This academic treatment of Christian sects in Appalachia falls a little short. Problems in the accuracy of treatment of the branches of the Stone-Campbell movements with which I am very familiar make me wonder how many other problems exist. McCauley's focus appears to be on the more independent and fundamentalist Baptist groups and upon holiness churches of various sorts. I suspect she concentrated her research on those groups and failed to thoroughly understand other groups mentioned. The academic tone will limit the book's appeal a great deal. While she mentioned snake-handling churches, she barely did so. (I'm just glad she didn't offer pictures of these people "lifting up the serpent.") ( )