☕ 🌿 “Reaping the Whirlwind” (2000/2023) 🌿 ☕ – Book Review

 

MY REVIEW

 

 

Paperback: 288 Pages
Publisher: Morgan James Publishing (June 13, 2023); [previously published in June 2000, Winepress Publishing]
Language: English
ISBN-10: 163698052X
ISBN-13: 978-1636980522
⬅️ Click Photo for Purchase Information

 

“No one suspects foul play when an old recluse dies behind locked doors. 

 

The doctor claims the old woman’s heart gave out, and Deputy Sheriff Trent Tyson doesn’t give the case another thought until the medical examiner finds poison. 

 

This death is just one in a series of unusual deaths happening in Tyson’s quiet town, which takes the deputy sheriff on the hunt for answers while the rest of the town is cause up in local hysteria, starstruck by visiting celebrities William Jennings Bryan and Clarence Darrow. Within a week, Deputy Sheriff Trent Tyson is on the tenuous trail of a serial killer who snuffs out the unwanted, the disabled—the most helpless and lovable—without reason and with no mercy. 

Reaping the Whirlwind is a historical mystery set during the real events of the Scopes evolution trial in 1925 Dayton, Tennessee. The mystery weaves through trial events in an accurate portrayal of this pivotal case that forever changed the U.S. education system.”

 

Thank you in advance to the author, Rosey Dow, for providing a complimentary review copy through Travelling Pages. A positive review was not required nor requested, and all words are my own.

Despite this book having been originally published 20+ years ago, this is the first time I’ve heard of the book as well as the story around it.

 

Having seen Inherit the Wind during a biology course in high school, I’ve often wondered the TRUE story of the infamous “Scopes Monkey Trial”. I also like a good mystery/suspense as well. This checked all the marks for me.

 

As of note, this is a blend of fiction with reality, so it might be confusing to some readers. And, given the topic this might have some triggering viewpoints: evolution versus creationism, religious beliefs, as well as eugenics. There is also a word used to describe one of the children/victims – “r-e-t-a-r-d”. This was the commonly used work back in 1925, it is not used repeatedly, less than three (3) times. However, it is considered a “slur” in today’s time.

 

There is also mention of an abortion as well. This is not done during the story, but likely prior to the character’s arrival in Dayton.

 

Due to the real-life nature of the events in the book, particularly the trial, some of it is easily spoiled by doing some research. I did some while reading and was a bit shocked at the entire trial spectacle.

 

In addition to real characters, Dow includes some “fictional” ones:

 

🚓 Trent Tyson

👧🏻 Lori (Trent’s daughter, is missing her left arm)

🚓 Vic (Trent’s father, retired police officer)

🏡 Heddie (Nessa’s mother, runs the boarding house)

🧹 Nessa (Heddie’s daughter, cleans houses in Dayton)

⚾ Micky (Heddie’s son)

🩺 Dr. St. Clair

👒 Essie (a “busy-body” who always seems to be around)

 

Along with others to tell this fascinating story. Though, given so many characters it is only told from Tyson’s point of view – even the trial parts. It would’ve been interesting to have a few other POVs. Readers do get “snippets” of the murder through some written prose moments before the murders; however, it isn’t clear who it is.

 

The story has TWO main story arcs, and some minor ones:

 

🪦 Serial Murders (5 total victims)

⚖️ Scopes Trial

🥃 Bootlegging

💕 Vic/Heddie Romance (Vic is actually more open with this romance)

💕 Trent/Nessa Romance (there is a hint about them)

 

The story opens with St. Clair and Trent playing chess when they get a call – Ms. Ida has been found dead. The first thought is her heart gave out. There’s the idea of suicide, but the woman seemed excited to see her niece. Trent can’t believe someone would kill a sweet old lady.

 

From there, the next victim is an old drunk, and Tyson is trying to figure out the connections between the two. He stumbles upon a moonshine running outfit and thinks that is the connection.

 

The story then takes a turn towards the real-life trial of John Scopes. A trial, that until I did my own research, I thought was a real one. It is actually a test trial for the Butler Act law; complete with made-up testimony from some students. Also, there are some who believe the trial will put Dayton, Tennessee on the map for publicity.

 

Despite the attention and extra influence of people due to the trial, the murders keep taking place: the next victims are a mentally challenged girl, a teen girl, and one with heart failure. Trent is trying to figure the connection or reasoning.

 

However, unlike the trial and the bootlegging story, the murder mystery isn’t wrapped up until the VERY last pages. It is an abrupt end at best with little time for one to put it all together. The story itself does end with a rather interesting “come to Jesus” moment for a character who had not embraced Christianity.  

 

This is somewhat of an “open-end” story.  Readers looking for a conclusion with the Trent/Nessa romance will not get a satisfactory ending though.  

 

Overall – this was one of those reads that does more “preaching” to the reader in terms of the hot subjects: eugenics, evolution, Christianity; even citing some books. It is interesting to see where Trent stood on certain issues. The trial parts were taken directly from the trial, so it is easy to skip them to get to the main mystery. The bootlegging story had potential, but was quickly ended. I would’ve enjoyed more of it though.  

 

Dow does a superb job of being descriptive with the characters and city, almost as if it is a movie we’re watching instead of a book we’re reading. One can almost see the fictional characters alongside the real ones as the story unfolds.

 

The amount of research and accuracy of the trial is amazing. As I’d never delved into the trial, I was awestruck at how it got started, however it is historical for the fact of what is taught in schools today. It was not taught in my school how the trial got started or the true purpose of it. I only learned it was an evolution versus creationism debate. However, for me, the trial did tend to detract from the mystery though.

 

This was a pretty easy read for me, despite some of the formatting issues (sentences starting on one line with a few words, continuing on another mid-sentence with no apparent reason). The short chapters did move the story along. It took me a bit to read it as I became sick over the past week (and am still not recovered). This is in no way a reflection on the story or author though.

 

I adored the relationship that Trent, a widower, has with his 5-year-old daughter. His wife died when the child was only 8 weeks old. So, he is all she has. It is also interesting to see his relationship with Nessa evolve and that he trusts her and her mother to care for his daughter. The relationship the girl has with her carers is absolutely sweet, even seeing Micky with the girl is precious.

 

The addition of Trent’s father also helps this story along as well. It isn’t a “can’t put it down” kind of read, but it held my attention during the times I read it.

 

Despite being labeled a “Trent Tyson Historical Mystery”, this has – given the time since the initial publishing – remained a standalone read.

 

For those who want an interesting mystery with a historical flair, and want to delve deeper into the Scopes trial, this would be an interesting read. It gives the entire origin to end without having to do much research or further reading. Though it is highly recommended.

 

As the author has been published with traditional publishing company – Barbour – this will no doubt have strong Christian themes to it.

 

It is a clean read with no real violence, intimate acts, and no foul language.

 

 

 

RATING: 

 

4 (3.7) ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Goodreads 

 

4 (3.7) ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Bookbub 

 

4 (3.7) ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Personal Rating (see rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html; update: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2022/07/what-goes-into-my-reviews-2022-edition.html)

 

 

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  

Rosey Dow is the pen name of Lana McAra, an award-winning, international best-selling author and ghostwriter of more than 40 titles with a million books sold, including three cookbooks. An author via traditional publishing with Barbour Publishing and WinePress Publishing for 25 years, she has been editing and ghostwriting for more than 20 years, working for WinePress Publishing as well as Author One Stop and individual clients.

 

She won the national Christy Award for Reaping the Whirlwind in 2001, and her historical cozy mystery series, Colorado, sold more than 250,000 copies. Her titles have appeared around the world in bookstores and libraries in regular print, large print editions and audiobooks. She also has several journals and other titles under the name This Girl Loves Paper.

 

Originally from Delaware, she lived on the tiny Caribbean island of Grenada for 14 years and now resides in North Florida.

 

 

 

She can be found on the following social media accounts:

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReapingTheWhirlwind

 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lanamcara2/

 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LanaMcara

 

Website: https://lanamcalanamcara.kartra.com/page/ReverseAging

 

 

 

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