An imaginative morality tale about free will, crime, punishment, and the possibility of redemption.
In mid-19th-century Indiana, good and evil spirits vie for the soul of an 11-year-old boy in Gertcher’s mystical debut novel.
On the outskirts of the tiny town of Maryville is a place of peaceful beauty called Wind Grass Hill, where a benevolent spirit resides. But lower down in the “lush valley” is Devil’s Dell, where evil waits to tempt those with unsavory predilections. Readers meet young Thomas Worthington in 1841 as he and his parents step off a riverboat in Terre Haute, Indiana. The elder Worthingtons are entertainers who supplement their income with con artistry. Josiah Hoffman, a wealthy merchant, overhears a riverboat crew member tell the couple never to return, which makes him suspicious. Thomas and Josiah’s grandson, James, briefly lock eyes; they’re destined to become lifelong friends. Two days later, the Worthingtons take a stagecoach out of town; the first stop is Maryville, where they decide to establish roots near Devil’s Dell. Next to the woods is an empty cabin, owned by a successful farmer named Adam Gibson; the Worthingtons become tenants there rent-free, in exchange for helping out at the local Methodist church. Soon the dell’s evil spirit, taking the form of a fierce wolf with golden eyes, aims to influence lonely Thomas. Gertcher’s narrative, which largely recounts the story of Thomas’ life, is an intriguing experiment in thematic and linguistic variety. A long early section, for example, traces the prehistoric geological history of the setting, and a lengthy middle section is devoted to Civil War battle details, as experienced by the older Thomas (now a soldier) and James (a doctor). Gertcher’s stylistic diversity encompasses well-honed prose, including multiple poems, which sometimes slow the plot, as well as ritualistic repetition when describing experiences in Devil’s Dell or on Wind Grass Hill. The latter choice works well the first few times, but it becomes wearisome toward the novel’s conclusion.
An imaginative morality tale about free will, crime, punishment, and the possibility of redemption.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-9835754-2-9
Page Count: 322
Publisher: Wind Grass Hill Books
Review Posted Online: May 27, 2018
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
This ran in the S.E.P. and resulted in more demands for the story in book form than ever recorded. Well, here it is and it is a honey. Imagine ten people, not knowing each other, not knowing why they were invited on a certain island house-party, not knowing their hosts. Then imagine them dead, one by one, until none remained alive, nor any clue to the murderer. Grand suspense, a unique trick, expertly handled.
Pub Date: Feb. 21, 1939
ISBN: 0062073478
Page Count: 272
Publisher: Dodd, Mead
Review Posted Online: Sept. 20, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 1939
SEEN & HEARD
An anodyne visit with Tricia and her friends and enemies hung on a thin mystery.
Too much free time leads a New Hampshire bookseller into yet another case of murder.
Now that Tricia Miles has Pixie Poe and Mr. Everett practically running her bookstore, Haven’t Got a Clue, she finds herself at loose ends. Her wealthy sister, Angelica, who in the guise of Nigela Ricita has invested heavily in making Stoneham a bookish tourist attraction, is entering the amateur competition for the Great Booktown Bake-Off. So Tricia, who’s recently taken up baking as a hobby, decides to join her and spends a lot of time looking for the perfect cupcake recipe. A visit to another bookstore leaves Tricia witnessing a nasty argument between owner Joyce Widman and next-door neighbor Vera Olson over the trimming of tree branches that hang over Joyce’s yard—also overheard by new town police officer Cindy Pearson. After Tricia accepts Joyce’s offer of some produce from her garden, they find Vera skewered by a pitchfork, and when Police Chief Grant Baker arrives, Joyce is his obvious suspect. Ever since Tricia moved to Stoneham, the homicide rate has skyrocketed (Poisoned Pages, 2018, etc.), and her history with Baker is fraught. She’s also become suspicious about the activities at Pets-A-Plenty, the animal shelter where Vera was a dedicated volunteer. Tricia’s offered her expertise to the board, but president Toby Kingston has been less than welcoming. With nothing but baking on her calendar, Tricia has plenty of time to investigate both the murder and her vague suspicions about the shelter. Plenty of small-town friendships and rivalries emerge in her quest for the truth.
An anodyne visit with Tricia and her friends and enemies hung on a thin mystery.Pub Date: Aug. 13, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-9848-0272-9
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Berkley
Review Posted Online: May 26, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2019
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
