The Saints of Swallow Hill: A Fascinating Depression Era Historical Novel

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Where the Crawdads Sing meets The Four Winds in this Depression-era historical fiction novel set in the turpentine camps and pine forests of the American South.

A captivating story of friendship and survival as the lives of three vagabonds intersect in rural Georgia and North Carolina.

It takes courage to save yourself...

In the dense pine forests of North Carolina, turpentiners labor, hacking into tree trunks to draw out the sticky sap that gives the Tar Heel State its nickname, and hauling the resin to stills to be refined. Among them is Rae Lynn Cobb and her husband, Warren, who run a small turpentine farm together.

Though the work is hard and often dangerous, Rae Lynn, who spent her childhood in an orphanage, is thankful for it—and for her kind if careless husband. When Warren falls victim to his own negligence, Rae Lynn undertakes a desperate act of mercy. To keep herself from jail, she disguises herself as a man named "Ray" and heads to the only place she can think of that might offer anonymity—a turpentine camp in Georgia named Swallow Hill.

Swallow Hill is no easy haven. The camp is isolated and squalid, and commissary owner Otis Riddle takes out his frustrations on his browbeaten wife, Cornelia. Although Rae Lynn works tirelessly, she becomes a target for Crow, the ever-watchful woods rider who checks each laborer's tally. Delwood Reese, who's come to Swallow Hill hoping for his own redemption, offers "Ray" a small measure of protection, and is determined to improve their conditions. As Rae Lynn forges a deeper friendship with both Del and Cornelia, she begins to envision a path out of the camp. But she will have to come to terms with her past, with all its pain and beauty, before she can open herself to a new life and seize the chance to begin again.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for The Saints of Swallow Hill

“The distinctive setting of the turpentine camps in the South during the Great Depression will make an imprint on readers, just as the characters of Rae Lynn and Del do. Fans of Sarah Addison Allen won't be able to put it down.”
Booklist

Praise for Donna Everhart's Southern Fiction

"Rousing...movingly explores Jessie's struggle with her eating disorder, viscerally describing her twin desires for nourishment and purging in relation to a deep need to define herself...Everhart's story of self-discovery, rife with colorful characters and a satisfying twist, will thrill readers."
Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW for The Moonshiner's Daughter

"This riveting novel set in the 1960s will have readers, especially those who enjoy Kaye Gibbons and Anna Jean Mayhew, captivated from the first page."
Booklist, STARRED REVIEW for The Moonshiner's Daughter

"Highly engaging and fast-paced with well-drawn out characters...the glimpse into this landscape and the moonshining underground is equal parts eye-opening and fascinating. Everhart handles Jessie's eating disorder with grace and compassion. The book also explores family loyalty and legacy. There's a lot to digest, and all of it makes for a compelling reading experience."
The Historical Novels Reviewon The Moonshiner's Daughter

"Reminiscent of the novels of Lee Smith, Kaye Gibbons, and Sandra Dallas, Everhart builds a firm sense of place, portraying the tiredness and hope of a dry southern summer and voicing strong southern women."
Bookliston The Forgiving Kind

"Set in 1950s North Carolina, this touching and fearless novel is a coming-of-age story about a young heroine determined to survive and pursue justice out of love for her family."
She Reads on The Forgiving Kind

"This story of survival and perseverance is heartbreaking and hard, but the ways the characters in the book choose family and hope lead them on paths they would never expect. Laci brings a bright spot to the family when she uses her fiddle to express her deeper thoughts and feelings while adding a magical component to the family's singing group, The Stampers...Everhart creates a signature style by writing in the voice of the main character, a young Southern girl, telling the story from her perspective. Her voice remains true throughout the novel, successfully engaging the reader."
The Missourian on The Road to Bittersweet

"Everhart is a good storyteller and makes her characters and their experiences come alive."
Booklist on The Road to Bittersweet

"An adventure story and coming-of-age story wrapped into one satisfying package... Donna Everhart skillfully evokes a harsh landscape and harsh times, squarely placing the reader in Appalachia right along with the family. Wallis Ann's complicated relationship with her sister is well explored and serves as a catalyst for her growth into a mature young woman."
Historical Novels Review on The Road to Bittersweet

"With gravitas and heart...Donna Everhart does a deft job of writing about innocence lost."
Business Insider, Insider Pick for The Education of Dixie Dupree

"This is a dark, haunting book that will linger with you for days, but despite the heaviness of the book, Dixie is a witty, charismatic burst of energy and sunshine who readers will want to rescue themselves. A remarkable story of the triumph of will, and a great coming-of-age novel."
Historical Novels Review on The Education of Dixie Dupree

"[A] harrowing coming-of-age novel set in Alabama...Readers will be drawn to Dixie, who is full of spunk and grit."
Bookliston The Education of Dixie Dupree

“Please open your heart to Dixie Dupree. With unflinching honesty and a voice that rings with authenticity, she survives the unthinkable. Her story celebrates the resiliency of the human spirit and the triumph of the imagination. An important novel, beautifully written, this is a story to cherish.”
Susan Wiggs, #1 New York Times bestselling author on The Education of Dixie Dupree
 
 “Young Dixie Dupree is an indomitable spirit in this coming-of-age novel that is a heartbreaking and honest witness to the resilience of human nature and the fighting spirit and courage residing in all of us.” 
The Huffington Post on The Education of Dixie Dupree

“In a powerful coming‑of‑age story that pitches southern charm against dark family secrets, the voice of 11‑year‑old Dixie Dupree captivates from the first page to the last.” 
Barbara Claypole White, bestselling author of The Perfect Son on The Education of Dixie Dupree

About the Author

Donna Everhart is a USA Today bestselling author known for vividly evoking challenges of the heart and the complex heritage of the American South in her acclaimed novels When the Jessamine Grows, The Saints of Swallow Hill, The Moonshiner’s Daughter, The Forgiving Kind, The Road to Bittersweet, and The Education of Dixie Dupree. She is the recipient of the prestigious North Carolina Society of Historians Award of Excellence, the SELA Outstanding Southeastern Author Award from the Southeastern Library Association, and her novels have received a SIBA Okra Pick, an Indie Next Pick, and two Publishers Marketplace Buzz Books selections. Born and raised in Raleigh, she has stayed close to her hometown for much of her life and now lives just an hour away in Dunn, North Carolina. Please visit her online at DonnaEverhart.com.

Review:

4.6 out of 5

92.31% of customers are satisfied

5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyed it very much

J.O. · September 17, 2024

Well written and engaging story.

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable

C.R. · April 14, 2024

I'm not verbose, I can only say I was entertained by this story and enjoyed my read. Interesting characters and insightful.

5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting story

J. · September 7, 2024

Gifted author & storyteller. Enjoyed from beginning to end.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great historical novel

D.C. · September 3, 2024

I never knew anything about how turpentine was created, or how hard the work was. This book is a wonderful historical novel about the industry and what the tribulations were during the Depression for survival.

4.0 out of 5 stars So close

H.R. · January 3, 2024

Overall, I enjoyed this book. The character development and imagery were fantastic and I could see the story as I read it. That being said, it felt like it was missing about another 100 pages as there was an abrupt shift and the last four or so chapters felt as though they were disconnected from the rest of the book. The ending lacked the same care of story development as the rest of the book and felt flat in comparison. This was a fantastic read to start the new year, and it was so close to being great, but ultimately is just really good.

3.0 out of 5 stars Ok read

T. · August 8, 2024

IMHO. It was a read of something by a different author to supplement my reading of favorite authors. I’ll do this and sometimes find a book I really like and read another by the same author. This book was ok. Good history of the South I knew nothing about. But the ending was a “too good to be true” end. I’m guessing a lot of people go for this but it just felt phony for me. It was an ok read but not something I’d pursue again. Thanks anyway.

5.0 out of 5 stars A real page turner

c.w. · July 24, 2024

This was such an interesting read. I learned something about what people did to survive during the depression. Turpentining? I never knew that it came from pine trees. And really hard work and dangerous too. Story also of love and patience.

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Story

J.A. · April 22, 2024

This is a story with a combination of learning the history of "Tar Heels" and where this name comes from, the industry it came from, and a story of the people who practiced this trade. Rae Lynn was married to an older man. He "rescued" her from an orphage when she became too old to stay there. They had a good life until he fell off the roof, refused medical attention, and asked her to kill him. She runs away, dresses as a man, and gets work in a turpentine e farm in Georgia dressed as a man, but life is tough. Lots of things happen. Hard to put down.

Turpentine History

J. · August 25, 2023

What a vivid picture of the rough life during The Depression. I had no idea of the history of the Longleaf Pines and Turpentine production.The story unfolds chapter by chapter with two people Del Reese and Rae Lynn Cobb recounting their experiences working at Swallow Hill. A dilapidated turpentine farm. Two of the men working there are terribly abusive and have no respect for human life or human rights.Del watches out for Rae as best he can until things come to a head one evening.It’ll take all they can do to survive.

Good read that keeps one interested throughout

G.b. · October 27, 2023

Really enjoyed my sort of book well writen, my wife has also read it and feels the same would recommend to other readers

Turpentine

J.S. · November 30, 2022

I liked finding out what life was like for "tar heels". The storyline and charactes were strong, too... an entertaining book.

The Saints of Swallow Hill

A.C. · December 15, 2023

Good novel,,, if only 1/3 of this is true,it is a horrific industry,,Rae Lynne was married to a man who took too many chances,And refused to seek medical care, she meets Del while working in aturpentinecamp

unputdownable

m. · November 27, 2022

I’m sad to have finished this book ..I’ve enjoyed it so much and really feel I know the characters and am reluctant to let them go.

The Saints of Swallow Hill: A Fascinating Depression Era Historical Novel

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