Arrowmaker

Perry County frontier series (Reading Order) #3

by Roy F. Chandler

Arrowmaker has been described as a masterpiece—better even than the classics Drums Along the Mohawk or The Last of the Mohicans. A novel of the colonial frontier, Arrowmaker adventures with a first settler within the Endless Hills of the Allegheny Mountains. Those who have read this story claim a special kinship with the hardy frontiersman, Rob Shatto, as if Rob were an actual friend and relative. The author admits to the same experience. Arrowmaker is an action story rich in frontier lore and accurate historical background. If he chose, a reader could go to the land told about and explore the novel's geographical features. Arrowmaker also provides the base for a fourteen book series that involves the land and the people you will meet herein. These violent but true-to-life frontier sagas will glue a reader to his mailbox or his computer waiting for the next volume to appear. Although the novel stands alone, Arrowmaker is the foundation book of the Pennsylvania frontier series, and it should be read first. Before you have finished this story, you will want them all! Roy Chandler has been a full time author for more than forty years. He has had sixty-five books published in hardback. He is a resident of Nokomis, Florida but spends much of his time in St. Mary's City, Maryland. At eighty-five years of age, “Rocky” Chandler still rides his Harley-Davidson motorcycles.

Genres: Historical Fiction

390 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2000

Reviews

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written as the first novel of a trilogy, the story follows a young man, Rob Shatto who was raised by his grandfather, the only family Rob has ever known. After the death of his gunsmith grandfather. Rob is left to fend for himself in 1749 at the young age of 16. After a chance meeting with an Indian trader before his grandfather's death they devise a plan for Rob to wander into Indian Territory northwest of Carlisle, PA to avoid becoming an apprentice and having his grandfather's gunsmithing equipment confiscated by the authorities in Carlisle. After his grandfather's death Rob begins his long journey but becomes ill and delirious. Luckily Rob is found and taken in by an old Indian, his 2 squaws and the old man's grandson, Shitto. After being nursed back to health Rob takes on the Indian ways as he becomes part of this new family. His bond with Shitto grows and grows as the two explore the forest. Rob and Shitto are viciously attacked by a wildcat on one of their excursions. With no help nearby Rob stitches his Indian brother back together and nursed him back to health. This experience solidifies their livelong bond. Rob's new Indian grandfather is a famous arrowmaker and Rob starts making his own arrowheads out of bone instead of stone, which makes them lighter and able to go farther. The old Indian grandfather doesn't think Rob's bone arrows are very practical but Rob attracts the attention of "THE IROQUOIS" who honors Rob with the Indian name Quehanna "Arrowmaker". As the French and Indian war starts Rob must navigate his way between the white man's way and the natives. He and other Indians are recruited to help the British against the French and he is with young George Washington at Braddock's defeat. When he returns home Rob plots out some land where his Indian grandfather had lived near Juniata River (present day Perry county). Rob starts building his massive house to protect his future family against Indian hostilities and eventually marries a young girl he knew in Carlisle. They survive many attacks and even his young bride is captured by natives Rob uses his stealthy Indian ways to track her down. Eventually hostilities calm down and over the years Robs children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren begin populating what is now current day Shermansdale. When America breaks away from England some of Rob's sons join the American cause. Rob has decided he has seen enough war and bloodshed. He spends the rest of his days in the company of his great-grandson and namesake young Rob Shatto, who in old age feels is the only one who understands the old man. A great book for anyone who wants to get a feeling of what it was like in early Cumberland and Perry Counties. What makes this book even more personal to me is that my ancestors lived so close to where this takes place and where some of the earliest settlers of Perry County! Can't wait to read the next book!

[Phillip Mclaughlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Upon occasion a reader will find an author who tells a tale, which is so well told that the reader drops everything else and begins a binge of the new author. That is my situation with Arrowmaker.
Aside from its geographical proximity to me, it’s grasp just as a tale and vivid portrayal of Perry County Pennsylvania, and it’s reach to Lancaster, Carlisle and south of Pittsburgh the setting is clearly an area known to the author.
Thank you for a grand read, and on to the next book.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn't typically the type of book I would choose, but very glad I did. In the fast-paced times in which we live, it was refreshing to dive in to a world that was void of most of what surrounds us in our everyday lives. We rarely think about survival, but it was at the central to existence for these characters. a harshness of life to be sure, but certainly a great respect for the natural world surrounding them. I was captivated by the central character Rob as blurred the lines between white man and Indian in the way he lived. The author's descriptions were vivid, bringing landscape and characters to life as I read.

[Kerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite books of all time. Don't let the simple cover and the fact that (maybe) you never heard of this book turn you off. This is a fabulous adventure story that hits all the marks. Even better, it's grounded in historical fact and written with obsessive attention to detail. I LOVE THIS BOOK.

[Vaughan King · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought it would be better with all the great reviews... Was looking for a good frontier book, but I would just rate it as ok. It's almost written like a documentary, and a bit dry for my taste. Not enough personality built into the characters. I'd much rather read a Louis Lamour Sacketts, or Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs.