The Blue Bottle Tree

by Nancy Hartney

“Even you move away, can’t never leave Georgia. Can’t untangle them roots.”
Nearly two decades ago, Susan “Pea” Butler left her home and family for New York. Now, she has been called back with dreadful Eve Butler, her sister-in-law and former flame, is dying. Susan Pea returns to Georgia to help set Eve's affairs in order. But, with every turn, festering and rotten secrets of liaisons, assault, and mysterious disappearances are bubbling to the surface.
Meanwhile, Eve, unbeknownst to Susan Pea, has asked Letta Davis, the Butler housekeeper, to undertake a dark task... Mourning Eve's impending death, worrying about the safety of her children, and raging at the injustice of her husband's death, Letta must decide if she can, or even wants to, carry out Eve's last request.
Set against the backdrop of Georgia in the summer of 1970, Susan Pea Butler and Letta Davis must navigate the dangers of a scheming and greedy world. They must decide what matters most, what is worth saving. More importantly, do they really want to escape this quagmire?

328 pages, Paperback

Published December 10, 2024

About the author

Nancy Hartney writes non-fiction and short stories. “Washed in Water: Tales from the South” is her debut collection of short stories July 2013.

Previously her short stories have appeared in Voices, a mid-west regional anthology, and Echoes of the Ozarks. Western fiction pieces appear in Cactus Country and Frontier Tales, print and e-zine editions.

Her non-fiction articles and photographs appear in The Chronicle of the Horse, Sidelines, and the Horsemen’s Roundup, where she writes on foxhunting, rodeo, horse events, and mule jumping. Her book reviews have appeared in the Ft. Worth (TX) Star Telegram, Fayetteville Free Weekly (AR); and, articles and photographs in American Iron, a motorcycle magazine. General interest pieces appear in the Northwest Arkansas Times, Ozark Mountaineer, and Flashback, the Washington County (AR) historical quarterly. Dead Mule, an e-zine, has published her work.

A member of the writing community, she works with the Ozark Writers League (MO), Ozark Creative Writers (AR), Tallahassee Writers Association (FL), and Oklahoma Writers Federation, Inc. She lives in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Reviews

[Gianna B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

An American Classic in Our Time

Set in 1970 Georgia, where the savage days of slavery were taboo to speak about yet still existed with raw emotions. Blacks "free to live" in fear, while resentment festered like an open wound. The tension Hartney creates throughout her historical novel is palpable, while described beneath a thin veil of Southern gentility and a splash of cool sweet tea. Her powerful prose thrusts the reader into American issues most don't want to face racism, slavery, rape, infidelity, sexuality, guns and murder.
Letta is the heroine, Janie and Elijiah are the hope for a more peaceful future.
Nancy Hartney has created a masterpiece with panoramic description and picture-perfect details of characters' gestures and dialog.
I thoroughly enjoyed!

[Jill Bowman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was some amazing writing. A hard look at some strong women, especially Letta, navigating life in the deep south of Georgia against some very difficult circumstances. Those circumstances are wrapped up in race during the time of the Vietnam war and mostly deal with trying to avoid the various abuses, big and less big (never small!) of the men in their world.
Hartney’s writing doesn’t lend itself to a quick skim. I read every word carefully, and I look forward to anything else that she writes.

[Peggy Konert · Rating 5 out of 5]

A complex, memorable novel set in in Georgia, post-Civil Rights Act that will keep you up nights. Hartney weaves a tale of love and hate, loyalty, and conflict that you can’t put down. Amid sweet tea, biscuits and apple pie they dance around threats and violence against themselves and their families. Three women struggle to save each other and escape at the same time. Letta the heroine uses the conjure woman, haints and the blue bottle tree to navigate their way out.

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story made me angry so many times in all the right ways. There are characters you love to hate, situations you can't help but rage at, and choices made or not made that make you want to scream. All the while, the writing is compelling, the setting is richly described, and the characters feel wonderfully real. I loved the strong female leads and there was an interesting queer spin on one of them (though I won't say which - spoilers!).

[Christine Hilker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved author's descriptions of life in the South. A great story of family dynamics, kept me up late to see what happens. Well worth the read; a nice escape from daily life.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

No surprises but good read