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greybeard49's review against another edition
5.0
Another excellent example of Tom Franklin's writing. What do you say? Taut economical sentences that tell it as it was - no frills, no punches pulled yet at the same time placing you with the protagonists so that you can almost taste the atmosphere and experience the emotion.
I really like quality writing and Franklin's books throw it at you page by page - historical fiction of the highest quality.
I really like quality writing and Franklin's books throw it at you page by page - historical fiction of the highest quality.
burchre's review against another edition
4.0
A good old-fashioned western. Full of heroes, villains, and lots of nasty violence. The characters are a little too stock at times, complete to the old sheriff who drinks too much. More development of his character would have fleshed him out, and Franklin's focus on some of the other characters was not as interesting, leading, I think, to the book slowing down in the middle as the action also dies down. However, Franklin's writing keeps it an interesting read.
sandin954's review against another edition
3.0
Historical fiction set in Alabama in the late 1890s and based on a real life incident. Well written with great period details but quite violent. Listened to the audio version which was narrated by Larry Pine whose southern accent was perfect for the story.
sewcialism's review against another edition
5.0
One of the best books I've read in years. I had forgotten what great storytelling was like, and Franklin's novel reminded me. Certainly not for the faint of heart, but then, most good fiction probably isn't. I highly recommend, especially to those who appreciate a skillfully crafted piece of Southern literature.
emilybryk's review against another edition
4.0
everybody dies. oh god, everybody dies.
this is not a spoiler. hell, these people are living in alabama in the 1890s. you better bet they've died by now. but still. tom franklin wants you to know they've died. and he will tell you about their blood (blossoming, spurting, seeping, pooling) and their limbs (pulling loose like twigs). beneath it, there's a deep tragedy and the rivalries between the town folk and the country folk culminate in disaster for all involved. some characters (particularly members of hell-at-the-breech itself) were flat, but macky and the sherrif were nicely drawn
this is not a spoiler. hell, these people are living in alabama in the 1890s. you better bet they've died by now. but still. tom franklin wants you to know they've died. and he will tell you about their blood (blossoming, spurting, seeping, pooling) and their limbs (pulling loose like twigs). beneath it, there's a deep tragedy and the rivalries between the town folk and the country folk culminate in disaster for all involved. some characters (particularly members of hell-at-the-breech itself) were flat, but macky and the sherrif were nicely drawn
madison_mcloughlin's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
chazmo1431's review against another edition
4.0
I can feel the dirt in my teeth reading this one. Set in the 1890's with a dusty old sheriff right on the cusp of retiring the badge. A gritty landscape that the author brings to life beautifully. A secret society of hooded men called "Hell At The Breech" that are seeking to change their local economy with their own brand of war. A store owners death becomes the new owners headquarters for this band run by his brother. There is a little of everything coming of age, murder, southern hooded renegades, a posse running amuck, and a window into life in the South in the 1890's. I am giving this 3 1/2 stars rounded off to a 4 for a great ending.
blevins's review against another edition
3.0
Violent little tale with a western vibe even though it is set in the south about a feud breaking out between rural folks in 1897 Alabama. Multiple viewpoints and turns into a spree of violence which I enjoyed.
campsey0914's review against another edition
3.0
“Hell at the Breech” by Tom Franklin takes place in rural 1897 Alabama. Arch Bishop is killed in the night, and his death causes a war, of sorts, to break out between the city folks and the farmers. Rumors begin to float that someone from the city came to the country and killed Bishop. A group of men come together to form their own form of law called, “Hell at the Breech.” Their mission, at first, was to seek revenge for Arch Bishop’s death. With murder on their mind, they soon begin to take the law of the country into their own hands. No one is safe and no one knows the true identities of many of the members. Soon farmers and their families find themselves forced to help or they too will find themselves dead.
Sheriff Billy Waite is ready for retirement. He believes in the law and not bending it, no matter the circumstances. He rides out to Mitcham’s Beat to investigate the murder of one of the local farmers. He soon discovers that no one is talking and everyone seems to have an alibi. He knows that trouble is brewing and the city folk and the farmers are on the edge of a war.
“Hell at the Breech” is loosely based on true events that took place in Alabama between 1897- 1898. It’s an interesting and violent take on a part of American history. I, personally, had a hard time reading this book. I found many parts of it to be a bit of a slow read. There were a few times while I was reading, that I thought about going and starting a different book. The author jumps from different perspectives throughout the book. The first couple times it happened, I found myself a little confused. I had to go back and reread a few pages to refresh whom certain characters were.
I thought the concept was great. It was really interesting to read about an event that actually took place. A little over halfway through, I really felt like things began to pick up. There is a lot of violence in the book. Personally, it did not bother me. It’s a true description of what life and “taking the law into your own hands” meant during the time period. The author was very graphic during many of the death scenes, so it’s not for the faint of heart.
Overall, I give it three stars. It’s an interesting and fictionalized take on a part of Alabama’s history.
Sheriff Billy Waite is ready for retirement. He believes in the law and not bending it, no matter the circumstances. He rides out to Mitcham’s Beat to investigate the murder of one of the local farmers. He soon discovers that no one is talking and everyone seems to have an alibi. He knows that trouble is brewing and the city folk and the farmers are on the edge of a war.
“Hell at the Breech” is loosely based on true events that took place in Alabama between 1897- 1898. It’s an interesting and violent take on a part of American history. I, personally, had a hard time reading this book. I found many parts of it to be a bit of a slow read. There were a few times while I was reading, that I thought about going and starting a different book. The author jumps from different perspectives throughout the book. The first couple times it happened, I found myself a little confused. I had to go back and reread a few pages to refresh whom certain characters were.
I thought the concept was great. It was really interesting to read about an event that actually took place. A little over halfway through, I really felt like things began to pick up. There is a lot of violence in the book. Personally, it did not bother me. It’s a true description of what life and “taking the law into your own hands” meant during the time period. The author was very graphic during many of the death scenes, so it’s not for the faint of heart.
Overall, I give it three stars. It’s an interesting and fictionalized take on a part of Alabama’s history.