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Bell Elkins #3
Summer of the Dead
High summer in Acker's Gap, West Virginia but no one's enjoying the rugged natural landscape. Not while a killer stalks the small town and its hard-luck inhabitants. County prosecutor Bell Elkins and Sheriff Nick Fogelsong are stymied by a murderer who seems to come and go like smoke on the mountain. At the same time, Bell must deal with the return from prison of her sister, Shirley who, like Bell, carries the indelible scars of a savage past.
In "Summer of the Dead," the third Julia Keller mystery chronicling the journey of Bell Elkins and her return to her Appalachian hometown, we also meet Lindy Crabtree a coal miner's daughter with dark secrets of her own, secrets that threaten to explode into even more violence.
Acker's Gap is a place of loveliness and brutality, of isolation and fierce attachments a place where the dead rub shoulders with the living, and demand their due.
In "Summer of the Dead," the third Julia Keller mystery chronicling the journey of Bell Elkins and her return to her Appalachian hometown, we also meet Lindy Crabtree a coal miner's daughter with dark secrets of her own, secrets that threaten to explode into even more violence.
Acker's Gap is a place of loveliness and brutality, of isolation and fierce attachments a place where the dead rub shoulders with the living, and demand their due.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2014
87 people are currently reading
2023 people want to read
About the author
Julia Keller
29 books482 followersJulia was born and raised in Huntington, West Virginia. She graduated from Marshall University, then later earned a doctoral degree in English Literature at Ohio State University.
She was a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University and has taught at Princeton and Ohio State Universities, and the University of Notre Dame. She is a guest essayist on The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer on PBS and has been a contributor on CNN and NBC Nightly News. In 2005, she won the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing.
Julia lives in a high-rise in Chicago and a stone cottage on a lake in rural Ohio.
She was a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University and has taught at Princeton and Ohio State Universities, and the University of Notre Dame. She is a guest essayist on The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer on PBS and has been a contributor on CNN and NBC Nightly News. In 2005, she won the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing.
Julia lives in a high-rise in Chicago and a stone cottage on a lake in rural Ohio.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 266 reviews
December 15, 2014
Very mixed; probably 2.5. Keller is a lovely writer, very evocative, clearly loves words and descriptions. For 3/4 of the book, I was hooked but I found myself skimming the last 1/4. I think in part because I was getting tired of the constant descriptions of a place that she tries to make relatable but ends up describing it as one stop short of hell. I know there are places like this, of course, but it is beat into the reader on most pages. The child abuser, for example, has no teeth, spits, doesn't shave or cut his hair, is the epitome of a stereotype, really. I also found that the resolution of the plot was not believable; it seemed like the ending was rushed. So not the best of the series.
August 27, 2017
This is crime literature at its best; strong on plot but all about ordinary people and their relationships. Bell Elkins has returned to her 'home' Acker's Gap in Reythune County to serve as their prosecuting attorney alongside her childhood friend Sheriff Nick Fogelsong.
During a simmering hot Summer as series of baffling murders frustrate the law enforecement agencies and leave the local inhabitants on edge.
What I really enjoy about Julia Keller's writing is its richness it terms of illustrations, simile and metaphor, in regards to its language and reflections of life in West Virginia. At times I can hear Garrison Keillor reading the words from the page.
"Bell was often astonished at the physical agility of children who grew up in mountain towns - or tough inner-city neighbourhoods,come to that. They seemed to have a special relationship with gravity, a secret bargain: Gravity let them have a few good years of leaping and climbing - openly defying it - before it pulled them down for keeps".
At times the book moves you and I was guilty of a small tear. It is good that literature so engages one, not with cheap manipulation but in the depth of its story.
During a simmering hot Summer as series of baffling murders frustrate the law enforecement agencies and leave the local inhabitants on edge.
What I really enjoy about Julia Keller's writing is its richness it terms of illustrations, simile and metaphor, in regards to its language and reflections of life in West Virginia. At times I can hear Garrison Keillor reading the words from the page.
"Bell was often astonished at the physical agility of children who grew up in mountain towns - or tough inner-city neighbourhoods,come to that. They seemed to have a special relationship with gravity, a secret bargain: Gravity let them have a few good years of leaping and climbing - openly defying it - before it pulled them down for keeps".
At times the book moves you and I was guilty of a small tear. It is good that literature so engages one, not with cheap manipulation but in the depth of its story.
April 13, 2015
The Hook - Catching up on Bell Elkins Series by Julia Keller.
The Line(s) – ”Bell wandered over to the window. The brown drapes were tied off on either side. She looked out through the clear glass but didn’t see a thing; she was too preoccupied. How was it that you could look out a window and not see beyond your own thoughts?”
The Sinker – Series are often problematic for me. I prefer stand-alone novels where there’s a beginning, middle, and an ending. I don’t mind if the ending leaves me up in the air, if questions are left unanswered, if a character’s life is not totally mapped out. I like that I can choose to think where this story or life might have gone. That said, I’m back reading the third in the Bell Elkins series. What draws me to continue reading about the small, run down Appalachian town of Acker’s Gap, West Virginia? What makes this character special enough to warrant my time? I like the setting; I like the people that live in Acker’s Gap. Keller does a good job making me see the landscape, paints the picture, fleshes out the characters. There’s humor, clever dialog, a bit less than usual this outing; great descriptive passages. Keller continues to develop Bell, revealing just enough to keep me interested. Bell’s secrets are hinted at, whispers of suggestions. Relationships abound. An ex-husband, Sam, her teen daughter, Carla, who lives with Sam, Sheriff, Nick Fogelsong, more the father figure than romantic interest, which in itself is a breath of fresh air. One of the most interesting is the exploration of the connection with her sister, Shirley, who is back in Bell’s life after spending many years in prison for killing their father. It’s a complicated one as you well can imagine.
If I could I’d give this a 3.5 but since I can't,I’m rounding down to 3, pitting it only on its own merits in the series. I plan to read the next Bell Elkins story but wonder if Julia Keller will be able to keep the momentum going.
The Line(s) – ”Bell wandered over to the window. The brown drapes were tied off on either side. She looked out through the clear glass but didn’t see a thing; she was too preoccupied. How was it that you could look out a window and not see beyond your own thoughts?”
The Sinker – Series are often problematic for me. I prefer stand-alone novels where there’s a beginning, middle, and an ending. I don’t mind if the ending leaves me up in the air, if questions are left unanswered, if a character’s life is not totally mapped out. I like that I can choose to think where this story or life might have gone. That said, I’m back reading the third in the Bell Elkins series. What draws me to continue reading about the small, run down Appalachian town of Acker’s Gap, West Virginia? What makes this character special enough to warrant my time? I like the setting; I like the people that live in Acker’s Gap. Keller does a good job making me see the landscape, paints the picture, fleshes out the characters. There’s humor, clever dialog, a bit less than usual this outing; great descriptive passages. Keller continues to develop Bell, revealing just enough to keep me interested. Bell’s secrets are hinted at, whispers of suggestions. Relationships abound. An ex-husband, Sam, her teen daughter, Carla, who lives with Sam, Sheriff, Nick Fogelsong, more the father figure than romantic interest, which in itself is a breath of fresh air. One of the most interesting is the exploration of the connection with her sister, Shirley, who is back in Bell’s life after spending many years in prison for killing their father. It’s a complicated one as you well can imagine.
If I could I’d give this a 3.5 but since I can't,I’m rounding down to 3, pitting it only on its own merits in the series. I plan to read the next Bell Elkins story but wonder if Julia Keller will be able to keep the momentum going.
April 23, 2015
3.5 star read
It's summer time in Ackers Gap, West Virginia and the heat is oppressive. If dealing with the summer heat wasn't bad enough, Bell Elkins and the residents of Acker's Gap, West Virginia are also dealing with the fear left behind from a senseless murder. It's only been a few months since the return of Bell's sister, Shirley, and the awful murder of a teenage girl, as well as the spree of murders by a terrorist seeking revenge against one of Bell's friends only in town for a visit. Bell's lover suffered severe injuries during an explosion in a local eatery and their relationship seems to have fizzled out. Bell's daughter is due in for the summer and that is the only bright spot in her immediate future. Just when Bell thinks that things can't get any worse she receives a phone call from another county sheriff's office that her sister is at the scene of a bar brawl that turns into a murder scene. Then another murder victim is found in Acker's Gap and Bell's daughter opts not to return to Acker's Gap for the summer but go to London, England for an internship. Could things get any worse?
Be careful what questions you ask, because yes things can always get worse. After the second murder, Bell begins to wonder what an elderly retired coal miner - the first murder victim, a man that takes care of his dying mother - the second murder victim, a young lady that works at a local gas station/convenience store, and a former West Virginia governor have in common. On the surface, it doesn't appear to be much other than the fact that they are all residents of Raythune County (or at least a former resident with respect to the governor). The more Bell tries to make sense of what's going on, the more confused and angry she becomes. The one thing Bell doesn't do is back down from a challenge and she's determined to find the answers behind these murders, hopefully before another murder occurs.
Summer of the Dead is the third book in the Bell Elkins series by Julia Keller. As with the previous books in this series, Ms. Keller doesn't shy away from touchy subjects such as people getting rich or richer on the backs of the poor, politicians selling out the state to the highest bidders, environmental rape and plunder to the detriment of the everyday working man or woman, and the ever-present problems of meth/prescription drug addiction and abuse in rural areas in the state. The character Bell Elkins doesn't whitewash her disgust at these practices and is adamant in her desire to rid at least her part of West Virginia from as many of these problems as possible. (If you haven't read A Killing in the Hills, the first book in this series, please do so as it deals with the prescription drug abuse problem and drug trade in West Virginia in a realistic manner.) Yes, there is widespread poverty in West Virginia. Yes, there are rural areas in the state where the unemployment level is two or three times the national average. Yes, there are families that never seem to escape the hardscrabble life of their fathers and grandfathers. But there are also people like Bell Elkins that get an education and either stay or come back to make a difference. Summer of the Dead is an amazing mystery that pulled me back into Bell Elkins world. I read this book in one afternoon and only put it down to make another cup of tea or three. Ms. Keller has the ability to spin a tale that is so believable it borders on nonfiction. If you've read A Killing in the Hills and Bitter River then you have to grab Summer of the Dead to read more about Bell Elkins and Ackers Gap. If you haven't read the previous books in this series all I can say is, "what are you waiting for?"
It's summer time in Ackers Gap, West Virginia and the heat is oppressive. If dealing with the summer heat wasn't bad enough, Bell Elkins and the residents of Acker's Gap, West Virginia are also dealing with the fear left behind from a senseless murder. It's only been a few months since the return of Bell's sister, Shirley, and the awful murder of a teenage girl, as well as the spree of murders by a terrorist seeking revenge against one of Bell's friends only in town for a visit. Bell's lover suffered severe injuries during an explosion in a local eatery and their relationship seems to have fizzled out. Bell's daughter is due in for the summer and that is the only bright spot in her immediate future. Just when Bell thinks that things can't get any worse she receives a phone call from another county sheriff's office that her sister is at the scene of a bar brawl that turns into a murder scene. Then another murder victim is found in Acker's Gap and Bell's daughter opts not to return to Acker's Gap for the summer but go to London, England for an internship. Could things get any worse?
Be careful what questions you ask, because yes things can always get worse. After the second murder, Bell begins to wonder what an elderly retired coal miner - the first murder victim, a man that takes care of his dying mother - the second murder victim, a young lady that works at a local gas station/convenience store, and a former West Virginia governor have in common. On the surface, it doesn't appear to be much other than the fact that they are all residents of Raythune County (or at least a former resident with respect to the governor). The more Bell tries to make sense of what's going on, the more confused and angry she becomes. The one thing Bell doesn't do is back down from a challenge and she's determined to find the answers behind these murders, hopefully before another murder occurs.
Summer of the Dead is the third book in the Bell Elkins series by Julia Keller. As with the previous books in this series, Ms. Keller doesn't shy away from touchy subjects such as people getting rich or richer on the backs of the poor, politicians selling out the state to the highest bidders, environmental rape and plunder to the detriment of the everyday working man or woman, and the ever-present problems of meth/prescription drug addiction and abuse in rural areas in the state. The character Bell Elkins doesn't whitewash her disgust at these practices and is adamant in her desire to rid at least her part of West Virginia from as many of these problems as possible. (If you haven't read A Killing in the Hills, the first book in this series, please do so as it deals with the prescription drug abuse problem and drug trade in West Virginia in a realistic manner.) Yes, there is widespread poverty in West Virginia. Yes, there are rural areas in the state where the unemployment level is two or three times the national average. Yes, there are families that never seem to escape the hardscrabble life of their fathers and grandfathers. But there are also people like Bell Elkins that get an education and either stay or come back to make a difference. Summer of the Dead is an amazing mystery that pulled me back into Bell Elkins world. I read this book in one afternoon and only put it down to make another cup of tea or three. Ms. Keller has the ability to spin a tale that is so believable it borders on nonfiction. If you've read A Killing in the Hills and Bitter River then you have to grab Summer of the Dead to read more about Bell Elkins and Ackers Gap. If you haven't read the previous books in this series all I can say is, "what are you waiting for?"
May 13, 2016
Found this book a bit slow and repetitive in places. Although described as a beautiful writer, I did not agree but an opinion is just that, an opinion. First time reading this author and although the synopsis sounds good, I really just wanted to finish it and get on to something better. Basically a story about murder and corruption but not pacey or interesting enough to recommend. As I said, just an opinion.
January 9, 2017
In Julia Keller's The Season of the Dead, the 3rd installment in the Bell Elkins thriller series, it was one hot summer when the crime rate went up a notch. For Bell Elkins, the county prosecutor for Acker's Gap, West Virginia, she had a full plate on her hands. First her sister Shirley has been released from prison to start her new free life, while she waited for her daughter Carla to visit her that summer. But as she investigated the murder of Freddie Arnett, things took a dangerous turn for the residents of her small town. To make matters worse, someone had been killed at a bar fight, when she had found a lone business card. Besides trying to square away with her sister's needs, she had two homicides to find a connection between the two cases. For Lindy Crabtree, she worked at the gas station to support herself and her sick dad who worked the coal mines and had asbestos poisoning with no much time to life. As she searched for clues to her mother's childhood, someone tried to scare her and clobbered her with a rock. When Bell learned of this assault, things came to a head when the chips fall into place into this puzzle and later stirred this sick plot beyond reason. In the end, both Lindy and Bell were dealt a hard blow at the reality of who would do it and why.
February 18, 2015
County prosecutor Belfa Elkins faces many personal and professional challenges in Julia Keller’s third mystery, Summer of the Dead.
Bell’s sister Shirley is living with her while trying to piece together a new life after spending 30 years in prison for killing their abusive father. Bell’s beloved teen daughter Carla decides to not come home for the summer so she can work in London. And then an old man is stabbed to death in his driveway while fixing a car for his grandson. When a second man is murdered, residents worry they have a serial killer on the loose.
As a West Virginian native, Keller’s writing rings true about the tough living facing some Appalachian residents. Bell is such a complex and interesting character whose frustration is palpable when she tries to make a difference in her small hometown of Ackers Gap. Living in the breathtaking backdrop of mountains, Bell’s job exposes her to the ugly parts of the area, including abject poverty, drug abuse and violence.
Summer of the Dead is Keller’s best book yet. I highly recommend this complex, exquisitely written mystery.
Bell’s sister Shirley is living with her while trying to piece together a new life after spending 30 years in prison for killing their abusive father. Bell’s beloved teen daughter Carla decides to not come home for the summer so she can work in London. And then an old man is stabbed to death in his driveway while fixing a car for his grandson. When a second man is murdered, residents worry they have a serial killer on the loose.
As a West Virginian native, Keller’s writing rings true about the tough living facing some Appalachian residents. Bell is such a complex and interesting character whose frustration is palpable when she tries to make a difference in her small hometown of Ackers Gap. Living in the breathtaking backdrop of mountains, Bell’s job exposes her to the ugly parts of the area, including abject poverty, drug abuse and violence.
Summer of the Dead is Keller’s best book yet. I highly recommend this complex, exquisitely written mystery.
October 21, 2014
Julia Keller was the literary critic for the Chicago Tribune. I valued her perspectives and, after reading books she reviewed, found I most often agreed with her critiques and observations. Since she began releasing her own books I have purchased and read each. The third, like the first two, is well written in an intellectual, lyrical and descriptive style. Keller vividly describes the Appalachian town of Acker's Gap and you really envision, smell and hear the sounds of this very poor, very troubled place. The third story, however, was not as well developed and paced as the first two of her books. I will continue to support and read Julia Keller's books. She is a smart and earnest author.
December 21, 2017
We’re back in Acker’s Gap with Prosecutor Bell and I just wasn’t loving this novel as well as I have the previous two. I believe it was because I didn’t like everything being tied up in the final couple chapters of the novel. The novel’s creepiness and darkness settled in from the beginning and held its grip throughout the novel. It wasn’t until the very end did I feel the weight being lifted off the town. It’s like walking into a dark tunnel and finally after your eyes have adjusted to the darkness around you, someone turns on the lights and you’re blinded. That’s what I felt as I read this novel. The darkness surrounded me as Bell dealt with the everything around her. There were the murders, her sisters release from prison and the young adults working at the service station. There was this black snowball effect surrounding Bell and it wasn’t letting up. It was depressing, to an extent.
I would have liked this novel more had something positive occurred, just something. A cat had kittens, someone got a new car or someone got a new belt. Lindy, one of the novel’s characters likes to read books, which to me is a positive subject but she hides this fact from others. Shirley hooks up with Bobo and I was happy for her but then I have Bell’s voice to listen to and although she changes this voice from negative to borderline, I am not sure what to believe as Bell knows her sister better than I do. Then, as the novel wraps up, there are arrests and that should be positive, right? But, I just wasn’t feeling it. I guess it’s time to leave it behind me and move on. I’ll move onto the next book in the series and hope someone bought a belt.
I would have liked this novel more had something positive occurred, just something. A cat had kittens, someone got a new car or someone got a new belt. Lindy, one of the novel’s characters likes to read books, which to me is a positive subject but she hides this fact from others. Shirley hooks up with Bobo and I was happy for her but then I have Bell’s voice to listen to and although she changes this voice from negative to borderline, I am not sure what to believe as Bell knows her sister better than I do. Then, as the novel wraps up, there are arrests and that should be positive, right? But, I just wasn’t feeling it. I guess it’s time to leave it behind me and move on. I’ll move onto the next book in the series and hope someone bought a belt.
February 1, 2018
I think I like this author. I got this book on clearance and B&N, and because on the cover was a comment from Michael Connelly, my all-time favorite author about how the main character in this story was one of the most "fully realized character character in fiction today", and for $5 I got it.
Good story and yes Bell the main character is a good one. Interesting plot, one character deals with PTSD from working in the mines of WV, and how he lives in the cellar that his daughter made to mimic a mine, with rocks and tables and branches.
I have ordered the first 2 books from Keller, this was her 3rd.
Good story and yes Bell the main character is a good one. Interesting plot, one character deals with PTSD from working in the mines of WV, and how he lives in the cellar that his daughter made to mimic a mine, with rocks and tables and branches.
I have ordered the first 2 books from Keller, this was her 3rd.
March 23, 2018
When I read the other reviews I sometimes wonder if I read the same book! As usual her editor must have been napping - since when can felons on parole own and operate bars and why is Shirley allowed to hang out in one filled with drunks and derelicts? Isn’t it pretty lazy to have three characters named Charlie? There are more descriptive passages than crime scenes - just a very ho hum boring book. I hope the author treasures her Pulitzer because she isn’t going to get another!!
April 13, 2018
This is more like a 3-1/2. The book started rather slow for me but after I got into it, I enjoyed it. This is the third book in the series and the first one I have read and there were a few references to things that happened earlier which I assume are in the earlier books. There were some good plot twists that I didn't see coming. I have the second book of the series and plan on reading it, I liked the main character and look forward to learning more about her.
February 10, 2019
Another enjoyable read in this series set in West Virginia. Bell's sister Shirley appears in the books for the first time, after release from prison. Apparently random killings of two men shake the town of Acker's Gap and the plot takes off from here. Have to say this became more convoluted as it progressed and had a twist at the end which, I think, was actually believable.
March 10, 2021
This was another well written, interesting story. It kept me guessing about who did the killings till the very end and it was a bit of a twist. It's not your usual serial killer by any means. You'll have to read it to find out.
March 22, 2025
I like Julia Keller’s series set in West Virginia. This is the third in the series. Hard to put down once you start.
dnf-d
June 28, 2025DNF @ 7%. I can just tell at this point this one isn't for me. Check my review on StoryGraph to see the content warnings I added.
August 27, 2019
This third entry in the Bell Elkins mysteries is as compelling as the first two (and the fourth, which I actually read first!), and just as beautifully written. Keller has created a believable, interesting character in Bell, a prosecuting attorney in small-town West Virginia who, while definitely the "good guy" fighting the bad ones, has her own flaws and demons which often get in her way. She's tempered somewhat by her long-time friend, Sheriff Nick Fogelsong, and together they try to piece together the facts behind two brutal murders which happen too close together one summer in Acker's Gap. Then there's a third killing, which could be related to the other two, although Bell isn't sure exactly if it is or how.
In addition to the cases which are seemingly impossible to break, Bell is now dealing with her troubled sister, newly released from prison, and her ex-husband, who has used his own special sleight-of-hand (in Bell's opinion) to keep her from seeing their daughter this summer. She isn't the only person dealing with family problems; Lindy Crabtree is trying single-handedly to keep the lid on things at her house, where her deranged and sometimes violent father is becoming more lost to her by the day. Her mother is already dead, and Odell Crabtree is all Lindy has left in the world. She can't let herself believe that he might possibly be the perpetrator of the murders.
In addition, politics plays a role in the story, with a former governor (hometown: Acker's Gap) come to celebrate his donation of a new MRI machine to the local hospital. Riley Jessup is a folk-hero -- and Acker's Gapian who has made really good -- and the townspeople adore him. But Bell suspects that the wealth he has collected in the years since his governorship isn't without taint, and he becomes part of her investigation, as well. His daughter and ailing grandson are dear to Mr. Jessup, she can tell -- but she thinks there may be more to the family and their extravagance than meets the eye.
As with all the Bell Elkins books I've read, every story line eventually meets another; they are intertwined in ways that almost always surprise the reader in at least one way or another. This book is no exception to that. I personally found the resolution of the mysteries (there are multiple) a bit far-fetched, but that didn't ruin the read for me at all. Even though Acker's Gap, West Virginia, is down on its luck and has been for some time, and despite that fact that it's a small town with people who have known each other and each other's families for generations, anything can happen there. Keller makes sure of that.
What I love most about Julia Keller's books, besides her characters, are two things: the sense of place that pervades her novels (in which the beauty and misery of West Virginia shine through) and her use of language. She uses figurative language beautifully and seemingly effortlessly, as exemplified in this quote: ". . . even though he looked old and harmless, he still radiated a faint red glow of danger, like a decommissioned nuclear power plant." She understand the people and social constructs of her home state, sees their situation and psychology clearly, and writes with precision and grace in order to present them with the dignity and respect they crave.
I have two more unread Bell Elkins books on my shelf. Can't wait to go back to Acker's Gap.
In addition to the cases which are seemingly impossible to break, Bell is now dealing with her troubled sister, newly released from prison, and her ex-husband, who has used his own special sleight-of-hand (in Bell's opinion) to keep her from seeing their daughter this summer. She isn't the only person dealing with family problems; Lindy Crabtree is trying single-handedly to keep the lid on things at her house, where her deranged and sometimes violent father is becoming more lost to her by the day. Her mother is already dead, and Odell Crabtree is all Lindy has left in the world. She can't let herself believe that he might possibly be the perpetrator of the murders.
In addition, politics plays a role in the story, with a former governor (hometown: Acker's Gap) come to celebrate his donation of a new MRI machine to the local hospital. Riley Jessup is a folk-hero -- and Acker's Gapian who has made really good -- and the townspeople adore him. But Bell suspects that the wealth he has collected in the years since his governorship isn't without taint, and he becomes part of her investigation, as well. His daughter and ailing grandson are dear to Mr. Jessup, she can tell -- but she thinks there may be more to the family and their extravagance than meets the eye.
As with all the Bell Elkins books I've read, every story line eventually meets another; they are intertwined in ways that almost always surprise the reader in at least one way or another. This book is no exception to that. I personally found the resolution of the mysteries (there are multiple) a bit far-fetched, but that didn't ruin the read for me at all. Even though Acker's Gap, West Virginia, is down on its luck and has been for some time, and despite that fact that it's a small town with people who have known each other and each other's families for generations, anything can happen there. Keller makes sure of that.
What I love most about Julia Keller's books, besides her characters, are two things: the sense of place that pervades her novels (in which the beauty and misery of West Virginia shine through) and her use of language. She uses figurative language beautifully and seemingly effortlessly, as exemplified in this quote: ". . . even though he looked old and harmless, he still radiated a faint red glow of danger, like a decommissioned nuclear power plant." She understand the people and social constructs of her home state, sees their situation and psychology clearly, and writes with precision and grace in order to present them with the dignity and respect they crave.
I have two more unread Bell Elkins books on my shelf. Can't wait to go back to Acker's Gap.
July 20, 2014
A special thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
SUMMER OF THE DEAD by Julia Keller, is part of a series as the third installment (Bell Elkins Series #3) and boy oh boy, is Bell is in the middle of all sorts of problems— crime, mystery, and high drama in the old mining town of Acker’s Gap, West Virginia.
As Bell returns to her Appalachian hometown, readers meet bookworm, Lindy Crabtree—a coal miner's daughter with dark secrets of her own—secrets that threaten to explode into even more violence. Her father has more than dementia, a retired miner and as strange as they come, living in the cellar so he can feel as though he is still in a mine (and does not like visitors). All sorts of evil surrounding this household.
In addition Bell’s sister, Shirley is out of prison and is living with Bell. It is difficult to keep tabs on this one, much less control. She feels she owes her sister, after protecting her years ago from an abusive father. Otherwise she may not be where she is now, in her career and life (college, law school, motherhood, public office—none of it could have happened, without Shirley.)
Thirty years have passed since that night, yet even now, when Bell contemplates her sister’s sacrifice, a sacrifice that had consumed so much of Shirley’s life—the prison sentence had been extended again and again by Shirley’s fighting and insubordination and by an escape attempt—Bell is overwhelmed.
However, along with her duties as prosecutor and the gruesome reality of Freddie Arnett’s unsolved murder there is also the fact her daughter would be arriving for a visit (and she is not looking forward to Carla seeing her aunt Shirley in the midst of rebellion, alcohol, cigarettes, and self-pity).
This was my first book by Julia Keller, and looking forward to going back and reading the previous books in the series. The author did an outstanding job of creating a strong connection between sisters and the characters for a positive takeaway, in the midst of this suspenseful and dark page-turner crime thrilling mystery and tragedy—which makes for a satisfying and engaging read, as Bell takes a journey as she deals with her past. (Loved Bell!)
Julia’s acknowledgement included the inspiration for this book, which can be haunting—as SUMMER OF THE DEAD, portrayed the devastating long term effects of these stricken miners. Highly Recommend!
Loved the quote: “For what other dungeon is so dark as one’s own heart? What jailer so inexorable as one’s self. Nathaniel Hawthorne, The House of the Seven Gables
SUMMER OF THE DEAD by Julia Keller, is part of a series as the third installment (Bell Elkins Series #3) and boy oh boy, is Bell is in the middle of all sorts of problems— crime, mystery, and high drama in the old mining town of Acker’s Gap, West Virginia.
As Bell returns to her Appalachian hometown, readers meet bookworm, Lindy Crabtree—a coal miner's daughter with dark secrets of her own—secrets that threaten to explode into even more violence. Her father has more than dementia, a retired miner and as strange as they come, living in the cellar so he can feel as though he is still in a mine (and does not like visitors). All sorts of evil surrounding this household.
In addition Bell’s sister, Shirley is out of prison and is living with Bell. It is difficult to keep tabs on this one, much less control. She feels she owes her sister, after protecting her years ago from an abusive father. Otherwise she may not be where she is now, in her career and life (college, law school, motherhood, public office—none of it could have happened, without Shirley.)
Thirty years have passed since that night, yet even now, when Bell contemplates her sister’s sacrifice, a sacrifice that had consumed so much of Shirley’s life—the prison sentence had been extended again and again by Shirley’s fighting and insubordination and by an escape attempt—Bell is overwhelmed.
However, along with her duties as prosecutor and the gruesome reality of Freddie Arnett’s unsolved murder there is also the fact her daughter would be arriving for a visit (and she is not looking forward to Carla seeing her aunt Shirley in the midst of rebellion, alcohol, cigarettes, and self-pity).
This was my first book by Julia Keller, and looking forward to going back and reading the previous books in the series. The author did an outstanding job of creating a strong connection between sisters and the characters for a positive takeaway, in the midst of this suspenseful and dark page-turner crime thrilling mystery and tragedy—which makes for a satisfying and engaging read, as Bell takes a journey as she deals with her past. (Loved Bell!)
Julia’s acknowledgement included the inspiration for this book, which can be haunting—as SUMMER OF THE DEAD, portrayed the devastating long term effects of these stricken miners. Highly Recommend!
Loved the quote: “For what other dungeon is so dark as one’s own heart? What jailer so inexorable as one’s self. Nathaniel Hawthorne, The House of the Seven Gables
August 10, 2014
Belfa (Bell) Elkins is the Raythune County Prosecutor who returned to her hometown some years before. She seems to have settled back into life in Acker's Gap but is grappling with: the arrival of her sister Shirley (recently released from prison after 30 years); her daughter who seemingly prefers to spend time in the city with Bell's ex husband; and the silent treatment she's receiving from her lover - who's away receiving rehab for recent injuries.
Bell's foul mood is exacerbated by the absence of her friend (and local sheriff) Nick Fogelsong and a fresh (and seemingly inexplicable) murder case.
Murders are a rarity in Acker's Gap and fortunately the Sheriff returns in time to calm the town's frayed nerves by the time a third body appears.
There seems no connection between the three deaths, but Bell's not convinced and starts looking into the cases herself.
Read the rest of the review in my blog: http://www.debbish.com/books-literatu...
Bell's foul mood is exacerbated by the absence of her friend (and local sheriff) Nick Fogelsong and a fresh (and seemingly inexplicable) murder case.
Murders are a rarity in Acker's Gap and fortunately the Sheriff returns in time to calm the town's frayed nerves by the time a third body appears.
There seems no connection between the three deaths, but Bell's not convinced and starts looking into the cases herself.
Read the rest of the review in my blog: http://www.debbish.com/books-literatu...
December 28, 2018
Bell Elkins has returned to her West Virginia hometown with a law degree, a divorce, and a desire to help the very poor people of this area. Bell is quickly elected county prosecutor and works closely with the sheriff to help solve crimes. One man has been murdered, then another. Bell thinks there might be a connection but can not get a clue. Meanwhile her daughter is living with the father and now he has found her a summer internship in London. She is eager to go; Bell is lonely and having a difficult time with her older sister who has just gotten out of prison for killing their father. Daughter gone, sister a constant worry, and no clues about the murders. Bell confronts a former governor who was from her town and the you-know-what hits the fan. This is the third in this detective series and they keep getting better. If you like mysteries, start with the first of this series. It is worth it.
April 10, 2017
Julia Keller has written about rural West Virginia the way Karin Slaughter has written about rural Georgia and this third outing in the series is no exception. The poor rural setting and subsequent lives of its inhabitants are palpable. This time out, Belfa "Bell" Elkins, county prosecutor for the small Appalachian town of Ackers Gap, deals with what might be a serial killer on the loose. As with the previous title in the series, the ending was a "didn't see that one coming" moment.
September 11, 2018
This is the third book in this series and I believe by far the best one. The author does a great job with the recurring characters. Life in this very poor coal mining town is hard and it’s inhabitants struggle to survive. Some are beaten down by drugs and poverty but others manage to pull themselves up from the morass. I’m looking forward to securing book four. Highly recommend although there is much that is sad
September 1, 2019
Over the top
I would give this one a six if I could! The plot was over the top, filled with a murder mystery, an old man whose mind comes and goes and a devious plot to do whatever it takes to save a life. The emotion written into this one was electric, sometimes jarring with the feelings that the characters shared. I can't wait to read the next book in the Bell Elkins series!
I would give this one a six if I could! The plot was over the top, filled with a murder mystery, an old man whose mind comes and goes and a devious plot to do whatever it takes to save a life. The emotion written into this one was electric, sometimes jarring with the feelings that the characters shared. I can't wait to read the next book in the Bell Elkins series!
October 20, 2017
Tbh, even with everything it had going on, it was so boring. I feel it's probably because the writing itself was so monotone, it made the whole thing heavy and brought it down. I only finished it because I've bought it but it took me ages. Not grasping at all. Very disappointed.
May 24, 2019
Summer is not off to an auspicious beginning in Acker's Gap, West Virginia. after not one but two murders. The crimes seem totally unrelated and totally senseless. People are frightened. You can tell by the quiet streets, the deserted play areas, and the angry calls to Bell Elkins, the county's prosecuting attorney, and her friend and coworker, Sheriff Nick Fogelsong. Citizens demand that the murderer or murderers be brought to justice immediately but investigators are coming up empty-handed.
Riley Jessup, former Acker's Gap resident who hit the big time when he won the West Virginia governor's race, is long retired but still adored by the people of his hometown, who really don't know him at all. Although he presents himself as a "hail fellow well met," intensely worried about his sick grandson, there's more to him than meets the eye.
Odell Crabtree spent all his life hunched over in a coal mine and now his body seems intent on remaining hunched. Trying to make him comfortable and keep his increasingly violent temper at bay, his daughter Lindy has turned the basement of their tiny, shabby home into a coal mine, dark, damp, cramped, and crowded with tree limbs and dirt and big rocks. Odell spends almost all his time in the "mine." Rarely he comes out; when he does, sometimes he recognizes Lindy, sometimes not. Sometimes he slips out of the house at night; Lindy fears what he may do then.
One night Lindy is attacked in her own home, hit in the head with a large rock, seriously injured, and slowly the pieces of the mysteries start to come together.
A previous reviewer wrote that Keller uses way too many "as ifs" and "likes" in her writing but I've found those phrases point to some of my favorite parts of her books. With other authors, I often skip description and head straight for the dialogue but Keller has a unique way of handling words that I find delightful.
Example: "Waller was as gray and skinny as a vent stack poking up from an old roof. The skin on his face hung in vertical yellow folds, like the nicotine-stained drapes in a halfway house. His teeth--the three or four still in residence--stuck up like broken-off branches driven into scorched ground, and they were tilted and jagged."
Can't you just see Waller in front of you? And doesn't he make you shiver and step back a bit?
Occasionally "the rest of the story" seems to be missing; for example, Waller is accused of sexually molesting his girlfriend's three young daughters but there is no discussion of any sort of physical evidence and his trial ends up going nowhere.
All told, however, this is another in the series of delightful stories Keller tells about current days in a small West Virginia town.
Riley Jessup, former Acker's Gap resident who hit the big time when he won the West Virginia governor's race, is long retired but still adored by the people of his hometown, who really don't know him at all. Although he presents himself as a "hail fellow well met," intensely worried about his sick grandson, there's more to him than meets the eye.
Odell Crabtree spent all his life hunched over in a coal mine and now his body seems intent on remaining hunched. Trying to make him comfortable and keep his increasingly violent temper at bay, his daughter Lindy has turned the basement of their tiny, shabby home into a coal mine, dark, damp, cramped, and crowded with tree limbs and dirt and big rocks. Odell spends almost all his time in the "mine." Rarely he comes out; when he does, sometimes he recognizes Lindy, sometimes not. Sometimes he slips out of the house at night; Lindy fears what he may do then.
One night Lindy is attacked in her own home, hit in the head with a large rock, seriously injured, and slowly the pieces of the mysteries start to come together.
A previous reviewer wrote that Keller uses way too many "as ifs" and "likes" in her writing but I've found those phrases point to some of my favorite parts of her books. With other authors, I often skip description and head straight for the dialogue but Keller has a unique way of handling words that I find delightful.
Example: "Waller was as gray and skinny as a vent stack poking up from an old roof. The skin on his face hung in vertical yellow folds, like the nicotine-stained drapes in a halfway house. His teeth--the three or four still in residence--stuck up like broken-off branches driven into scorched ground, and they were tilted and jagged."
Can't you just see Waller in front of you? And doesn't he make you shiver and step back a bit?
Occasionally "the rest of the story" seems to be missing; for example, Waller is accused of sexually molesting his girlfriend's three young daughters but there is no discussion of any sort of physical evidence and his trial ends up going nowhere.
All told, however, this is another in the series of delightful stories Keller tells about current days in a small West Virginia town.
May 23, 2019
Summer is not off to an auspicious beginning in Acker's Gap, West Virginia. after not one but two murders. The crimes seem totally unrelated and totally senseless. People are frightened. You can tell by the quiet streets, the deserted play areas, and the angry calls to Bell Elkins, the county's prosecuting attorney, and her friend and coworker, Sheriff Nick Fogelsong. Citizens demand that the murderer or murderers be brought to justice immediately but investigators are coming up empty-handed.
Riley Jessup, former Acker's Gap resident who hit the big time when he won the West Virginia governor's race, is long retired but still adored by the people of his hometown, who really don't know him at all. Although he presents himself as a "hail fellow well met," intensely worried about his sick grandson, there's more to him than meets the eye.
Odell Crabtree spent all his life hunched over in a coal mine and now his body seems intent on remaining hunched. Trying to make him comfortable and keep his increasingly violent temper at bay, his daughter Lindy has turned the basement of their tiny, shabby home into a coal mine, dark, damp, cramped, and crowded with tree limbs and dirt and big rocks. Odell spends almost all his time in the "mine." Rarely he comes out; when he does, sometimes he recognizes Lindy, sometimes not. Sometimes he slips out of the house at night; Lindy fears what he may do then.
One night Lindy is attacked in her own home, hit in the head with a large rock, seriously injured, and slowly the pieces of the mysteries start to come together.
A previous reviewer wrote that Keller uses way too many "as ifs" and "likes" but I've found those phrases point to some of my favorite parts of her books. With other authors, I often skip description and head straight for the dialogue but Keller has a unique way of handling words that I find delightful.
Example: "Waller was as gray and skinny as a vent stack poking up from an old roof. The skin on his face hung in vertical yellow folds, like the nicotine-stained drapes in a halfway house. His teeth--the three or four still in residence--stuck up like broken-off branches driven into scorched ground, and they were tilted and jagged."
Can't you just see Waller in front of you? And doesn't he make you shiver and step back a bit?
Occasionally "the rest of the story" seems to be missing; for example, Waller is accused of sexually molesting his girlfriend's three young daughters but there is no discussion of any sort of physical evidence.
All told, however, this is another in the series of delightful stories Keller tells about current days in a small West Virginia town.
Riley Jessup, former Acker's Gap resident who hit the big time when he won the West Virginia governor's race, is long retired but still adored by the people of his hometown, who really don't know him at all. Although he presents himself as a "hail fellow well met," intensely worried about his sick grandson, there's more to him than meets the eye.
Odell Crabtree spent all his life hunched over in a coal mine and now his body seems intent on remaining hunched. Trying to make him comfortable and keep his increasingly violent temper at bay, his daughter Lindy has turned the basement of their tiny, shabby home into a coal mine, dark, damp, cramped, and crowded with tree limbs and dirt and big rocks. Odell spends almost all his time in the "mine." Rarely he comes out; when he does, sometimes he recognizes Lindy, sometimes not. Sometimes he slips out of the house at night; Lindy fears what he may do then.
One night Lindy is attacked in her own home, hit in the head with a large rock, seriously injured, and slowly the pieces of the mysteries start to come together.
A previous reviewer wrote that Keller uses way too many "as ifs" and "likes" but I've found those phrases point to some of my favorite parts of her books. With other authors, I often skip description and head straight for the dialogue but Keller has a unique way of handling words that I find delightful.
Example: "Waller was as gray and skinny as a vent stack poking up from an old roof. The skin on his face hung in vertical yellow folds, like the nicotine-stained drapes in a halfway house. His teeth--the three or four still in residence--stuck up like broken-off branches driven into scorched ground, and they were tilted and jagged."
Can't you just see Waller in front of you? And doesn't he make you shiver and step back a bit?
Occasionally "the rest of the story" seems to be missing; for example, Waller is accused of sexually molesting his girlfriend's three young daughters but there is no discussion of any sort of physical evidence.
All told, however, this is another in the series of delightful stories Keller tells about current days in a small West Virginia town.
Read
October 15, 2022Third in the series about Bell Elkins' life as the prosecutor in Acker's Gap, the coal mining town where she grew up. In the heat of summer, two people in town are she violently killed & town folk are nervous about a possible serial killer. While picking up her sister at a bar in the next county, Bell is present when someone is murdered with a screwdriver & on the dead man, she finds the business card of a NYC attorney with a local resident's name written on the back. When she goes to the home of the man whose name was on the card, she meets Lindy, his daughter, who is taking care of him because he is suffering from multiple conditions caused by his many years working in the coal mine. When Bell goes to visit a second time, she finds Lindy unconscious with a head wound & her father in the kitchen with bloody hands but delirious and incoherent. After getting her to the hospital & making sure she was OK, Bell decided to go interview Lindy's co-worker who had not been at work the night before, and then to return to the house to get some letters Lindy asked her to find. Jason disappears & Bell hears a noise in the basement where Lindy's dad lived and goes down to see if Jason is there. It turns out the attacker - the local mail carrier who hoped Lindy could get out of Acker's Gap - was in the basement & Bell has an encounter with him. When Bell & Jason get to the hospital they are told Lindy died & Bell sees the daughter of the former governor & her security detail at the hospital. When she reads the letters they were looking for Bell figures out Lindy's connection to the daughter of the former governor - a man who grew up in town but moved away and became rich & famous - and makes the connections between all the clues in time to stop the hospital from carrying out the governor's daughter's plan to harvest Lindy's heart to save her son's life.
And Bell's sister Shirley, who has become the manager for a local musician who plays in bars, moves out of Bell's house & is ready to make it on her own. Another tale that kept me guessing till the end.
And Bell's sister Shirley, who has become the manager for a local musician who plays in bars, moves out of Bell's house & is ready to make it on her own. Another tale that kept me guessing till the end.
May 13, 2020
Well, I finally did it. I broke down and took advantage of Cloud Library, offered by my local library, to download a book in their collection to my iPad to read. The service I use offered by two other libraries I have membership with which allows me to download to my Kindle has not had this book in their catalog, and I just really wanted to get over the hump.
First, let me just say this - reading on an iPad/iPhone/computer screen is definitely not as pleasant as reading on a Kindle, which is not as pleasant as curling up with a book - but it did the job. Cloud Library offers several much older backlist books that aren't available through Overdrive/Libby, so there is that to consider. Ordinarily I might have seen if the library had a copy of this (and a few others that have lived on my TBR list too long), but honestly? During this time of heightened caution brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, I'm not keen on checking out a book that dozens of people may have had their hands on. I'm no germaphobe, but even in the "old days" when none of us gave much thought to it, I would occasionally turn a page in a book and think, "Ewwww, what is THAT stain?"
ANYWAY.... with eyes more strained because of the glare of the iPad, I stayed up late last night to finish this one. What is it with authors who have a really good story going and then bring about whackadoodle endings? This was a 4.5 star book, right up to the resolution. I don't deal in spoilers, so won't say more than that, but I will say that the alien from Mars didn't do it. Other than that, all bets are off.
What this ending did was overshadow how much I really do like Keller's recurring characters, and their ongoing storylines. I'll continue with this series because of them.
First, let me just say this - reading on an iPad/iPhone/computer screen is definitely not as pleasant as reading on a Kindle, which is not as pleasant as curling up with a book - but it did the job. Cloud Library offers several much older backlist books that aren't available through Overdrive/Libby, so there is that to consider. Ordinarily I might have seen if the library had a copy of this (and a few others that have lived on my TBR list too long), but honestly? During this time of heightened caution brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, I'm not keen on checking out a book that dozens of people may have had their hands on. I'm no germaphobe, but even in the "old days" when none of us gave much thought to it, I would occasionally turn a page in a book and think, "Ewwww, what is THAT stain?"
ANYWAY.... with eyes more strained because of the glare of the iPad, I stayed up late last night to finish this one. What is it with authors who have a really good story going and then bring about whackadoodle endings? This was a 4.5 star book, right up to the resolution. I don't deal in spoilers, so won't say more than that, but I will say that the alien from Mars didn't do it. Other than that, all bets are off.
What this ending did was overshadow how much I really do like Keller's recurring characters, and their ongoing storylines. I'll continue with this series because of them.
July 11, 2018
I usually like to read a series of book with the same main character in the order they were written. However, circumstances didn't allow that with this book. So let me say that this is my first book in the Bell Elkins series. Maybe that's why I felt a bit lost for about the first 80 pages or so.
The book seemed to settle and focus more on the actual events and solving the murders about 100 pages in. Ms Keller has all the skills of a fine writer and I enjoyed the middle part of this novel. In the last third , I identified with and was drawn toward the characters. In this part of the book, I see why this is considered a thriller and a mystery.
I've lived in West Virginia for many decades, not the region where this fictional county is. My only serious complaint about this book, was the overly negative light, the people there were shown in. Sure all the problems the author writes about exist and exist in spades. However, reading this one could get the impression that if all West Virginians aren't meth heads, pedifiles, drunks or criminals then they're uneducated and saddled with disabled family members. Did it ruin the book for me? No, just pointing this out. I'd also like to have seen a little bit about the natural beauty of the area.
So overall I enjoyed this novel and will strongly consider reading the first two of the series, starting with #1. I the end it was hard to rate, the first third - 2 stars, the next third p 3 stars and the last, 4 stars. In the end I split the difference and went with 3 stars.
The book seemed to settle and focus more on the actual events and solving the murders about 100 pages in. Ms Keller has all the skills of a fine writer and I enjoyed the middle part of this novel. In the last third , I identified with and was drawn toward the characters. In this part of the book, I see why this is considered a thriller and a mystery.
I've lived in West Virginia for many decades, not the region where this fictional county is. My only serious complaint about this book, was the overly negative light, the people there were shown in. Sure all the problems the author writes about exist and exist in spades. However, reading this one could get the impression that if all West Virginians aren't meth heads, pedifiles, drunks or criminals then they're uneducated and saddled with disabled family members. Did it ruin the book for me? No, just pointing this out. I'd also like to have seen a little bit about the natural beauty of the area.
So overall I enjoyed this novel and will strongly consider reading the first two of the series, starting with #1. I the end it was hard to rate, the first third - 2 stars, the next third p 3 stars and the last, 4 stars. In the end I split the difference and went with 3 stars.
December 24, 2018
I grew up watching all sortd of crime tv-shows, so reading mystery police novels is something that I try to enjoy, although sometimes is hard to enjoy, because sometimes the plot is too predictable. But the summer of Dead is different. And the finale gave me chills!
I bought this in Barnes and Noble a year and a half ago and I left it at home for a while, I did not touch it, summer passed and it is now -chritmass break from work- that I found myself looking for something to read, and why not from the TBR.
From the plot I have to say that Julia Keller was very smart in the chapter division. Sometimes you read it from the perspective of Miss Elkins who is a smart prosecutor with an emotional perspective of the cases, people and murders. Or Lindy who has big dreams and a big heart. The prescence of female protagonists that are strong and know what they want is refreshing. I felt the characters as real ones and their stories too.
It is an ejoyable book, although sometimes the reading is slow, but I think that as part of the dreadful, long and hot summer that is described on the book .
I bought this in Barnes and Noble a year and a half ago and I left it at home for a while, I did not touch it, summer passed and it is now -chritmass break from work- that I found myself looking for something to read, and why not from the TBR.
From the plot I have to say that Julia Keller was very smart in the chapter division. Sometimes you read it from the perspective of Miss Elkins who is a smart prosecutor with an emotional perspective of the cases, people and murders. Or Lindy who has big dreams and a big heart. The prescence of female protagonists that are strong and know what they want is refreshing. I felt the characters as real ones and their stories too.
It is an ejoyable book, although sometimes the reading is slow, but I think that as part of the dreadful, long and hot summer that is described on the book .
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