THE BALLAD OF TOM DOOLEY A Ballad Novel

Have you ever wondered what the story is behind the song? Sharyn McCrumb has, and even if you’ve never heard it, you’ll relish her artful Appalachian tale of handsome but feckless Tom Dula and his beautiful true love, Ann Melton, to whom he was, however, unfaithful and who was, anyway, married to somebody else. The character telling most of the story and making all the gears turn is a cold-hearted little sociopath named Pauline, resentful poor cousin of both Ann and the victim, Laura Foster. Shannon McManus gives Pauline a mild, self-satisfied voice that is truly chilling. Eric Dove comes in to give the ending with a highly satisfying crusty Southern old-man voice for lawyer Zebulon Vance, who had defended Tom at trial. B.G. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2011]