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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<\/a>. 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\u2019s arrival stirs up old feelings and forgotten tension.<\/p>\n I am often skeptical of mystery novels \u2014 I find them predictable, and they rarely have me on the edge of my seat \u2014 but I was optimistic as I opened up Archer Sullivan\u2019s \u201cThe Witch\u2019s Orchard.\u201d 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.<\/p>\n As a ninth-generation Appalachian, author Archer Sullivan <\/a> brings liveliness to the town of Quartz Creek while addressing the stereotypes<\/a> surrounding residents<\/a>. 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\u2019s before she got away from the mountains \u2014 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n Accustomed to the Appalachian way of life, Annie quickly learns the specific traditions and beliefs<\/a> 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\u2019s 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<\/a> plays a crucial role in the community\u2019s culture. Annie takes it upon herself to view each perspective like a puzzle piece making up a bigger picture.\u00a0<\/p>\n