Hard Row

Written by Margaret Maron

Narrated by C. J. Critt

New York Times best-selling author Margaret Maron has garnered Edgar, Agatha, Anthony, Macavity, and American Mystery awards for her captivating series set in rural North Carolina. When a local farmer-known for his severe treatment of migrant workers-turns up savagely murdered, Judge Deborah and her new Deputy Sheriff husband soon wade into a quagmire of exploitation. But as murders mushroom, the two uncover secrets that threaten both their community and their new life together.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Nov 26, 2007
• ISBN: 9781428199118

Reviews for Hard Row

[fernemysteryreader · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

In reading a 'stash' of novels in the Deborah Knott Mysteries series that have been on my tbr shelves, I began with Book 2, and continued to read Book 3, Book 6, and Book 7. In reading Book 13, there is welcome news for the series readers but for me it was also bittersweet in missing the developments of Book 8-12. I'm sure that at some point I will read all the books I missed and including up to when the series ended in 2015 with Book 20. I can easily imagine that fans of the series eagerly await "Tales from Colleton County" with anticipated publication date of April 30, 2020. The author is said to have "gathered some of Deborah's shorter adventures...a dozen stories of mystery and mayhem beginning with the very first tale from Colleton County, North Carolina, and concluding with a never-before-published Deborah Knott story."I was excited to see that "Deborah Knott's Family Tree" is again available on the opposite page of Chapter 1 as it is very useful. The 1st time that I viewed the family tree was in Book 6, "Home Fires." After reading several books in the series right in a row I'm more familiar with Deborah's large family but it is a good resource and I wish it would have been available in the first book I read in the series which was Book 2, "Southern Discomfort.”This novel continued a feature which I enjoy as it provides a "heading" and/or very effective "lead-in" at the beginning of each chapter. In this novel the italicized sentences are verses of hymns which are credited on the copyright page: All chapter epigraphs are from "Profitable Farming in the Southern States," by J. W. Fitz. “Assisted by a Large Corps of Prominent and Successful Agricultural Writers,” 1890. Franklin Publishing Company, Richmond, Virginia. Margaret Maron's selected epigraphs are as true to farming today as they were when written in 1890.In this series Margaret Maron used the foundation of a strong, independent female, Deborah Knott and a large and yet close-knit family to explore diverse issues from rape to elections to building homes for single mothers to racism to hurricanes to the challenges of farming from the family history of being tobacco farmers, the initial use of pesticides to the advent of the younger generation trying to explain the desire and need for organic farming. The writing is compelling yet straightforward. I also appreciated the sense of humor the author gave to Deborah Knott as throughout the series Deborah has 2 sides of her brain quietly talking to her - the preacher and the pragmatist.I really enjoyed this series. Each book can easily be read as a stand-alone but to enjoy reading multiple novels in the series consecutively has been pure joy.

[jepeters333 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

As Judge Deborah Knott presides over a case involving a barroom brawl, it becomes clear that deep resentments over race, class, and illegal immigration are simmering just below the surface in the countryside. An early spring sun has begun to shine like a blessing on the fertile fields of North Carolina, but along with the seeds sprouting in the thawing soil, violence is growing as well. Mutilated body parts have appeared along the back roads of Colleton County, and the search for the victim's identity and for that of his killer will lead Deborah and her new husband, Sheriff's Deputy Dwight Bryant, into the desperate realm of undocumented farm workers exploited for cheap labor.In the meantime, Deborah and Dwight continue to adjust to married life and to having Dwight's eight-year-old son, Cal, live with them full time. When another body is found, these newlyweds will discover dark truths that threaten to permanently alter the serenity of their rural surroundings and their new life together.

[hopeevey · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

If you're looking for a cozy, (a character driven mystery story that focuses on the people involved as much as the mystery) look no further. I'm glad I listened to the audiobook version. It's slow pace is well suited to being told, rather than read.

When I read it I thought it was the first in the series. Come to find out, it's the 13th. Oops. Originally, I was willing to forgive some of the slowness as setting the scene - but by book 13, the scene is already well set. The writing is okay, and the characters have a lot of depth, but the mystery took a distant 2nd or 3rd place to the goings ons in the characters' lives. I may pick up some of the others in this series, but only if I find them at the library as audiobooks.

[jamespurcell · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Body parts are found strewn across Colleton County, no doubt its murder but who is the victim. Meanwhile, the Judge starts learning to be a stepmom as well as how to be a hockey fan. Lots of insights into farming and the cost that "guest workers" pay to earn a living. Another good story about Deborah's extensive and growing family and their changing roles in the once rural South.

[daniexj · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This novel seemed to be all about what some of the characters in the book call 'guest workers' and one of the owners of a business in town. The mystery starts with the discovery of a right hand and then the discovery of another right hand. Needless to say it was more of a gruesome novel than her previous Deb Knott novels.I also thought that the family stuff, mostly the new Knott/Bryant family and how Cal was dealing with all the change that was being thrown at him, was great.There was also a subplot about domestic violence and an interesting little interlude about non-handicapped people parking in handicapped spaces (also, someone other than Deb got a bit of a love story, that was cool).Unfortunately there was one subplot that seemed to get dropped, the one about the tension between one of the clerks of the court and Deb. Still, overall, it was an interesting book. The mystery wasn't exceedingly complicated, but, it kept me guessing enough to stay engaged with the novel and as usual the character interactions were stupendous.

[dukefan86 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Enjoyed the eastern North Carolina setting and interesting family dynamics in this one! I like the narrator in this audiobook series, too.

[auntieknickers · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Margaret Maron's first novel in the Judge Deborah Knott series, BOOTLEGGER'S DAUGHTER, won the Edgar for Best First Novel, and the series just keeps getting better. With the Judge's marriage to a sheriff's deputy, elements of the police procedural creep in to the amateur sleuth format, and it's a good addition. Ms. Maron is also not afraid to tackle the various social problems of the New South (not that they aren't problems elsewhere, but North Carolina is where her books are set). In this one, it's the influx of Hispanic immigrants, the problems of farmers, and even the Iraq war, tangentially. As always, Ms. Maron gives us the flavor of North Carolina speech and culture without going overboard. Highly recommended.

[bookswoman · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Deborah and Dwight are dealing with being both newlyweds and full-time parents while both are trying to keep up with very challenging jobs. When stray body parts start showing up all over Colleton County Dwight is chasing leads and Deborah is trying to help while not getting in the way of the investigations.

There are at least three different stories running through this story as well as another two or three as subtext. It is that layering and weaving together of lives in and around crime and punishment that keep me coming back to the Judge Knott stories. Both Deborah and Dwight are very bright people, they talk about things that they can without compromising each other (with her a judge and him a cop there can be conflict of interest issues) yet both manage to realize that it is important to trust the other to do their job. The very large family that Deborah has just bring interest and drama to the story. I loved the sub-story about the "younger generation" getting some acreage and deciding what they can grow organically -- all the while the "older generation" is not happy about it because they remember what it was like to try and get crops that were pest or disease free.

I'm catching up, only a couple more books to read and then I'll be like all Maron's other fans, waiting impatiently for the next in the series.

[janeaustennut · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Enough, of a good thing. I quiting the Deborah Knott Series for now. Time to move on to other reads. This was a great series but, 13 now read is enough.

[tututhefirst_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoy the Deborah Knott mysteries. The plot develops well: body parts keep appearing and law enforcement is faced with a variety of well-developed, believable characters. There's the about to be (or is she already?) ex-wife, disgruntled employees, and a side death (is it a homicide?). These even say cuss words once in a while!. I wouldn't call this a cozy, but it's also not a blood and guts psycho thriller. There is violence, sex, tension and many candidates for the 'perp' so you are kept guessing til the end. This one really surprised me, something I like when I read a mystery. 4 stars.

[mooose_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

One reason I like this series is that time does not stand still. Kids get older, people move, jobs change, etc. The mystery isn't always the strong part of the story but, oh well. :)