Review by timd -- The McCoys Before The Feud
3 posts
[Following is a volunteer review of "The McCoys Before The Feud" by Thomas McCoy.]
[rbc=4]id361862-125[/rbc]
This is the setting in which we encounter Thomas McCoy Jr., known as Tommy. He is also in the process of surrendering but has received a letter from his ex-betrothed, Teresa, or Terry, alluding to maps that she has obtained. They apparently reveal the locations of the sites of bounty plundered from the South. He is excited at this news and immediately makes plans to visit her and obtain the maps to take to his father.
His visit to Terry is successful and he returns to his father with the maps. With the rest of the McCoy family gathered together after their surrender process, they devise plans for investigating and raiding these sites in order to recover what rightfully belongs to the people of the South. What follows is an exciting and grimly detailed rendition of how they plan and conduct these raids.
Although Tommy and the McCoy's have the element of surprise on their side, the corrupt officers of the North are not about to surrender their stolen bounty without a struggle. They bring in some more troops to assist them, but they also have another surprising resource that they plan to use.
Tommy also faces uncertainty as he ponders whether Terry will accept him back so that they can get married and settle down and start a family together.
This is the first in a series of books. Judging by the historical detail and realistic action in this book, they will certainly be worthwhile looking out for. There are no gory details included, but the scenes are tense and true to life, almost as if they were being described by someone who had experienced them in reality.
Accuracy and convincing detail add to the enjoyment of this novel. I was particularly impressed when the author described a character noting the position of the moon in the night sky in order to gain an idea of the time. In this case, the moon was no longer directly overhead, which indicated that it was well past midnight.
Descriptions of the daily conditions at the time, as well as the catering for all the men and animals staying on the ranch, contributed towards the realism and atmosphere of the story. Details of the meals and how they enjoyed their idle time also enhanced the reading experience.
This is an ideal book for readers who enjoy being transported back in time. It will also be enjoyed by lovers of westerns. Readers who are averse to any descriptions of violence may not enjoy this book. There are numerous scenes which include armed combat and hand to hand fighting.
From a political and a historical perspective, the book appears to be somewhat biased towards the South. My only criticism is the lack of any descriptions of atrocities committed by either side. A few issues are mentioned, but there are no scenes of any sordid reality that one would expect in such a situation.
Religion is excluded and there is no foul language or sex. I found it mildly amusing to read the scene with Terry and Tommy going to sleep together, as they both wear nightclothes and fall asleep almost immediately.
A preface and details about the author, who is a direct descendant of the McCoy family, add historical context to the story. Facts have been combined with fiction in the novel to create a story that is entertaining as well as informative.
I could not find any spelling mistakes or typos. There was one error in punctuation, and none in grammar. I noticed some highlighting faults in the Kindle edition which I read.
This is historical fiction and a western drama which is entertaining and gripping to read. With just enough details included in the dialogue, the author succeeds in immersing one in a convincing portrayal of the world of that period. For this reason I have awarded this book a rating of 4 out of 4 stars.
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The McCoys Before The Feud
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This is the setting in which we encounter Thomas McCoy Jr., known as Tommy. He is also in the process of surrendering but has received a letter from his ex-betrothed, Teresa, or Terry, alluding to maps that she has obtained. They apparently reveal the locations of the sites of bounty plundered from the South. He is excited at this news and immediately makes plans to visit her and obtain the maps to take to his father.
His visit to Terry is successful and he returns to his father with the maps. With the rest of the McCoy family gathered together after their surrender process, they devise plans for investigating and raiding these sites in order to recover what rightfully belongs to the people of the South. What follows is an exciting and grimly detailed rendition of how they plan and conduct these raids.
Although Tommy and the McCoy's have the element of surprise on their side, the corrupt officers of the North are not about to surrender their stolen bounty without a struggle. They bring in some more troops to assist them, but they also have another surprising resource that they plan to use.
Tommy also faces uncertainty as he ponders whether Terry will accept him back so that they can get married and settle down and start a family together.
This is the first in a series of books. Judging by the historical detail and realistic action in this book, they will certainly be worthwhile looking out for. There are no gory details included, but the scenes are tense and true to life, almost as if they were being described by someone who had experienced them in reality.
Accuracy and convincing detail add to the enjoyment of this novel. I was particularly impressed when the author described a character noting the position of the moon in the night sky in order to gain an idea of the time. In this case, the moon was no longer directly overhead, which indicated that it was well past midnight.
Descriptions of the daily conditions at the time, as well as the catering for all the men and animals staying on the ranch, contributed towards the realism and atmosphere of the story. Details of the meals and how they enjoyed their idle time also enhanced the reading experience.
This is an ideal book for readers who enjoy being transported back in time. It will also be enjoyed by lovers of westerns. Readers who are averse to any descriptions of violence may not enjoy this book. There are numerous scenes which include armed combat and hand to hand fighting.
From a political and a historical perspective, the book appears to be somewhat biased towards the South. My only criticism is the lack of any descriptions of atrocities committed by either side. A few issues are mentioned, but there are no scenes of any sordid reality that one would expect in such a situation.
Religion is excluded and there is no foul language or sex. I found it mildly amusing to read the scene with Terry and Tommy going to sleep together, as they both wear nightclothes and fall asleep almost immediately.
A preface and details about the author, who is a direct descendant of the McCoy family, add historical context to the story. Facts have been combined with fiction in the novel to create a story that is entertaining as well as informative.
I could not find any spelling mistakes or typos. There was one error in punctuation, and none in grammar. I noticed some highlighting faults in the Kindle edition which I read.
This is historical fiction and a western drama which is entertaining and gripping to read. With just enough details included in the dialogue, the author succeeds in immersing one in a convincing portrayal of the world of that period. For this reason I have awarded this book a rating of 4 out of 4 stars.
******
The McCoys Before The Feud
View: on Bookshelves |
Like timd's review? Post a comment saying so!
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