The Widows of Braxton County

by Jess McConkey

Widows of Braxton County by Jess McConkey is a haunting and suspenseful novel about family secrets and how well we really know the people we love.
 
Kate is looking forward to starting a new life with her new husband, Joseph Krause. She leaves the big city and moves with him to the Iowa farm that has been in his family for more than 140 years.
 
Instead of something out of Country Living, Kate finds life on the farm a struggle. She hears gossip from the unfriendly neighbors about the connection between the Krause family and a mysterious death decades before.
 
As the past creeps into Kate’s present, she’s caught in a web of dangerous, unexplainable events.
 
Jess McConkey, who is also published under the pseudonym Shirley Damsgaard, is an award-winning writer of short fiction.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Contemporary, Family, Historical, Suspense, Chick Lit

384 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 15, 2013

Reviews

[Diane S ☔ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story takes place on a farm in Iowa, 140 yrs. apart, with two similar deaths of two men. In the present day, Kate newly married, gets the shock of her young life when she arrives on the farm and finds her new mother-in-law in residence. Her husband just neglected to mention that part. She quickly learns and becomes part of small town gossip, family feuds and many family secrets. Can a family really be cursed? Can injustices ever be corrected? Can a ghost from the past reach out and calm with her presence? When history appears to repeat itself, Kate must use all her strength to decide who she trusts, and what she wants for her future.

This is a light read, there is not much depth to the characters or the story. Despite this, however, I did like the mystery, the setting of a small town, and the characters. Kate especially seemed to grow stronger as the story progressed, changing from a naive young woman to a self realized person. Rose, is the type of feisty person I love in a story. So an enjoyable, light read. This was actually based on a true incident the author stated in her afterward. ARC from publisher.

[Barbara Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished this stunning mystery yesterday. It is set in rural Iowa in two time periods. The first is 1890 on the Krause farm where we meet Hannah Krause, wife of Jacob. Jacob is a brutish lout who beats her and has practically imprisoned her on the farm. Her teenage stepson lives in a cabin near the house because he hates Hannah. Her only purpose and joy in life is her nine year old son Willie. He's also Jacob's son but bears no resemblance to his father.

Second, in 2012 we meet Kate, bride of Joseph Krause. He is bringing her home from the city to live on the farm. She doesn't know until they arrive that her crabby, nit-picking mother-in-law will be living there too. At the farm she gradually learns that Joseph has inherited some of Jacob's less than endearing qualities, and he and his mother live by 1890 rules as far as a woman's place is concerned.

The Krause family split in half after Jacob's murder in 1890 and Kate's new family is ensnared in the hate they have nurtured in their hearts ever since, even though they kept the farm. Kate has to learn to stand up for herself and find friends she can trust as the continuing feud threatens to destroy her. I found myself wanting to grab Kate and implant some spine when she doubted herself and refused to speak up against what was happening, but reading on I discovered why she was that way.

This is a riveting family saga involving women's rights, or lack thereof, and how hatred eats a person alive. Those of us who live in rural areas have known people who are incapable of changing with the times. We can relate to some of the characters in this story, but it still got my blood pressure up because the women were treated so unfairly. As you can imagine, gossip played a big part in what happened too.

Highly recommended
Source: LibraryThing win

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kate readily accepts marrying a farmer name Joe,just to escape her meddling grandmother. Living in her household has not done anything in her favor, she rather live in a shack than to live with her. Not to mention her unrealistic demands and the pity party she throws so she can gain sympathy. However Kate is not buying the act and she cannot wait to start a new life with Joe. Although her grandmother thinks she is making a huge mistake rushing into a marriage, considering her opinion is the furthest thing on her mind. Upon marrying Joe, she is shocked to find out that he lives with his mother whose personality is a lot like her grandmother. Rude and inconsiderate are just one of her few attributes, and Joe wants Kate to eventually warm up to his mother.

Kate and Joe's relationship blossoms temporarily but Joe turns into an abusive husband. Striking Kate in her face when he finds out that she has been snooping around, but Kate still loves the idea of Joe and refuses to return home to deal with her grandmother. Still she questions if she wants to be with Joe, now that he has shown a side that she has never seen. Additionally the relationship she has with his mother in law is making things even more difficult. Yet Joe refuses to leave her side, clinging to the hope that their love will prevail in the end. After Kate finds her husband lifeless body, she questions her entire marriage and who wonders who had the audacity to end her husband life. New faces are introduced in this well crafted novel about the ups and down of a family tragedy.


I really enjoyed the main characters in this story: Kate and Joe were so in love with each other, even after Joe showed a side of him that Kate never known. Trudy, Joe's mother was an evil mother in law but I think that her behavior was justified after learning about her past. As far as the minor characters, they were sorta irrelevant but that did not take away the beauty of this novel.

Looking forward to read more books by Mcconkey.

[Suspense Magazine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kate is a young bride who puts her city dwelling life behind her when she marries Joe Krause and moves to his farm in Iowa, which has been in his family for over a hundred years. She wants to build a life and a family there with Joe.
But after she arrives, she discovers that he has misrepresented many things, and outright lied about others. He said his mother lived elsewhere, but she doesn’t. He said that she would be able to pursue her dreams, while helping him build their future. There are constant chores, judgmental neighbors, and lots of gossip about her arrival.
Kate discovers that there is a deep family secret surrounding her and that her husband is not who she thought he was. Must she flee all that she now has in order to be happy?
I started this book with one idea of how it would turn out and I have to admit, it surprised me with its in-depth picture of a family in crisis. I thoroughly enjoyed the twists of the plot and the character development that grew throughout the story. I can recommend this book completely as an informative picture of women’s roles through the years and what one family had to experience in order to reach the light.
Reviewed by Holly Price author of “At Death’s Door” for Suspense Magazine

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn't put it down.

[Julie-ann James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Real surprise to read. Never heard of author. Couldn't put it down. Really great mystery book.

[Janel Mendoza · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book, but it just fell totally flat for me. The ending was very "meh", and I honestly didn't really get it. The premise was interesting, but I just didn't like it. (I also found a typo in the book which bothered me for some reason).

[Darlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Widows of Braxton County by Jess McConkey is a haunting tale of deeply buried family secrets that leave us wondering if the sins of the father do, in fact, haunt the generations to come after. I really enjoyed this novel of generations past and present and the ghostly feel it had about it. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Coleen Marlo and she does a fantastic job. When I first started listening I wasn’t sure I was going to like her but it wasn’t long before I did and I’m sure that her telling of the story led to my enjoyment of it. She has that perfect tone of voice to lend to the mysterious and haunting quality of the novel.

Kate has left the city to join her husband Joseph on his family farm in Iowa which has been in his family for 140 years. Having felt suffocated for years living with her grandmother she’s anxious to make a life in her own home. Her excitement lasts only long enough to learn that her mother-in-law will also be living with them. Needless to say she’s not happy and even more so as she sees how overbearing her mother-in-law can be.

As Kate struggles to fit in with her mother-in-law and the community she finds that people are not all that warm towards the Krause family. More than that though is her shock at the shift in her husbands personality. Where he had been kind and caring he is now angry and becoming increasingly abusive. After a few instances Kate leaves to stay with a neighbour and see if she and Joseph can’t work out these issues. In the meantime she begins volunteering at a woman’s shelter and this opens her eyes even further.

All the while we are given glimpses into the past in the 1800′s where we meet Hannah who is also married to a Krause. Whereas Kate has somewhere to escape to, Hannah doesn’t. What links the two women together is two murders with disturbing similarities except that one occurred back in the 1800′s and one is in the present and is threatening to spiral Kate’s life completely out of her control.

Once again I really enjoyed this novel and would recommend it, especially the audio version which I listened to. I have a fondness for books that go from the past to the present and especially books full of dark family secrets!

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kate Krause was a very happy bride as she traveled with her husband, Joe, to her new home in Braxton County, Iowa. Kate and Joe met online but Kate felt that they were just right for each other. Kate's widowed mother had passed away and her grandparents raised Kate. Her grandmother complained endlessly and Kate's life was not a happy one.

When the new couple arrived at Joe's farm, a woman that Kate first mistook for a housekeeper met Joe and Kate at the door. The woman was Trudy Krause, Joe's mother. Joe explained that he didn't tell Kate about Trudy because Trudy was to have moved to a retirement home prior to the couple's homecoming but there was some problems at the home and her room would not be ready for weeks.

Kate soon found that life was not going to be as she pictured it. The farm was in bad financial shape and Kate's savings were used to pay some of the debts but it wasn't enough. Joe would not agree to let Kate help him with the management of the farm even though Kate had proven to be an excellent money manager. Plans for Trudy's move to a retirement home did not materialize.

As Kate became acquainted with the neighborhood, she finds that the Krause family harbors a long kept secret about a mysterious death. This secret haunts Kate as dangerous, unexplainable events begin.

A Krause family member, but not one that Joe associates with, owns the local hardware store. Joe warns Kate not to shop at that store. Kate ignores his wishes, makes friends with the owner of the store, and finds out a little more about the mysterious past and haunting secret of the Krause family.

The book goes back and forth between present day and the past where the Krause mystery began. I found this book to be very interesting and I could not wait to get to the end but when I did, I wished the book were longer.

Jess McConkey a/k/a Shirley Damsgaard is an award-winning writer. Love Lies Bleeding was the first book I read by the author Jess McConkey and it was a good read.

[Beth Cutwright · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my surprise read for the first quarter of the year. I was surprised to be "hooked" by the first couple of pages. I liked that it took place in Iowa. Kate absolutely loved the idea of love, a family, a homestead on an Iowa farm that had been in the family for over 100 years. That spoke of steadfast family and Kate had always wanted that, but had never experienced anything steadfast. Her grandmother who raised her had only belittled and put her down. Imagine grandma with a very wide mean streak!

Kate gave herself over to the man she had met through the web. He was kind, loving and poetic. Somehow he knew how to speak to Kate's heart and convinced her of his love and promise for a bright family future. Joe however, kept a secret until after they were married and Kate was in for one surprise after another.

I loved the characters in this book and I loved how the story was told from past to present. The mystery was created with a murder that took place a century ago....was it a curse from the past that haunted Kate's future or was it something more like modern day greed? This story was told with feeling and depth. The characters were interesting and convincing. This was a story of how women were considered as property at one time, definitely not the equals we are today. It was one woman's journey into a life totally unfamiliar with rights of modern day woman, and with her commitment to her marriage and the course of true love.

[E.M. MacCallum · Rating 4 out of 5]

I admit, the title initially sucked me in. “Widows of Braxton County” is an entertaining mystery about small-community living. You can never get away from the gossip, even if it's 140 years old!

The story was rounded nicely and there wasn't a single moment I found wasted or repetitive. Jess McConkey did an amazing job with her plot and storytelling. I especially liked that we were pulled into a world no one wants to see or be in and we were somewhat given the chance to wonder: what if that was me? What if I had been verbally/physically abused and in a foreign place without any connection to the outside world? It's a loaded question and I liked how the author tackled the issue.

If I had any problems it may have been that Kate fell slightly flat for me. I think I wanted more out of her other than a foggy, disjointed past and what I felt to be a staccato personality.

In the end though, this is a juicy mystery that I think women would enjoy piecing together with the characters. It raises a lot of questions as well as highlights how history repeats itself, but we're not doomed to relive sins of our fathers (and mothers).

[Holly (2 Kids and Tired) · Rating 2 out of 5]

So many books sound appealing and then just fall short of your expectations. This was an inherently sad novel. The story alternates between the past and present and the stories are very much parallel. Murder then, murder now. Kate unsuspectingly marries into a family of abusers and her excitement at marriage and what she sees a freedom from her abusive, demanding grandmother quickly turns sour. She struggles to fit in and find her place, her mother-in-law is mean and belittling, her husband isn't as charming as she once thought and her new family harbors a long history of secrets and the family home may be haunted.

There were a few things I liked, but this was one that I just didn't enjoy. I loved Rose and Will and liked Kate when she finally got a backbone. There was a bit of a twist at the end that I admit I didn't see coming and I like how it ends, but it's not one I can really recommend.

[Shay · Rating 4 out of 5]

***Received this book from author***

This is one of those books that is hard to rate because you fear of giving out spoilers (hate it when people do that with good books).

It kept me guessing to the very last page (seriously, the actual last page).

Kate falls for a Farmer, Joe Krause online and eagerly moves to his small town. Unbeknown to Kate, her husband, her new farm and even her new town is hiding a big, dark secret. The towns people believe that the Krause family is cursed with deaths, misfortune, violence and an evil presence.

Kate starts to learn the secrets and starts to uncover the truth about the untimely murders of the Krauses, that's when the whole town turns their backs on her.

I finished this book in one day, couldn't put it down.

[Connie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was good. The story moved along, but I found the story line about ghosts and curses a bit much. Drama stretched out way too much throughout the story. Very close to being a chick book.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm always drawn to books about secrets in families and in small towns (bonus points if it includes both), so the premise of this book sounded appealing to me. Unfortunately, though, there is a list of things about THE WIDOWS OF BRAXTON COUNTY that did not appeal at all, namely:

- flat, stereotypical characters with no depth, most of whom are unsympathetic and unlikable
- prose that is lifeless and dull
- characters whose motives make no sense
- a plot that is predictable and relies on a lot of illogical actions
- a heroine who is supposed to be smart, but acts stupidly
- so on and so forth

Although I considered putting this novel down a number of times, I did finish it, so I give it some props for that. Apparently, I was invested enough to want to know how it was going to end (lamely, as it turns out). And it is a fast, easy read, so there's that. Overall, though, this book mostly just annoyed me. I really only persisted with it because I needed a book set in Iowa for a reading challenge.

I'm wavering between 2 and 2 1/2 stars on this one. Since it hooked me enough to keep me reading, I'm going to go with the latter. However, since I can't actually give half stars, I'm going to go ahead and round up. What can I say? I'm a giver.

[Valerie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first half was engaging enough, until joe became violent with Kate and it all went downhill from there. It seemed like the author had a script she WANTED to follow while writing this, but the second half of her notes got all mixed up and jumbled.
The domestic violence aspects were too fabricated to me, if violence runs in the family and he’s hit you but apologized, WHAT on earth makes you think he will stop all of it because of a few therapy classes? “Sorry it won’t happen again,” means he’s sorry you’re about to leave, and if you stay it will happen again. I felt little to no sympathy when he died, and I wished with all my heart Trudy would have gone with him.
The ending was predictable from the moment the plot was developed and by the time I reached page 200 I was just ready to be done with it.

Conclusion: the first 100 or so pages, engaging; the rest, don’t even bother reading it.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

This family saga/historical fiction/mystery novel is about two women – one from the late 1800’s and one present day, who are both widowed and suspected of killing their husbands. It deals with issues of physical abuse and gender roles, with interesting characters and challenges. It focuses on women’s strengths while dealing with a society that favors men and shows similarities between the two time frames. It was an interesting read with characters I was invested in, and good tension as they mystery is explored. 4/5 stars.

[Dianne McMahan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A so so book,it was a good story with great characters but hopping from 1870 to 2012 thru out lost the fluidity of the story,for me.
A man in 1870 abuses his wife & is stabbed to death
Wife is found guilty by reason of insanity & goes to mental facility for 10 yrs.

Present Day,Joe Marry's Kate & begins abuse in 2012.
They say that the sins of the father have descended on down the line & Joe is also stabbed to death.
Did Kate,do this,as most townsfolk think?
You will need to read this book to understand what's going on & it also features a hateful,mother-in-law,who is quite entertaining.

[Jeanne Adamek · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story really flowed. Contrary other opinions, I did not find Kate as weak, but in a situation that surprised her and because she really loved her husband she really tried her hardest to find solutions to what was going on.

I also like the character of Hannah. Unlike many, I did not find the ending surprising. I thought that the novel was well written, and reading the story was a experience I enjoyed.

[Lauren Conley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn’t think either murders were a mystery. It seemed pretty obvious who both the killers were from the beginning. The story seemed to just keep dragging on. I also could never feel that there was ever any love at all between Kate and joe. To me it seemed like they had literally just met. The only part that really surprised me was the last 2 pages. I did really like how it would go to the past in the late 1800s.

[Kate Fry · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 The first half of this book held my interest though it was predictable and not well written. The parallels between the two stories were simply too close… nearly identical. In the second half, it became clear that there was not nearly enough character or plot development to make this a good novel. That being said, the story did keep me interested in knowing the final outcome. Would not recommend.

[Lorri · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book neither haunting or suspenseful. in fact skimmed the last few chapters. the story of Hannah was disjointed and while a travesty I felt no connection to her. I disliked the author trying to make a correlation between 1890 and present day. the whole current story was not believable.nnall in all not worth the effort to read.

[GrannyLee · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story that touches on family legacy and domestic violence.

The characters are well developed, but some of the situations in this book are a little unbelievable. Like after the quick marriage, why did she even stay after all the discoveries she made, and the abuse? Most women of today would have been gone.

Anyway, it does have its little twists and turns, and it did keep me interested.

[Katherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pedestrian

I kept rooting for this novel to no avail. The characters were one-dimensional and underwent very little change over the course of the story. Even the surprise twist was lackluster. In addition, the dialog failed to ring true and the backstory lacked credibility. Any one of those things might be forgiven, but not all together.

[Tracee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was set in two different timelines but it was showing history repeating itself in a spectacular way. This story sounded familiar and then I read the ps in the back of the book and saw that the author got her story idea from the Midnight Assassin which was also a very good book based on true events. I liked this story and look forward to reading more from this author.

[Judy Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, covering the mystery of 2 deaths, one in 1890 and another current date. It also dealt with how women were treated in the 1890’s as they fought for their rights and how sadly that battle still is there today.
A quick read and enjoyable.

[Tequila · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quiet mystery about family secrets and unresolved histories. Good read!

[Rosemarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was intriguing from start to finish

[Loni DeRock · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little hokey.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very slow read. I just couldn’t get too interested, although I did finish it.