Status
Available
Call number
Series
Genres
Publication
Grand Central Publishing (2003), Edition: Reissue, Mass Market Paperback, 304 pages
Description
Best-selling author Margaret Maron is a winner of the Edgar, Anthony, Agatha, Macavity, and American Mystery Awards. Her captivating mysteries feature quick-witted Deborah Knott, a lawyer, district judge, and devout North Carolinian. At the annual Harvest Festival carnival, while everyone else is playing games and having fun, someone commits murder. As Deborah investigates, she must struggle to win a carny's confidence while a dark web of dangerous secrets begins to unravel.
User reviews
LibraryThing member southernbooklady
Summer may be winding down but the heat is still on in Colleton County, North Carolina, the mythical piedmont county at the center of Judge Deborah Knott’s circuit. It may be October but the days are still hot and the nights are still warm. It is the season of county fairs and harvest festivals,
But she is the only one to find a dead body behind the change booth that has eaten all her quarters.
This installment in the widely popular Deborah Knott series plunges readers into the weird and fascinating world of the traveling carnival. “Carny people” are a breed apart, a hold-over from a bygone era and the last vestige of a gypsy culture in rural America. They come to town for a few weeks, set up their rides and games and rigged contests, and then disappear for a year, their pockets heavy with your quarters.
Because they have no ties with the community, everyone- including Judge Knott- assumes that the young man she found beaten to death was killed by someone else with the Carnival. After all, it isn’t like he could have known anyone in town, could he? But a bit of investigation turns up the fact that young Brazos Ames was making a decent living on the side by purchasing the contents of storage lockers at auction and selling them on eBay. There was nothing illegal about the practice, but everyone has a few secrets they keep closeted away, and Brazos Ames seemed to have come across a fair number of them. Suddenly, he seems to have more connections with the locals that any of them care to admit.
It is a sticky situation for Judge Knott, who knows that most of her extensive family had been through the gates on the night of the murder and that a few of her kin weren’t admitting it. Complicating things even further is the fact that the matriarch of the carnival family- one Tallahassee Ames- had been in her court only a few weeks earlier, seeking damages from two local rowdies who had tried to destroy one of her rides. The court case had been pretty straight forward and the woman had won her suit. Judge Knott had forgotten the entire thing until now, when she has to face Tallahassee Ames not as a confident and tough businesswoman but as a bereft mother who seems shocked, but not surprised, that her son has gotten himself killed.
The title of Maron’s book comes from an old carny saying that “a quick dime is better than a slow dollar”. It is one of many aspects of carnival life that the author fairly revels in: “…there were enough neon tubes and chasing lights to put stars in children’s eyes and make their grandparents remember their own first carnivals. Barkers with hand-held cordless microphones or makeshift megaphones stood before colorfully lit stands, exhorting people to step right up to the best game around –“a winner every time, folks!”. Even the slightly seamy side of the life- the trailer life, the cracked paint, the games slightly skewed so no one could really win the expensive prizes- is related with more relish than you’ll ever see on a Colleton county hot dog. If fact, the author is so enamored of her subject that she included a glossary of carny terms at the back of the book, in case reader’s hadn’t caught that a “donniker” was a toilet by the context of the sentence.
The real pleasure of reading Margaret Maron, though, is that readers won’t need that glossary. The author is a fine writer, in or out of the mystery genre, who excels in creating that all too rare creature- a novel in a series that stands perfectly fine on its own. Readers who have been following the career of Judge Knott through Maron’s nine other books and multiple Edgar Awards will find themselves once again surrounded by Deborah’s extended and extensive and exuberant family. But anyone new to the series will have no trouble getting their bearings. It is rather like going to a family reunion for the first time- a bewildering group of people is soon sorted out by a few simple introductions and your basic welcoming Southern hospitality. Maron doesn’t bother with long explanations or past histories unless it is relevant to the story. For the rest, she has a family tree at the beginning of the book to help newcomers navigate.
What really carries this story is the setting in all of its loving detail, and the plausibility of the plot. Maron has a fine grasp of the kinds of things even very ordinary people prefer to lock away, and a good idea of what could happen if the skeletons in our closets suddenly started showing up for sale on eBay. It’s food for thought, and not just a few funnel cakes. Slow Dollar only proves why Margaret Maron is North Carolina’s most popular novelists, in any genre.
Show More
and Deborah Knott is only one of hundreds of people to show up at the local carnival to ride the tilt-a-whirls, eat funnel cakes and try to win a stuffed animal.But she is the only one to find a dead body behind the change booth that has eaten all her quarters.
This installment in the widely popular Deborah Knott series plunges readers into the weird and fascinating world of the traveling carnival. “Carny people” are a breed apart, a hold-over from a bygone era and the last vestige of a gypsy culture in rural America. They come to town for a few weeks, set up their rides and games and rigged contests, and then disappear for a year, their pockets heavy with your quarters.
Because they have no ties with the community, everyone- including Judge Knott- assumes that the young man she found beaten to death was killed by someone else with the Carnival. After all, it isn’t like he could have known anyone in town, could he? But a bit of investigation turns up the fact that young Brazos Ames was making a decent living on the side by purchasing the contents of storage lockers at auction and selling them on eBay. There was nothing illegal about the practice, but everyone has a few secrets they keep closeted away, and Brazos Ames seemed to have come across a fair number of them. Suddenly, he seems to have more connections with the locals that any of them care to admit.
It is a sticky situation for Judge Knott, who knows that most of her extensive family had been through the gates on the night of the murder and that a few of her kin weren’t admitting it. Complicating things even further is the fact that the matriarch of the carnival family- one Tallahassee Ames- had been in her court only a few weeks earlier, seeking damages from two local rowdies who had tried to destroy one of her rides. The court case had been pretty straight forward and the woman had won her suit. Judge Knott had forgotten the entire thing until now, when she has to face Tallahassee Ames not as a confident and tough businesswoman but as a bereft mother who seems shocked, but not surprised, that her son has gotten himself killed.
The title of Maron’s book comes from an old carny saying that “a quick dime is better than a slow dollar”. It is one of many aspects of carnival life that the author fairly revels in: “…there were enough neon tubes and chasing lights to put stars in children’s eyes and make their grandparents remember their own first carnivals. Barkers with hand-held cordless microphones or makeshift megaphones stood before colorfully lit stands, exhorting people to step right up to the best game around –“a winner every time, folks!”. Even the slightly seamy side of the life- the trailer life, the cracked paint, the games slightly skewed so no one could really win the expensive prizes- is related with more relish than you’ll ever see on a Colleton county hot dog. If fact, the author is so enamored of her subject that she included a glossary of carny terms at the back of the book, in case reader’s hadn’t caught that a “donniker” was a toilet by the context of the sentence.
The real pleasure of reading Margaret Maron, though, is that readers won’t need that glossary. The author is a fine writer, in or out of the mystery genre, who excels in creating that all too rare creature- a novel in a series that stands perfectly fine on its own. Readers who have been following the career of Judge Knott through Maron’s nine other books and multiple Edgar Awards will find themselves once again surrounded by Deborah’s extended and extensive and exuberant family. But anyone new to the series will have no trouble getting their bearings. It is rather like going to a family reunion for the first time- a bewildering group of people is soon sorted out by a few simple introductions and your basic welcoming Southern hospitality. Maron doesn’t bother with long explanations or past histories unless it is relevant to the story. For the rest, she has a family tree at the beginning of the book to help newcomers navigate.
What really carries this story is the setting in all of its loving detail, and the plausibility of the plot. Maron has a fine grasp of the kinds of things even very ordinary people prefer to lock away, and a good idea of what could happen if the skeletons in our closets suddenly started showing up for sale on eBay. It’s food for thought, and not just a few funnel cakes. Slow Dollar only proves why Margaret Maron is North Carolina’s most popular novelists, in any genre.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Joycepa
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
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.
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
Show More
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.
Show Less
LibraryThing member FicusFan
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
Fun, light, fast, heartwarming read.
Another very well done book. It works in the
Show More
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.
Show Less
LibraryThing member JaneAustenNut
Great Deborah Knott Mystery book!
LibraryThing member bookswoman
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
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.
I was glad to see
Show More
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.
Show Less
LibraryThing member DanieXJ
Dwight has a girlfriend, sorta. And the Carnival's in town, and somehow with it come new Knott family members. I'm pretty sure at this point that the Knott family is solely responsible for the over population of the world.
There's also a murder of one of the carnies and that brings Dwight into the
I have to say that, unfortunately some of the carnival slang went right over my head (I'm still not exactly sure why a bathroom/toilet is a donnicker). It probably would have helped if I had realized that there was a glossary in the back too, oops.
My favorite part of the book was the Dwight subplot. Although I like the character of Deb, Dwight has always been my favorite character in the Knott series, he's both an extremely complicated and yet very simple character. And in this novel not only does he get a doosey of a story line, but it's a bit of a cliffhanger too. Very nice.
There's also a murder of one of the carnies and that brings Dwight into the
Show More
novel. Also, as usual, Deborah gets herself oh so very mixed up in the investigation that looks at both the carnies and the townies for who the killer is.I have to say that, unfortunately some of the carnival slang went right over my head (I'm still not exactly sure why a bathroom/toilet is a donnicker). It probably would have helped if I had realized that there was a glossary in the back too, oops.
My favorite part of the book was the Dwight subplot. Although I like the character of Deb, Dwight has always been my favorite character in the Knott series, he's both an extremely complicated and yet very simple character. And in this novel not only does he get a doosey of a story line, but it's a bit of a cliffhanger too. Very nice.
Show Less
LibraryThing member beckyhaase
SLOW DOLLAR by Margaret Maron
Fans of Deborah Knott will appreciate this novel that introduces some long lost relatives, visits a carnival and finds murder among the rides and “stores.” You will learn quite a bit about carnivals and the carnies that populate them. Deborah’s relatives are kind,
Maron supplies us with another tightly crafted, engaging mystery. Although the 8th tale in this series, you can read this book without having read any of the others. The family tree is helpful in identifying all of Deborah’s many brothers and their progeny.
A satisfying read. 4 of 5 stars
Fans of Deborah Knott will appreciate this novel that introduces some long lost relatives, visits a carnival and finds murder among the rides and “stores.” You will learn quite a bit about carnivals and the carnies that populate them. Deborah’s relatives are kind,
Show More
forgiving, mean spirited, long suffering, angry – you name it. They are all here just like in real life. Maron supplies us with another tightly crafted, engaging mystery. Although the 8th tale in this series, you can read this book without having read any of the others. The family tree is helpful in identifying all of Deborah’s many brothers and their progeny.
A satisfying read. 4 of 5 stars
Show Less
LibraryThing member DrLed
Synopsis: The carnival is in town and Deborah goes along to see what is happening. At one of the games, Deborah finds the person who is supposed to be running the event dead with nickels stuffed in this mouth. What makes this worse is that he's the son of a long lost niece who actually owns the
Review: This was interesting since the setting was in a carnival and the author provided some background for the context. The plot was also interesting in that it didn't telegraph the culprit until the last few pages.
Show More
carnival. In other news, Deborah and Dwight finally find each other.Review: This was interesting since the setting was in a carnival and the author provided some background for the context. The plot was also interesting in that it didn't telegraph the culprit until the last few pages.
Show Less
LibraryThing member jamespurcell
Carnival comes to Colleton County and provides a corpse with its mouth stuffed with quarters. When the body is identified, a relationship with the Knott's family is discovered. Solving the crime gets a bit untidy with another murder and needs to be resolved before the carnival moves on. As always a
Show More
good story from this fine author with little twists sprinkled throughout so that the reader sustains their interest. Show Less
LibraryThing member laytonwoman3rd
No. 9 in the Judge Deborah Knott series. This one was a carnival ride...no, really. Maron likes to pick a little world and make it real for us; she's done it with the North Carolina furniture industry; the realm of pottery-making; the feud between fishermen and land-developers along the Atlantic
Review written July 2014
Show More
coast....and now, she has taken us into the caravans and grab wagons of the small traveling carnival, where humans are no more nor less greedy, venial and murderous than they are anywhere else. Deborah's family and love life continue to provide emotional ups and downs for her and for us. May it ever be thus. This series is not getting old.Review written July 2014
Show Less
LibraryThing member jepeters333
A moonlit autumn night brings out half the county to fill the Tilt-O-Whirl with squealing riders and the dirt around Polly's Pitch Plate with losers' quarters. But in an air nostalgically sweet with caramel apple and spun sugar, one crooked game ends with a brutal death ... and Judge Deborah Knott
Show More
will discover more than a body. For beneath the carnival's razzle-dazzle surface swirl dark secrets that Deborah has kept hidden for almost twenty years. Now as family loyalties war with the demands of the law, she must struggle to win a carny's trust-before the killer pins a bull's-eye on yet another victim. Show Less
Subjects
Language
Original publication date
2001
Physical description
304 p.; 6.8 inches
ISBN
0446612979 / 9780446612975