Title: Deep South Gold
Author: Jo Stewart Wray
Publisher: Reading Glass Books
ISBN: 979-8894791135
Pages: 362
Genre: Genre Fiction / Historical Fiction
Reviewer: Christina Avina
Pacific Book Review
The fine line between history and myth is often blurred when exploring the past. The point in which historical accuracy deals in facts, and the line of legends built upon old stories of folklore, always has been fascinating, and exploring that natural progression into the myths and legends found throughout history is a great way of understanding and experiencing rich cultures.
The line between myth and history comes to life perfectly in the historical fiction thriller, Deep South Gold. The story follows a young woman named Jane, who after experiencing a traumatic incident must fight to not only protect herself but take down the machinations of people she thought she could trust who seek nothing but more power and control. As Jane grows, readers see a naive and innocent young girl become a strong, confident, and persistent woman in the face of great adversity, and in the process learn what it means to overcome the traumas of the past.
Exploring this unique period of history when racism, deep-seated cultural beliefs, and violence became synonymous with life in the deep South made this story truly stand out. The beating heart of the story was the character arc and role that protagonist Jane played in the story. The horrors she experiences at such a young age, from the loss of a loved one and a violent parent, to traumatic experiences at the hands of someone she thought she could trust, and even the more fraught and dangerous experiences with some of the most powerful individuals found in this setting, including the likes of Marie Laveau, made Jane’s arc both chilling and engaging as a reader to follow.
Themes of cultural beliefs, myths and legends, finding inner strength, and the power of standing up for one’s ideals, make this novel shine. The true history behind the lost Confederate gold featured in this novel and the way the author was able to draw upon spoken history to expand on this narrative allowed this reader to feel both the historical fiction and thriller genres alive on the page. The shocking twists and turns the story takes, and the vivid imagery the reader finds in the author’s writing style, allowed for a more dramatic and engaging story to emerge as this era of history came to life on the page.
