Slow Dollar (2001)

I really like the Judge Deborah Knott books but this one was excellent. There is a murder or two to solve, a lot (I mean A LOT) of family lore and even some family mysteries involved. And what would a Judge Knott book be without some romantic intrigue? This book delivers in spades.

I was glad to see more of Kezzie, Deborah's father, in this book, I missed him in the last one.

The story here revolves around one of the Summer (or in the South's case Fall) traveling carnivals that come to town. Murder ensues and Deborah is worried that some of her kin are involved - maybe not with the murder but could they be covering something up for someone?

There is a lot of carnival lore and history that was just fascinating. Ms. Maron didn't pull any punches, there is a lot that is unsavory in the carnival world but she also brings to life people who do this work and the hard life they live with just a few months work to survive for the entire year.

I'm really looking forward to the next in the series. ( )

http://cscs.umich.edu/~crshalizi/weblog/algae-2011-08.html#maron ( )

Great Deborah Knott Mystery book! ( )

Book 9 in the Judge Deborah Knott series brings Deborah back home. The mystery and title deal with a small traveling Carnival that comes to town. It comes every year but this year it also brings murder, where the carnies die, while the public has fun.

Another very well done book. It works in the life of a carny and Deborah's family. She discovers a long lost family member. The rest of the family and friends are there too. Just can't get enough.

Fun, light, fast, heartwarming read. ( )

9th in the Judge Deborah Knott of North Carolina series.

A small carnival comes to Widdington, and Judge Knott is asked to rule on damage done by three drunken Colleton County “boys” to a ride; for some reason, the owner of the ride, Tallahassee (Tal) Ames, seems familiar. Later, when the same carnival appears in Dobbs for the Harvest Festival, a young man is murdered at the game where Deborah and Dwight are playing. To her shock, Deborah discovers that his mother is Tal Ames, and that Tal is a long-lost niece.

That’s the matrix for this latest installment, where Maron again enjoys giving the reader insight into yet another business—carnivals—along with a good plot. As is her wont, Maron uses yet another one of her myriad family members—her brother Andrew—to use as a believable plot device. Also in this book, Deborah and Dwight make an unusual business arrangement that simply blows the mind of all friends and family.

A much earlier book, Slow Dollar is reminiscent of Water for Elephants by Sarah Gruen. although a shorter book, Slow Dollar looks at carnival life in almost as much depth as the much longer book by Gruen. In fact, Maron, who has a long-time association with the carnival through her cousin, actually gives a broader perspective on the carnival, talking in depth about the games, food wagons, and basic needs of he carnival itself from the owner's point of view, rather than from that of the employees, as in the Gruen book. Both are something of exposés. Both books are utterly fascinating in their own ways.

Although the plot is nothing special, Maron’s affection for both carnivals and her characters is clear and catching. She does her usual outstanding job with Deborah, Dwight and all the gang in Colleton County. Her sure touch with local color and her writing style combine to produce yet another top-notch, entertaining book.

Highly recommended. ( )