Deep Trouble

by Nancy Dane

Deep Trouble relates the shocking story of a once prosperous boomtown and the shameful skeletons yet buried in a nearby pasture. The novel is based on actual events in Coal Hill, Arkansas, in the late 1800s when coal was king and convict labor helped keep it that way. The brutal truth that unfolded here stunned not only a state, but a nation.

300 pages, Paperback

Published September 6, 2023

About the author

Release Date October 15th 2024!
The Next Target

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CWCK39XB
IAN 2025 BOOK OF THE YEAR WINNER!!!
Review: "The Next Target is a compelling work of fiction wrapped around the ugly, cutthroat world of Wall Street fraud, or more specifically, naked short selling. Author Nancy Dane pens a highly personal, emotional tale, using as a backdrop a pernicious type of stock market manipulation that captured headlines after the 2008 economic meltdown and again when the GameStop frenzy during the 2021 pandemic captured America’s interest. While readers will learn about the mechanics (and the consequences) of unchecked greed, the real story focuses on a father whose life work is destroyed by ruthless criminals, and his daughter who, along with a persistent journalist, seek the truth. Their journey takes them down twisting, increasingly dangerous paths that seem to lead to the highest levels of power in the nation’s Capital and beyond. Weaving both fact and fiction into a sordid tale of corruption and greed, the story is somehow simultaneously incredible and believable. The continual twists and turns will keep readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish."
Mark Faulk, author of The Naked Truth: Investing in the Stock Play of a Lifetime, and writer and field director of the documentary The Wall Street Conspiracy.

Hello, from Nancy! After 30 years of writing historical fiction, I’m excited to announce I headed in a new direction with a contemporary fiction. It was an excellent choice. I'm so thrilled to be an IAN 2025 BOOK OF THE YEAR WINNER!!!
Quoting one reader, “The Next Target is a fast-paced intriguing story that reads like today’s front page news!” I hope you will read it and leave a review. Nancy

Award winning author Nancy Dane writes historical fiction set in Arkansas. She has also compiled a Civil War history book titled Tattered Glory. Her four volume Civil War series for adults (titles Where the Road Begins, A Difference of Opinion, A long Way to Go, and An Enduring Union) won the 2011 Fiction Award presented by the Arkansas Library Association.
Ms. Dane has also published a reconstruction era novel, A Reasonable Doubt. And her first WWII home front novel, Jackson Loring. Other titles include Secrets, Smoke in the Hollows, and Deep Trouble.
She was a guest on the national radio show Talk America to discuss her Civil War novels for children. The books in the children's series are Sarah Campbell; tale of a Civil War orphan, William's Story, and A Boy Named David. The first book in the series, Sarah Campbell, is the recipient of the 2016 Amazon Reader's Favorite Award.

Ms. Dane and her husband of fifty-eight years reside in Johnson County, Arkansas. Along with research and writing, she tries to find time to spend with—as she calls them—her delightful dozen, her twelve grandchildren.

Reviews

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

“A family is good for the soul” . This was a Goodreads giveaway winner. Good entertainment reading.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a stellar example of a historical fiction novel! I was absolutely sucked into the story and also loved getting to learn the history of my own state, Arkansas. It is crazy how many things have been forgotten and it's awesome that Nancy is bringing them back to life.

[Vicki Lamb · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible, deeply disturbing view about the cruelties some men rain down upon the defenseless.

[Karen J · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is based upon a true story. The author points out that the basic facts of the the story did happen. One of the main characters, Brance is a fictional person. It sounded like most of the other characters in the story were real people. Brance is a boy of 16 when he runs away from home and falls in with a bad crowd who decides they are going to rob a train. The robbery goes horribly wrong and the conductor is shot and killed and a trainman is wounded. The entire gang is convicted and hung except for Brance who is sentences to 20 years. Wade Jessup is a miner who begins a friendship with Missouri Loften. In a fit of jealously, Wade visits a saloon to play cards. When he catches a man cheating, he thinks the man is going to pull a gun and he hits him over the head with a bottle killing him. Wade is sentenced to 5 years. Both Wade and Brance are sent to the Ouita coal mine as convict labor. They quickly learn that the warden is completely sadistic and the conditions for the prisoner are almost unbearable. Wade takes Brance under his wing and they both manage to survive. During an escape attempt, they end up helping a fellow prisoner escape telling him to visit an old marshal friend of Brance's family. He makes it and the marshal starts an investigation. During the investigation the warden tries to kill the county coroner. Wade and Brance save his life. In the process they are relocated to the county jail and the horrible conditions are made public. The warden flees but Brance and Wade are granted pardons. Wade ends up becoming a deputy for the local sheriff and captures the warden for trial. Brance returns home to find most people in his hometown don't want him there so he moves on and becomes a lawman for the wild west.
It is sad to think that the atrocities in this story really happened and that while the warden got some jail time, he was let off easy because his family were wealthy and into politics and they didn't care that most of the people he beat and killed were black men. I enjoyed reading this story and I agree with the author that I hope things like this don't happen again.

[Sandra Olson · Rating 5 out of 5]

fantastic this author never disappoints

Another fantastic story from Nancy Dane The characters are fully fleshed out and the plots based on actual historical events.

[Jan Talkington · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book drew my attention because of the Arkansas location. The story of the coal mine and the history behind the inmate labor was interesting. However, the story is just as much a love story as it is a historical story. That's not what I was expecting from the description, I also had a hard time getting into the writing style. The parts with more dialogue were fine, but the ones that were more narrative seemed more abrupt to me. There were parts that seemed to be all about the food too. It made me hungry at times. :)

I did learn some things I didn't know about that time in history in Arkansas, There were a few people that I knew of from my state history and I'm familiar with the area so that helped. It is shocking that such evil was allowed and it is a story that should be told.

I would say this is more of a 2 1/2 star book, but since I can't give 1/2 stars, this one leaned more towards 2 for me. However the ratings are mainly higher than mine, so don't write this book off based on me.

This is a book I won through a Goodreads Giveaway. It is a Kindle edition, and I don't know who gave it, but thank you.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deep Trouble

Two strangers that end up in the wrong place at the wrong time. They find themselves on the bad side of the law. Sentenced to serve their time in the coal mines is akin to a death sentence. Thankfully, someone is looking out for them and they muster through it. Eventually they find themselves in the right place at the right time. This helps them to make right their past transgressions. But not even that is enough penance for some people. They need to figure out what is best for them to be able to get on with their lives.

#GoodreadsGiveaways

[Martin Herrmann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable story

I enjoyed learning about the history of coal mining in Arkansas and the prison system. The story was interesting, if a bit too simple. Still, I don't regret reading it.

[Shelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nancy Dane’s books never disappoint me. I love her writing style plus the fact that I live in Johnson County makes them more special. I have lived here since the early 1960’s and had no inkling that this happened.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting book that gives a shocking look at a gruesome of Arkansas history but it also turns out to be a gentle romance. It’s well written and seems to be well researched. Made a really good read and there seems to be more to come.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.