GHOSTS OF THE SOUTHERN MOUNTAINS AND APPALACHIA

Brian Troxell's solid performance effectively complements this enticing collection of ghost stories and legends set in the mountains of Appalachia. As with Roberts' other collections, the stories are not so much violent or gory, but spooky and mysterious--an atmosphere effectively conjured by Troxell's storytelling. The stories range in length as they interweave legends of ghosts of Confederate soldiers, women scorned and murdered, and helpful ghosts of long-gone settlers with present-day ghostly encounters. Troxell infuses his fluid narration with accents, appropriate pacing, and modulations that bring out twang and drawl of mountain men and Southern soldiers. Between the evocative writing and Troxell's reading, listeners can glean a vivid sense of place and history. M.F. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2017]