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If Ever I Return, Pretty Peggy-O
Sharyn McCrumb
16 copies

Sheriff Spencer Arrowood investigates the threatening messages being sent to Peggy Muryan, a famous folksinger of the 1960s, who has returned to her hometown of Hamelin, Tennessee, in search of peace and quiet

From School Library Journal

McCrumb resurrects the 1960s through the planning of a twentieth high-school reunion for the Class of '66, complete with music, clothing styles, and school activities of the era. While reunion preparations are taking place, someone sets into motion the systematic terrorization of Peggy Muryan, a folk singer who buys a big home in Hamelin, Tennessee, with the intention of writing new material and making a comeback. But before she can compose a note, her dog is hanged, butchered, and left with a military insignia carved into his skin. A cryptic postcard leads to the discovery of the body of a young teen who resembles the singer as she appears on her best-known record album. The writing is enlivened with slices of humorous dialogue, unusual characters, and a fast-paced plot. For those discovering the fun of reading mysteries, this a captivating choice. --Pam Spencer, Jefferson Sci-Tech, Alexandria, VA