The Blue Cloak by Shannon McNear 

This fascinating historical fiction novel features justice and redemption. The book is set in the late 1700’s in Tennessee and Kentucky. Back then Kentucky was considered the frontier. The story is a love story between Rachel, a merchant’s daughter, and Ben, a high society lawyer. The biggest obstacle to their romance is two individuals that one could say are America’s first serial killers. I’m not sure they fit the modern definition of a serial killer, but they killed a lot of people and wreaked havoc throughout that region. These are two real people, in the book named Micajah Harpe and Wiley Harpe.

This is a Christian novel. Throughout the characters seek God and benefit from God’s hand. Scripture is quoted. Prayers are verbalized. And God is a critical part of the characters’ lives. However, it’s also a brutal story about two sub-human monsters. The author does a good job of toning down the blood and gore, but the things these two Harpe “brothers” did were horrendous and thus some of the scenes are not for the faint of heart. Most of the killing is done off screen, but there are a couple scenes that the author felt compelled to show as live action. I put “brothers” in quotes because it’s believed they were cousins, though they passed themselves off as brothers.

The third main character is Sally, who marries Wiley Harpe. Rachel is one of her best friends, and after the marriage, really her only friend. It turns out the marriage is not conventional, as the Harpes share Sally. There are two other women that travel with the Harpes as well. We learn that they were taken by the Harpes when they were very young. The story is told from Rachel’s, Sally’s, and Ben’s point of view. Sally endures hell. She’s the character who is redeemed the most, but the process of redemption for her is torture. Rachel has a redemption journey of trust as well.

Ben and Rachel are kept apart because Ben is part of various posses pursuing the Harpes. Rachel frustrated me in her resistance to committing to Ben. This is possibly intentional by the author. Her reasoning makes some sense given what she’s learned about her friend Sally.

This book deals with spousal abuse and the psyche of women who endure it. A lot of time is spent showing the three women trapped by the Harpes and impacts it has on their lives. There is also some social commentary about breaking down artificial societal barriers.

It is a page-turner. Well-written. I encourage you to read the afterword about the actual history of these two monsters and how the author interweaves her fiction with that history.

Being a Christian novel, there is no profanity. Some kissing, but nothing more on page. There is violence, but not gratuitous and it is necessary. However, one scene will make even the stoutest crime fiction reader cringe.

Another good read this year. I’ll rank this one sixth. If you are a history buff and/or true crime buff, or like crime fiction, I highly recommend this book.

1. The Record Keeper by Charles Martin
2. The Samaritan’s Patient by Chevron Ross
3. Days Coming by Pat Simmons
4. The Runaway Jury by John Grisham
5. The Maid by Nita Prose
6. The Blue Cloak by Shannon McNear
7. Where is My Sister by Jane Daly
8. Braving Strange Waters by Sarah Hanks
9. Another Ending by Sara Whitely
10. Blood Red Deceit by Steve Rush
11. The Dark Wind by Tony Hillerman
12. The Sacred Bridge by Anne Hillerman
13. Black Cherry Blues by James Lee Burke
14. A Vanishing Act by Edwina Kiernan
15. Harlot’s Moon by Ed Gorman
16. Cali’s Hope by John Matthew Walker
17. Field Training by Patrick O’Donnell
18. Deadly Pursuit by Elle Gray
19. American Prophet by Jeff Fullmer

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