facts within a compelling mystery--actually five mysteries: one about Katie, one about Harm, one about Rita, one about Martha, and one about Sabrina. By the end of the novel, McCrumb reveals startling secrets about each of these five characters, each secret making sense within the subsequent attitudes and behaviors in their own lives but also showing connecting themes with several others' lives--and with the landscape as well. On the surface, this book looks like pulp fiction, but if you look closely at this book, like cabin in the holler, it's adorned with remarkable craftmanship.
May 12, 2022
“…She walks these hills in a long black veil
She visits my grave when the night winds wail
Nobody knows, nobody sees
Nobody knows but me…”
~~Songwriters: Danny Dill / Marijohn Wilkin
Sung by Lefty Frizzell
An elderly man convicted of murderer escapes from prison, after 30 years of confinement, and heads to his home in a small Appalachia town. The ghost of Katie Wyler roams these same hills that the convict will be taking. Next, a college professor, who is writing a paper on Katie Wyler, is hiking the same trails That Katie took over 200 years ago to reach her own home.. This had the makings of a great story, one made up of mostly these three characters. It was not to be.
The song in my title has nothing to do with this story, but I found it last night and thought to add it. If the author had produced her own ballad, I missed it. There were many songs by Wesley, a Methodist minister, that I felt had nothing to do with Katie Wyler that added nothing to the story, but I can understand the desire to add songs since I often have done the same in my own reviews, just as I did here. Again, maybe I missed something.
McCrumb had the makings of a great story, as I said, with only these three characters. But she brought in many other characters and dwelt on them longer than I felt necessary, which also left the story of the three main characters behind. I was bored with this action of hers.
Well, I can assure you that I won’t be reading any more gruesome mystery books or anymore by this author. Most people gave this book 4 or 5 stars, and the author has won awards for this series.
She visits my grave when the night winds wail
Nobody knows, nobody sees
Nobody knows but me…”
~~Songwriters: Danny Dill / Marijohn Wilkin
Sung by Lefty Frizzell
An elderly man convicted of murderer escapes from prison, after 30 years of confinement, and heads to his home in a small Appalachia town. The ghost of Katie Wyler roams these same hills that the convict will be taking. Next, a college professor, who is writing a paper on Katie Wyler, is hiking the same trails That Katie took over 200 years ago to reach her own home.. This had the makings of a great story, one made up of mostly these three characters. It was not to be.
The song in my title has nothing to do with this story, but I found it last night and thought to add it. If the author had produced her own ballad, I missed it. There were many songs by Wesley, a Methodist minister, that I felt had nothing to do with Katie Wyler that added nothing to the story, but I can understand the desire to add songs since I often have done the same in my own reviews, just as I did here. Again, maybe I missed something.
McCrumb had the makings of a great story, as I said, with only these three characters. But she brought in many other characters and dwelt on them longer than I felt necessary, which also left the story of the three main characters behind. I was bored with this action of hers.
Well, I can assure you that I won’t be reading any more gruesome mystery books or anymore by this author. Most people gave this book 4 or 5 stars, and the author has won awards for this series.
January 6, 2008
I'll admit to having been disappointed when McCrumb segued into her NASCAR books, but understand the desire to evolve. Of her many ballad books I loved this one most because of the way that she wove together the history, the mystery and the ghost stories. Beautifully written and a well made statement about women's roles in the past and present.
February 20, 2010
Harm Sorley has gone a little crazy in prison. Either the alcohol or the confinement, mostly likely both, has got him confused about where - and when - he is. But not so confused that he couldn't escape and start heading for the only home he's ever known, in the country hills of Tennessee.
But much more time has passed than Harm realizes. His beautiful wife and baby daughter are almost 40 years older. The land has changed. And Harm himself has changed too.
His wife, remarried now to a 'respectable' sort of man, isn't afraid of him at all. But local law enforcement don't know whether to take his disappearance as a joke or a menace. They've got other things to deal with, like patrolling high school football games, dealing with domestic disputes, and personnel issues. And then some graduate student gets a goofy idea to trace the footsteps of a long-lost pioneer woman who escaped her Indian captors and made her way back home. His effort might have been helped if he hadn't packed everything he might possibly have needed and bought brand new hiking boots before he left.
I loved the way McCrumb wove all these separate strands into a rich and moving story. It really helped that I have seen this land, and hiked (OK, not for long!) along a part of the trail, and seen what the land has to offer. Poetic and tragic and suspenseful all at the same time. 5 stars.
But much more time has passed than Harm realizes. His beautiful wife and baby daughter are almost 40 years older. The land has changed. And Harm himself has changed too.
His wife, remarried now to a 'respectable' sort of man, isn't afraid of him at all. But local law enforcement don't know whether to take his disappearance as a joke or a menace. They've got other things to deal with, like patrolling high school football games, dealing with domestic disputes, and personnel issues. And then some graduate student gets a goofy idea to trace the footsteps of a long-lost pioneer woman who escaped her Indian captors and made her way back home. His effort might have been helped if he hadn't packed everything he might possibly have needed and bought brand new hiking boots before he left.
I loved the way McCrumb wove all these separate strands into a rich and moving story. It really helped that I have seen this land, and hiked (OK, not for long!) along a part of the trail, and seen what the land has to offer. Poetic and tragic and suspenseful all at the same time. 5 stars.
May 13, 2014
There are more people walking the woods of these hills than coyotes howling at the moon. Having walked some of the trails in the Appalachian Mountain region of our great country, it was a treat to recall my own appreciation for the beauty of this land. This story covers three different time periods. The ghost of Katie Wyler, a pioneer woman is from the late 1700's. We have Hiram (Harm) Sorley, a 65 year old escaped convict who's memory is stuck in the 1960's. Then comes present day with Jeremy Cobb, a university professor who is determined to retrace the Katie Wyler escape from the Indians route. Hank the Yank adds humor as a local DJ originating from "up north way".
Thats the short list of a most memorable cast of characters. There are many, But you'll have no trouble keeping them all straight because the author has done an exemplary job of writing this story. I always find that I am never disappointed when I pick up a book about mountain people. The folklore of these uncomplicated people who would rather live poor and free than become "prosperous" in the lowlands of the big cities delivers a satisfying, often educational read. It is a return to when living close to the land held true meaning. I really liked this book. It's my first by this author, I'll seek out more in the future.
Thats the short list of a most memorable cast of characters. There are many, But you'll have no trouble keeping them all straight because the author has done an exemplary job of writing this story. I always find that I am never disappointed when I pick up a book about mountain people. The folklore of these uncomplicated people who would rather live poor and free than become "prosperous" in the lowlands of the big cities delivers a satisfying, often educational read. It is a return to when living close to the land held true meaning. I really liked this book. It's my first by this author, I'll seek out more in the future.
August 4, 2007
I love all of McCrumb's ballad series. Not necessarily the best writing, nor the most intriguing mysteries, but the way that she weaves together the stories behind each of the folk ballads with the modern-time happenings is just...magic to me.
March 13, 2008
This puts a realistic picture of Appalachian life for us who might want to think of it romantically.
July 13, 2019
Not enough of the ghost, but some fascinating lore of the area. I'd never heard of the Melungeon ethnic group either!
April 27, 2018
This was an alright story. It is about many different people in a small town in the Appalations(sp?) and their connection to each other. There is an elderly escaped convict, a middle aged woman dispatcher who wants to be a deputy(and feels the need to explain this on every friggen level), a history Student who tries to walk the 200 year old trail of a girl who escaped the indians and maybe a ghost. There is also a of a radio dj(who really bugged me, but I don't like radio dj's so thats a Jessi thing I guess) who tries to solve an old murder case. All these story interconnect and I found the author did a great job of going from storyline to storyline.But there was not one character I liked not one, they were well developed but I was not interested in them in the least,some I found pathetic, others I could not follow their motivations for anything. The reason I gave this 3 stars instead of 2 is the description of the land itself was perfect and maybe I enjoyed it more then usual because of my dislike for anyone in the book,but the mountains,forsets and the highways,McCrumb painted a fantastic picture of the setting and that is what kept me going through this one.
August 19, 2016
I originally read this as the Common Book for my freshman year in college. At the time, I was unimpressed in part because we read from a copy with a typical "supermarket" format that guided my expectations before I ever opened the book. To be honest, watching and hearing about McCrumb's interactions with people on campus didn't help.
I recently read another of her books at the recommendation of a colleague and came back to this one because it seemed to fit some themes for a course I'll be teaching this fall. As I might have expected, it's much better than my eighteen-year-old self thought. The characters are convincing, the plots are well-woven, and the novel takes up themes that continue to be significant in a number of ways. Like many other things I thought I was beyond back then, this novel is something I should have trusted my awesome professors about.
I recently read another of her books at the recommendation of a colleague and came back to this one because it seemed to fit some themes for a course I'll be teaching this fall. As I might have expected, it's much better than my eighteen-year-old self thought. The characters are convincing, the plots are well-woven, and the novel takes up themes that continue to be significant in a number of ways. Like many other things I thought I was beyond back then, this novel is something I should have trusted my awesome professors about.
May 26, 2016
"Haunting terror and suspense" is written on the front cover of my copy of She Walks These Hills. In my opinion, this statement could not be further from the truth. In no sense did I find it terrifying. A ghostly apparition was mentioned a handful of times in passing, but nothing even remotely scary came of it. In short, I was expecting a frightening ghost story. Instead, I got a crime fiction... and a very good one! I found She Walks These Hills to be a captivating story that I couldn't help but continue reading, even if it was 3:00 am and I was tired out of my wits. A great story, but nevertheless somewhat of a misrepresentation: If you want a haunting ghost story that terrifies you to the point of not being able to fall asleep, She Walks These Hills is not what you're looking for. If you're looking for a good, original crime fiction novel, then it's right up your alley.
March 24, 2008
An absolutely charming story about Appalachia, weaving history together with the present and giving a gorgeous portrait of life in one of the oldest and untouched parts of America.
May 30, 2019
Gosh I love these! Just a damn good story with damn good writing!
February 4, 2022
I think I'd have to create another bookshelf to correctly categorize this one. It's a mix of mystery, history and some individual relationships - combining at least 4 different stories into a coherent, and for me, enjoyable & quite readable whole. The Katie Wyler story (history portion) seems very similar to the story in "Follow the River" (James A Thom, story of Mary Ingles.) All in all a good story and well told.
August 1, 2022
Not what I was expecting. A little less exciting than I was hoping for. Many story lines going on at once and was more interested in some than others which is what kept me going. 3 1/2 stars
December 20, 2023
Published in 1994 and it did not age well.
April 10, 2022
I first read this when it was published in the early ‘90s, and I’m very happy to say it holds up. Atmospheric southern Gothic noir. The story is gripping. The writing is evocative. Characters that feel like real, lived-in people.
June 13, 2023
McCrumb does a good job of evoking this beautiful and mysterious region of forested mountains.
October 7, 2024
This was a smart, well written, captivating novel that I could not put down. I have been hungry for a book that drew me in from start to finish, and this one checked all my boxes at this time. What I liked is that it moves at a moderate pace and there is depth in the characters and the setting. You also get some history and geology. It was a good story. I am so happy to have found this author and will be reading more of her work. I want to learn more about these characters and the area they live in.
April 11, 2009
The strength of this book is the author's obvious knowledge, and love for, Appalachia. Her vivid descriptions of the mountains and hollers, and her engrossing characters make you feel as if you've stepped out of your home and into a small town, deep in the mountains. I truly enjoyed getting to know the folks in Dark Hollow, Tennessee. (Particularly the DJ, "Hank the Yank" - he made me laugh out loud!)
I give the book only 3 stars because the author's use of point of view during the story was not my favorite - you may feel differently.
Also, I had trouble with the character "Martha." She seemed to change too drastically to be believable - perhaps if I experienced what she experienced I would change that way too...?
If you like Appalachian stories, I recommend this one for light, summer reading.
I give the book only 3 stars because the author's use of point of view during the story was not my favorite - you may feel differently.
Also, I had trouble with the character "Martha." She seemed to change too drastically to be believable - perhaps if I experienced what she experienced I would change that way too...?
If you like Appalachian stories, I recommend this one for light, summer reading.
July 30, 2009
An interesting story set in the Tennessee/North Carolina mountains about mountain living. I really liked the parallel stories of the young woman escaping from Indians in 1700's and the 60+ prison escapee. The story has many memorable characters which interweave into the main story. The few pages about the honor student who kills himself after a football game ties into the mountain mentality. The traditions concerning death, love, and life seem silly, but are essential to survival. Once I started reading, I could not stop.
April 4, 2022
She Walks These Hills is a hauntingly atmospheric blend of mystery and Appalachian folklore with a touch of the supernatural. I’ve always thought The Ballad of Frankie Silver was the strongest of author Sharyn McCrumb’s Ballad series but rereading this one made me change my mind.
February 2, 2015
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book group selection. Evocative writing and great, multi-hued characters fill the pages.
June 9, 2022
A fabulous story about people and the choices they make. I enjoyed getting to know Spencer, Martha, Joe, and Nora better as well as meeting new characters like Rita, Charlotte, Katie, Jeremy, DJ Hank, and of course Hiram.
April 29, 2021
Pretty good who-done-it. No loose ends or plot holes or ridiculousness to make it all come out, like so many of this genre tend to do. I will read more of McCrumb. Very atmospheric.
September 29, 2017
A truly chilling and deeply sad story about women and men, then and now. As always with this series, the moral landscape is as gorgeous and as treacherous as the mountains.
May 14, 2021
Terrific story. Very vivid writing, I really felt as though I were actually in rural Tennessee many times. Best last 30 pages of a book I've read in a long time.
April 16, 2020
Fantastic mystery set in Appalachian Mountains in the early 1990s. Setting and atmosphere are beautifully described - and it has a great cast of characters. The main female character is transitioning from working as a sheriff’s dispatcher to being the first woman deputy and it’s fun to watch her development.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 318 reviews