The Ballad of Frankie Silver

In the 5th of McCrumb's ballad series, she takes us back to the 19th century, for the trial of Frankie Silver, an 18-year-old North Carolina mountain girl accused of killing her husband and then trying to cover up the crime by butchering, burning and burying him in pieces. Everyone, from the sheriff and the Clerk of the Court where she will be tried to the genteel ladies of the county's higher society, finds it hard to believe in her guilt, but Frankie will not speak of what happened in her cabin that night. There are no witnesses, the physical evidence is damning, and the only other potential suspects were demonstrably several days' journey away hunting in Kentucky. Framing this story, which forms the bulk of the novel, is 20th century show more Sheriff Spencer Arrowood's concern over the upcoming execution of a man convicted of killing two young Appalachian Trail hikers two decades earlier. Arrowood investigated those murders, arrested then 17-year-old Fate Harkryder, and testifed at his trial. But now he is not at all easy about seeing Harkryder put to death; something about the case keeps bringing the legend of Frankie Silver to his mind. As he is off duty recovering from being shot in the line of duty (in The Rosewood Casket), he plows through his old file as well as everything his deputy Martha Ayers can find for him on the Silver case, trying to work out what it is that feels similar about the two. Meanwhile, Martha and Deputy LeDonne are investigating another murder they don't want Arrowood to find out about while he's still recuperating, fearing he will come back to work too soon and do himself harm. I enjoyed the 19th century tale very much; the frame felt a bit "stuck on" to me. But I have a prejudice against that literary device, and your mileage may differ. There's no doubt that McCrumb can spin a fine yarn. Her books are always hard to put down. show less

Excellent historical fiction based on an actual event from North Carolina’s history, the early 1830s trial and conviction of Frankie Silver, a young mother accused of murdering her husband.
When present day Sheriff Spencer Arrowood begins to have misgivings about an upcoming execution – one he must witness – it causes him to reflect back on the folklore surrounding the Frankie Silver case. The parallel he uncovers between the two cases leads to an unsettling revelation and provides insight into the cultural inequality of the justice system, both then and now.

On rereading, this continues to be my favorite out of master storyteller Sharyn McCrumb's Appalachian Ballad series but I think I'll reread a few more just to be sure.

Sharyn McCrumb weaves together a modern crime story with the legend of Frankie Silver, an 1830s North Carolina mountain teenager who was convicted and executed for the murder of her husband. The plot has a lot of similarities to Josephine Tey's The Daughter of Time. While recuperating from a serious injury, Spencer Arrowood, sheriff of Wake County, Tennessee, becomes obsessed with the legend of Frankie Silver. He has just received an invitation to witness Tennessee's first execution in 30 years as the representative of the condemned prisoner's home county. Twenty years earlier, Arrowood was convinced of Fate Harkryder's guilt, but now something about the case is making him uneasy. The two cases -- Frankie's and Fate's -- become show more connected in Arrowood's mind.

Sharyn McCrumb did her homework on the Frankie Silver legend. I felt like I was there in 1830s Morganton, North Carolina, watching the events unfold. Fate Harkryder's story was also well told, but it didn't have the same intensity as Frankie's story. I think it's because I was aware that McCrumb could choose Fate Harkryder's outcome, but Frankie Silver's fate was inevitable. It had already been written by history.

This isn't a typical mystery/crime novel. It has some characteristics of a legal thriller, but it isn't typical for that genre, either. It tackles some weighty issues such as the death penalty and "equal justice under law" as applied to poor white Appalachians. Readers who normally do not read crime or mystery novels might want to give this one a try. show less

Embarrassingly, the only reason why I picked this up is that it was narrated by the inimitable Barbara Rosenblat, my favourite audiobook narrator ever to open a book. I am so glad that I did. The Ballad of Frankie Silver is a sensitive, character-filled, meticulously researched exploration of an old death that inspired a famous Appalachian folk ballad: Francis "Frankie" Silver's murder of her no-good husband and her subsequent hanging as one of the first executed in women in North Carolina.

Frankie Silver was not quite what I expected from the description. It does indeed interweave the present-day with the past, but it is the past where McCrumb focuses her energy and narrative. The two present-day cases only add a frame of reference and show more a sense of immediacy and connection to that long-ago crime. In the present day, Tennessee Sheriff Spencer Arrowood, laid up at home due to injuries during a shootout, is brooding on the upcoming execution of a man he helped to put behind bars. Mentally, he begins to link the case to that of Frankie Silver, an eighteen-year-old girl tried for the murder and savage decapitation of her husband in the early 1800s. Frankie was subsequently found guilty hung by the neck until dead, but her death only added to the case's sense of incompleteness-- how could she have had the sheer strength to chop up her husband so brutally? What were her last words to be when they were silenced by her father? The book quickly delves into the past, and Frankie's story is told alternately from her own point of view and that of the clerk of the court.

The strongest thing about the story is the meticulous research. McCrumb unearthed old documents, talked to descendants, even went and spoke with a prisoner on Death Row, and this really adds substance to her story. This is not a whodunit--don't go into it expecting a big puzzle or mystery, either in the present-day or long-past crime. Instead, it is a retrospective, an exploration of how easy it is for justice to go awry, a discussion of family, a sympathetic look at families torn by abuse, and a glimpse of the absolute finality of state execution.

Altogether, a very interesting book--I look forward to reading more by McCrumb. show less

Sharyn McCrumb's Ballad series is more than a mystery series. It is compelling and literate writing that leaves the reader feeling strangely at peace when a book is finished. This book is the last in the Ballad series, and I'm not sure why this wonderful series ends here, but this novel is a wonderful story. It combines the past and present in a very original way. Ms. McCrumb has done her homework on the story of Frankie Silver. She was a young mountain mother who was convicted and hanged for her husband's murder and the dismemberment of his body. This true story occurred in 1832 and 1833 when Frankie was actually hanged. Ms. McCrumb blends this story with an early case of Spencer Arrowood's which Spencer feels he has to reexamine when show more he is at home recovering from a bullet wound. How can a crime in 1833 be connected to one in the late 80's. Spencer figures out why he feels that he wants to solve both crimes. McCrumb shifts back and forth between the two storylines, and it's a bit like a dream as the story carries you along. A great end to a great series. show less

I liked this book. This is historical fiction at its best. This is well researched, but still reads like a novel. The characters are full and interesting. One minor problem I had was the switching back and forth from past to present, but that's something I struggle with. I would like to read more from this author.

While vacationing in Sedona, Arizona last year, I had a conversation with a new friend about how much I love the author, Silas House. After describing his work, my friend replied that I might like the author, Sharyn McCrumb, as her books are set in the Appalachia areas of North Carolina and Tennessee. After my return home, she sent me this book. The story about Frankie Silver takes place in the 1830’s and is a true story. Frankie is the first woman hanged in North Carolina for the murder of her husband. The present day story is of Sheriff Spencer Arrowood who is invited to witness the execution of a man convicted of killing two college-age kids in the Appalachian Mountains. Spencer arrested and testified against the man 20 years ago. show more

As for the writing of the book, I really struggled to stay engaged for the first half. To be fair, that could have been my fault. I listened to this on audio and sometimes I can lose focus while driving to and from work as my brain wanted to think about work instead of the book. It could also have been that the book didn’t grab my attention as fiercely as I would have preferred. At first, I was enjoying the story, but I did get confused at times with the story going back and forth between past and present. About halfway through, something clicked for me and I was sucked into Frankie’s story. That story of tragedy and loss was really interesting to me. Near the last ¾ of the book, Sharyn did a nice job weaving the two stories together. She provided a realistic and emotional ending. Overall, I enjoyed the stories and look forward to starting the series at the beginning. show less