THE KINGDOM OF QUAIL

An enduring connection to a quail plantation lies at the heart of this novel set in the Red Hills of South Georgia.

In 1975, Angus Parker stops at a gas station in Thomasville, Georgia, where he meets a battered young woman named Grace and her son, who is “maybe eight years old.” Concerned, Angus offers her a job in the kitchen of his home, Horseshoe Hill Plantation, and, two days later, she arrives with her son, Luke. What follows is a sweeping story covering several decades of fighting to preserve this majestic land’s natural state, with Luke emerging as the main character as he and Grace leave his abusive father behind. At one point, Angus observes that Luke “loves the land as much as I do.” The tale traces Luke’s evolution, starting with a childhood that features the protagonist training a puppy to be a bird dog alongside his close friend Eugene, the son of the plantation’s wagon driver. Later, the story chronicles Luke’s adulthood, including his promotion to Horseshoe Hill manager after a devastating fire causes Angus to leave the area, having lost his wife and daughter. When Heather Harrison, vice president of the Rex Corporation—a company wanting to redevelop the area—arrives in town to purchase the plantation, sparks fly between her and Luke. Strickland effortlessly explores the clash of the old and new ways of life at Horseshoe Hill as well as cultural ties to the land, particularly through the Indigenous character of Joe Green. Green, an important presence at the plantation who talks about his Cherokee ancestors, reminds readers in a resounding way that “it’s bad luck when man tries to own the land.” But some parts of the tale seem rushed and other portions are a little wooden. While Luke’s bond with his childhood sweetheart, Annabelle (Angus’ daughter), is a bit abridged, his adult relationship with Heather sometimes feels stilted because of the labyrinthine storyline dealing with a land dispute involving Green. Yet the novel as a whole presents a beautiful tribute to a place that the author clearly loves, richly weaving a tapestry of complex relationships across many years.

A compelling Southern tale about a found family and the power of place.