Description
Book SynopsisTears of the Mountain chronicles a single day in one man's life--July 4, 1876--along with a series of flashbacks that all lead up to an eventful Centennial Independence Day celebration in Sonoma, California. Over the course of this surprisingly pivotal moment in his life, Jeremiah McKinley prepares for the celebration and for a reunion with old friends and family. However, as he reflects on past love, the hazardous pioneer journey of his youth across the continent from Missouri, and the many violent conflicts of the West, voices of the long dead come to him, while old wounds and enmities resurface, threatening everything he holds dear. Furthermore, a series of mysterious notes and messages follow him throughout the day. When a visiting senator is found dead, suspicion leads to his old mentor, Professor Applewood, whose sudden disappearance from the festivities makes McKinley a suspected accessory to a fugitive. John Addiego fills this tale of America's coming of age with wit and lively prose, seamlessly moving back and forth through time in a novel that recognizes both our darker side and our promise.
Trade Review"The cast of characters is fascinating, each one helping to move the tale forward...well-written with historically accurate information regarding California's early settlement, the Gold Rush, and the Bear Rebellion that led to adding the California territory to the United States...difficult to put down; Addiego is a talented writer who has composed an exceptional story that will linger in my thoughts for some time. I look forward to reading his next book." --Historical Novels Review "Addiego wields perfect control of the story, using simple and elegant descriptive prose and charming sentence bridges to flow between one chapter and the next." --Sacramento Book Review "Addiego shows skill in developing varied yet realistic voices for his characters. As you would imagine in the newly settled west in the mid 19th century, there are people from a variety of environments and socio-economic backgrounds. The author presents these differences well and the narrative is the better for it...There is much to like about Tears of the Mountain and some great technical skill displayed in its execution...a satisfying read on many levels...There is something for most readers in this novel. It is a job well done."--New York Journal of Books
