In less than 10 years, author Taylor Brown has developed into a undeniable force. About every two years, he turns out a new novel that one just cannot put down. "The River of Kings" and "Gods of Howl Mountain" are two of my favorite books of recent times. I honestly did not think he would ever be able to reproduce that level of writing again. Then I received an ARC of "Rednecks", his latest novel (to be published in May 2024). Wow! Was I ever wrong in doubting his ability! I dare say Rednecks is his best work yet.
The book is set in the early 1920's, in the coal fields of West Virginia. It's the story of the underdog coal miners against, well, everyone else....the coal barons, the hired thugs of the companies, and even the government. I wasn't familiar with the "war" that went on there, but am totally shocked at it now. HOW did this happen???? It gives me a much deeper appreciation of the struggles and sacrifices of so many to unionize.
This is an incredible story! I guarantee that once you begin reading it, you will not rest until you finish it. Brown has written a great narrative of the war, using many varied characters. Each is well developed and feels real. The way he writes, you can see the landscapes, smell the gun smoke and sweat, taste the fear in the people, hear the guns as well as the silences. It's all here. You will become immersed in the settings, and actually flinch when a gun goes off in the story. At the end, you're exhausted, unaware that anyone could write to make you feel such a range of emotions. And you will sit back in your chair, take a deep breath, and realize how lucky we are today because of the sacrifices of the people before us. I'm glad Brown only releases a book every two years, I honestly need the time in between to recover from the last one!

Rednecks is based on fact and many characters did try to help them. This story is about the coal mines and the unions trying to help the miners and, as we all know, the mine owners fought with everything they had to avoid the unions. This story takes place in West Virginia – the hardships the miners and their families had to endure – as the old Tennessee Ernie Ford song goes: You owe your soul to the company store.. The mines owned your house, all the stores you had no choice to get your items and of course not enough pay and horrible conditions to work under the ground. I believe the story was very truthful to the times but I thought it was a little too long and drawn out – I did feel sorry for those people who had to work in those mines. I am sure many of us have had a family member who worked in those mines. A ery ad and heartbreaking story.

This is based on a true event that happened in the 1900s between coal mine workers and anti union people. I had never heard of this history of West Virginia and it's very sad. This almost became the second civil war.

I loved the characters and the prose that Brown used to describe the area as well as the lives of the inhabitants. I'm glad Brown brought this to light, it is a period in history that should not be forgotten.

I had a bit of trouble with this book. I think it was the dialogue. I just had a really hard time following. And because of that, it made it hard to follow the story. I think the story was entertaining and it had the features to be great but just not easy to track from start to finish.

Thank you to Taylor Brown, NetGalley, and St Martin’s Press for providing me with an advanced reading copy.

Taylor Brown has written a compelling historical novel about the Battle of Blair Mountain, West Virginia. Although the largest battle on US soil since the Civil War, it's probably fair to say that many outside the region are not familiar with it.

The pivotal character in the book is Dr. Domit (Dr. Moo) Muhanna, a Lebanese man who came to Kentucky to go to medical school and who stayed to care for mine workers and all who needed his care. He is based upon the author's great-grandfather, who also came from Lebanon to attend medical school in Kentucky.

The year was 1920, and joining the union warranted harsh treatment -- often at gunpoint--in the minds of the coal bosses. If a man joined the union, he and his family lost their company housing and, near Blair Mountain, were moved to a tent city at the top of the hill. Contrast that to the mansions enjoyed by the mine executives.

Much of the book deals with the battle between the bosses' hired enforcers and the miners who just wanted to feed their families and house them decently. Some had just returned from fighting in World War I, and employed strategies they had learned there. Still, the Battle of Blair Mountain sounds as if it was an excruciating fight, with victory never assured for one side over the other.

The action moves quickly. Not only was the book hard to put down, it was hard to stop thinking about when I wasn't reading. I recommend "Rednecks." Taylor Brown brings history to life. I was also impressed by the book's bibliography.

This talented author has written a page turner. This story is about a past that is not pleasant to read about. However, it happened. The title is not one I would have chosen, but it does fit the book. There are passages about events that I did not know about, or at least, I did not remember. There are characters who come alive on the pages. Thanks Netgalley.