WINTER’S RECKONING
In 1917, Madeline Fairbanks is an herbalist healer devoted to the people of Jamesville, a dying town in the Southern Appalachians. Renetta Morgan—with whom it is taboo to fraternize because of race—is her apprentice. Maddie’s precocious granddaughter, Hannah Tillman, is mesmerized by an ancestral box in Maddie’s possession that contains hints of a mystical heritage.
On a cold September wind, charismatic Carl Howard blows into town astraddle a stallion of near-mythic proportions. With no reason to doubt him, the town accepts him as their new pastor. But Carl casts a wider net, claiming power, leadership, and much more than he has a right to.
In 1917, Madeline Fairbanks is an herbalist healer devoted to the people of Jamesville, a dying town in the Southern Appalachians. Renetta Morgan—with whom it is taboo to fraternize because of race—is her apprentice. Maddie’s precocious granddaughter, Hannah Tillman, is mesmerized by an ancestral box in Maddie’s possession that contains hints of a mystical heritage.
On a cold September wind, charismatic Carl Howard blows into town astraddle a stallion of near-mythic proportions. With no reason to doubt him, the town accepts him as their new pastor. But Carl casts a wider net, claiming power, leadership, and much more than he has a right to. He fans fear into hatred, leading to racial conflict and oppression of women.
Maddie does not bend the knee to Carl, but continues in her progressive ways—and in doing so, finds herself accused of witchcraft and targeted by the KKK.
- She Writes Press
- Hardcover
- August 2022
- 336 Pages
- 9781647426002
Buy the Book
$24.95
About Adele Holmes
Adele Holmes graduated from medical school in 1993. After twenty-plus years in private practice pediatrics, her unquenchable desire to wander the world, write, and give back to the community led her to retire from medicine. Her fun-loving family includes a rollicking crew of her husband Chris, two adult children and their spouses, five grandchildren of diverse ages and talents, a horse, and a Bernedoodle. Winter’s Reckoning, Adele’s debut novel, won Honorable Mention in the 2021 William Faulkner Literary Competition and first place in the 2021 Chanticleer International Book Award-Goethe Award. Kirkus Reviews called it “A notable tale that offers the hope that even small actions can lead toward greater good.” She is currently at work on her second novel in her resident town of Little Rock, Arkansas.
Praise
Awarded William Faulkner Literary Competition Honorable Mention, 2021
“Holmes’ satisfying conclusion offers a twist to the tale….[and] the novel’s explorations of the horrors of misogyny and racism have powerful contemporary resonance. Along the way, Holmes constructs a vivid and believable historical setting and populates her novel with well-developed characters who are flawed and relatable as they seek to triumph over evil. A notable tale that offers the hope that even small actions can lead toward greater good.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Adele Holmes crafts a timeless story of kinships, friendships, and secret legacies born of good and evil. With a keen eye for detail and an intricate plot leading to a satisfying conclusion, this tale is sure to enchant readers.”—Donna Everhart, USA Today bestselling author of Road to Bittersweet and Saints of Swallow Hill
Discussion Questions
1. How does this novel portray health care? How is health care different today, or not?
2. This novel depicts different kinds of faiths or belief systems. Discuss.
3. In this story, Maddie fights against misogyny and racism. What do you think makes Maddie so strong? How has the battle against misogyny and racism changed today, or has it?
4. Why is the snowstorm important to the story?
5. Is this a Gothic novel?
6. Do you think Maddie’s age affects how she is perceived? Is she considered an elder, a crone, or both? Would the reception to her have been different if her deceased husband had not been so powerful in the town?
7. This novel shows different kinds of families. How important are families to the main characters in this novel?
8. Hannah sees Maddie at her weakest moment. What effect does this have on Hannah?
9. Maddie and Ren see each other as equals, save for one moment, when Maddie is worried for Ren. Why does this upset Ren? What allows them to heal?
10. Who would play these characters in a movie?