Murder Ballad Blues: A Mystery Novel by Lynda McDaniel

Set in the little fictional mountain town of Laurel Falls, North Carolina, this is the fourth book in the author’s Appalachian Mountain Mysteries Series, but it can easily be read as a stand-alone novel. Each chapter is narrated by a particular character. Most often the narrator is Abit Bradshaw, a mandolin player with the Rollin’ Ramblers bluegrass band and a native of the town. The other primary character/narrator is Della Kincaid, a former crime reporter in Washington, D. C., who is investigating a fraud case. When murders happen, and it seems it must be a serial killer, the FBI gets involved, and the question becomes whether they will take seriously what Abit and Della have dug up about the case before it is too late. “The emotional components of each character are thoroughly explored as they fight anger, loneliness, loss, and helpless feelings in the course of their choices. The characters come alive not because of the mystery's overlay, but because McDaniel takes the time to expl