In the tiny mountain town of Quartz Creek, North Carolina, three little girls disappeared. One girl returned weeks later, but the other two were never seen again. All that could be found in their places were three applehead dolls. Ten years later, private investigator Annie Gore is hired to dig into the past and uncover the truth, hidden beneath layers of secrets and folklore. The small Appalachian town may have forgotten about the case, but Annie’s arrival stirs up old feelings and forgotten tension.
I am often skeptical of mystery novels — I find them predictable, and they rarely have me on the edge of my seat — but I was optimistic as I opened up Archer Sullivan’s “The Witch’s Orchard.” I was curious if folklore, witches and crows could be incorporated into a story and still leave readers with a reasonable explanation, or if Sullivan planned to write off the mystery as a mere supernatural incident.
As a ninth-generation Appalachian, author Archer Sullivan brings liveliness to the town of Quartz Creek while addressing the stereotypes surrounding residents. Like Sullivan, Annie is originally from Appalachia, a part of her identity that forms her passion for the case and the people involved. Some of the townspeople led lives similar to Annie’s before she got away from the mountains — particularly Mandy Hoyle, the mother of one of the missing children. Mandy is treated the same way that her mother had been, strengthening her personal ties to the case as Annie skillfully moves through the town, slowly unwinding the mysteries it holds.
Accustomed to the Appalachian way of life, Annie quickly learns the specific traditions and beliefs of the townspeople. The town is built on folklore that has been passed down through generations, and one tale in particular seems to hold significance to Annie’s case: the legend of The Witch of Quartz Creek. Everyone has heard a unique version of the story; similarly, they each have a different story to tell in regard to the kidnappings. These differing tales lend themselves to an authentic Appalachian story, emphasizing the idea that oral storytelling plays a crucial role in the community’s culture. Annie takes it upon herself to view each perspective like a puzzle piece making up a bigger picture.
The storytelling and incorporation of folklore in “The Witch’s Orchard” were captivating and contributed to a darker and more intriguing story, almost convincing readers that magic was the reason behind the disappearances. However, it wouldn’t feel right if the experiences of the townspeople were diminished by magical explanations at the end of the story. The novel includes real-world issues, with tangible emotions attached to them, and a magical explanation would likely take away from the impact of the story. Sullivan successfully incorporates the otherworldly and the rational — the mystical tales providing clues and foreshadowing for the case, without explaining them. The potential magic throughout the novel added to the idea that in some Appalachian communities, disturbances may go unexplained — brushed aside and attributed to the mysteries of the land. Sullivan’s resolution provided the story with a genuine meaning and gave justice to the community.
But somehow, despite all the second-hand storytelling in the novel, we lack most of the details surrounding Annie’s past. All that readers are given is the implication that poverty and abuse played a role in her childhood, despite Annie being the main character with whom we spend all of our time. The story doesn’t attempt to be a character study, but it suffers from its laser focus on the kidnapping case. Annie’s lack of depth leaves readers with unresolved questions, distancing them from the story. Revealing crucial information about Annie’s childhood could have forged a greater connection between her and the characters of Quartz Creek, as well as given more dimension to the Appalachian community the book attempts to represent.
For all that, “The Witch’s Orchard” still constructs a captivating tale with a layered narrative and different perspectives. It blends together folklore and reality, so much so that there is a fine, almost invisible line between what’s true and what is just part of the town’s lore. It is both refreshing and interesting to read the story from an Appalachian author, as storytelling is a crucial element of the community’s culture. Despite initial skepticism of the story’s magical elements, they were valuable for crafting an Appalachian mystery that both accurately represents these communities and is sure to captivate readers.
Daily Arts Writer Meagan Ismail can be reached at mismai@umich.edu.
