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The Jexville Chronicles #3
Judas Burning
Dixon Sinclair arrives in Jexville, Mississippi, the town of her forebears, to find solace, stop drinking, and rebuild her life after her father’s murder. As the new publisher of the weekly newspaper and a second-generation journalist, she’s determined to ignite the political will of the townspeople and expose the corruption of the old guard. She forms an uneasy partnership with Sheriff J.D. Horton, another prodigal son returned hoping to find peace and a sense of fulfillment by keeping his town safe. Then two teenage girls disappear from a sandbar on the swift-moving Pascagoula River, and fears surface that evil lurks in the depths of the swampland—an evil consumed with rage against betrayal and an insatiable desire for vengeance. Suspicions fall on a mysterious transient, a young man running from a violent past in the Catholic Church of Mexico. Yet J.D. and Dixon discover that many there in Jexville have been betrayed, innocents suffering the sins of the fathers. Now they must find out who is willing to kill for revenge.
341 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2005
8 people are currently reading
169 people want to read
About the author
Carolyn Haines
116 books1,589 followersCarolyn Haines is the USA Today bestselling author of over 70 books. In 2020, she was inducted into the Alabama Writers Hall of Fame. She was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Alabama Library Association, the Harper Lee Award for Distinguished Writing, the Richard Wright Award for Literary Excellence, as well as the "Best Amateur Sleuth" award by Romantic Times. Born and raised in Mississippi, she now lives in Alabama on a farm with more dogs, cats, and horses than she can possibly keep track of.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
October 6, 2022
Once again Carolyn Haines has skillfully woven an intriguing tale. I would have given it 5 stars, but personally, I found it to be a bit grisly. I'm a sensitive soul and reading about dark topics (don't want to spoil the story, so I don't want to go into detail) is difficult for me.
I did enjoy the plot, the characters and the twists and turns Haines is so good at writing. Characters that jump off the page and tug at our emotions really make the story come alive. And Haines is incredibly gifted in this area.
Book number 3 in this Jexville Chronicles trilogy will keep you engrossed and turning pages into the wee hours.
I did enjoy the plot, the characters and the twists and turns Haines is so good at writing. Characters that jump off the page and tug at our emotions really make the story come alive. And Haines is incredibly gifted in this area.
Book number 3 in this Jexville Chronicles trilogy will keep you engrossed and turning pages into the wee hours.
November 23, 2021
Carolyn Haines is one of my favorite authors! Once again she has not let me down.
February 20, 2013
Another great book from Carolyn Haines. This author has talent across a breadth of genres. Many are familiar with her Bones series, a delightful mystery series set in the Missippi Delta and instilled with a number of themes from feminism to the South's handling of race relations. Her stand-alone books run a gamut of styles.
JUDAS BURNING is a classic mystery. Set in the deep South it evokes a feel of Harper Lee, and the language is so rich, one is reminded of James Lee Burke. Compelling read.
JUDAS BURNING is a classic mystery. Set in the deep South it evokes a feel of Harper Lee, and the language is so rich, one is reminded of James Lee Burke. Compelling read.
April 21, 2014
I think I have basically read all of Haines' published fiction novels, and I would put this as one that I liked more than normal, but not a favorite. The dark, brooding theme seemed par for the course in her non-mystery novels. It didn't take the easy way out, but it was also a bit
more twisted and demented that it really needed to be. Overall, I did enjoy if though.
more twisted and demented that it really needed to be. Overall, I did enjoy if though.
February 23, 2015
Outstanding
I do not have the skill to properly review this book so I will simply say "read it". I loved it.
I do not have the skill to properly review this book so I will simply say "read it". I loved it.
August 28, 2022
Dixon Sinclair, new owner of Jexville’s newspaper, the Independent, returns to her childhood home to a city in crisis. Two teen girls are missing, the Catholic church’s statue of the Virgin Mary has been vandalized, the school board has been meeting behind closed doors and the local Baptist Church has closed its daycare facility. This final chapter of the Jexville Chronicles brings us to a more contemporary time; Dixon is a descendant of JoHanna McVay.
Dixon has problems of her own, mostly with drinking; this is her best chance at turning her life around. Jexville has moved on from the cults, and superstitions of the past. Now we find city leaders lining their pockets, and the stink of racism, hatred and fear of those who do not look like us. This is definitely not a town you’d want to raise your family in.
All told, this is an excellent mystery story, intricate and intriguing. The setting in the forest and river and swamps is dark, just what we want in a gothic novel. We had so many possible killers, you will be hard-pressed to work it out. Great story and terrific writing!
Dixon has problems of her own, mostly with drinking; this is her best chance at turning her life around. Jexville has moved on from the cults, and superstitions of the past. Now we find city leaders lining their pockets, and the stink of racism, hatred and fear of those who do not look like us. This is definitely not a town you’d want to raise your family in.
All told, this is an excellent mystery story, intricate and intriguing. The setting in the forest and river and swamps is dark, just what we want in a gothic novel. We had so many possible killers, you will be hard-pressed to work it out. Great story and terrific writing!
October 3, 2022
This book is book #3 in a 3-book series that is being published as a fundraiser by Good Fortune Farm Refuge. 100% of the profits from the sale of all books will go to the farm.
Dixon Sinclair has moved into her ancestral home in Jexville to run the daily newspaper and heal from her father’s tragic death. It is not long before small town politics, churches being vandalized, and two teenage girls missing, have pulled Dixon into Jexville’s mysteries. There is also her drinking to contend with, the mystery of who killed her father, the mystery visitor who is everywhere she is, the local sheriff who detests newspaper reporters and the locals who are hiding secrets. Just when you think you may have figured it out, there is another twist to the plot. This story will keep you guessing to the end.
Dixon Sinclair has moved into her ancestral home in Jexville to run the daily newspaper and heal from her father’s tragic death. It is not long before small town politics, churches being vandalized, and two teenage girls missing, have pulled Dixon into Jexville’s mysteries. There is also her drinking to contend with, the mystery of who killed her father, the mystery visitor who is everywhere she is, the local sheriff who detests newspaper reporters and the locals who are hiding secrets. Just when you think you may have figured it out, there is another twist to the plot. This story will keep you guessing to the end.
September 13, 2022
I mostly read cozy mysteries and I forgot the emotion that’s in a really good story. This is a really good story. Dixon returns to her hometown to take over the newspaper which used to be the family paper. Her father was killed running that paper. His killer is due to executed for that murder. Dixon feels the indictment was false and intends to research the timeframe. Before she gets a good start one of the churches has a Mary vandalized. Then 2 teenage girls go missing. So, Dixon and the new sheriff J.D. are searching for the vandal and the kidnapper of the two girls. Are they the same person? A visiting journalist seems to think so. And Dixon is still trying to find her father’s murderer.
September 21, 2022
An intriguing story by Carolyn Haines that grabbed my attention from the start! Could not put the book down.
Dixon Sinclair has returned home to Jexville
and is now the owner of the newspaper, the Independent. Dixon has her own issues. Her biggest problem is her drinking.
A story of greed, fear, hate and racism of those that look different from “us”. Not a town I would ever want to live in. Vandalism, kidnapping. How does one uncover the truth in a small southern town?
Dixon Sinclair has returned home to Jexville
and is now the owner of the newspaper, the Independent. Dixon has her own issues. Her biggest problem is her drinking.
A story of greed, fear, hate and racism of those that look different from “us”. Not a town I would ever want to live in. Vandalism, kidnapping. How does one uncover the truth in a small southern town?
September 22, 2022
An absolute page turner. A mystery that will keep you guessing!
Dixon Sinclair has moved into her ancestral home in Jexville to run the daily newspaper and heal from her father’s tragic death. It’s not long before churches are vandalized and two teenage girls go missing. Is it the mystery visitor from another country who has carried a religious grudge? Or is something far more sinister going on with the Jexville citizens? Just when you think you’ve figured it out, you haven’t.
Dixon Sinclair has moved into her ancestral home in Jexville to run the daily newspaper and heal from her father’s tragic death. It’s not long before churches are vandalized and two teenage girls go missing. Is it the mystery visitor from another country who has carried a religious grudge? Or is something far more sinister going on with the Jexville citizens? Just when you think you’ve figured it out, you haven’t.
September 7, 2022
.spell binding story of politics, greed, love, religious misconceptions, finding truths, could not put it down.........GREAT SERIES!!!
August 5, 2023
It kept me up until 2:30am reading the second half of the book. An intriguing Southern Gothic crime thriller.
November 7, 2022
A gripping page turner. I couldn’t put it down; twists & turns & heart tugs.
September 3, 2007
Loved it - while it felt like a departure from the Sarah Booth series, it was really more of a building on it. Haines' creates female characters that are independent and real.
August 13, 2008
This was such a great book! I started and seriously did not put it down for the next day and a half.
October 17, 2008
Intersting story about the Deep South.
February 8, 2010
great book - read it in less that 2 days! good plot - good characters
July 14, 2010
Much better than the author's other mysteries. No cutesy-pie "haints."
June 22, 2012
Good. A bit predictable, but fun to read because of the local location and "familiar" characters.
November 8, 2015
I thought this was an enjoyable read, but not one that sticks with you. I read it in 2010 and I can barely remember it now.
February 4, 2013
I get that things move slower in the South, but the pace of the first six chapters was too slow, and they jumped all over the place.
October 17, 2013
It took a bit to get into it, but once it grabbed me I had to know who the killer was.
July 12, 2015
Hard to put this one down
April 26, 2012
as the blurb says, Robert Parker meets Flannery O'Connor. Way cool.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews