The Mystery of Beautiful Nell Cropsey

Reviews

“Bland Simpson conveys images for all senses and his characters are powerful and authentic. The story is a haunting one.”—Mostly Murder “The Mystery of Beautiful Nell Cropsey begs to be set to music. Haunting and elegiac as a folk ballad, the voices intertwine—soprano, tenor, and bass—in a blend of tragic mystery and raw pain.”—Margaret Maron, author of Bootlegger’s Daughter “Bland Simpson brings a whole culture brilliantly to life—all the sounds and sights of 'down East,' with wonderful dialogue and real, page-turning suspense. Life is stranger than fiction, especially in the case of Nell Cropsey.”—Lee Smith, author of The Devil’s Dream “Bland Simpson writes of a small town tragedy with words so vivid and powerful that you see, smell, hear, and taste these people and this era in time.”–Tim McLaurin, author of Keeper of the Moon “Simpson persuasively re-creates the decorously frenzied, boomtown atmosphere of turn-of-the-century Elizabeth City in the grip of a tabloid mystery complete with bloodhounds, anonymous tipsters, and a famous spiritualist.”—Kirkus Reviews “An arresting and elegant meditation on guilt and innocence and the inscrutability of human behavior.”—Philadelphia Inquirer “Simpson weaves a compelling story of beauty and despair.”—Richmond Times-Dispatch Expand reviews