The Holy Ghost Speakeasy and Revival

by Terry Roberts

Jedidiah Robbins is a man on a crusade. From town to town, his Gospel train rides the rails of 1920s Appalachia, spreading the Good News with his daughter and a loyal group of roustabouts in tow. But Jedidiah's traveling revival company has a secret: in addition to offering the gifts of the Holy Spirit, it also delivers spirits of another kind. Prohibition is in full swing, but The Sword of the Lord train keeps the speakeasies in the towns it visits in business by providing the best that mountain stills have to offer. While beyond the gaze of federal agents, the operation eventually runs afoul of an overzealous small town sheriff and a corrupt judge, setting in motion a series of events that could land them all in chains. Told with haunting lyricism, this is the story of a preacher full of contradictions, a man for whom the way is never straight and narrow. It bends like the river, a river that leads him in the paths of a different brand of righteousness--and perhaps even to salvation.

Genres: Fiction, Book Club, Historical Fiction, Southern, Contemporary

336 pages, Paperback

Published August 21, 2018

About the author

Terry Roberts is the author of seven celebrated novels: A Short Time to Stay Here (winner of the Willie Morris Prize for Southern Fiction and the Sir Walter Raleigh Award for Fiction); That Bright Land (winner of the Thomas Wolfe Literary Award, the James Still Award for Writing About the Appalachian South and the Sir Walter Raleigh Award for Fiction); and, The Holy Ghost Speakeasy and Revival (a finalist for the 2019 Sir Walter Raleigh Award for Fiction), My Mistress’ Eyes are Raven Black (Finalist for the 2022 Best Paperback Original Novel by the International Thriller Writers Organization), The Sky Club (a finalist for the 2023 Thomas Wolfe Literary Award), The Devil Hath a Pleasing Shape, and In the Fullness of Time (Shortlisted for Book of the Year by the Southern Literary Review).

Roberts is a lifelong teacher and educational reformer as well as an award-winning novelist. He is a native of the mountains of Western North Carolina—born and bred. His ancestors include six generations of mountain farmers, as well as the bootleggers and preachers who appear in his novels. He was raised close by his grandmother, Belva Anderson Roberts, who was born in 1888 and passed to him the magic of the past along with the grit and humor of mountain story telling.

Roberts is the Director Emeritus of the National Paideia Center and lives in Asheville, North Carolina with his wife, Lynn.

Reviews

[Shelby *trains flying monkeys* · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm going to admit that I thought this book was more of a grit lit type book when I requested it. Imagine my surprise when I started reading it and sorta found it that it had a religious type feeling to it?


I know right?

The book is set in the 1920's and it follows a traveling preaching man. Preaching is not all that this caravan partakes in though. There is a group that goes ahead into town to help spread some joy before the preaching begins.


The whole time I was reading this I fully expected it to take a different turn that where it ended up. The thing is? I didn't mind where it went.
Full of complex characters and written in a way that did not feel "preachy" to me..this book was a whole different type than one you would normally see me reading. Once I started it though I just couldn't stop reading.

I don't even know who to recommend this book too other than Char and Kelly who have already read it. If you are open to flawed characters with a religious almost mystical bend to it...then come on in. It's written beautifully.



Booksource: Edelweiss in exchange for review.

[Char · Rating 4 out of 5]

The American South in the 1920's was an interesting region. With religious folk preaching against the sins of drinking alcohol, and prohibition making it a prominent job option for those looking to make some money, here comes Jedidiah Robbins on his gospel train. With his team selling bibles, (and bottles out the back), he is a man full of contradiction. He is what made this book so compulsively readable.

Jed and his group tour mostly in Appalachia and find themselves in trouble there from time to time. With local lawman trying to keep law and order, with the KKK, (unhappy with the colorful nature of Jed's team), and the additional appearance of H.L. Mencken trying to unveil a scam, it seems there is never a dull moment.

I myself am not a religious type and I usually do not appreciate novels that attempt to preach at me, however stealthily that attempt may be. I do think some of that was going on here. It was my fascination with Jed Robbins that kept me going. I admit there were a few other characters that interested me as well-oddly enough-one of them was God himself.

I think if Jed were a through and through man of the cloth this book would have been boring. But Jed was a man of the world, and even if it wasn't he himself that was distributing that bootleg liquor, it was his team doing so, and it was with his full knowledge. They did some other things that many would deem ungodly as well. Yet somehow Jed walked the walk of a true believer and he was sometimes so sweet and kind, he brought a tear to my eye.

A quick note about the writing-Terry Roberts has a deft hand with language and that's another reason this book was so difficult to put down. I have several highlighted passages that I thought were just beautiful, but I can't quote them here until the book is released. (August 21, 2018, people! Mark your calendars!) A few times I just had to marvel over sentences that flowed like a mountain stream through my mind and emptied into the river of my heart. I may not be a religious person, but I am a spiritual person and the language here touched my spirit.

THE HOLY GHOST SPEAKEASY AND REVIVAL is worthy of your time. Even if you're not religious, even if historical fiction isn't your true thing, (I'm not and it isn't, but the title sucked me in), this is a wonderfully written book that will lead you down through the paths of Appalachia into an America that is long gone, but fondly remembered here.

Highly recommended!

*Thanks to Edelweiss and Turner Publishing for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it.*

[Kelly (and the Book Boar) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/

“That, gentlemen, is what I call nasty good.”

“Sin in a jar.”



Hey David Joy, you should probably read this book. See how the book pushing works both ways???? The only difference is Joy won’t see this and I stalk see everything he posts. But seriously, if you are a fan of David Joy, there’s a solid chance Terry Roberts will work for you. Strange too because the two authors have very different approaches to similar types of characters/locales.

Char gets complete credit for me even hearing about this book, let alone braving my inability to work the interwebs enough in order to navigate my way through the request process over at the oh-so-not-user-friendly Edelweiss. The title alone sold me. And the title doesn’t lie – this absolutely was a story of a traveling troupe which were part revival show and part speakeasy. I was counting on it being my usual slice of fictional South and definitely found myself asking . . . .



Imagine my surprise when I found I was reading . . . . a religious story? Now let me put it on record that I am NOT a religious person. I was raised in the church and made my exodus as quickly as possible upon reaching adulthood. That being said, this story was magnificent so it didn't matter that I wasn't thumping my bible along with the beat. I caught on to the undercurrent of the scripture being thrown about as being more than just a gimmick pretty quickly – and yet I not for one minute ever wanted to put this down or felt like I was being bamboozled (*cough The Shack cough*) or had any sense of disappointment that this wasn’t the “grit lit” I had sought out. Instead I simply sat back and let the words pour over me. Words about family and friendship and loyalty and love and right and wrong and the grey areas in between - and, yes, even the word of the Lord. Words that made me feel some of the feelz and words that made me chuckle . . . Good words.

I’m giving this one all the stars.

ARC provided by Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Holy Ghost Speakeasy and Revival, the new novel by Terry Roberts, is the story of a traveling preacher, set in Appalachia in the 1920s during the time of prohibition. The preacher and his troupe move from town to town along the rails of western North Carolina, transporting bibles and strong liquor. They hold religious revivals and stir crowds into fervor, and they supply the local speakeasies with the stuff of their trade from the rear of the train.
This is a spellbinding portrayal of a man full of contradictions and anomalies. Infused with the rhythms and poetry of the bible, he's a bootlegger with a close relationship with God, a deep-thinking swindler not motivated by money, a philosopher whose fierce sense of justice runs him afoul of the law. He is a protector and father-figure to all in his care, and in his way with words is his power to ensnare.
Terry Roberts has written a beautiful and gripping story; it is one in which the reader sinks deep into the warmth of the friendships, loyalty and love. With the characters, you experience the ride along the rails and sidings of western North Carolina, you’re with them down to the river, and through the back streets of the towns. It's a page-turner about the big questions and the universal mysteries. It's a tale that lingers with you, and is highly recommended.

[Chelsie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting read about a “Bible” train traveling around preaching, seeking Bibles and bootleg liquor during prohibition. The storyline kept you captivated throughout the whole book, they ran into various situations along the way. Not my typical read but I did enjoy the book. I received a free copy to read and review from the publisher.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

DO READ THIS ONE. You may find clarifying pictures of the human condition and a new view of the world beyond. Thoughtful and provocative tale set in the mountains of Western North Carolina in the early 20th century with lovable, flawed characters struggling through life with an indomitable sense of humor and irony.

[Marguerite Hargreaves · Rating 5 out of 5]

It only took me a few pages to get into this, but I was all in, a full-immersion baptism in a brisk North Carolina creek.

Terry Roberts' fine book is set in a landscape familiar to me: western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee. Jedidiah "Solomon" Robbins is an itinerant minister who gathers disciples on a whistle-stop train tour across the South in the early twentieth century. He's a man on a mission: saving souls, selling firewater (Prohibition) and scheming to stay a step or two ahead of the law.

Robbins, widowed when his wife drowns, is a single dad and lost soul surrounded by other lost souls drawn to his crusade. His (adult) daughter is along for the ride, as well as grifters, the down-and-out and other misfits who are part of no constituency. They become a surrogate family, and each has gifts (organizational skills, rum running, picking pockets) that help the group prosper.

Robbins is a man of the Spirit and outlawed spirits. Despite, or because of, his flaws and brokenness he's a gifted (sometimes reviled) preacher who rails against greed and hypocrisy during an era of financial, class and racial inequities.

Most of the novel takes place in 1926-27. The Sword of the Lord redemption train pulls into one podunk place after another. Along for the ride are Preacher's daughter Bridget, Mother Mary, Brother Andrew, the Bundren twins (James and John), Gabriel, "Fingers" Spivey and Boss, who dispenses moonshine to speakeasies in the communities the train visits.

Terry Roberts writes lyrically, with an eye on the Good Book, but also with a wink and a generous helping of humor. He portrays broken humanity with tenderness and a deft touch.

"There are always dragonflies floating in the thick, radiant air of my memories, and the memories themselves are running with sweat."

"Even in this dirty rag of a town, they fill the union hall on the second night, and he can tell that the Gospel is moving the red clay under their busted brogans and stained dress shoes. The Holy Spirit is hot in the room."

"Bridget wonders if he's been drinking during the long, hot afternoon. He can dive deep when he drinks, too deep for these hillbillies to follow. He needs to keep them with him tonight for the collection plate to fill and overflow."

"He wonders if all those who know the Lord are damaged somehow, lost and seeking."

"That night he preaches with the madness and fire he'd known when he was a young man, when Bridget's mother had just died and he was furious with the world. He preaches with the passion of youth flaming out of his vitals, smoking from his nostrils. It was as if he'd set himself on fire in the pulpit in a self-immolation of words. And the crowd melts before him almost as if his apostles ... had doused the people in smoking kerosene."

" 'Why do you care for Boss so much?' They were standing now in the worn, patchy grass outside the courthouse, ten minutes before their time. 'It's like he's your blood brother or something.'
"He stares at his daughter speculatively for a moment before answering. 'Think of it this way,' he says finally. 'Boss is who I would have become if I hadn't met your mother. And if we hadn't had you.'
" 'The civilizing influence of women saved you from a life of crime?'
"The preacher grins. 'Either that or it saved me from a hell of a lot of fun.' "

"A burg not unlike the worn-out boot heel of a place such as Valdese or Marion or Hickory. A small-town Baptist church -- meaning that no secret was safe from shifting eyes and pointing fingers. Meaning that he kept his jar of moonshine all but buried behind his landlord's barn."

"Though he loved the water and had been a powerful swimmer since his youth, baptism was the one ministerial sacrament Bridget had never seen her father perform. She knew it was because her mother had drowned. ... Drowned as her father strove in vain to swim down to her and raise her reborn from the water."

"He proceeds slowly, relaxed inside his skin, enjoying the breeze that ruffles the leaves in the oaks and maples, along the path. It is the crispness of the air moving over his face, he decides, that makes the long walk of his life worth living. The beauty of the wren's fussing as she follows him along. ... The loveliness of budding leaves as they unfold wetly to the world. This is the true world, he thinks, not the world of men and women, not the world of books and words, but the world of the river, sluicing and whispering beside the path. The world before men came and after they are gone. The larger, God-haunted world that reduces all human despair to an afterthought, a footnote. Peace be unto you, he thinks in response to the laughing call of a blue jay and the soft cooing of a dove."

"The evening has a sweet sense of a homecoming for him, a return to who they are in their essence. To whom they were meant to serve. Serving up to the people both alcohol and God, the fiery spirits from a bottle and that fiery Spirit from a book."

" 'The truth,' he says evenly, conversationally, 'the truth is that we don't trust God. The truth is that we think we must manufacture our own happiness, build our own lives out of brick and mortar. The truth is that we trust our own judgment sometimes more than we trust God's. We care for our own thoughts more than the Creator's thoughts, our own tears more than those of Jesus weeping at the tomb of Lazarus.' "

Preacher is a disciple, too. On his personal walk of faith, he has a series of transcendent epiphanies with mysterious, yet still familiar figures that give the book an overall redemptive note.

This is a book I could read over and over without it feeling repetitious. It includes a visit from a sheriff drunk with his own power, a corrupt jurist, the Klan and H.L. Mencken. It isn't just a blast from the past but is surprisingly relevant -- without being preachy. A Good Book. A Lovely Book. I have a ministry degree and especially enjoyed Preacher's reflections on Scripture and preparations for the services over which he presides. I'm guessing it won't appeal to the dogmatic, however.

Can I get an "amen?"

[debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Loved it. Great on audio. tThere is a lot of Bible, but not really in service of religion; more in service of- be kind, do good and the Golden Rule.

[Jakki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really good book. Great characters and relationships. I’d read it before but it was worth the second read.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was completely out of my normal genres. However, the title grabbed me and the author being local to me was really cool. The book was really neat with a good concept. I would definitely recommend this book, especially if you live in Asheville, NC or are familiar with the surrounding areas.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to admit; this title was not on my radar when I made its discovery. The title and simple cover design is what tugged at my curiosity gene. Turned out to be a precious jewel.

There isn’t a character in this telling with which I could find fault. When the words on a page cross over to a movie landscape in my mind, that unfolding becomes a most pleasant experience. For me it is a mark of proficient storytelling.

I seem to have an affinity lately for stories set in the 1920’s. This once again during prohibition.

Jeddidiah Robbins, preacher on the “Sword of the Lord” Gospel train travels with his troupe and family through Appalachia spreading the Good News of the Bible to all those who have ears to listen. He possesses a talent/a gift for knowing exactly the message needed for each revival meeting. All manner of paraphernalia and crew needed for set up to welcome seekers, the self professed faithful, and the downtrodden treks on ahead in the aptly named “John the Baptist” rail cars.

All ideocracies of life comes forth in just 321 pages. It is beautifully written eliciting a smile and a chuckle here and there from me as I read along. I couldn’t find this book in any library anywhere in my state of CT. I find that stories set in the Appalachia region come with a richness not found anywhere else. They never disappoint. So, I purchased it. Turned out to be money well spent.

Thank you, Terry Roberts.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was...unexpected. It was simultaneously less dark than I thought it would be and less "light" than I thought it would be. This is, fundamentally, a story about a man and his journey of faith (or lack thereof). It is, therefore, quite religious...but also includes a sex scene or two for good measure, so fair warning on that front. It is honestly close to reality - people who are both sinners and saints, both skeptical and full of faith.

As a book it is a quick read, very much set within the backdrop of Appalachia but not as dark as, say, Ron Rash. It was an enjoyable read albeit very fast.

[Patrick O'Hannigan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is a delight from start to finish. Terry Roberts has given the rest of us an utterly American amalgam of heart and art that rightfully claims a place next to the best work of Mark Twain and Flannery O'Connor. There aren't a lot of borrowed books that I want to buy after I've read them, but this is one such. Bravo, Mr. Roberts, and thank you for writing this.

[Makayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jedidiah Robbins is a preacher traveling along the Appalachian region of Western North Carolina during the prohibition era. His mission is to spread the good word in various cities and towns in an exhilarating outdoor revival. In addition to this, he is a con-man (debatable) bootlegger. With his team of ex-carnival workers turned speakeasy, Jedidiah, his daughter Bridget, and his new love interest, Cassandra, travel by train to make sure the country folk repent their sins of drinking alcohol that was sold to them the night before.
It is so difficult to review this book without reciting the whole thing. These characters are complex and multi-surfaced. Jedidiah comes across as a con man but then begins believing what he is preaching wholeheartedly. He is a man of God, who just so happens to behave in a human way as well. He drinks, he helps to commit adultery, and he has contributed to the death of a few characters. It is interesting to see Jedidiah go back and forth between his almost alter egos and different acts.

Though this book mentions religion, it is not preachy. This book's point is not to convert you to Christianity (I am still not). I believe the point of this book is to tackle human desires - alcohol, money, sex, all while managing your own moral complex and need to survive. This book is also about the deep-rooted culture in Appalachia. There are experiences with the KKK, racism, out-of-wedlock children, the old railroad, deadly floods, and just country folk who live a different life than most.

I am biased, as I picked up this book not realizing that I was born and raised where the setting was. That is what initially got me hooked into this book. Then, meeting characters such as Boss Strong, Bridget and Gabe, and Fingers swept me away into 1920's Appalachia.

My Pros and Cons:

+ Accurate representation of culture

+ Jedidiah is not seen as, "Holy than thou". He is a "sinner", or at least, a man who could make improvements in his moral decisions.

+This book can make you laugh and cry within the same paragraph.

+ Language is written in a relevant way that is similar to how us Appalachian people speak.

Cons:

-- We read chapters about Jedidiah visiting Festus and what is presumed to be God. This is not negative, as these are metaphorical dreams for Jedidiah. However, I initially did not grasp that these were supernatural dreams. This may have been a reader error, and I did enjoy unpacking these chapters with Festus following Jedidiah or "God" working in a barn.

Overall, I beg you to read this book. It had me reflecting a lot about my beliefs, how I was raised, and who I will continue to be. This is NOT a book that is a "Christian" book. Christianity is a theme, but not the genre. This book also has a couple of vivid sex scenes, just as a warning. This book is a journey through time.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Death, alcohol, money, love…. Not necessarily in that order.

These are the ingredients that make up The Holy Ghost Speakeasy and Revival, Terry Roberts’ new novel. All stirred up together and served during one of the most interesting—and most conflicted—periods of American history, Prohibition. And in one of the most interesting, and most conflicted, places in America, the foothills and mountains of Appalachia.

This is literally a book that grabs you from the first page and doesn’t let go because it is as full of character-driven action as a fast-paced, television drama. Because of this, it’s easy to miss the fact that it is, in its essence, a novel of ideas. Why do we both love and fear the notion that there is a God? Why do we both love and fear the loss of inhibition that comes from a drink? Why are we so fascinated by death and yet so fearful of it? The questions abound in this novel, but they are sewn into a quilt of characters and events that are so entertaining that you may miss the deeper implications until a second or third read.

Two things you should know about this deceptive book. The protagonist, Jedidiah Robbins, is both a traveling evangelist in the Billy Sunday mode and, with the other members of his crusade, a large-scale bootlegger. In other words, a man who is profoundly complex if not conflicted. He is at the core of this book and is endlessly fascinating. The second thing that sets this book apart is that it contains elements of magical realism that surface when and where you least expect them. I don’t want to give away who the skeletal man in the jaunty fedora is, but you will be as surprised as I was when his identify is revealed.

If, when you wake in the middle of the night, you find yourself wondering about life and death, the insights and insults inspired by God or drink, this is the book for you.

[George Hovis · Rating 5 out of 5]

In his most recent novel—a title I love to say—The Holy Ghost Speakeasy and Revival—Terry Roberts takes us to the era of Prohibition and interstate evangelism. The novel’s anti-hero, Jedidiah Robbins, is both evangelist and bootlegger. Indeed, he finds that the two professions complement each other perfectly. Before the Sword of the Lord gospel train rolls into your town, Jedidiah sends the advance guard bearing cases of moonshine and apple brandy. These contraband spirits are delivered to all the local speakeasies and juke joints—to get the residents good and liquored up so that they are ready for repentance. It’s a story full of rough humor, fast-rails adventure, love, sex, booze, and ecstatic preaching, one that shows us the dangers of purity, of puritanism, and how the fullest life pushes past narrow boundaries to explore the various ways we might reach beyond ourselves to connect with others, including people who might have more in common with us than we at first suspect.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new NC author to me but one I'll search out again. This story starts in a small NC town where Preacher Solomon (aka Jeddidiah Robbins) is in the midst of getting the crowd loosened up at his tent revival. Bringing sinners (and their wallets) to the Lord! From one small town to the other they travel via two trains: Saint John the Baptist (because he foretold Jesus' coming) train, that arrives ahead and papers the town in flyers advertising the tent revival along with a little hooch sold to local speakeasies to loosen up the crowd and give them something to repent of, and the Sword of the Lord train, the one Preacher, his daughter, and a few others close to him ride on, convincing the sinners to repent. Things start to go awry in Marion, NC and the adventures really start.

Great, fully developed (finally!) cast of unusual characters, some of which are former circus people, great adventures and storyline.

[Kirby · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5. Holy antihero! 1920s era Robin Hood Jedidiah Robbins and his traveling crew travel the American South via railroad, preaching and selling bibles to those who most need it (along with a side of illegal liquor). Religion is treated more as an intellectual endeavor rather than doctrine the reader needs to prescribe to in order to appreciate this book. The father-daughter friendship relationship between Jedediah (Preacher) and Bridget is really refreshing. The romantically intimate scenes are a little cringe-worthy, but they are few in number and shouldn't deter a reader. An ode to living righteously according to your own morals, and a challenge to what is considered good and holy. Highly recommend the audio version.
A good choice for fans of Appalachian Noir and Westerns. Would recommend for readers who would like a grittier version of Jiles' "News of the World", Brown's "Gods of Howl Mountain", or Swyler's "Book of Speculation".

[Annette]

Great fun, and since I live in this part of the world, it was particularly fun to recognize at least the names of nearby towns....

"The brandy is softening her voice, taking the edge off the day and lending honey to her already sweet throat."

Money and organized religion.... The revivals really have nothing to apologize about!...

"Bless ...; bless ... ; bless .... And most of all, bless the humblest of these. Myself. Who seeks ever to obey your will."

"What about the sixth damn commandment?"

"From where he sits in the witnes box, the preacher stares, sure that Bridget is the only person on earth who could get Boss to kneel to anyone or anything."

"He has always wanted to dance this dance just for the pure, ridiculous hell of it, and now he has a packed house to cheer him on!"

[Donna McPherson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story. Good overall. One gratuitous sex scene doesn't do anything for the book except provide for a spot that an actor can have sex on screen if it goes to movie - irrelevant and out of place like the sex scene in BackDraft on the fire engine. Language is a detractor. While most of the d*, s*, and "hell" seem appropriate for the era and the characters, regular use of f* seems out of place for the characters and for the time period.
Could be better with more editing. Cover - not particularly engaging. How about a picture of the parked train with booze bottles and Bibles scattered about?

[Charity · Rating 3 out of 5]

I expected this to be about bad people committing crimes and stealing money while preaching the word of God. Instead it is about people who aren't necessarily good or bad, just human. There might have been a lesson to be learned there. I hoped for more action, tension, drama, or something so I was a bit let down. Especially so when it started to feel a bit like Water for Elephants, but then it didn't even come close to being as gripping.

[Russ Adcox · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked this one up in Asheville. The local history and religious theme sealed the deal for me. An easy read. I liked the fast-paced dialogue and short chapters. Enjoyed the early 20th century setting as well and thought Roberts did a good job painting the religious fervor (and hypocrisy) of the day. I'd like to check out his earlier novels.

[Timothy Reinhardt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished The Holy Ghost Speakeasy and Revival by Terry Roberts, the story of a preacher in the 1920s in NC selling spirits from his crusade train. Great premise, wonderful characters, good read.

[Bill Linton · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books of the year. Great Story with wonderful prose. Being familiar with many of the small towns in the mountains of North Carolina where the story takes place allowed me to visualize the author's narrative.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding ride with Jedediah and his troupe. My book club felt this was our best read so far in 2018!

[Brian Biswas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book. Beautifully written. Well-developed characters. Nice magical realism touches!

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quirky story, crazy cast of characters, enjoyable read.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written. Very thought provoking story.

[Lise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haunting, atmospheric and ghostly...one of the best books of the south I've read this year.

[Torrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story