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Deborah Knott Mysteries #7
Storm Track
“A witty and affectionate view of the new South—and especially, the new South’s new woman,” writes the San Diego Union-Tribune of Margaret Maron’s award-winning Deborah Knott mystery series. From its first book, Bootlegger’s Daughter, which swept every major mystery writing award, this series has been extraordinary—winning a greater audience and brilliantly evolving in content and style. Now, in the seventh book in the series, sexual tension, illicit love, and brutal murder entangle and explode in Deborah Knott’s life . . .
Hurricanes rarely make it inland as far as Colleton County, North Carolina. When they do, people remember them as events that mark an entire generation. Domestic storms, on the other hand, hit with regularity. But when the scantily clad body of a promiscuous wife is found in a motel, the killing resounds like a thunderclap through the community.
With her handsome cousin a suspect in the murder, Judge Deborah Knott gets personally involved in the case. She soon uncovers a web of secret and illicit affairs that stretches from the African-American church community to Deborah’s own family. Then the murderer strikes again, even as a real-life killer storm rages up the Carolina coast. Hurricane Fran, bearing powers that can alter the landscape forever, will deliver a revelation to Deborah Knott about those closest to her—and a justice greater than man’s own.
Mesmerizing, psychologically complex, and cleverly plotted with surprises and twists, STORM TRACK is great, powerful fiction . . . and Margaret Maron is at her best.
(Cover art by Blue Moon Graphics)
Hurricanes rarely make it inland as far as Colleton County, North Carolina. When they do, people remember them as events that mark an entire generation. Domestic storms, on the other hand, hit with regularity. But when the scantily clad body of a promiscuous wife is found in a motel, the killing resounds like a thunderclap through the community.
With her handsome cousin a suspect in the murder, Judge Deborah Knott gets personally involved in the case. She soon uncovers a web of secret and illicit affairs that stretches from the African-American church community to Deborah’s own family. Then the murderer strikes again, even as a real-life killer storm rages up the Carolina coast. Hurricane Fran, bearing powers that can alter the landscape forever, will deliver a revelation to Deborah Knott about those closest to her—and a justice greater than man’s own.
Mesmerizing, psychologically complex, and cleverly plotted with surprises and twists, STORM TRACK is great, powerful fiction . . . and Margaret Maron is at her best.
(Cover art by Blue Moon Graphics)
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2000
83 people are currently reading
520 people want to read
About the author
Margaret Maron
121 books757 followersBorn and raised in central North Carolina, Margaret Maron lived in Italy before returning to the USA. In addition to a collection of short stories she also authored numerous mystery novels.
Her works have been translated into seven languages her Bootlegger's Daughter, a Washington Post Bestseller won Edgar Anthony, Agatha, and Macavity awards.
She was a past president of Sisters in Crime and of the American Crime writers' league, and a director on the national board for Mystery Writers of America.
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Her works have been translated into seven languages her Bootlegger's Daughter, a Washington Post Bestseller won Edgar Anthony, Agatha, and Macavity awards.
She was a past president of Sisters in Crime and of the American Crime writers' league, and a director on the national board for Mystery Writers of America.
Like Margaret Maron on Facebook
Follow Margaret Maron on Twitter
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews
April 21, 2020
Audio CD: Good no nonsense narrator that sounds like the heroine.
Not up to Maron's usual standards, I was tempted to give it two stars, but still the glimpses of Deborah's family and the North Carolina setting are tops as always.
Definitely a 2 star, mediocre mystery though. Should have been called The Mystery of the Unfaithful Wife.
The primary mystery is the murder of the young and unfaithful wife of an up and coming lawyer. There is a parallel story of two cheaters as well as a coming storm that serves the story very little. The murder investigation and the unveiling of the villain were anti-climactic and disappointing.
The secondary cheating story derailed the book even further as both Deborah and one of the cheaters have to be schooled that cheating is NOT okay by an eleven year old boy. The boy and I both scoffed when the old chestnut, You're too young to understand was pulled out as an excuse for bad behavior. Deborah Knott, you are a judge. No excuses! No Deborah was not the cheater, but the excuse for adultery on the part of the character, although a small part of the story, left me with a bad taste.
There is some on page violence that is short but disturbing as well as racially offensive language.
Better D. Knott mysteries out there.
Not up to Maron's usual standards, I was tempted to give it two stars, but still the glimpses of Deborah's family and the North Carolina setting are tops as always.
Definitely a 2 star, mediocre mystery though. Should have been called The Mystery of the Unfaithful Wife.
The primary mystery is the murder of the young and unfaithful wife of an up and coming lawyer. There is a parallel story of two cheaters as well as a coming storm that serves the story very little. The murder investigation and the unveiling of the villain were anti-climactic and disappointing.
The secondary cheating story derailed the book even further as both Deborah and one of the cheaters have to be schooled that cheating is NOT okay by an eleven year old boy. The boy and I both scoffed when the old chestnut, You're too young to understand was pulled out as an excuse for bad behavior. Deborah Knott, you are a judge. No excuses! No Deborah was not the cheater, but the excuse for adultery on the part of the character, although a small part of the story, left me with a bad taste.
There is some on page violence that is short but disturbing as well as racially offensive language.
Better D. Knott mysteries out there.
October 4, 2018
An approaching hurricane and a murderer bent on covering his tracks at all costs made for a gripping mystery set in North Carolina tobacco country with Judge Deborah Knott and the usual cast of family, friends, and colleagues
April 30, 2019
Deborah Knott is a Magistrate Judge in Collton County, North Carolina. She is the baby sister of ten older brothers who feel they need to still watch over her. This could be because she is always finding herself digging into a murder or two.
Margaret Maron loves to give the reader lots of different aspects of her state, North Carolina. She has written books with the pottery colony as part of the story, the furniture industry, she has taken her readers to the mountains and to the coast. In Storm Track, she puts Hurricane Fran into the story.
While everyone is worried about the hurricane that's heading straight for Collton County, there's a killer out there. One that's unaware that they might have tried to kill the wrong person.
Margaret Maron loves to give the reader lots of different aspects of her state, North Carolina. She has written books with the pottery colony as part of the story, the furniture industry, she has taken her readers to the mountains and to the coast. In Storm Track, she puts Hurricane Fran into the story.
While everyone is worried about the hurricane that's heading straight for Collton County, there's a killer out there. One that's unaware that they might have tried to kill the wrong person.
April 16, 2009
The book was more about the storm than the mystery, and the author so thoroughly painted herself into a corner that she handwaved the ending. She does name the killer, but the killer is found largely by accident and she never explains how the killer was able to do it.
June 13, 2013
I've read all the Deborah Knott series. This was my favorite. Loved the way that weather was almost a character.
November 5, 2017
I sort of remembered the story from listening to the audio version a few years ago, but I'd forgotten who dunnit, so I enjoyed the reread. What I did notice, since I've been rereading the entire series in order, is that in this book Maron lets us into the thoughts of quite a few of the characters, including the murderer, instead of keeping the focus on Deborah's first person narration. As I said, I liked the book, but I think I prefer more of Deborah's point of view rather than less. I also have mixed feelings about the villain's fate, although it's not as far-fetched as one might think. The downed trees and other destruction left behind by the hurricane of the title certainly felt real, since Maine has just been through a major wind storm that took out power for half the state and there are still (a week later) thousands of folks without electricity. And that's minor compared to what happened recently in Houston, the Florida Keys, and Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
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January 10, 2020This was a re-read. I love the Deborah Knott series and I just picked this up. I am keeping up on the new ones also.
July 10, 2018
Highly recommend this series. Each book is like a good friend. Great, consistent yet alive characters and great stories.
July 14, 2022
It's well told, but the mystery is lackluster. I actually kept forgetting about the murdered woman because so much else was happening.
August 27, 2013
Wedged in between the more serious books I've been reading this summer is Margaret Moran's Storm Track, the seventh mystery featuring Moran's Judge Deborah Knott. This series began with The Bootlegger's Daughter, which swept the mystery prizes in 1992. My friends and I have been delighted to find that each Deborah Knott book is better than the last.
Storm Track is about the unlikely arrival in Colleton County, an inland fictional county very near Durham, of a hurricane. The body of a local woman is found dead in a motel not far from the ball field where much of the town was playing or watching baseball games the night she was killed. The investigation that follows digs into the lives of people close to Deborah, all of whom have reason to want the woman dead.
Much of the appeal of these books is Deborah's family. She has umpteen brothers, most of them married, most of them with children, which means she is related to, knows well, or has worked with all of the suspects and most of the characters in the book. Once again the rural Carolina setting and especially the food are tremendously appealing.
Storm Track is about the unlikely arrival in Colleton County, an inland fictional county very near Durham, of a hurricane. The body of a local woman is found dead in a motel not far from the ball field where much of the town was playing or watching baseball games the night she was killed. The investigation that follows digs into the lives of people close to Deborah, all of whom have reason to want the woman dead.
Much of the appeal of these books is Deborah's family. She has umpteen brothers, most of them married, most of them with children, which means she is related to, knows well, or has worked with all of the suspects and most of the characters in the book. Once again the rural Carolina setting and especially the food are tremendously appealing.
January 25, 2015
I love how Margaret Maron's Southern mysteries involve family and unconventionable characters in this small town, weaving a story of secrets, and so much more. Storm Track was another good read for me and I hope to read more of her novels.
From Amazon:
Best-selling author Margaret Maron creates entertaining mysteries filled with warm southern charm, colorful down-home characters, and smoldering grudges. In Storm Track, swirling dark clouds of illicit affairs and brutal murder threaten Colleton County, North Carolina. No one worries much about the scantily clad woman found strangled in the Orchid Motel, she must be a tourist who brought along her own problems. But when the victim turns out to be the wife of one of Colleton County's up-and-coming lawyers, the news comes as a thunderclap. People begin looking suspiciously among themselves for the culprit, and Judge Deborah Knott learns her own handsome cousin possesses a mighty powerful motive. While Deborah searches for the vicious killer, a deadly hurricane rages up the Carolina coast, bringing destruction and its own kind of justice.
From Amazon:
Best-selling author Margaret Maron creates entertaining mysteries filled with warm southern charm, colorful down-home characters, and smoldering grudges. In Storm Track, swirling dark clouds of illicit affairs and brutal murder threaten Colleton County, North Carolina. No one worries much about the scantily clad woman found strangled in the Orchid Motel, she must be a tourist who brought along her own problems. But when the victim turns out to be the wife of one of Colleton County's up-and-coming lawyers, the news comes as a thunderclap. People begin looking suspiciously among themselves for the culprit, and Judge Deborah Knott learns her own handsome cousin possesses a mighty powerful motive. While Deborah searches for the vicious killer, a deadly hurricane rages up the Carolina coast, bringing destruction and its own kind of justice.
April 3, 2010
Still enjoying this series. Judge Deborah Knott doesn't do much court work in this one - but her family and friends are embroiled in more drama! A lawyer who occasionally appears in Deborah's court is hit with a tragedy when his wife is found dead in a local motel, wearing black lace and little else.
Suspects abound as it is uncovered that said wife liked to play around, with a lot of different men, including cousin Reid.
Deborah and Reid work together to prove that Reid didn't kill her - but Deborah is also working with Dwight because as a lawman he can actually get the proof.
Weaving throughout the story is the threat of a hurricane. Normal hurricanes don't go as far inland in North Carolina as where the Knott clan lives, but it isn't unheard of, and this one sounds like it will be one of those that is going to try and make life miserable for everyone.
It must have been a good book, I devoured it!
Suspects abound as it is uncovered that said wife liked to play around, with a lot of different men, including cousin Reid.
Deborah and Reid work together to prove that Reid didn't kill her - but Deborah is also working with Dwight because as a lawman he can actually get the proof.
Weaving throughout the story is the threat of a hurricane. Normal hurricanes don't go as far inland in North Carolina as where the Knott clan lives, but it isn't unheard of, and this one sounds like it will be one of those that is going to try and make life miserable for everyone.
It must have been a good book, I devoured it!
June 27, 2013
This seventh book in the Deborah Knott series was the winner of the Agatha Award for the best novel published in 2000. In Storm Track, Margaret Maron contrasts the power of Hurricane Fran as it prepares to unleash its fury on Colleton County, North Carolina with the emotional turmoil that can consume lives touched by tragedy, chaos, and crime. When a local woman, an attorney's wife who has always been considered "a loose woman" in rural Colleton County, is found dead in the Orchid Motel dressed only in black lace underwear, the suspects include her husband, several well-known local men, and even a member of Deborah's family. Having lived through several hurricanes in coastal North Carolina, Maron captures the anticipation, dread, and upheaval that hurricanes bring as well as the suspicions, rumors, and accusations that follow a case like this in a small closely-knit community where everyone is either related in some way or knows the intimate details of their neighbors lives.
February 1, 2010
Deborah Knott is at it again. The judge and her large family (she's the only daughter and youngest child of a moonshiner) are enjoying life, but someone in the town of Dobbs is very unhappy with life and ready to kill to take care of the problem.
This is #7 in the series and I have read later ones so there were no surprises for me in her private life.
This is #7 in the series and I have read later ones so there were no surprises for me in her private life.
January 30, 2013
Such a good series. Character are interesting no matter if they are primary or secondary. I've learned a lot about moonshine and North Carolina. This is regional writing at its best. Seven down and quite a few more to go to finish the series.
September 21, 2010
This is one of my favorite of this series.
September 12, 2012
When Hurricane Fran tracks nearer and nearer to Colleton County, Deborah tries to solve the mystery of the death of a cheating wife in a local motel.
April 20, 2020
I had several novels by Margaret Maron on my tbr shelves and I'm sorry they went untouched for so long but I'm been thoroughly enjoying each of them. The backdrop of this mystery is Hurricane Fran: September 5, 1996. Margaret Maron provides the "lead-in" at the opening of Chapter 1,
I was excited to see that "Deborah Knott's Family Tree" is again available on the opposite page of Chapter 1 as it is very useful. The 1st time that I viewed the family tree was in Book 6, "Home Fires." After reading several books in the series right in a row I'm more familiar with Deborah's large family but it is a good resource and I wish it would have been available in the first book I read in the series which was Book 2, "Southern Discomfort."
Reading this series reminds me of memories of reading Sue Grafton's "Kinsey Millhone Alphabet" series in that each novel in the series seems even better than the last one read and the excitement of reading another.
The situation...is portrayed day by day exactly as it existed, and is not the product of imaginings of writers who put down what the conditions should have been; the storm has been followed from its inception."This can be checked in many sources online and I have provided the link that I found of interest from the National Weather Service. https://www.weather.gov/ilm/Hurricane... Margaret Maron is a native of North Carolina and although she has lived in Italy and Brooklyn, New York returned to North Carolina to live prior to beginning the "Deborah Knott Mysteries" series so she may have incorporated some of her own memories of Hurricane Fran as well as either hosting or attending hurricane parties into characters' actions and reactions. For this reader, Margaret Maron's use of the actual hurricane event gives not only validity to the story but a deeper understanding and empathy for those that live in the path of hurricanes and some that experience them as a fact of life annually.
I was excited to see that "Deborah Knott's Family Tree" is again available on the opposite page of Chapter 1 as it is very useful. The 1st time that I viewed the family tree was in Book 6, "Home Fires." After reading several books in the series right in a row I'm more familiar with Deborah's large family but it is a good resource and I wish it would have been available in the first book I read in the series which was Book 2, "Southern Discomfort."
Reading this series reminds me of memories of reading Sue Grafton's "Kinsey Millhone Alphabet" series in that each novel in the series seems even better than the last one read and the excitement of reading another.
August 5, 2020
Love this series / author. One of these days I'll finish this series and can then get into her other series. Actually, I wish this series would never end. Deborah is always in the middle of "something"! This was a perfect book to read as we (here in FL) just dodged a hurricane / tropical storm. Got more rain from our normal summer storms that the drizzle we got from Isaisa (and I never did figure out how to pronounce it). However, Hurricane Fran (in this mystery) was probably worse than the real Hurricane Frances that came thru middle FL (Space Coast / Treasure Coast area was where landfall was made - and I live!). Of course, us gals had a European vacation scheduled, so we just evacuated a day early - to Europe! We did have problems trying to find out if our homes still stood. But we visited enough churches in Europe and lit enough candles, that we all survived (if with some damage). However, since we'd missed the brunt of Hurricane Frances by spending two weeks in Europe while our partners suffered without power, etc., Hurricane Jeanne decided to show us what we missed about 3 weeks later - and did a hell of a lot more damage, but we did spend less time w/o power! Took me over a year to get all repairs (new roof, but since the old didn't leak, was just damaged - I was near the end of the spectrum on getting it replaced; and new clam shell awning in front of house, as old one gave it's life protecting 6 bay windows when palm tree came down; along with new carport)! Broken windows were easy to replace.
Anyway, back to this mystery. I did not have the culprit pegged. She definitely gave me a surprise there.
Anyway, back to this mystery. I did not have the culprit pegged. She definitely gave me a surprise there.
June 29, 2023
I normally don't mind multiple POV, but I prefer a single POV in mystery novels. I like following along with the protagonist and finding clues at the same time. There were way too many POV in "Storm Track" which made for a convoluted mystery novel. It seems Margaret Maron highlights a pet theme in each novel in the series. Last time out it was furniture. This time, hurricanes. While an interesting concept, especially the correlations between characters and the subject manner, she tends to get carried away and goes into too much unneeded detail. After a few instances of minute details on the hurricane, I started skimming these paragraphs without losing any nuance for the story. Also, I wish Deborah would realize that she and Kidd are not made for each other. She's so intelligent in other aspects of her life.
Oh, and I thought her reaction to Cyl leaving was a little over the top. She and Cyl have been real friends for, what, a few months. And Deborah reacts like her best friend since childhood was leaving town. I'd think she'd be happy Cyl is finally going somewhere more suited to her personality and where she might be happier. Weird.
Oh, and I thought her reaction to Cyl leaving was a little over the top. She and Cyl have been real friends for, what, a few months. And Deborah reacts like her best friend since childhood was leaving town. I'd think she'd be happy Cyl is finally going somewhere more suited to her personality and where she might be happier. Weird.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 16, 2017
A woman is killed in a motel outside of town. Deborah's cousin is a suspect. Of course she must delve into the murder investigation. Another murder may be related, as well as an attack on a local pastor's wife. Connections and scandals are exposed, and some are not. Sometimes the solution is the simplest.
I love this series. Maron kept the stories fresh and new, despite the formula of Judge Knott insinuating herself into murder investigations. She makes me think of Murder, She Wrote, where people tend to die around the main character. hahaha
In this story, a seeming discrepancy prevented me from feeling the usual satisfaction of a well-written story from one of my favorite authors.
Readers who love Lisa Scottoline would love her predecessor's series of a lovable, complex character who is a judge and also the daughter of a bootlegger.
I love this series. Maron kept the stories fresh and new, despite the formula of Judge Knott insinuating herself into murder investigations. She makes me think of Murder, She Wrote, where people tend to die around the main character. hahaha
In this story, a seeming discrepancy prevented me from feeling the usual satisfaction of a well-written story from one of my favorite authors.
Readers who love Lisa Scottoline would love her predecessor's series of a lovable, complex character who is a judge and also the daughter of a bootlegger.
February 19, 2019
Though technically not the primary plot, the affair between two characters is the most engaging part. Maron does a good job of creating characters who know their affair is wrong, but are struggling to do what is right. She does a good job of painting the vulnerability and loneliness that lead people who wouldn't "do" affairs to do so. (Because I generally have nearly no patience for characters who are cheating on a spouse.) I wish she'd done a bit more with the power imbalance as the relationship starts during an informal counseling session.
It's also clear Maron knows first hand the personality types within a congregation.
It's also clear Maron knows first hand the personality types within a congregation.
June 27, 2017
More of a character story with an afterthought murder thrown in to help the plot along a bit. Which I didn't mind too much as I like the characters. But it makes for a rather bland book.
I haven't read one of Margaret Maron's Deborah Knott books in a while, so I can't really remember if this is standard, but I want to say these are generally more about the characters than the mysteries. But I remember Deborah being more curious and involved in solving the murders, as opposed to just having a random brain flash at the end of the book.
I haven't read one of Margaret Maron's Deborah Knott books in a while, so I can't really remember if this is standard, but I want to say these are generally more about the characters than the mysteries. But I remember Deborah being more curious and involved in solving the murders, as opposed to just having a random brain flash at the end of the book.
June 6, 2022
Another one of Margaret Maron's great southern mysteries! I do love this series! Deborah's complicated and not-entirely-law-abiding family creates all kinds of drama and joy along with the mystery to be solved. Major and minor characters alike have their flaws, fears, anxieties and other issues, yet each one has their own needs and redeeming qualities. People are complex and never completely consistent and Margaret Maron fully understands this. The plots are good and the resolutions make sense. Luckily there are still more in this series waiting for me!
February 12, 2019
Another superb book by Margaret Maron. Although forming only a small part of the story the description of the hurricane was marvellous; the only other book so gripping in its description of a natural disaster was James Preston's Bushfire.
The rest of the story, the mystery, was very good too and although I think I read this years ago still had me guessing. There's also a side story in the book that is poignant.
The rest of the story, the mystery, was very good too and although I think I read this years ago still had me guessing. There's also a side story in the book that is poignant.
May 31, 2021
When a local attorney's wife is discovered murdered the community wonders who could have done it. Deborah Knott and Cyl, a local district attorney, finally figure out who the killer is when Deborah sees him cleaning up after the devastation of Hurricane Fran. A really engaging read for me. Stayed up half the night to finish this one. Really surprised by the ending even though it shouldn't have been as surprising as it was. Highly recommend this book and the series.
October 7, 2025
Once you get to know the cast of characters in the Deborah Knott mystery series, it's hard not to dash off to the next book! This last tale involved a hurricane of gigantic proportions. And along with it, many shady relationships that did not promote peace and calm in Dobbs County. I love the descriptions of the many food events they have, and a sleep over during the hurricane with many of the locals. The ending was a surprise - it's a fun book.
May 10, 2017
This mystery takes place back in Dobbs when a young woman is found murdered at a local motel. I felt like this was more of a community trying to solve the murder verses just Deborah as in past books. The side story of her father and the moonshine business was also a fun little storyline. It will be interesting to see where that goes in future books.
October 4, 2021
Really good story BUT... I got the killer wrong, don't get me started on Kidd😠 and poor Cyl😢. I didn't like Kidd any way so that is okay (just not like THAT!) Cyl was in the moral wrong but come on I totally get it. I didn't call anyone a idiot (not even Kidd) so I say it was a pretty good story😊😊.
January 25, 2018
This series character has all the resources and experiences and relationships necessary for a satisfying thrilling mystery. Just missing my sympathy, I did not see an exciting spark in this completely adequate detective story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews