Murder on the Appalachian Trail

by Jess Carr

Book by Carr, Jess

Genres: True Crime

401 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 1985

About the author

A native of southwest Virginia, Jess Carr lived and worked among the mountain people most of his life. He was a graduate of Coyne Technical School in Chicago, and served with the Marine Corps during the Korean War. Before be began his full-time writing career, Mr. Carr held a variety of jobs including country store-keeper, part-time barber, lumberjack, and president of a commercial printing firm.

Reviews

[D Franklin Pack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like the actual end-to-enders of the Appalachian Trail, the end-to-enders of this book will experience a “duke’s mixture” (using the words of the author) of emotions from the high peaks to the low valleys. With author Jess Carr as their guide, they will tag along with and share in the excitement of the main characters and the other hikers they meet up with on the AT and gain insight into the motivations and challenges of those who attempt the entire trek of over two-thousand miles.

During the numerous Blue Blaze side-trips off the main trail, readers will feel the close relationships between the Mountford and Ramsay parents and their respective son and daughter, Robert Mountford, Jr., and Laura Susan Ramsay, and will be made privy to some of the parents’ thoughts and struggles dealing with their initial horror of the brutal murder of their children and their lingering sadness and struggles while trying to come to terms with their own concept of justice through forgiveness and by hoping to hear the murderer say the word “guilty”.

There is no question that the late Jess Carr put much research and work into this project by attending the actual court hearings and conducting interviews with numerous people including, but not limited to, the families and friends of Susan Ramsay and Bob Mountford, Jr., lawyers on both sides, judges, and law enforcement personnel. However, there is more to the story and, without giving away any spoilers, readers are encouraged to do their own research to learn more of what has transpired in the forty years since the events in the book took place.

I recommend this book to anyone interested in hiking the Appalachian Trail and to those who like to keep life in people and events that have already passed on, but to use any positive words such as good, fun, exciting, enjoyable, etc. is suppressed by the realization that, although a novel, the story is based on real people and actual events that are still relevant today. I thank the Rutherford County Public Library in Murfreesboro, Tennessee for having a copy of this book and look forward to reading more books written by Jess Carr.

[Rodger · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is about two hikers who were murdered in 1981 near Pearisburg, Virginia. The author spends a lot of time on the backgrounds of everybody involved, to a fault.

The insight it gives in what it is like to thru-hike is very good. Although there are some differences between equipment, clothing, food, available in 2008 over 1981, the culture of the trail is very similar.

If you read it, you will probably have to get it from your local library, the copy I read Amy checked out for me at the Law Library at the U of Utah.

The best price I could find on the net was $50 bucks.

It is worth reading, but it is not worth $50.

[Heather Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed reading about Bob and Susan and the impact they made in life and on the trail. This fictionalization account of their murder and conviction of their killer was different kind of read and acknowledging the author may not be accurate in all things was appreciated.

[Myka · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book the beginning is slow which is one of the reasons I chose to only provide 4 stars. Another reason is just how many characters there are, in order to keep track of all the characters you must write them down, organize them in a chart of keep tabs along the story to make sure you keep on track of the characters. Other than the slow beginning and vast amount of character, the book is excellent with the story line. On top of the story line the feelings, love and care throughout the book pulls you into the relationships that grow along the way. You quickly fall attacked to different characters and their families like the Mountfords who are a loving, get together family who's son was hiking the Appalachian trail as he's the main character. Following his journey brings in his love for God and how he shares his love to others which gives him the love of every reader with his kind heart. I would recommend reading this book, it is a long book but once you have the ability to get past the beginning the story is enticing and entertaining.

[Bev · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm in a reading club at our local library, needed another book in the mystery category, and this caught my eye. The fact that it's based on a true story kept me reading to see who did it and how the trial ended up, but I wouldn't recommend this.