Annals of crime from the Tarheel state cover ten murder cases, mostly from the 19th century and underline not only the drama of the killings but also the courtroom histrionics of the region and period. The shooting of General Grimes, the poisoning of Simpson, the disappearance of school teacher Clements, the unidentifiable body that fishermen found, the kidnaping of 8 year old Kenneth Beasley, the slaying of pregnant Naomi Wine, the death of Col. Nimrod Jarrett, the well-kept secret of the assassination of State Senator "Chicken" Stephens, the ballads that grew out of the killings of Charles Silver and Laura Foster - this is the roster of North Carolinian murders and it makes colorful - and sometimes challenging - reading. For the true-crime fanciers. (Kirkus Reviews)