55_sallymander's review against another edition
5.0
THE BLUE CLOAK (True Colors Series, Historical Stories of American Crime)
By: Shannon McNear
Form: Paperback
Pages: 256
Published: 3/1/2020
Isbn: 1643523147
Publisher: Barbour Books
Reviewed by: mrsboone4, Green Forest, AR USA
Date: 3/3/2020
Rating: 5 Stars
Sally Rice is a minister's daughter. She and a young man are caught in a compromising position and they have to get married. She loves Wiley Harpe, her new husband. Her childhood as a minister's daughter in no way prepared her for the horrible life she will live with her husband, his brother Micajah and two additional women.
Sally thinks that she and Wiley are on their way home, where they will live and she will keep house and raise their babies. She is sadly mistaken. Wiley has them meet up with his older brother Micajah and two other women-one of whom Micajah later marries up with. Then, Micajah informs her that He will share her, Sally also! Sally is horrified. She has no other choice. The other two women Susan and Betsey were kidnapped as young pre-teen girls and held by these two evil men. They tell Sally to submit to both men and keep her mouth shut, don't complain and you will live.
Micajah and Wiley decide to start murdering anyone whom they come into contact with. Everyone is advised on the Wilderness Trail, to join up with another group to prevent and deter crime against the settlers on the Wilderness Trail. But, what happens when you unknowingly join up with the wild Harpe Brothers? You will be hacked to pieces and all of your belongings stolen, even your clothes and your horse.
Sally's girlhood friend Rachel gives her a lovely blue cloak for a wedding gift. Rachel's family owns several trading posts along the Wilderness Trail. Rachel gives Sally a hug and tells her that she is praying for her. That's all Sally has to hold onto, as she is carried off into the wilds of Tennessee.
Ben's cousin Thomas is not very responsible and Thomas ends up being murdered by the Harpe Brothers. Ben stops in at a trading post and asks about joining up with a posse who is going after the murderers. He is gone a long time. Eventually, Micajah is killed. The women are rescued. Ben continues his hunt for Wiley.
Ben and Rachel fall in love. Wiley is eventually captured and killed as well.
It is all very hard for Sally and Rachel, because neither ever thought that Sally would be involved with this class of fiends.
Exciting story. Ms. McNear has done extensive historical research to get the information she needed to tell all about the Harpe Brothers.
Many thanks to Barbour Books for the complimentary copy and I was under no obligation to post a review.
By: Shannon McNear
Form: Paperback
Pages: 256
Published: 3/1/2020
Isbn: 1643523147
Publisher: Barbour Books
Reviewed by: mrsboone4, Green Forest, AR USA
Date: 3/3/2020
Rating: 5 Stars
Sally Rice is a minister's daughter. She and a young man are caught in a compromising position and they have to get married. She loves Wiley Harpe, her new husband. Her childhood as a minister's daughter in no way prepared her for the horrible life she will live with her husband, his brother Micajah and two additional women.
Sally thinks that she and Wiley are on their way home, where they will live and she will keep house and raise their babies. She is sadly mistaken. Wiley has them meet up with his older brother Micajah and two other women-one of whom Micajah later marries up with. Then, Micajah informs her that He will share her, Sally also! Sally is horrified. She has no other choice. The other two women Susan and Betsey were kidnapped as young pre-teen girls and held by these two evil men. They tell Sally to submit to both men and keep her mouth shut, don't complain and you will live.
Micajah and Wiley decide to start murdering anyone whom they come into contact with. Everyone is advised on the Wilderness Trail, to join up with another group to prevent and deter crime against the settlers on the Wilderness Trail. But, what happens when you unknowingly join up with the wild Harpe Brothers? You will be hacked to pieces and all of your belongings stolen, even your clothes and your horse.
Sally's girlhood friend Rachel gives her a lovely blue cloak for a wedding gift. Rachel's family owns several trading posts along the Wilderness Trail. Rachel gives Sally a hug and tells her that she is praying for her. That's all Sally has to hold onto, as she is carried off into the wilds of Tennessee.
Ben's cousin Thomas is not very responsible and Thomas ends up being murdered by the Harpe Brothers. Ben stops in at a trading post and asks about joining up with a posse who is going after the murderers. He is gone a long time. Eventually, Micajah is killed. The women are rescued. Ben continues his hunt for Wiley.
Ben and Rachel fall in love. Wiley is eventually captured and killed as well.
It is all very hard for Sally and Rachel, because neither ever thought that Sally would be involved with this class of fiends.
Exciting story. Ms. McNear has done extensive historical research to get the information she needed to tell all about the Harpe Brothers.
Many thanks to Barbour Books for the complimentary copy and I was under no obligation to post a review.
jshep77's review against another edition
4.0
This was a well told story of several characters whose lives have been affected by 2 evil men. This is a fictional account of a true story.
tayler32's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.75
travelerswife4life's review against another edition
5.0
Where to start on a book that sucks you in and doesn’t let go…
The Blue Cloak by Shannon McNear summed up in one word is: STUNNING. When I started reading this book I could not stop thinking about the characters and their plights, Shannon McNear brought their thoughts and feeling to life in an almost tangible way that made me feel like I was right there experiencing the haunting twists and realizations with the characters. She weaved in such a thread of hope and light amidst all that happened for her characters that were a true reflection of the hope we need to pray for in our fallen world.
I was captivated from the first chapter of this true-crime story in a way that I do not think I have ever been by a book before. The historical detail and research that went into the writing of this book were phenomenal, it made the story even more eye-opening for me. I loved how Shannon McNear took the time at the end (in the author’s note) to explain several different aspects of the story and the historical documentation to back them up.
I truly loved the setting, the plot, and the three main characters in this book. When combined I think they made a truly stunning and captivating story that weaves a tale of faith, perseverance, trust, and hope amid unknowable tragedy. Shannon McNear did a great job portraying the darkness in our world but expressing the hope that we have in Jesus’ name.
I give this book a resounding 5 out of 5 stars for the amazing storyline, the historical details, and the great characters. I highly recommend reading this book and I am personally ordering a physical copy for my book collection.
*I volunteered to read this book in return for my honest opinion. The thoughts and opinions expressed within are my own.
The Blue Cloak by Shannon McNear summed up in one word is: STUNNING. When I started reading this book I could not stop thinking about the characters and their plights, Shannon McNear brought their thoughts and feeling to life in an almost tangible way that made me feel like I was right there experiencing the haunting twists and realizations with the characters. She weaved in such a thread of hope and light amidst all that happened for her characters that were a true reflection of the hope we need to pray for in our fallen world.
I was captivated from the first chapter of this true-crime story in a way that I do not think I have ever been by a book before. The historical detail and research that went into the writing of this book were phenomenal, it made the story even more eye-opening for me. I loved how Shannon McNear took the time at the end (in the author’s note) to explain several different aspects of the story and the historical documentation to back them up.
I truly loved the setting, the plot, and the three main characters in this book. When combined I think they made a truly stunning and captivating story that weaves a tale of faith, perseverance, trust, and hope amid unknowable tragedy. Shannon McNear did a great job portraying the darkness in our world but expressing the hope that we have in Jesus’ name.
I give this book a resounding 5 out of 5 stars for the amazing storyline, the historical details, and the great characters. I highly recommend reading this book and I am personally ordering a physical copy for my book collection.
*I volunteered to read this book in return for my honest opinion. The thoughts and opinions expressed within are my own.
melmo2610's review against another edition
4.0
This is a hard read. It is well written to be sure, but the subject matter is not for the faint of heart. This horror and tragedy of this story are gripping and I definitely had to see how it ended. I can't imagine how the real people who lived through this coped. It is quite a story and one I had I never heard of before this book. What a tragic tale from our nation's history. Well written book but a dark one, given the subject matter. Shannon does do a good job at letting hope shine through the pages and the ending was a nice tie up of the elements of the story.
I received this book from NetGalley and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.
I received this book from NetGalley and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.
amandagstevens's review against another edition
4.0
A dark novel based on an even darker slice of history: the murder spree of the Harpes, a team of serial killers (brothers or cousins; history isn’t sure) who butchered their way across the Kentucky and Tennessee Wilderness during the last few years of the 18th century.
The book is told with a raw and unflinching immediacy, tracking the rampage of the Harpes from the point of view of Sally Rice, one of their three held-in-common wives. The other two point-of-view characters are fictional: Rachel Taylor, a friend of Sally’s from before her marriage, and Ben Langford, a lawyer new to the frontier who joins the various manhunts that sought the Harpes and their wives.
The author’s notes both before and after her story express Ms. McNear’s wrestling as she uncovered more and more detail of the gruesome crimes committed by the Harpes. How does a Christian tell a story like this? How to reconcile Sally’s prayers for deliverance with the delay of said deliverance? There doesn’t seem to be an answer in the story, and perhaps that’s the most devastating thing about the book. All three primary characters pour out countless prayers from these pages, as those in history likely did against what must have been a spiritual war as well as a physical hunt for evildoers.
It’s a well-written, deeply-researched novel. And it’s a tough novel. I might add to this review later after more mulling, but for now this is all the conclusion I have.
The book is told with a raw and unflinching immediacy, tracking the rampage of the Harpes from the point of view of Sally Rice, one of their three held-in-common wives. The other two point-of-view characters are fictional: Rachel Taylor, a friend of Sally’s from before her marriage, and Ben Langford, a lawyer new to the frontier who joins the various manhunts that sought the Harpes and their wives.
The author’s notes both before and after her story express Ms. McNear’s wrestling as she uncovered more and more detail of the gruesome crimes committed by the Harpes. How does a Christian tell a story like this? How to reconcile Sally’s prayers for deliverance with the delay of said deliverance? There doesn’t seem to be an answer in the story, and perhaps that’s the most devastating thing about the book. All three primary characters pour out countless prayers from these pages, as those in history likely did against what must have been a spiritual war as well as a physical hunt for evildoers.
It’s a well-written, deeply-researched novel. And it’s a tough novel. I might add to this review later after more mulling, but for now this is all the conclusion I have.
readermaker's review against another edition
4.0
The Blue Cloak was a difficult read in various sections, a gruesome story of wild men: Old Man Roberts, Big Harpe and Little Harpe and the deaths they caused in 1790’s Kentucky. The brutality of the deaths were difficult to read and I was tempted to skim past them but wanting to give an honest review I plunged through. This is not something I would have read as my own selection. The court scenes were much easier reading and were well done and somewhat reminded my of the style of John Grisham. This part had me spellbound and kept me up late at night not wanting to put the book down.
hmbarnum1's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
bethanyyoung86's review against another edition
3.0
I received this book from the publisher via Netgalley, All opinions are my own.
The book is based on true events and reading and understanding that makes me extra sensitive to the topic being handle. The book is detailed on the murders which took place which made me have to skip over some parts but the rest of the story was compelling to read and sad. I have enjoyed the series of book based on true crime but it is still hard to grasp that these took place . The book is not for someone with a light stomach but it’s well researched and well written
The book is based on true events and reading and understanding that makes me extra sensitive to the topic being handle. The book is detailed on the murders which took place which made me have to skip over some parts but the rest of the story was compelling to read and sad. I have enjoyed the series of book based on true crime but it is still hard to grasp that these took place . The book is not for someone with a light stomach but it’s well researched and well written
esthery_rn's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. I was intrigued by the back cover of this book about the first serial killers in the United States of America. I already knew this author would do a great job, but I wasn’t sure about the content. Shannon McNear did a fabulous job with this story!
In a book about evil villains, I was leery of any triggering graphic content. Thankfully, most of the violence happened “off-screen” but the evil was still evident. (I did skim 2 of the murders that were a bit more written out than the rest.) The three Stockholm-syndrome/victims in the book were VERY well done.
From the author’s introduction, the book sucked me in and I found myself wrapped up in the story and the lives of the characters. I finished it in one sitting. After I finished, I passed my Kindle to my husband who had been doing some web-searches about the Harpes. I told him that he had to read the author’s note at the back of the book since she did a better job discussing the real Harpes and all the events than anything he was pulling up online!
I follow the GoodReads rating system. Please note that this means even the 3-star books are ones I liked.
1 star – didn’t like it
2 stars – it was OK
3 stars – liked it
4 stars – really liked it
5 stars – it was amazing; I’ll read it over and over and/or it will impact my daily life.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley. I was not required to give a positive review. The thoughts and opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
In a book about evil villains, I was leery of any triggering graphic content. Thankfully, most of the violence happened “off-screen” but the evil was still evident. (I did skim 2 of the murders that were a bit more written out than the rest.) The three Stockholm-syndrome/victims in the book were VERY well done.
From the author’s introduction, the book sucked me in and I found myself wrapped up in the story and the lives of the characters. I finished it in one sitting. After I finished, I passed my Kindle to my husband who had been doing some web-searches about the Harpes. I told him that he had to read the author’s note at the back of the book since she did a better job discussing the real Harpes and all the events than anything he was pulling up online!
I follow the GoodReads rating system. Please note that this means even the 3-star books are ones I liked.
1 star – didn’t like it
2 stars – it was OK
3 stars – liked it
4 stars – really liked it
5 stars – it was amazing; I’ll read it over and over and/or it will impact my daily life.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley. I was not required to give a positive review. The thoughts and opinions expressed here are entirely my own.