A Widow's Curse

Fever Devilin #4

by Phillip DePoy

Fever Devilin, a folklorist by inclination and training, was born and raised amongst the hill-country folk of the Georgia Appalachians and it was there that he returned once he decided to leave academia.  And he's the perfect person to turn to when the owner of a mysterious medallion, one with some connection to the area, wants to uncover the provenance of the piece.  On the surface, it sounds simple enough but in Fever's life, nothing is ever simple.  Especially when the medallion's owner is found dead, murdered, in Fever's own house and the papers of Fever's late grandfather, of no intrinsic value, are stolen. And Fever himself in the prime suspect in the murder.
      The only clue to the truth behind these confusing events is the medallion itself, which is somehow tied to Fever's secretive family's history. With someone trying to frame him for the murder and other hidden forces hot on the trail of the medallion itself, Fever is wedged tightly between the proverbial 'rock' and equally proverbial 'hard place.' And the only possible way out is buried within the uncomfortable hidden truths about his own family that Fever has spent years trying to avoid.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Southern

272 pages, Hardcover

First published July 10, 2007

About the author

Phillip DePoy has published short fiction, poetry, and criticism in Story, The Southern Poetry Review, Xanadu, Yankee, and other magazines. He is currently the creative director of the Maurice Townsend Center for the Performing Arts at the State University of West Georgia, and has had many productions of his plays at regional theaters throughout the south. He is the recipient of numerous grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the state of Georgia, the Georgia Council for the Arts, the Arts Festival of Atlanta, the South Carolina Council for the Arts, etc. He composed the scores for the regional Angels in America and other productions and has played in a numerous jazz and folk bands. In his work as a folklorist he has collected songs and stories throughout Georgia and has worked with John Burrison, the foremost folklorist in the south and with Joseph Cambell.

Reviews

[M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A return to Blue Mountain in the Georgia Appalachians, where folklorist Fever Devilin is at loose ends. He's no longer employed and is busying himself moving boulders in his back yard when he is contacted by a man who claims to have the coin of St. Elian...an object of great historical significance. Fever, along with his visiting friend Andrews, join with the man to investigate the coin's pedigree. They are not the only ones interested in it...another party is, and that party is willing to kill for it.

Phillip DePoy's writing is a luxurious mix of setting, characterization and plot with a bit of existential philosophy scattered on top. The setting is rich as Blue Mountain and its denizens truly come alive as a close-knit community (although they sometimes keep secrets from each other). The character of cynical Fever is always interesting, as are those of his supporting cast; they are all distinct. The plot is a good one; it is complex but very fathomable (although a key revelation at the end did raise my eyebrow a bit). Throw in bits of danger, American history, mysticism, a dash of the tapestry of life and perhaps even the odd ghost and you have the makings of a fine tale.

The character of Fever goes through an emotional roller coaster in this story, and I like him more because of it. I haven't visited with Fever since 2009 (why, I kept asking myself) but I felt like I'd visited some old friends and stomping grounds while reading this book. I won't wait so long for my next return to Blue Mountain.

[LJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A WIDOW’S CURSE (Traditional Mystery-Fever Devilin-Georgia-Cont) – VG+
DePoy, Phillip – 4th in series
St. Martin’s Minotaur, 2007, US Hardcover – ISBN: 9780312362027
First Sentence: What was left of the Barnsley estate rose into view at the hilltop.
*** Folkologist Fever Devilin is contacted by someone who wants to know the provenance of an extremely old, silver Welch medallion. The man comes to stay with Fever. When the man is murdered, Fever finds himself the suspect and must dig into the secrets of his family’s past; three items purchased by his great-grandfather and help reverse an old curse.
*** I really enjoyed this, and all of DePoy’s, books. It is not strictly a traditional mystery, in that the character of Fever is not a traditional protagonist. The interweaving of old stories, legends and history—in this case, the Trail of Tears and the Cherokee Nation—and Fever’s introspective questioning add richness to the story which is kept from becoming too heavy by the inclusion of his friend Andrews, an English professor with a love for Hawaiian shirts who, at one point, informs a stuffy lawyer that the chandelier in his office violates the “Phantom of the Opera” law. The book is filled with well-developed, fascinating characters and great dialogue. I love the strong sense of place, taking us to the Georgia Appalachians, and the bits of old religion and mysticism which are part of the story. I highly recommend this book and series but would definitely suggest starting at the beginning. The stories stay with me long after closing the cover and are among those I reread.

[Susan Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came across this book by accident in a second hand store, the title drew me in! I am so glad I did, because I had not heard of this author before.
The way he describes the mood, the sights, sounds, smells, drew me in immediately and then I was captivated by Fever Devilin, the main character. I am a fan of folk tales and stories of old ways, and the Appalachians are chock full of both. This book draws on folklore, a bit of history and a great mystery.
Fever Devilin and his pal Dr. Andrews, chase a mystery and encounter half forgotten family history, good guys, bad guys and open some old wounds.
I am not doing the book justice with this review, all I can say is, I loved it and I am now getting the other Fever Devilin books!

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has been sitting on Mt. TBR since about 2012 and it only came off the stack because of the monthly challenge -- Title Starting with W -- and my practice of alternating fiction and nonfiction books. I had managed to avoid reading it for years because it looked a bit spooky. I was not anticipating enjoying this book, between the yet another cis white male focused mystery issue (there were 5 living females in this entire book -- peripheral characters, plus two or three dead ones) and the man with a tortured past because of his parents bad marriage trope and the smart guy returning to his simple hometown when the big city does him wrong scenario -- none of these appealed to me. Add in a vaguely supernatural undercurrent and dude who is a bit of an emo intellectual loner and I was gritting my teeth through the first chapter.

For whatever reason, though, this story hooked me and I had a hard time putting it down for any length of time, even when I was working. I quickly grew attached to the characters and when one of the slimy people was a lawyer I didn't even take offense. The storyline was compelling in its own way, with the links to the mysterious past and family lore and the secrets that nobody tells aspects. I would definitely be interested in reading more in this series. It reminded me a bit of the "Shakespeare" series that Charlaine Harris wrote -- only a few books in the series while the detective faces their personal demons, a bit of a gritty murder or two, and a bit of word play.

[Shawn Remfrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

The mystery here is alright. The characters are alright. The setting is alright. All of these things are definitely acceptable and when compared to 'good' literature, there's nothing here really of note. It keeps in line with what it should. I have zero complaints.

Where it really excels is in DePoy's storytelling. Oh my goodness! I have not been so captured by individual sentences since Jerome's Three Men in a Boat. I'm reading along, and a sentence will just strike me with it's true brilliance. Most of the dialogue in the book is filled with wit and intelligence, but even in descriptive and off-hand sentences, it's truly mesmerizing.

[Gail Barrington · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not recommended. Fever Devlin is one of those neurotic and irritating Southern males with a crazy (and mostly dead) family with an unbelievable history. John Mortimer said his characters lived just a couple of inches off the ground, and I absolutely loved Rumpole and his wacky exploits, but DePoy's characters are lead-footed in comparison. I know some will enjoy these tall tales (and this is #4) but my very Canadian bent towards irony makes this series a bust. I hate people who feel sorry for themselves!

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my, this was a complicated one! I feel like I want to read a summary—with “spoilers”, so it includes everything—in chronological order—starting in the 17th century! (16th?) We’re left wondering what he’ll do with the coin. And considering how much family history is in this, I’m surprised & puzzled that a generation is just skipped over: what happened to Fever’s (presumed) father’s father? I like the twists in the story, but I think it might be easier to keep track of the complicated family history if I wasn’t also listening to an audiobook. i.e. Perhaps give this one my FULL attention.

[Marcy Skala · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Phillip DePoy's Fever Devlin books. Fever Devlin is a folklorist and lives in the Georgian Appalachians. Spirits step in and out of his world, just enough to peak your interest. This book centers around three artifacts from his family and their meaning. Two of my favorite things dance together in the Fever Devlin books, folklore and mystery.

[Shiela · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent bit of Southern storytelling!! Though all a bit flawed in some way, I find all in Fever Devilin's world likable and endearing.
Best of the series so far; cannot wait to read the next one!

[Janet · Rating 2 out of 5]

I struggled through most of the book to get to the end. I guess this one wasn't for me.

[Coral Perlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I get so wrapped up in the storytelling and all the recurring characters. I have trouble putting the books down.

[Lizzann · Rating 2 out of 5]

Picked this book up at Mystery Bookclub for the southern-small-town-theme. I should trust my instincts and stick to the first book in a "detective" series - not the 4th. Best part was the setting in the Georgia segment of the Blue Ridge! Disenfranchised folklorist professor lives under a 200 year old curse. Characters flat. Author impressed with his arrangement of words.

I have requested the first book in the series just to see if it is better. Usually the first ones are, and not just filing pages.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I randomly picked books out at the library, and this was one of them. I wasn't sure as I started this, but I really enjoyed it. While much of the prose was intellectual and existential, some parts were so clear and close to my thinking that I wanted to share them. On page 85, the main character Devilin chastises a detective, "In my house, I prefer better language. ...I just think that any person with the intelligence required to become a police detective can probably think of ten or twelve better words to use, words that are more expressive and infinitely clearer." In another part of the book, one of the characters states, "You blaspheme in this house and I get my shotgun on you!" Would that we all had that much courage and conviction when we see inappropriate behavior.

I also enjoyed where Devilin says, " If you don't know your roots, you'll never know your path. If you ignore the beautiful past, you're in for an ugly future." (pg. 107) At the end of the story, he realizes that, "If I'm the observer of my own life, I have a choice. I can see my existence as a meaningless mess, or I can see it as a constant miracle....If it is up to me how I see everything, then what kind of world do I want to live in--a rocky place that's empty of significance, or a green place filled with wonder."

I was excited to find that DePoy has written other novels and look forward to reading them.

[Sharon Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another excellent book in this series. I've found these need to be spaced out a bit, they are a little darker, the main character a little too depressive for constant immersion and the plots and storylines are not necessarily happily ever after. The odd and rather grim family background lends a dark thread to the series.

The plots are very individual however and always historically interesting, with this one having a strong link to the Cherokee people and the Trail of Tears. Will definitely be continuing with this series and although I'm not sure if they will be re-read, I must admit they are addicting.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoy this series, though A Widow's Curse is not one of my favorites. I find the characters funny, interesting, and endearing, and the Appalachian setting is lovingly rendered. Plot is not the strongest point ever in these books, and I had an especially hard time maintaining a willing suspension of disbelief with this book. The minor characters Hek and June make a lovely appearance here, with the best grace I've ever heard: "Lord, let us take in all the love Junie put into making this food."

[Doris · Rating 3 out of 5]

First read 6/10/11
Second read 10/2/14

A good read, flowing forward in a steady motion. It generally tied all the loose ends up, but there was too much mystery about the man's past. It appears this is a series, so that may be okay, giving everyone a reason to return to the series.

The main character is a man of mystery, but the background story (except the part that involves the Devilin family) is all part of history and can be easily read online, from the cursed Barnsley family to the lovely but fallen home.

[Sian Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though not as strong as the first two books in this series, this novel returns to the series' unique strengths after what I felt was a disastrous third book, focusing again on Fever, his people, his place, his demons. The prose was closer to the dense, decadent, flourishing and interior voice of the first two books as well. So I say, Phew, nice recovery, DePoy, and I'm looking forward to the next one.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Fever Devilin Mystery series has really become a dark horse favorite for me; I love the way that the Georgia Appalachians became not just the setting, but a silent character in these books. Our protagonist Fever is fully formed: you get a real sense of him, and through him, for the characters who surround him.
This latest in the series is my favorite, as it offers much more of Fever's personal history, and because of that, seems a more intense story.

[M Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another eminently readable Fever Devilin story from Philip DePoy. With his best friend and his best girl both out of town, Fever Devilin is at loose ends. So when a stranger calls from Atlanta with a story about a strange coin with a past buried in folklore, Fever uncharacteristically invites him up to his mountain home. Murder and mayhem ensue. And, as usual, there are strange connections to the mysterious past of the Devilin family.

[Ashley Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a good read, for the pure fact that I found this book for a dollar without a cover on the book. I have always wanted to read a book that I knew nothing about, and this was that book.

There were some dry parts to the book, the end was the best part with the suspense and plot twisting.

Good book if you want a book with a little bit of mystery.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

A strong installment in this favorite series, with the expected rich Southern folklore and eccentric characters. Fever and Andrews have much to consider regarding curses and Devlin family ties; a history intertwined with Welsh ancestors and the tragic events of the Cherokee Trail of Tears.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I seem to be reading these out of order, still I find them interesting. Fever seems to be depressed and always letting his childhood cot roll his thoughts. I do love the strange characters that Fever meets on his quests.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

great new series

[Wendroz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is very interesting. Appalachian mystery with plenty of folk tales

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Fever Devilin books, besides being great little mysteries the characters are really quirky and fun!

[Doreen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great new author discovery. Loved Appalachian folktale lore .

[L.B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A whole lot like Rett MacPherson's books . . .

[Sage Streck]

Awesome. This is my favorite Fever Devilin mystery so far. Interesting story, and great use of language. I love the pictures DePoy paints with his words!

[Alyssa Greatbanks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The story was different then the mainstream crap nowadays, and I wasn't expecting some of the twists in the plot.

[Frederic · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the story and the atmosphere that was developped in that novel. This was my first Fever Devilin novel.. I'll make sure to read another one:)