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Deborah Knott Mysteries #10
High Country Fall
With friends and family over-reacting to her announcement that she plans to marry Sheriff's Deputy Dwight Bryant, Judge Deborah Knott gratefully seizes the opportunity to put a five-hour drive between herself and Colleton County when the Chief District Court Judge offers her a week on the bench in Cedar Gap.
It is early autumn, leaves are turning, and summer residents are preparing to close up their mountain "cabins" (palatial houses perched atop the most desirable locations) and return to their winter homes in Florida. But Deborah's peaceful break is disrupted when one Floridian is found murdered. He won't be going home, and Deborah won't be either - until she tracks down the killer.
It is early autumn, leaves are turning, and summer residents are preparing to close up their mountain "cabins" (palatial houses perched atop the most desirable locations) and return to their winter homes in Florida. But Deborah's peaceful break is disrupted when one Floridian is found murdered. He won't be going home, and Deborah won't be either - until she tracks down the killer.
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
24 people are currently reading
523 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 139 reviews
July 24, 2019
Margaret Maron is one of those wonderfully talented authors I intended to read more of. This title in her Judge Deborah Knott series is a treat. I don't read many mysteries with a judge as the protagonist. Judge Knott is a sympathetic, tough-minded personality who plays a guitar and has lots of nephews and nieces when she's not on the bench. I like the descriptions of the North Carolina mountains. I hope to return to her series again.
June 4, 2020
3.5/5
I liked this. The characters were more interesting than the plot, which got a bit tangled up here and there. I do like how the author shows Judge Knott doing her job and using that as a way to delineate her character. C.J. Critt has the perfect narration style for this kind of mystery (not exactly “cozy” but not hardcore either).
I liked this. The characters were more interesting than the plot, which got a bit tangled up here and there. I do like how the author shows Judge Knott doing her job and using that as a way to delineate her character. C.J. Critt has the perfect narration style for this kind of mystery (not exactly “cozy” but not hardcore either).
November 17, 2014
I am not one for low ratings or bad reviews, and I hope this doesn't hurt anyone's feelings, but I just did not like this book.
It was a quick read. It's not that the writing is bad, it kept me wondering until the end "who dun it?" That being said, I thought she tried to put wayyy too many names and characters in the book and then didn't give enough character depth to make you get attached to anyone. I want to leave a book feeling like I connected, and I just never could. On another awkward note, the racistness was too much for me. I've read books about racial era hardships, and I've seen the "n" word in text....But this was something different. This is current day, adults just casually talking disrespectfully about black people at a dinner party. I don't know about you but I've never been to a dinner party like that.
It wasn't just her comments throughout about black people, she made a comment about the waitress at the twins restaurant, and multiple other times when introducing yet another character...
Her descriptions of the many characters sounded like they were written by a high school student.. You'll see what I mean.. Surface related, or brief weird comments with no follow up. Maybe it set up for a series and she will finish the character connection in the next book, but I'll never find out...
It was a quick read. It's not that the writing is bad, it kept me wondering until the end "who dun it?" That being said, I thought she tried to put wayyy too many names and characters in the book and then didn't give enough character depth to make you get attached to anyone. I want to leave a book feeling like I connected, and I just never could. On another awkward note, the racistness was too much for me. I've read books about racial era hardships, and I've seen the "n" word in text....But this was something different. This is current day, adults just casually talking disrespectfully about black people at a dinner party. I don't know about you but I've never been to a dinner party like that.
It wasn't just her comments throughout about black people, she made a comment about the waitress at the twins restaurant, and multiple other times when introducing yet another character...
Her descriptions of the many characters sounded like they were written by a high school student.. You'll see what I mean.. Surface related, or brief weird comments with no follow up. Maybe it set up for a series and she will finish the character connection in the next book, but I'll never find out...
November 10, 2016
Well, Maron had to step it up a bit. This novel includes one of those moments when the main character Deborah is almost killed. I do not seem to remember that in other Deborah Knott mysteries that Deborah gets physically threatened or attacked. But since Slow Dollar was in the family farm land, the series alternated and took off for the mountains. We have been to the shore, furniture market, and to the pottery place and other locations so now we are in the mountains. I do like the way Maron fleshes out the conflicts and the challenges of a region. Here the locals, the seasonal invaders and the day tourist all have their points of view expressed, and the locals merchants get to express their frustration with each group of visitors. What about change, how do you maintain tradition when others want to modernize. But the real estate business is big business and lots of money. You know the secret -- follow the money. I am not sure how far back it goes, but in the last couple of stories Deborah has had two murders to solve and most of the time they are related. We have the continued love story of Deborah and Dwight and that goes to a new level as well. And do not despair, there are a host of "family" involved as well. Guess what Twins, now there is a thing that Maron loves to have. I would not be writing about mystery #10 if I did not enjoy the series and so it goes.
December 15, 2019
Judge Deborah Knott is on temporary assignment in a beautiful but touristy town in the North Carolina mountains. Of course, murder strikes (twice), but the most frightening display of anger is directed against Deborah herself with nail biting consequences. And one more reason to keep turning the pages: Deborah is having second thoughts about her new engagement to a longtime friend.
June 28, 2023
Nice cozy mystery. I liked it.
April 24, 2019
Not my favourite of the series but a good story nonetheless.
Read
March 3, 2024Very good story. Interesting information regarding business insurance.
September 13, 2013
By book #10, I'm thinking to myself that Maron can't sustain the standard of quality she has set for herself in this series. I was right, she doesn't match the quality of the previous book. She exceeds it. Adding in the romance to the straight mystery takes it to a even higher level. How does she do it? I haven't a clue. Each book is better than the one before. Well, except Shooting for Loons, maybe, but even that was important because of the addition of a new love interest. *And* there are six more to go! Write on, Margaret Maron!
Thank you, Mary Ronan Drew for introducing me to this writer.
Thank you, Mary Ronan Drew for introducing me to this writer.
February 27, 2015
I hadn't read any Deborah for a long time and I really enjoyed this experience and look forward to getting back to this series. Margaret Maron has always been a great story teller.
March 15, 2024
SPOILER ALERT
judge Deborah Knott, feeling the creep of cold feet about her engagement to Deputy Dwight Bryant, is relieved at the call to substitute for a judge on vacation in the Smokey Mountains of eastern North Carolina. She drives through the spectacular colors of fall and the irritating mass of tourists..."peepers", that she encounters in the small "Stepford Wives" like town of Cedar Gap. Everything is perfect. Well, except for "The Trading Post", a gaudy tourist trap, well visited, owned by the irascible Simon Proffitt. As the story opens Proffitt is again being approached and harassed by Dr. Carlyle Ledwig, who proposes to buy the business, to destroy the eyesore in his otherwise perfect town. Not happening.
Later as Deborah is cleaning up the condo she will be staying in, her cousins having piled furniture into the middle of the rooms, preparing for painting, and then leaving food cartons, clothing and other stuff all over the place, Dre. Ledwig is murdered. A man who called the police is arrested, and his hearing comes before Deborah, only briefly. She then handles her share of cases of DUI, thefts, and other issues. AS usual they are fascinating and laugh out loud cases. She will later attend a party at the home of Joyce and Bobby Ashe where she will join the rousing musical festivities playing her guitar. At the party Norman Osborne who had been with Dr Ledwig at the Post disappears. He will be found at the bottom of the home, having been pushed off to his death. His devoted wife of many years is bereft. She had been seen clinging to him for the past months, taking notes for his business. He and Joyce and Bobby had just signed a partnership agreement. Norman had a larger businss, highly successful, with access to new areas of development, for sales.
As Deborah puts more and more of the clues together, she realizes that the buy-sell agreement and the insurance for that purchase are at the heart of the murders. Dr. Ledwig, specializing in gerontology would have recognized the symptoms of Alzheimer's or dementia, and Norman was demonstrating some of those problems. He was talking at the party as if Dr Ledwig was just building his clinic, which was finished. He had to make a note of Deborah's name and that she was a judge in a notebook he carried around. Dr. Ledwig called Norman, who he had not seen much in months, when he realized that the partnership was going to hurt the Ashe's. Norman was setting them up to have to pay the buy-sell in cash to him, when his incapacity was revealed. Carl was going to go the Ashe's. Sunny, Norman's wife tried to talk him out of it, and when he refuses, she kills him. When Bobby finds out what Norman was planning, he pushes him off the deck during the party.
During her stay Deborah is introduced to "Lucious Lucius" Burke, the DA. They have dinner, share a kiss. No sparks...which always happened in the past. She is also accosted by a college kid that she fined and gave jail time for his behavior. He had an obscene tattoo on his leg and wore shorts to his hearing. He decided to go after her when she is on her way to meet Billy ED Johnson for a tour of his development. Jason Barringer runs her off the road, and while she is not badly hurt, she spends hours trying to get out of her seatbelt and get help. Once found it is revealed that the young man had run into a deer (it is rutting season) and gone off the road. Without a seatbelt, he had died.
When she arrives home, she approaches Dwight for a "talk". She weeps as she relates that she had realized she cannot keep their agreement of a practical arrangement of marriage. She is in love with him. If he wants out, she is releasing him from the commitment. He confesses he has been in love with her always and went into the Army because if he stayed home, he would not have been able to keep his hands off her. Wedding bells!! I do so love these stories, the characters, the colloquial language, the humor and the authenticity.
Clever line: In reference to Bobby killing Osborne at the party, and in response to an earlier reference to "carpe diem. "So he carpayed the damn diem."
judge Deborah Knott, feeling the creep of cold feet about her engagement to Deputy Dwight Bryant, is relieved at the call to substitute for a judge on vacation in the Smokey Mountains of eastern North Carolina. She drives through the spectacular colors of fall and the irritating mass of tourists..."peepers", that she encounters in the small "Stepford Wives" like town of Cedar Gap. Everything is perfect. Well, except for "The Trading Post", a gaudy tourist trap, well visited, owned by the irascible Simon Proffitt. As the story opens Proffitt is again being approached and harassed by Dr. Carlyle Ledwig, who proposes to buy the business, to destroy the eyesore in his otherwise perfect town. Not happening.
Later as Deborah is cleaning up the condo she will be staying in, her cousins having piled furniture into the middle of the rooms, preparing for painting, and then leaving food cartons, clothing and other stuff all over the place, Dre. Ledwig is murdered. A man who called the police is arrested, and his hearing comes before Deborah, only briefly. She then handles her share of cases of DUI, thefts, and other issues. AS usual they are fascinating and laugh out loud cases. She will later attend a party at the home of Joyce and Bobby Ashe where she will join the rousing musical festivities playing her guitar. At the party Norman Osborne who had been with Dr Ledwig at the Post disappears. He will be found at the bottom of the home, having been pushed off to his death. His devoted wife of many years is bereft. She had been seen clinging to him for the past months, taking notes for his business. He and Joyce and Bobby had just signed a partnership agreement. Norman had a larger businss, highly successful, with access to new areas of development, for sales.
As Deborah puts more and more of the clues together, she realizes that the buy-sell agreement and the insurance for that purchase are at the heart of the murders. Dr. Ledwig, specializing in gerontology would have recognized the symptoms of Alzheimer's or dementia, and Norman was demonstrating some of those problems. He was talking at the party as if Dr Ledwig was just building his clinic, which was finished. He had to make a note of Deborah's name and that she was a judge in a notebook he carried around. Dr. Ledwig called Norman, who he had not seen much in months, when he realized that the partnership was going to hurt the Ashe's. Norman was setting them up to have to pay the buy-sell in cash to him, when his incapacity was revealed. Carl was going to go the Ashe's. Sunny, Norman's wife tried to talk him out of it, and when he refuses, she kills him. When Bobby finds out what Norman was planning, he pushes him off the deck during the party.
During her stay Deborah is introduced to "Lucious Lucius" Burke, the DA. They have dinner, share a kiss. No sparks...which always happened in the past. She is also accosted by a college kid that she fined and gave jail time for his behavior. He had an obscene tattoo on his leg and wore shorts to his hearing. He decided to go after her when she is on her way to meet Billy ED Johnson for a tour of his development. Jason Barringer runs her off the road, and while she is not badly hurt, she spends hours trying to get out of her seatbelt and get help. Once found it is revealed that the young man had run into a deer (it is rutting season) and gone off the road. Without a seatbelt, he had died.
When she arrives home, she approaches Dwight for a "talk". She weeps as she relates that she had realized she cannot keep their agreement of a practical arrangement of marriage. She is in love with him. If he wants out, she is releasing him from the commitment. He confesses he has been in love with her always and went into the Army because if he stayed home, he would not have been able to keep his hands off her. Wedding bells!! I do so love these stories, the characters, the colloquial language, the humor and the authenticity.
Clever line: In reference to Bobby killing Osborne at the party, and in response to an earlier reference to "carpe diem. "So he carpayed the damn diem."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 9, 2021
Judge Deborah Knott is taking a break from her flat lander existence and her engagement and going into North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains to fill in for a vacationing judge. Since it is leaf season and very crowded she will be staying in a vacation rental owned by family that is currently “out of service” and is being painted by Deborah’s twin nieces who are students at a nearby college. After holding court she is enjoying the scenery and the social life. Then a murder occurs and in her role as judge Deborah hears the probable cause case against a young man who has been arrested. The man is a friend of the twins who insist that he is innocent and of course the judge gets involved. While we of observe the investigation of the murder we are also treated to descriptions of scenery, the social life of the town and the lives of the twins. Although the many diversions have the potential to distract the reader from the investigation of the crime, this was not the case for me. I found that they contributed to the my enjoyment of the book provided a great setting for the story.
November 14, 2017
#10 in the Deborah Knott series. As usual, we get a glimpse into another region of North Carolina. This time we get some insight into a "revitalized" mountain town. We see how the kitsch and personality has been replaced with upscale but non-descript buildings and businesses. We also get the insight to how most residents of tourist town have a love/hate opinion of the actual tourists. The town also has an influx of wealthy seasonal residents who bring another set of issues with them. Enter the conflict that surrounds the murder-mystery in this episode. Deborah is involved in a car accident that I felt was a bit unrealistic and the mystery was tied up very quickly but I totally enjoyed everything else in the story. I especially liked the side story of the underestimated twins that found their niche and success. Deborah is a very relatable character and I always look forward to the next adventure.
July 8, 2023
Another page-turner. Margaret Maron hit her stride right around book 9. Even though I really liked this entry in the series, a few things bugged me.
-I wasn't happy with Deborah until the very end. She acted so blithely about fooling around on Dwight. I'm glad she finally came to her senses.
-While I understand her motives regarding Jason Barringer's parents, I think keeping the real reason for his accident a secret might do more harm than good. The kid acted like such a creep because he apparently had never be told no in his life. What if the Barringers have other, possibly younger, kids? They will not alter their detrimental parenting style and raise other kids as arrogant as Jason and maybe just as dangerous.
-Bobby Ashe gets away with murder.
Aside from these blips, the rest of the book is fantastic. I'm eager to start on the next one, especially since I think Deborah and Dwight will be tying the knot.
-I wasn't happy with Deborah until the very end. She acted so blithely about fooling around on Dwight. I'm glad she finally came to her senses.
-While I understand her motives regarding Jason Barringer's parents, I think keeping the real reason for his accident a secret might do more harm than good. The kid acted like such a creep because he apparently had never be told no in his life. What if the Barringers have other, possibly younger, kids? They will not alter their detrimental parenting style and raise other kids as arrogant as Jason and maybe just as dangerous.
-Bobby Ashe gets away with murder.
Aside from these blips, the rest of the book is fantastic. I'm eager to start on the next one, especially since I think Deborah and Dwight will be tying the knot.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 4, 2024
Setting: Cedar Gap, North Carolina 🍂
Judge Deborah Knott agrees to fill in for a vacationing judge in Cedar Gap, NC — 5 hours from her home. This opportunity comes at the perfect time. Deborah is recently engaged to Deputy Sheriff Dwight Bryant but has begun questioning the relationship and needs space to think. While in Cedar Gap, Deborah becomes deeply wrapped up in a small town murder mystery case. 👩🏼⚖️
This was a super cute cozy murder mystery in a beautiful autumn mountain setting. 🌲
This story was pretty fast-paced and there were lots of suspects. 🔎
Judge Deborah Knott agrees to fill in for a vacationing judge in Cedar Gap, NC — 5 hours from her home. This opportunity comes at the perfect time. Deborah is recently engaged to Deputy Sheriff Dwight Bryant but has begun questioning the relationship and needs space to think. While in Cedar Gap, Deborah becomes deeply wrapped up in a small town murder mystery case. 👩🏼⚖️
This was a super cute cozy murder mystery in a beautiful autumn mountain setting. 🌲
This story was pretty fast-paced and there were lots of suspects. 🔎
August 29, 2018
North Carolina Judge Deborah Knott is in western North Carolina filling in for a judge who is on vacation. During the first day in court Deborah hears a probable cause case involving a young man accused of killing his girlfriends father. Deborah’s young cousins, who are staying in the same condo as Deborah insist the young man could not possibly be guilty. Then, a second man is killed in a similar manner.
March 16, 2019
One of the things I enjoy about the series is dipping deeply into the various communities of North Carolina. This one was included the push-pull of small towns keeping their nature while appealing to tourists.
Enjoyed the process of Deborah figuring out her emotions around Dwight. Also enjoyed the mini mystery of what was up with her nieces, though it did seem to take her an unusually long time to figure it out and odd she didn't really push for her nieces to come clean to their parents.
Enjoyed the process of Deborah figuring out her emotions around Dwight. Also enjoyed the mini mystery of what was up with her nieces, though it did seem to take her an unusually long time to figure it out and odd she didn't really push for her nieces to come clean to their parents.
June 21, 2020
Deborah goes to the mountains as a fill in judge only to run into the murders of two prominent men. Her nieces do some investigating and cause her to think twice about the facts, motive, means and opportunity. Deborah keeps the secrets the twins share and tempts fate by dating the lucious Lucius despite her engagement to Dwight.
Fast read
I've missed most of this series but it doesn't really matter.
Fast read
I've missed most of this series but it doesn't really matter.
September 13, 2020
I was unfamiliar with this author when I plucked the Book from one of those Little Lending Libraries. The story setting was perfect, since I am currently staying near the mountains of western North Carolina. Much of the landscape described is right outside my door, making it easy to create a mental picture of unfolding events. Similar to a beach read, the characters are somewhat two-dimensional. Yet, it's a suspenseful read and I did develop an interest in Judge Deborah Knott.
June 3, 2020
Deborah Knott manages to get herself into trouble without a lot of effort, and she quickly becomes involved in a murder case in a town in the Appalachian mountains where she has gone to replace a judge who is on vacation. I enjoyed trying to figure out who the murderer was while becoming involved with Deborah's friends and family.
September 3, 2021
In this book, Deborah and Dwight are getting married at Christmas and the congratulations are getting on Deborah's nerves. Her sister-in-law, Minnie makes a call and Deborah is sent to Cedar Gap to fill in for a judge on vacation. While there, she becomes involved in a mystery, and has an accident. She also discovers she has fallen in love with Dwight Bryant. A great addition to the series.
August 22, 2017
Free cassettes from library. Might try another in the series if I ever come across it and can remember the author's name. I might even look for Shooting at Loons which is a terrible thought and name for a book.
February 3, 2019
Deborah heads to the mountains to escape all the wedding well wishers and she's only been engaged for less than 10 days! While there she ends up getting involved in a murder when the defendent is brought before her in court. From there it's just another fun read by Margaret Maron.
March 13, 2019
how I love Margaret Maron and this series. It is so funny how you can get attached to characters in books. I just love spunky, smart and engaging Judge Deborah Knott and all the people in her life. I have already put #11 on hold!
August 26, 2019
Good story line. I did not guess the “bad guy”. Interesting, Deborah Knott goes out to more hilly country and takes on a week of court duties out there.
Interesting twists and I did enjoy this book. I enjoy C.J.Critt as the narrator too.
I like the cadence of her story telling.
Interesting twists and I did enjoy this book. I enjoy C.J.Critt as the narrator too.
I like the cadence of her story telling.
October 7, 2021
Each book just gets better! 😊 I am the first to admit that I don't really enjoy the books where Deborah goes out of town but the ending of this one changed my mind 😉. Everything is finally going how I want it to and I truly am happy ☺ I decided to check this series out at my library.
November 28, 2021
This one was a more traditional mystery plot, taking place in the mountains outside Deborah's usual area, so she doesn't know the people involved and the potential suspects. There is a romance plot that winds up satisfactorily. The mystery plot was sad, but desperation can spark murderous intent.
July 29, 2022
I really enjoy this series. Really would give it a five star rating, but I savvve that for tha most extraordinary books I read. But if you want an interesting series with a strong felmale protagonist, this is for you.
September 23, 2022
The pacing or something in this one felt off and the racial issues weren't handled with any sensitivity at all.
The final conversation between Dwight and Deborah just felt cringey.
But I still enjoyed the overall book.
The final conversation between Dwight and Deborah just felt cringey.
But I still enjoyed the overall book.
January 21, 2017
Fits into the cozy mystery genre, with a tad harlequin. And a tad is too much. Won't be reading this author again
Displaying 1 - 30 of 139 reviews