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Mary Crow #6
Deadliest of Sins
Recently appointed special prosecutor Mary Crow is sent to Campbell County, North Carolina, to investigate a possible anti-gay conspiracy between a recent murder and a homophobic preacher. But what starts as an effort to curb hate-crimes turns into a nightmare of abuse and abduction. As Mary delves deeper into Campbell County's history, she uncovers menacing information about the infamous Highway 74, where people have either disappeared or been found dead. When she uncovers how it's all connected, Mary is forced into a deadly world of stolen innocence. And she may become the next victim... "[A] smart and well-paced mystery with a gutsy protagonist and a touch of romance." ―Kirkus Reviews
- GenresMystery
288 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2014
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133 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
April 9, 2014
3.5 stars
Special Prosecuter for NC’s Governor, Mary Crow is basically being used as a pawn to bring in more votes and jobs by investigating a recent hate crime against a gay man and its connection to an anti-gay preaching local church in Campbell County, North Carolina.
While uncovering new leads, she discovers that the term “74’ed” is more than it appears and may simply refer to a state highway, where bodies have either turned up dead or disappeared.
Mary is approached by a teenage boy who claims he is being abused by his ex-cop stepdad and he believes that his stepdad is also responsible for his sister’s disappearance. Out of curiosity, Mary begins asking around to see if this story holds any merit. Unfortunately for the boy, his stepdad has everyone on the force believing that the kid is basically off of his rocker and nothing more happens at that point.
It seems that even though Mary has a sneaking suspicion that there is something to the kid’s story, it isn’t until she finds herself in trouble that she takes any kind of action.
When I requested this book, I didn’t realize that it was the sixth book in a series. Did it make a difference? Yes and no. No in the sense that I forgot after I started reading it that it was a series, but when it was over I was left with the feeling that this book barely tapped into the whole anti-gay preacher and the hate crimes in the area. It seemed in the beginning to be an integral piece of the story, but then it lies in waiting in the background while another crime is exposed, but then it basically fades away without any more on the subject. So, I am assuming/hoping that is because I joined in the middle of a series.
As a whole, with the anti-gay preacher put completely to the side, the book was a good read. It had its share of suspense and action. I guess that I was left with a sense of asking the question “why?” a little more than I wanted. Such as why wouldn’t anyone believe the boy as he was clearly being abused?...Why was a prosecuter staying in a cheap motel (there are nice hotels in NC)?...When did Raleigh start having an intolerance of gay people?...How could the character, especially living there, not know ONE gay person in Asheville or how to find one?? Asheville has a HUGE gay community. They even have their own website (gayashevillenc.com). Yes, I know this is fiction, but I live in NC (a very liberal part of the state, yes), but I think a book should be believable as well.
Overall, I found the story to be interesting and would recommend it, but I would advise to perhaps read a book or two in the series first, although it could also be a stand alone if you overlook some areas. I would definitely be interested in reading the next installment as it peaked enough of my interest to see where the next piece is headed.
A huge thanks to Net Galley and the publisher/author for an advanced copy for review!
Special Prosecuter for NC’s Governor, Mary Crow is basically being used as a pawn to bring in more votes and jobs by investigating a recent hate crime against a gay man and its connection to an anti-gay preaching local church in Campbell County, North Carolina.
While uncovering new leads, she discovers that the term “74’ed” is more than it appears and may simply refer to a state highway, where bodies have either turned up dead or disappeared.
Mary is approached by a teenage boy who claims he is being abused by his ex-cop stepdad and he believes that his stepdad is also responsible for his sister’s disappearance. Out of curiosity, Mary begins asking around to see if this story holds any merit. Unfortunately for the boy, his stepdad has everyone on the force believing that the kid is basically off of his rocker and nothing more happens at that point.
It seems that even though Mary has a sneaking suspicion that there is something to the kid’s story, it isn’t until she finds herself in trouble that she takes any kind of action.
When I requested this book, I didn’t realize that it was the sixth book in a series. Did it make a difference? Yes and no. No in the sense that I forgot after I started reading it that it was a series, but when it was over I was left with the feeling that this book barely tapped into the whole anti-gay preacher and the hate crimes in the area. It seemed in the beginning to be an integral piece of the story, but then it lies in waiting in the background while another crime is exposed, but then it basically fades away without any more on the subject. So, I am assuming/hoping that is because I joined in the middle of a series.
As a whole, with the anti-gay preacher put completely to the side, the book was a good read. It had its share of suspense and action. I guess that I was left with a sense of asking the question “why?” a little more than I wanted. Such as why wouldn’t anyone believe the boy as he was clearly being abused?...Why was a prosecuter staying in a cheap motel (there are nice hotels in NC)?...When did Raleigh start having an intolerance of gay people?...How could the character, especially living there, not know ONE gay person in Asheville or how to find one?? Asheville has a HUGE gay community. They even have their own website (gayashevillenc.com). Yes, I know this is fiction, but I live in NC (a very liberal part of the state, yes), but I think a book should be believable as well.
Overall, I found the story to be interesting and would recommend it, but I would advise to perhaps read a book or two in the series first, although it could also be a stand alone if you overlook some areas. I would definitely be interested in reading the next installment as it peaked enough of my interest to see where the next piece is headed.
A huge thanks to Net Galley and the publisher/author for an advanced copy for review!
May 28, 2014
Early in Sallie Bissell's “Deadliest of Sins,” Mary Crow observes to herself that Campbell County, NC, could have been the cover for a Norman Rockwell calendar. But looks are deceiving, and never more so than in this seventh entry in the popular Mary Crow series. A gay man has been beaten to death in Campbell County, another one in Sligo, possibly because a fiery preacher has been stirring up anti-gay sympathies in the area, even advocating concentration camps for homosexuals. Concerned, perhaps, for her own image as well as that of her state, the governor of North Carolina has appointed Mary as a special prosecutor to investigate the brutal deaths. Bissell has a terrific way with “child” characters, and once again, she does not disappoint. While she is still at her Asheville office, eleven-year-old Chase Buchanan catches a ride on a peach truck to ask Mary for her help in finding his missing sister. Making inquiries, Mary is told Chase is a troublemaker; his sister has likely run away with her boyfriend.
And yet. As she investigates, Mary sees once again that circumstances are seldom as they appear on the surface. Is someone setting the boy up, so no one will believe his story? If so, where is his sister? Why have people disappeared or been found dead along Highway 74? Deftly employing various viewpoints, Bissell leads us deep into a story of hate-crimes and white slavery. As always, her description is breathtaking. Mary’s fans—though ruing the absence of Mary's former lover, Jonathan Walkingstick—will be pleased with the introduction of Victor Galloway, an undercover cop who helps her forget Jonathan. For now, at least.
And yet. As she investigates, Mary sees once again that circumstances are seldom as they appear on the surface. Is someone setting the boy up, so no one will believe his story? If so, where is his sister? Why have people disappeared or been found dead along Highway 74? Deftly employing various viewpoints, Bissell leads us deep into a story of hate-crimes and white slavery. As always, her description is breathtaking. Mary’s fans—though ruing the absence of Mary's former lover, Jonathan Walkingstick—will be pleased with the introduction of Victor Galloway, an undercover cop who helps her forget Jonathan. For now, at least.
February 1, 2015
An enjoyable suspenseful thriller. Happy to see the heroine finally moving on romantically.
May 11, 2017
An outstanding little mystery about an attorney who works for the governor of North Carolina, who has been sent to investigate the murder of a gay man in a small town. There is also a girl who has been kidnapped: are the two related? I did not expect a lot from this but it was really good, with a lot of suspense, and a lot of characters, like Chase, the little brother of the kidnapped girl, who are tremendously likable. This is the fourth or fifth in a series about Mary Crow, the attorney, and I will definitely be looking for the other novels featuring her. Only flaw, and NOT the author's fault, is that the novel was poorly edited; there are many missing words, for example. Nevertheless, highly recommend!
March 30, 2024
Sallie Bissell’s books are satisfying entertainment and have a thread of continuity of plot and characters that keeps me coming back. Her protagonist is smart, strong and likable. Anticipation of how she will handle new and old cases, as they are bound to intersect, will have me looking for the next Mary Crow book. This was #6.
June 24, 2017
I really like this series and O am impressed that the author has decided to keep Jonathan out of the picture. The time jump does not take anything away from the storyline either. Hopefully a new book is coming out soon as I have one left to go....
December 19, 2014
Since reading In The Forest of Harm, Mary Crow has been one of my favorite protagonists. In Deadliest of Sins, she has moved to Asheville and is now the special prosecutor for the Governor who has asked her to investigate a hate crime in Campbell County. Then a young boy shows up on her office doorstep saying his sister has been kidnapped and begging her for help.
The ensuing adventure is action-packed, taut and fraught with danger. With the help of a man who I personally hope becomes an active love interest for Mary, she finds the killer, saves the kidnapped girl and busts a human trafficking ring.
If you haven't read the Mary Crow series, now is the time to start!
The ensuing adventure is action-packed, taut and fraught with danger. With the help of a man who I personally hope becomes an active love interest for Mary, she finds the killer, saves the kidnapped girl and busts a human trafficking ring.
If you haven't read the Mary Crow series, now is the time to start!
October 12, 2014
I read this entire series (minus book #3) in a little over a week. This was one of my favorite books in the series. Sallie does an amazing job writing when it comes to the way kids think in situations. I love that the boy in the story was onto the crime and how he had to sneak away and find Mary. I didn't suspect how Mary would be captured in this book until it happened. Of course, some of it was predictable, but I am sad that I don't have any more Mary Crow books to read at this time. I am waiting for the inter department library loan to read book #3.Until then...............
June 19, 2023
Every time I read a Bissell novel,I am amazed that she is not more popular. Mary Crow is as awesome as ever in the 6th installment. I love a good "bad guys chasing good guys through the woods" rending and this has that plus a good solid mystery and finally some long needed romance. I read that Forest of Harm is being rereleased so maybe this will be Bissell's turn to shine.
June 27, 2014
I love Sallie Bissell's books. I love the mountain setting in North Carolina. Mary Crow is a neat protagonist. I did miss her old beau Jonathan Walkingstick. Mary Crow did not seem to know what had happened to him and his daughter Lily. It sounded like Mary was going to move on and away from Jonathan.
May 17, 2014
This title is the latest in a series featuring Mary Crow, who is half Cherokee and is a special prosecutor for the governor of North Carolina. The story revolves around hate crimes and human trafficking. Crow is a strong protagonist. The story is fast-paced and I loved the author's sense of place.
June 23, 2014
I enjoyed the book, but did not find it to be even remotely suspenseful, which the cover claims it to be. It was pretty obvious where the story would go, and I was not surprised even once. I was a little let down by that.
January 12, 2015
Such an engaging book. I devoured this over the weekend. I wished she had talked a bit more about Jonathan (if she missed him, if she'd heard from him), but with how it ended, I wonder if that will be addressed in the next one.
April 15, 2016
Best Mary Crow book in several years. The plot was a but thin but compellingly written with sympathetic characters. And perhaps a new love interest to replace the lamented Johnathan Walkingstick. Give it a try.
April 12, 2014
3.5 review to follow
will-not-read
June 17, 2014I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/12733453
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/12733453
June 23, 2014
Another great book from Sallie Bissell. Can't wait for the next Mary Crow novel! I'm looking forward to seeing where her relationship with Galloway goes.
August 7, 2014
Enjoyed it.
Read
January 10, 2016Go, Mary, Go, Mary! Each book just gets better and better!
February 22, 2016
This book kept you on the edge of our seat!
Language not so good!
Language not so good!
April 24, 2017
Great characters!
Bissel's Mary Crow continues to evolve, showing us how to live and love in the real world after crushing loss.
Bissel's Mary Crow continues to evolve, showing us how to live and love in the real world after crushing loss.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews