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Deborah Knott Mysteries #14
Death's Half Acre
Unchecked urbanization has begun to eclipse the North Carolina countryside. As farms give way to shoddy mansions, farmers struggle to slow the rampant growth. In the shadows, corrupt county commissioners use their political leverage to make profitable deals with new developers. A murder will pull Judge Deborah Knott and Sheriff's Deputy Dwight Bryant into the middle of this bitter dispute and force them to confront some dark realities.
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First published August 20, 2008
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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 173 reviews
September 8, 2008
Reviewed for queuemyreview.com; book release Aug08
Yes! I took a quick break from all things romance to read “Death’s Half Acre” by Margaret Maron. This is a story about greed and murder in small town America. It’s not bloody, it’s not scary, it’s just a good way to pit your ‘li’l grey cells’ against those of the author for a couple of hours.
North Carolina is a beautiful state. And I’d like to think there are still places like the Colleton County described in Maron’s book. There are the old-timer’s whose families have been there as long as anybody can remember, and there’s the newcomers who want to ‘get away’ from big city living, but can’t seem to go a day without wishing for a Starbucks or a WalMart! Maron’s ability to depict the slower pace and cronyism of the Deep South can only come from personal knowledge since she pegs it dead on.
When a crooked female politician with bigger aspirations than the City Council she was appointed to commits suicide, the same questions are on everybody’s lips. Especially since she left a note saying she was guilty of kickbacks and illegal profiting from her position. But she didn’t name any names or give any details, so now everybody who ever had any dealings with her (and that would pretty much be everybody in business in town) is under suspicion. When the coroner reveals her death as a murder and not suicide, the investigation gains steam. Then her daughter is killed and the clues don’t seem to be adding up.
Deborah Knott is a judge in Colleton County. Her husband is a Sheriff’s Deputy. So for the sake of marital harmony they don’t ‘talk work’ at home. But when Deborah finds out the dead woman had files on her family, she begins to waver. Now it looks like all those past secrets may come to light, and Deborah must make some tough decisions about justice and legality…and stay alive while doing it.
I enjoyed Margaret Maron’s country mystery. Her characters were so accurately drawn there were times I was sure they were people I’ve known. As a denizen of the Deep South myself, I recognized many of the character types described in this mystery. But I think what I enjoyed most about “Death’s Half Acre” was the author’s gentle probing into the grey areas of justice and what people will do for family…and for power. The mystery is well-plotted and even with all the well-placed clues, I didn’t guess the guilty party until the end of the book. There were plenty of red herrings and all of them were viably plausible and suspects abound. If a homespun southern mystery sounds like your cup of sweet tea (yes, I couldn’t resist), then pick up a copy of this book for yourself. You might want to read it sitting on your front porch, in a rocker, with a mint julep in your hand! Ahhhhh.
Yes! I took a quick break from all things romance to read “Death’s Half Acre” by Margaret Maron. This is a story about greed and murder in small town America. It’s not bloody, it’s not scary, it’s just a good way to pit your ‘li’l grey cells’ against those of the author for a couple of hours.
North Carolina is a beautiful state. And I’d like to think there are still places like the Colleton County described in Maron’s book. There are the old-timer’s whose families have been there as long as anybody can remember, and there’s the newcomers who want to ‘get away’ from big city living, but can’t seem to go a day without wishing for a Starbucks or a WalMart! Maron’s ability to depict the slower pace and cronyism of the Deep South can only come from personal knowledge since she pegs it dead on.
When a crooked female politician with bigger aspirations than the City Council she was appointed to commits suicide, the same questions are on everybody’s lips. Especially since she left a note saying she was guilty of kickbacks and illegal profiting from her position. But she didn’t name any names or give any details, so now everybody who ever had any dealings with her (and that would pretty much be everybody in business in town) is under suspicion. When the coroner reveals her death as a murder and not suicide, the investigation gains steam. Then her daughter is killed and the clues don’t seem to be adding up.
Deborah Knott is a judge in Colleton County. Her husband is a Sheriff’s Deputy. So for the sake of marital harmony they don’t ‘talk work’ at home. But when Deborah finds out the dead woman had files on her family, she begins to waver. Now it looks like all those past secrets may come to light, and Deborah must make some tough decisions about justice and legality…and stay alive while doing it.
I enjoyed Margaret Maron’s country mystery. Her characters were so accurately drawn there were times I was sure they were people I’ve known. As a denizen of the Deep South myself, I recognized many of the character types described in this mystery. But I think what I enjoyed most about “Death’s Half Acre” was the author’s gentle probing into the grey areas of justice and what people will do for family…and for power. The mystery is well-plotted and even with all the well-placed clues, I didn’t guess the guilty party until the end of the book. There were plenty of red herrings and all of them were viably plausible and suspects abound. If a homespun southern mystery sounds like your cup of sweet tea (yes, I couldn’t resist), then pick up a copy of this book for yourself. You might want to read it sitting on your front porch, in a rocker, with a mint julep in your hand! Ahhhhh.
October 24, 2017
How dare Margaret Maron retire from writing! How selfish of her when I still have books to read and she dares deny those books from me!!??
Seriously Ms. Maron, enjoy your retirement and thank you for two wonderful series, Deborah Knott and Sigrid Harald, two so very different investigators; one professional and the other just a very curious (dare we say nosy?) district judge.
I have just finished Death's Half Acre and thoroughly enjoyed it. That's hardly a surprise.
The late Lillian Jackson Braun, author of the Cat Who mystery series was a favorite of mine, so different than many of the hard boiled mysteries that I enjoy by Sandford, McBain, Block, Pearson, etc. When someone asked me why we enjoyed those much lighter books, book after book, I told them that it was like coming home. You knew the recurring characters, their foibles and their strengths. You knew the country and could follow someone's journey from point A to point B.
The Deborah Knott series was quite similar to that 'coming home' syndrome. You knew her brothers and sisters, her friends, her co workers and her lovers and eventually Dwight Bryant, her husband. You knew that her house was on the farm property owned by her father, Kessie Knott, a former bootlegger who, though possibly uneducated formally was none the less a man with a lot of intelligence, insight and compassion.
Deborah was not perfect. But then who among us is? But she was overall a good person, intelligent, insightful, compassionate. It seems the apple didn't fall far from the tree.
In Death's Half Acre we have a murder mystery which turns into a double murder mystery and in being solved, solves yet a third murder mystery. The bad guys get their comeuppance for the most part which is the usual case with Knott mysteries and in the end we feel warm and safe with the results.
My reviews typically do not give a lot of details about the plot nor are they meant to. They are designed to tell you how the story makes me feel. This story made me feel at home and good at the end, yet sad. This is my last Deborah Knott book.
Curse you Margaret Maron (he says tongue in cheek) . . . and I sincerely hope you enjoy your retirement. Thank you so much for all of the stories you have shared over the years. You are one of those authors that make reading a worth while endeavor, a joy.
Seriously Ms. Maron, enjoy your retirement and thank you for two wonderful series, Deborah Knott and Sigrid Harald, two so very different investigators; one professional and the other just a very curious (dare we say nosy?) district judge.
I have just finished Death's Half Acre and thoroughly enjoyed it. That's hardly a surprise.
The late Lillian Jackson Braun, author of the Cat Who mystery series was a favorite of mine, so different than many of the hard boiled mysteries that I enjoy by Sandford, McBain, Block, Pearson, etc. When someone asked me why we enjoyed those much lighter books, book after book, I told them that it was like coming home. You knew the recurring characters, their foibles and their strengths. You knew the country and could follow someone's journey from point A to point B.
The Deborah Knott series was quite similar to that 'coming home' syndrome. You knew her brothers and sisters, her friends, her co workers and her lovers and eventually Dwight Bryant, her husband. You knew that her house was on the farm property owned by her father, Kessie Knott, a former bootlegger who, though possibly uneducated formally was none the less a man with a lot of intelligence, insight and compassion.
Deborah was not perfect. But then who among us is? But she was overall a good person, intelligent, insightful, compassionate. It seems the apple didn't fall far from the tree.
In Death's Half Acre we have a murder mystery which turns into a double murder mystery and in being solved, solves yet a third murder mystery. The bad guys get their comeuppance for the most part which is the usual case with Knott mysteries and in the end we feel warm and safe with the results.
My reviews typically do not give a lot of details about the plot nor are they meant to. They are designed to tell you how the story makes me feel. This story made me feel at home and good at the end, yet sad. This is my last Deborah Knott book.
Curse you Margaret Maron (he says tongue in cheek) . . . and I sincerely hope you enjoy your retirement. Thank you so much for all of the stories you have shared over the years. You are one of those authors that make reading a worth while endeavor, a joy.
August 18, 2009
Maron is a pretty good writer, in terms of plotting and details, although I found the ending quite abrupt. Then again, the story wasn't so much about the murders, as about Maron's political views. I'd like to see something about the tension regarding social issues in the Yellow Dog Democrat family; I find it impossible to believe there isn't any with several of her relatives being evangelicals. On a related note, the county commissioners were shown as 5 - 2 Republican, Deborah states "even though judges are non-partisan now, everyone knows where candidates stand politically", and in a previous book the county Republican chair told her at her last election "You were fortunate this time (with no real opponent), but I assure you that won't happen again."
One item that had me crying "What???" -- Deborah finishes her caseload a couple of hours early one day, telling the reader "I could've asked around to see if my colleagues needed help, but I called my brother, and left early ...." Sorry, but I used to work in a similar courtroom, and judges, as civil servants, can't just take off quite like that; they'd need to ask permission (of the head judge), with a good reason.
I'll read the next one as I understand it takes place on a business trip, kind of like the old days when she was single, before she got her "instant family" setup.
One item that had me crying "What???" -- Deborah finishes her caseload a couple of hours early one day, telling the reader "I could've asked around to see if my colleagues needed help, but I called my brother, and left early ...." Sorry, but I used to work in a similar courtroom, and judges, as civil servants, can't just take off quite like that; they'd need to ask permission (of the head judge), with a good reason.
I'll read the next one as I understand it takes place on a business trip, kind of like the old days when she was single, before she got her "instant family" setup.
December 22, 2019
I love this Judge Deborah Knott mystery series. I got into reading them a few years ago when I heard Margaret Maron speak at the Southeastern Assoc of Law Libraries meeting in Raleigh NC (the books are set in a fictional county near Raleigh--and in other parts of NC). I have read all of this series up to this newest one (am waiting for it to be available at the library in large print). I love reading about these people--I have got so I don't even care about the mystery aspect--I just like reading more about Deborah Knott and her family. I also like the NC setting--especially the eastern part of the state about which I know little.
August 13, 2016
Another fine entry in one of my favorite series. Maron's Knott family is aptly named, as the relationships can be complicated, but these and the depictions of North Carolina's landscape and culture are interwoven skillfully with the action. The action centers on the apparent suicide of a woman that turns out to have been murder. There are plenty of suspects and possible motives, but the revelation is quite unexpected. There is a secondary plot that is interesting in its own right. Go read and enjoy.
December 19, 2019
Land planning disagreements might have led to murder, or is something else going on? This mystery is overcrowded with subplots, including one with Judge Deborah Knott’s father as an unlikely instrument of justice.
September 8, 2024
Good story about the lengths people will go to to get ahead.
October 11, 2015
The setting is North Carolina south of Raleigh where Deborah Knott is Judge of Colleton County. Her father owns over two thousand acres, but family-owned farms are starting to give way to shoddy housing developments and discontent begins to affect the inhabitants. A controversial woman commissioner is found dead in the bathroom of her home with a bullet to the head. Deborah's husband, Sheriff's Deputy Dwight Bryant, investigates the death that at first is thought to be a suicide. But the autopsy results call her death a homicide. Now, anyone who had a relationship with her is questioned, including her ex husband.
A flashback tells the story of a plane that had crashed over the town with millions of dollars on board. Deborah's father is walking his property one day when he happens on a leather satchel containing what appears to be diamonds. He takes them to a jeweler to find out if they are real and his daughter sees him there and wonders where he could have gotten them. She also has a secret about her past and how she got the position of Judge. Her father had a secret on the person who appointed judgeships and Deborah certainly doesn't want that was how she was appointed. So, there are a lot of secrets in Colleton County.
In searching the commissioner's house a flash drive is found inside an elaborate doll house that contains incriminating information on practically everyone in town. They just need to discover her pass word. Before it can be figured out, her daughter is also found murdered. Someone will apparently take any steps to prevent the truth coming out. And it is up to Dwight and his fellow policemen to discover the truth.
A funny case of two neighbor women fighting comes before Deborah. They each claim the other one started it. It involved a chicken that had been killed by the neighbor's dog. In trying to determine who was to blame she had each one tell their side of the fight. The woman who owned the chicken claimed that it could not have flown over the fence into the yard of the owner of the dog where it was killed because she had the feathers clipped. She shows a picture of the hen and Deborah rules in her favor. After the case is settled she turns to the defense attorney and asks if he had a pet chicken when he was growing up. He relies, "A white silkie. Her name was Blossom. You?" Deborah replies, " A Rhode Island Red named Maisie Lou."
This is another great book by Margaret Maron filled with characters and descriptions of the people of North Carolina where she herself grew up.
A flashback tells the story of a plane that had crashed over the town with millions of dollars on board. Deborah's father is walking his property one day when he happens on a leather satchel containing what appears to be diamonds. He takes them to a jeweler to find out if they are real and his daughter sees him there and wonders where he could have gotten them. She also has a secret about her past and how she got the position of Judge. Her father had a secret on the person who appointed judgeships and Deborah certainly doesn't want that was how she was appointed. So, there are a lot of secrets in Colleton County.
In searching the commissioner's house a flash drive is found inside an elaborate doll house that contains incriminating information on practically everyone in town. They just need to discover her pass word. Before it can be figured out, her daughter is also found murdered. Someone will apparently take any steps to prevent the truth coming out. And it is up to Dwight and his fellow policemen to discover the truth.
A funny case of two neighbor women fighting comes before Deborah. They each claim the other one started it. It involved a chicken that had been killed by the neighbor's dog. In trying to determine who was to blame she had each one tell their side of the fight. The woman who owned the chicken claimed that it could not have flown over the fence into the yard of the owner of the dog where it was killed because she had the feathers clipped. She shows a picture of the hen and Deborah rules in her favor. After the case is settled she turns to the defense attorney and asks if he had a pet chicken when he was growing up. He relies, "A white silkie. Her name was Blossom. You?" Deborah replies, " A Rhode Island Red named Maisie Lou."
This is another great book by Margaret Maron filled with characters and descriptions of the people of North Carolina where she herself grew up.
February 19, 2019
Currently binge-reading books from the Deborah Knott series I haven't read before.
Before this, I decided to steer away from noir novels for a while and tried reading some light cozies.
BUT... why are so many books in the cozy genre so shallow, with protagonists who are sub-par in intelligence and little depth in character portrayal or reasonable intricacy in plot? (Hero(in)es unaware of clues that are slapped in their faces, dog/cat/shop settings that adds little meaning to the story.... rant, rant, rant!)
After a string of disappointments, I have renewed my appreciation of the books by Margaret Maron. Although the quality may vary by book, this is a series that is recommended highly as a cozy mystery series of outstanding caliber.
I've read somewhere that Margaret Maron has retired from writing? If so, that is sad new for me.
Before this, I decided to steer away from noir novels for a while and tried reading some light cozies.
BUT... why are so many books in the cozy genre so shallow, with protagonists who are sub-par in intelligence and little depth in character portrayal or reasonable intricacy in plot? (Hero(in)es unaware of clues that are slapped in their faces, dog/cat/shop settings that adds little meaning to the story.... rant, rant, rant!)
After a string of disappointments, I have renewed my appreciation of the books by Margaret Maron. Although the quality may vary by book, this is a series that is recommended highly as a cozy mystery series of outstanding caliber.
I've read somewhere that Margaret Maron has retired from writing? If so, that is sad new for me.
December 1, 2021
I thought this book was OK as part of this series. Deborah and her father showed their similarity of ethics in this one. The one scene where the preacher made his wife drink a glass he'd spit in made me want to make him eat shite, tbh. For sure I'd be spitting in his food after that if I were her. I despise that sort of male dominance. It made me think of what my Moroccan friend said about the men beating the women yet it was common their being afraid of being poisoned.
May 10, 2017
Deborah Knott not only finds the culprits behind the death of a country commissioner but in doing so she blows sky high the major developers who are acquiring land illegally. As always Margaret Maron has written a book that doesn't disappoint.
March 7, 2025
SPOILER ALERT
Judge Deborah Knott and her new husband share the case of Candace Bradshaw's murder in this installment of the series. Candace does not show up for a commissioners Meeting because she has been murdered. She and the secretary/billing clerk for Bradshaw management have been systematically stealing money from the many companies for which they provide janitorial services. With her flash drive Candace records the information she ferrets out in order to get funds from others. She has taken over the business of her husband Cameron.
Everyone is nervous as the police look for the flash drive, wondering what she discovered, including Deborah, whose judgeship was coerced by her father.
Judge Deborah Knott and her new husband share the case of Candace Bradshaw's murder in this installment of the series. Candace does not show up for a commissioners Meeting because she has been murdered. She and the secretary/billing clerk for Bradshaw management have been systematically stealing money from the many companies for which they provide janitorial services. With her flash drive Candace records the information she ferrets out in order to get funds from others. She has taken over the business of her husband Cameron.
Everyone is nervous as the police look for the flash drive, wondering what she discovered, including Deborah, whose judgeship was coerced by her father.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 20, 2023
The writing flowed more smoothly in "Death's Half Acre" than in the previous few installments, mainly because the focus is on Deborah and we don't get a whiplash effect of changing POV.
In spite of the more streamlined and cohesive narrative, the rating suffers because the actual plot is convoluted. The dirty business dealings were difficult to understand at times and, to me, rather tedious.
I did like the way Deborah's father got the better of that obnoxious preacher. Too bad the preacher's wife still lacks any sense of self-respect at the end.
In spite of the more streamlined and cohesive narrative, the rating suffers because the actual plot is convoluted. The dirty business dealings were difficult to understand at times and, to me, rather tedious.
I did like the way Deborah's father got the better of that obnoxious preacher. Too bad the preacher's wife still lacks any sense of self-respect at the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 17, 2025
It would have helped me to know more about more of the characters (not just the main characters) because there were so many of them. Also, the folksy wisdom in the story needed a bit of elaboration or maybe needed to be more appropriate for the interactions because it seemed out of place. And the quotes starting each chapter also didn't quite apply to the chapter content. The setting of a rural area in which people were divided about increasing urbanization and how that division impacted local politics was interesting.
July 8, 2023
Conflict between city folk and country folk, between those who've come up from poverty and those who've been raised as "better class." The president of the county commissioners is found murdered in her home, after she missed a controversial vote on development in the rural county that is being suburbanized what the local folks think is too fast. So was it due to politics, or her "loose morals" or something else? It's a good read. I liked it.
November 19, 2017
Another one with way too many scenes in different points of view to start off with. I can understand why the book was structured that way, I but I really like it best when Deborah's pov is front and center from the start. Also bothered me that she had one of those TSTL moments. On the other hand, this was overall a good read and it will stay on my keeper shelf with the rest of the series.
December 23, 2018
The Chairwoman of the Board of County Commissioners is murdered. Deputy Dwight Bryant is investigating the case. His wife, Judge Deborah Knott cannot help taking interest in the case. She is especially concerned that the investigation might incriminate members of her own family for past misdeeds.
January 9, 2020
Judge Deborah Knott and Sherrif's Deputy Dwight Bryant are newlyweds, in the process of merging their households and families; their professional lives, however, must occasionally remain at arm's length. A hint of corruption in local government, and murder, has them alternately obliged to withhold, then able to share, information as a puzzle takes form, with shifting linkages for good measure.
June 1, 2020
I enjoyed seeing how the mystery in this novel was finally solved. All the plot strands came together in the end. There were enough dead ends set up in the story to keep me from being absolutely sure who the murderer was. I enjoyed the part that Deborah's father played in the novel too.
"Death's Half Acre" was a good, safe read.
"Death's Half Acre" was a good, safe read.
October 2, 2021
When a County Commissioner is killed, Dwight Bryant and Deborah Knott both wonder who the killer is. How the two of them manage to solve this complicated mystery and find the killer while also exposing a lot of corruption makes for a Great story. Another well-written and enjoyable addition to the series.
October 19, 2021
Good story 😊. I had that ah ha 😮💡 moment towards the end and I knew who the killer was. 😉 Mr. Kezzi had me worried 😟 for a few chapters but now I'm feeling just fine about his business dealing with the Preacher. 😉 Mayleen is giving me hope that she will do right for herself instead of her family and I really hope there will be a ring 💍 on it soon. 😍
June 25, 2017
Another Winner
This is one of the better ones in her Judge Knott series in my opinion. As usual, surrounding timely issues still, even though several years have passed since the book was written. I'm already looking forward to reading the next installment!
This is one of the better ones in her Judge Knott series in my opinion. As usual, surrounding timely issues still, even though several years have passed since the book was written. I'm already looking forward to reading the next installment!
October 11, 2017
I gave this 4 stars because I love these characters and the setting. When I read these books, I feel like I am in the South hanging out with Deborah Knott's family and friends. I've read every book in the series, and it's time to go back and start with #1 again.
January 18, 2018
Maybe because I haven't read the other 13 - It seemed to wander all over the place with too many characters. Part was first person, part was not. And the "heroine" doesn't really solve anything, it all just falls on her. No real plot.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 5, 2018
I love a Margaret Maron mystery. I am also insatiably curious like Deborah and I like to read about the Knott family and their community outside of Raleigh. This time there is rumors of political corruption, unscrupulous developers and hidden treasure.
June 25, 2019
How do Dollhouses and Developers spell death and disaster
Once again Margaret Maron serves up a richly layered tale of town fol and city folk, change and greed. Do we ever outgrow our past and do we want to?
Once again Margaret Maron serves up a richly layered tale of town fol and city folk, change and greed. Do we ever outgrow our past and do we want to?
July 31, 2021
These are easy on the brain mysteries. Nothing that complicated in the plot, but the relationships that are developing make for a good story. This one involves land acquisition, and the play between greed and desire to slow down development.
April 28, 2022
Interesting twists and turns, I like the back stories which show Deborah's father and his activities. I would have loved a whole series about Kezzie Knott. I wasn't exactly sure who the murderer was , had some ideas but I didn't guess it which is GOOD. enjoyable book.
June 30, 2022
Set in North Carolina, a local judge is married to a deputy sheriff. Both are concerned when a woman county commissioner is found dead. Was it suicide or murder?
I love this author. Love the little readings at the beginning of each chapter. Love the huge family dynamics.
I love this author. Love the little readings at the beginning of each chapter. Love the huge family dynamics.
June 1, 2023
Thoroughly enjoyed Kezzie's form of justice on the icky reverend. Wish the characters had a bit more dimension - the explanation of Candace's rough upbringing doesn't exactly permit her extremem narcissism. Pretty good end twist, though.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 173 reviews