Murder in the Mountains
Historic True Crime in Western North Carolina
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5.0 • 2 Ratings
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- $9.99
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
Murder, Moonshine & Mayhem in Western North Carolina
Guns, liquor, racial strife, divisive politics, and war come together in ten well-documented, true-crime stories of nineteenth-century mountain families. In these accounts, unrivaled by any of the Wild West, history and genealogy buffs may be surprised to learn that Asheville was the site of more than one lynching, that the Ku Klux Klan had gained power in the region, or that a US Deputy Marshal got away with murder-seven times.
The author is a descendant of early nineteenth-century mountain settlers. With over thirty years of experience in researching, writing, and publishing, Nadia Dean uncovers some never-before-told sagas and sets right other accounts that missed the mark.
Customer Reviews
These Mountains Are Talking!
“Murder in the Mountains” is a tremendous collection of true crime stories set in the 1800s in the glorious Smoky Mountain of Western North Carolina. I happen to be one of the lucky ones who have the great fortune of living in this special area. More than once I’ve traveled through or hiked in some of the very regions outlined in this book and found myself thinking, “If only these mountains could talk.” Thanks to Nadia Dean’s tireless historic research and gifted storytelling, these mountains are talking! And, Wow! What stories they have to share!
As a fan of history and true crime, I have always loved to soak in good, juicy recounts of the fascinating world of the Wild-Wild West. Legendary tales of the likes of Doc Holliday, Wild Bill Hickock and Anne Oakley are well known and have been passed down for generations. No less captivating are the stories of Western North Carolina folks like Oma Hicks, Aaron Biggerstaff, Montraville (Mont) Ray and others introduced in Nadia Dean’s carefully researched “Murder in the Mountains”.
As I read through this special collection of enthralling tales of murder, mayhem, and vigilante justice, I realized the Wild-Wild West had nothing on life & crime in the Great Smoky Mountains during the 1800s. The rough terrain, remote locations, family ties, colorful characters and passionate ongoing feuds add to the intrigue of these stories. What is most fascinating to me is the motives for murder throughout these stories are not much different than the common motives of modern day murders – revenge, hatred, jealousy and lies. When you add alcohol to the mix of these inflamed emotions, the situation easily turns deadly. As expressed by the author herself, “Moonshine, guns, and hot tempers stole the lives of many young men.”
I was captivated from the early moments of the first story and could not put this book down until I finished the last. Author Nadia Dean writes with such excellence, I found myself completely engrossed in the quirks and qualms of each of the characters as well as learning so much about the era and this very special region. Once again, Nadia Dean has impressed me with her immense talent and special gift of storytelling.