Magnetic

What a thrilling story in The Kingdoms of Savannah by George Dawes Green. This is the first book by this author that I have read, but if any of his other work is like this, I will hunt it down to read it. The reader mets Morgana Musgrove, a detective, who has a quite colorful and not so moral personality, and now, she has to solve a murder. The author paints the picture of the dark side of not just Savannah, but its residences as well. Corruption, secrets, dysfunction, are just a few things happening in Savannah. I just became a fan of this author. I love thrillers, and this one I would read, and pick up off the shelf, even if I wasn't asked to read and review the book. A definite attention grabber, so much I couldn't put it down. Both thrilling and intriguing, all the way to the end. The author's technique of raw, magnetic characters and great plotlines is a gift. It's a great story to follow and try to figure out what will happen next. Action-packed and it takes the reader on a superb adventure. This read is so engrossing that it brings you right in the middle of the story. This read is more than just words on a page.
Definitely an unpredictable story, my favorite kind! I hope to read more books by this author. The Kingdoms of Savannah is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews. I read this book to give my unbiased and honest review. Amy's Bookshelf Reviews recommends that anyone who reads this book, to also write a review.

Loved this book from page one. I can see this being made into a movie. The plot, the twists. Everything kept me in suspense. The descriptions that this author uses, bring you right into the south . I only wish he would write more books.

A gothic, Southern thriller? Sign me up! I was super excited to read this book, but this ended up being just okay for me. Gothic? Yes. Southern? Yes. Thriller? Meh…not so much.

I enjoyed the setting and I think that the author did a great job of using the dark side of Savannah as the setting for his story. Much of the history was unknown to me and the story should be read if for no other reason than to shed light on it. That said, the historical aspect of this book is probably the only thing that saved the story for me.

The writing felt disjointed and amateurish at times with very little finesse. I’m not talking about the colloquial way that he would write certain speaking parts because I think that can lend to the overall vibe of a book. It just felt kind of…lazy? I don’t know if that’s the right word, but I’m going with it. The story felt a bit disconnected as well.

We are told that Morgana has a strained relationship with her children and we see that her children aren’t close with one another either. Dawes does little to embellish on this and yet this strain between Morgana and her children seems important to the story, though I honestly don’t know why. He also refers to a generally perceived view of Savannah as a town out of a fable. I can understand that this is to juxtapose the perception with the harsh reality he uses as his setting, a poisoned apple, if you will. However, I have never heard anyone ever refer to it as such and even a quick Google search brought up nothing, so it seems like there might have been a better way to do that, like, I don’t know, an early scene of Jaq’s previous documentary project showing all the qualities of the city that make it fable-like? It just didn’t connect for me.

What promised to be a sinister sounding plot turned out to be a bit anti-climactic. The plot was unsurprising and was a bit too easily resolved. The pacing was off for the thriller aspect and I think the plot got lost a couple of times. There wasn’t enough edge-of-my-seat action or much in the way of building suspense to qualify as a thriller in my opinion. I will say that while I saw several other reviewers comment about the format (5 long chapters), it wasn’t as bad as other books I’ve read. It did, in fact, have plenty of stopping points within those long chapters, so this didn’t bother me.

Lastly, the characters were mostly two-dimensional. There were several, but I didn’t have any problems keeping track of them, nor did I mind the multiple POVs. I just didn’t feel like any of them came off the page. I would love to have seen more of Morgana, because she struck me as the most interesting character, even more so than Jaq, who I liked for her forthrightness, values, and fearlessness. Morgana was hands down the most interesting character in the entire book, but we saw pathetically little of her. Instead we get Ransom and Jaq primarily. Ransom was….I don’t even know how to put it into words. I don’t feel like I got to know him well enough to say, really.

The most sinister part of the whole book wasn’t the plot but the history, which is all based on fact, like the acts and manipulations committed by Charles Augustus Lafayette Lamar, the “witchification” of Alice Riley, and the attempt to forget an important part of black history dating back to the American Revolutionary War–the story of the black men and women who sided with King George and upon his defeat refused to return to slavery, instead setting up a fortified village on a small “uninhabitable” island where they lived for years, much to the consternation of southern slave catchers. This is what kept me from disliking this book, and the fact that the author, somewhat clumsily, gives more information about it at the end of the book along with suggestions for additional reading. I love that the author set out with the goal to shed light on parts of history that many might wish be kept secret.

I also liked the author featured homelessness and made it a central part of the story as well. Several scenes take place with homeless characters and in homeless camps, humanizing this marginalized group that we too often turn a blind eye to.

In the end, what I liked wasn’t enough to earn this one more than 3 stars from me. It was just okay. If you enjoy history, social justice, and a good gothic setting, you’ll like this well enough. Just don’t go expecting a pulse-pounding, super complex thriller, because this isn’t it.

A spooky, southern gothic thriller, The Kingdoms of Savannah introduces you to a misfit group of characters. After a man is murdered and his friend goes missing, a homeless (by choice and a long history) man named Ransom searches for her. And what does the phrase "The King's soldiers are the only free people to ever live in the State of Georgia" have to do with her?

Loved this crime thriller intertwined with the history and landmarks of Savannah. I have visited Savannah several times and I could picture the events of this book taking place. Great variety of characters.

"This is a sick little town full of weasels, and they don't ever let you forget that."--Ransom Musgrove.

As THE KINGDOMS OF SAVANNAH opens, it's a balmy spring night in Savannah. The gang has gathered at Bo Peep;s where Jaq (Ransom's niece) tends bar. Stony wanders off with a stranger and her friend Luke tracks that something is off. He follows and is fatally stabbed. Stony disappears. The next day, Luke's body is found in a burned out building. It is assumed he was squatting there and that the buildings owner, Guzman, set fire to it for insurance purposes, not realizing Luke was in it. The reader knows better. Guzman approaches Morgana Musgrove with a $200,000 retainer to investigate. Morgana's late husband Fred owned a detective agency. It was a tax write-off. No actual detection was ever done. Morgana is a tough old matriarch who wants the retainer. Is the family fortune in jeopardy? Who knows. She calls in the family members, including her estranged son Ransom, who happily sleeps in a homeless camp to avoid having to deal with his family. Nasty things are afoot in this murderous, sinister, deliciously gossipy mystery set in modern day Savannah. There are the homeless camps, the old families and their very old feuds, both internal and external, a cast of memorable characters,underground tunnels, a deserted island, and Savannah itself, ground zero for Southern Gothic Noir! There's even a dog! This is the best novel I've read in months. It's the fourth novel from George Dawes Green, who also is founder of The Moth, a non-profit group dedicated to the art of storytelling. Crime thriller enthusiasts will not want to miss this one. Thanks to NetGalley and Celadon Books for an ARC of THE KINGDOMS OF SAVANNAH.

Savannah has been type cast. Most people think of it as a charming southern town with ghosts of the Civil War. Those who live in Savannah know the "real" city. It has the historic old guard neighborhood, black neighborhoods, and homeless camps like other major cities. There are many sides to Savannah and George Dawes Green wants to show them to us. We begin at a popular Savannah bar called Bo Peeps. Two regulars will leave the bar, one will die and the other will disappear. All signs point to a local property developer with a sleazy reputation.

A high society woman, Morgana Musgrave, who casually owns a detective agency is asked to investigate the murder and save the sleazy developer. Looking into this murder will stir Savannah and Morgana's family up. As the investigation progresses how deep will this story go? Morgana's deeply dysfunctional family will show the unsavory side of Savannah and the corruption in the city government.

George Dawes Green does a good job portraying the seedier sides of Savannah. There are parts of this story that lack authenticity. Homeless camps are not dangerous or easy targets of crime in this story. Morgana has a son who eschews the high society life to live in a homeless encampment. During this investigation, there are times that the story seems to lose steam and wanders. While the ending does tie up any loose strings, it is like the homeless camps - a bit too good to be true.

What a beautiful, atmospheric read. Savannah is a character itself, one I fell in love with. This is certainly not a fast read, more like one that you read slowly to really absorb all the detail. This is a strong mystery book.

3.5 stars. Given that Savannah is one of my most favorite places, I jumped at the chance to read this book. There were so many places mentioned in the book that brought back good memories and much history that I had not heard. Both made the story enjoyable along with the intriguing plot and suspense. I was a bit overwhelmed with overly descriptive prose and the amount of characters introduced but I wouldn't dissuade anyone from reading it.

What an absolutely fabulous story this was! Dawes Green has done a brilliant job creating a cast of characters who leap off the page and set a scene for a story that has everything - murder, betrayal, injustice, revenge, family drama, history, imagination... The writing is excellent. The pacing and plotting are spot-on perfect. This is one of my favorite books of the year...

From the moment I started reading The Kingdoms of Savannah, I was hooked. The story is fast paced & draws you in from the very beginning. The characters are interesting, bold, multifaceted, and realistic; the setting is in a Southern city rich with history that also has it’s dark truths; the plot is twisty and dynamic. This crime novel set in the state of Georgia is dark, intriguing, and suspenseful. Three siblings and a granddaughter brought together wearily and reluctantly by their scheming, meticulous, and cunning mother/grandmother to help her solve a crime that will uncover more than the family bargained for in their beloved city of Savannah. This is one novel you do not want to miss!

A special thank-you to NetGalley & Celadon Books to be able to read The Kingdoms of Savannah by George Dawes Green! This book is out now & pub day was July 19, 2022.

Morgana Musgrove is a force to be reckoned with. Just ask anyone in her family. Each one has endured a different meanness from their matriarch and each has dealt with it in their own unique way. The two most extreme reactions of revolt come from her son, Ransom, who, after a stint in prison decides to remain homeless on the streets of Savannah, and her granddaughter, Jaqueline, who, besides being drop-dead gorgeous, popular, and intelligent, is happy bartending at a run-down bar and sleeping with whoever catches her eye.
When two of Savannah’s numerous homeless people run into trouble which results in one dead and one missing, Ransom and Jaq are determined to get to the bottom of it. They most strongly suspect Guzman, a local slum lord, so imagine their boiling fury when Morgana requests their assistance in proving that Guzman is innocent.
Set in the beautiful town of Savannah, with strong references to historical landmarks and streets, sprinkled with characters of all levels of life, financially and soulfully, and a plot that is intricately woven, this is a fun and fast-paced story. My favorite aspect is how the author shows the human side of the homeless; he doesn’t shuffle them to the side. Their feelings and emotions are just as important as those of the most well-off characters. This was a refreshing take and it really opened my eyes to how I’ve been programmed to react.
Thanks so much to Celadon Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A moody, atmospheric mystery dripping with menace underneath the Southern veneer. Give this time, it has a lot of characters and starts off slow but it grew on me.

I wasnt sure about this book but it turned out to be a great story that hooked me in. Finished this in 2 days!!

DNF @ 42%


Thanks Celadon and NetGalley for an ARC. Too many characters to keep track of, the chapters are too long, and the sudden POV change just didn’t work for for me.

It had the great gothic vibes surrounding Savannah, but the cast of characters and POV switches took away from the atmosphere.

The Kingdoms of Savannah is a beautiful blend of old southern history and a unique, modern mystery. The beauty of Savannah is legendary with it's otherworldly ambiance with streets of old southern mansions and churches, sweet aromas on the breeze, old cemeteries, trees with boughs hanging low with spanish moss and most certainly a ghost or two - in other words, home of the elite. And yet, there's another side of Savannah - one the author exposes with all its ugliness shining a light on the forgotten poor, homeless and hopeless. A side Savannah's elite will do anything to keep buried. Green rips the pretty off the city in The Kingdoms of Savannah and in doing so, he forces a clear eyed view of the underbelly.

I'm such a fan of settings that are so vivid, so sensual that they become characters in their own right, and Savannah becomes a character in this story serving to set the tone and ambiance both good and bad. It stars right alongside protagonist Morgana Musgrove, a grande dame of the city - one of the most respected and prominent women of the area. Inside her home, the picture isn't so pretty as her four grown children have little time or patience for their mother. Her business ventures are in trouble and leaking money like a sieve. Thus when a local man is murdered, and a wealthy developer pays her half a million dollars to find evidence to clear his name as the prime suspect, she jumps at the chance finagling her children into helping her. When a woman also goes missing, the case becomes convoluted and dark secrets begin rattling the closets of some of Savannah's privileged. Secrets they'll do anything to keep buried.

The Kingdoms of Savannah is a highly atmospheric story that's as twisted as a back country road. Green brilliantly weaves multiple twisted plot lines into one stunning tapestry of a mystery. The pace grows steadily along with the tension. Morgana may be an unlikely detective, but she's like a dog with a bone never giving up as she manipulates her way through high society's closets. In doing so, she exposes some dark sins that make the powers-that-be nervous and angry. Drawing from Savannah's complex history, Green has delivered a unique masterpiece that speaks of abused power, greed, social status and broken families in The Kingdoms of Savannah. Highly recommending this unique and demanding mystery to everyone!

The Kingdoms of Savannah was thrilling. Definitely was a page turner with twist I and turns. It really kept me on the edge of my seat and I could not wait to see if I figured it all out. When I read a book like this, It keeps me guessing. I really enjoyed this book and give it 5 stars. So much going on that you will not stop turning the pages.

📚 NOVEL THOUGHTS 📚

3.5

++Many thanks to Celadon books and its author George Dawes Green for the ARC of this book++

Morgana Musgrove is the powerful, high society matriarch of this family whose dysfunction is as skewed and complicated as Savannah, where they live among the ghosts stories, homeless encampments and tragic history. In her youth, Morgana came to Savannah and captured the minds and hearts of so many of the male youth with her beauty and charm, they still dream about her. This did not sit well with other female debutantes at the time whose jealousy has yet to fade. But Morgana made her choice in Fred with whom she had 4 children and enjoyed his status and wealth until he died, leaving her with everything, including a ragtag detective agency.
After a crazy night drinking in Bo Peeps, Luke and Stony depart to head to their encampments in the "Truman Marriot," a stranger who Stony only met a little while ago in the bar, attempts to kidnap her. Luke comes to her rescue but is stabbed in the scuffle. Stony is tossed into a van and rushed off. The next day, Luke's body is discovered in a building owned by a building developer named Guzman that has been burned to the ground. For over a week, no one has heard from or seen Stony. All fingers point to Guzman who isn't a well liked person in Savannah but despite that, he hires Morgana's detective agency to get to the truth and prove his innocence. Morgana's granddaughter Jaq, a budding documentarian and friend of Stoney's, begins her own investigation into Stoney's disappearance, after she watches some film that she took of Stoney's last night in the bar. It takes a librarian to furnish some of the missing pieces of Stoney's crazy obsession with the treasure of the Kingdom as she calls it, but Jaq might be onto something huge. Meanwhile, Morgana's team of family detectives, are coming to the same conclusions from a different angle. All is not up and up in Savannah. Secrets and lies abound. And all the fingers are pointing to the upper crust, who wish to hide the inglorious past of Savannah.
There are so many interesting layers to this story. There are the powerful landowners, the curious characters of the homeless who take a huge role in this story and the villains who take what they want at any cost. The story takes on such an atmospheric note, with the background of historic homes, azaleas and cicada, to the swamps filled with live oaks covered with Spanish moss. It is hard not to think of books like Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil when taking this one on. The cadence of the writing was surprising as the author tried to capture the speech patterns and idioms of Savannah and took me a bit of time to get into it. There were a lot of characters which got a bit confusing for me. The dysfunction of Morgana's family seemed unnecessary to the story for me and too much was spent on that. The way the author blended a story around the history of the Kingdom was creative. I was again reminded of another book The Last Slave Ship:The True Story of How Clotilda Was Found.... and the establishment of Africatown which still exists today. Morgana's painting of the racetrack used as a site for slave auctioning was in fact a real place owned by Ten Broeck, a historical figure of the 1850s, has a prominent storyline in Horse a new book by Geraldine Brooks.

Not quite what I was expecting. However, as Flannery O’Connor said, anything that comes out of the South is going to be called grotesque by the Northern reader, unless it is grotesque, in which case it is going to be called realistic, so I’m just going to call this grotesquely realistic. I grew up in Atlanta, so trips to the Savannah beach were commonplace, but I never really knew much about the city. This story, which involves characters from the dregs of society to the upper echelons of society, is steeped in atmosphere, history and secrets. Much like the city itself. Recommended.

This mystery set in the mysterious city of Savannah was a fun read. Savannah is pretty sleepy except for the tourist rides through town, the bars, and the homeless camps. Things get shaken up when Luke, the gentle giant, is found dead in a house that has purposely be set on fire. He companion, Stony, an archaeologist disappears as well. The history of Savannah is woven in as well.