Sophia Rose Reviews Big Swamp by Kelly Dean Jolley

Today Sophia Rose is back reviewing, Big Swamp by Kelly Dean Jolley, a Southern Small town Mystery.
Enjoy!

Big Swamp by Kelly Dean Jolley

Mystery

Publisher: Meryton Press

Published:  8.11.22
ASIN : ‎ B0B8FR8X1G

Pages:  300

Rating: 4.5 stars

Format: eARC

Source: Meryton Press

Sellers: Amazon

ADD TO: GoodReads

Amazon Blurb:

A Private Eye in a One-Eyed Place?

Ford Merrick is a softhearted detective in a sleepy southern town, Opelika, Alabama—a “one-eyed, blinking sort of place.” A provoking visit from beautiful Rachel Gunner complicates his work and his life. This stunning woman asks Ford to tail her uncle and discover what he is up to. Taking the case, Ford quickly finds himself swamped in mysteries: Who is Rachel's uncle, and what is his secret business? Then there’s the mystery of an earlier death at Noble Hall where Rachel and her uncle now live. But the greatest mystery may be Rachel Gunner herself. Mired, Ford struggles to find his way, unearths tragedies old and new, and exposes his heart to a hard test.

 

Sophia Rose's Review:

A small town in the Deep South, adorkable PI addicted to detective noir fiction, and a series of mysteries on his plate including the cool, complex woman who hires him with a winking witty tone made Big Swamp a book I couldn’t pass up.

 

Ford Merrick is a transplanted southerner which, to many locals means, even after years, he is still suspect.  But, in truth, Ford’s something of an eclectic fitting right in with the rest of the Opelika residents who gather at Ed’s for gossip, cheer on Auburn, attend church pastored by a former Marine, endure the summer heat and humidity, and keep track of their neighbors like it is an Olympic sport.  Ford, with his degrees in Lit and Psych now lives with his gorgeous doctor sister in their parents’ house and runs a private investigation firm in town with his very strange best friend at the reception desk. He’s content with his life as it is until the epitome of a femme fatale right out of a detective book strolls into his office and hires him for a job.

 

It took me a minute or two to get used to the style of the writing, but then I settled in for a good time with Big Swamp.  It’s a slow builder choosing to introduce the reader to the way of things in the Deep South of Alabama, the people, and Ford’s situation and then intro the case- or rather cases- he has land in his lap.

Ford is an interesting blend of outsider- insider who is part of things, but also on the outskirts.  He’s got awkward, average joe down to a tee and he’s well-liked except by those like the old king jock popular guy back in high school and his crowd, but Ford’s tongue-tied ‘ah shucks’ demeanor hides an observant, intelligent guy who doesn’t miss the nuances or the implications- unless it’s his own romantic entanglements.

He’s got his high school prom date Ruth stacked up against newcomer and mysterious woman, Rachel.  His friends and family have opinions about his love life and Ford listens, but he also is only swayed by his own internal compass.

As to the mysteries, Ford is hired to find out what Rachel’s rich Uncle Wylie is up to, he’s hired by the local attorney to discover if wealthy crazy Jane Pimberly died naturally, and his assistant picks up a case of theft out at the local plant.  Ford’s got his hands full and seems to be getting nowhere as far as others are concerned, but he’s tracking and gets there in the end and it was fun to be along for the ride.

By the time Big Swamp wrapped up, I was immersed in the story and getting a kick out of it and a little sad when it concluded.  Those who love a wink to old-style detective noir, Deep South roots, eclectic characters, and a rambling “soft-boiled” mystery should definitely take the plunge on Big Swamp.

 

Author’s Bio:
I am a Goodwin-Philpott Endowed Chair in Religion and Professor of Philosophy at Auburn University.  I work in the theory of judgment, philosophical psychology, metaphilosophy, the philosophy of religion, the history of twentieth century philosophy (analytical and phenomenological) and ancient philosophy.  I am also interested in skepticism, aesthetics and philosophical theology.  I am much indebted to the work of Anscombe, Murdoch, Weil, Wittgenstein, Frege, Kierkegaard, Kant, St. Thomas Aquinas and Plato.  I am also a big fan of Plutarch, Montaigne, Samuel Johnson, Emerson and Thoreau.  I am devoted to Austen’s novels.

Outside of philosophy, I am a rank amateur poet, a reader of literature, a watcher of football, a smoker of pipes, and an admirer of american pit bull terriers.  But most importantly, I am the husband of a wonderful wife, Shanna, and father of two wonderful children, Eli and Sydney; and, I am a member of the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Website:  https://kellydeanjolley.com/

 

 

Sophia’s Bio:

Sophia is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing, and gardening. Encouraged and supported by an incredible man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes Region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and Chocolate.

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