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The Hired Man
Not yet published
Expected 31 Mar 26The Dust Bowl sweeps a handsome stranger into a small Colorado town to dangerous effect
1937. It’s been seven years since the dust storms started in Colorado. Folks can barely remember a time when the clouds were filled with rain instead of dirt, and when the fields were green instead of brown. High school student Martha Helen Kessler and her family are luckier than most; they still eke out a living from the land. Even so, evidence of the Dust Bowl’s grim impact on families, especially on the women who bear the brunt of their husbands’ frustration and their children’s hunger, is everywhere.
When Martha Helen’s compassionate mother insists they take in Otis Hobbs, a handsome drifter who saves a local boy from a vicious storm, she quickly discovers a darker side to their rural community. Suspicion, jealousy, and prejudice grip their neighbors–and emotions reach a frenzy after Martha Helen’s best friend, Frankie, disappears and is then found murdered. Ultimately, Martha Helen is forced to make sense of her conflicting feelings and loyalties in order to help find retribution and to reconcile the difference between the law and justice.
Full of period detail and Sandra Dallas’s trademark focus on the lives of women, The Hired Man entertains and ultimately surprises.
1937. It’s been seven years since the dust storms started in Colorado. Folks can barely remember a time when the clouds were filled with rain instead of dirt, and when the fields were green instead of brown. High school student Martha Helen Kessler and her family are luckier than most; they still eke out a living from the land. Even so, evidence of the Dust Bowl’s grim impact on families, especially on the women who bear the brunt of their husbands’ frustration and their children’s hunger, is everywhere.
When Martha Helen’s compassionate mother insists they take in Otis Hobbs, a handsome drifter who saves a local boy from a vicious storm, she quickly discovers a darker side to their rural community. Suspicion, jealousy, and prejudice grip their neighbors–and emotions reach a frenzy after Martha Helen’s best friend, Frankie, disappears and is then found murdered. Ultimately, Martha Helen is forced to make sense of her conflicting feelings and loyalties in order to help find retribution and to reconcile the difference between the law and justice.
Full of period detail and Sandra Dallas’s trademark focus on the lives of women, The Hired Man entertains and ultimately surprises.
320 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication March 31, 2026
12 people are currently reading
9774 people want to read
About the author
Sandra Dallas
50 books1,923 followersAward-winning author SANDRA DALLAS was dubbed “a quintessential American voice” by Jane Smiley, in Vogue Magazine. Sandra’s novels with their themes of loyalty, friendship, and human dignity have been translated into a dozen foreign languages and have been optioned for films.
A journalism graduate of the University of Denver, Sandra began her writing career as a reporter with Business Week. A staff member for twenty-five years (and the magazine’s first female bureau chief,) she covered the Rocky Mountain region, writing about everything from penny-stock scandals to hard-rock mining, western energy development to contemporary polygamy. Many of her experiences have been incorporated into her novels.
While a reporter, she began writing the first of ten nonfiction books. They include Sacred Paint, which won the National Cowboy Hall of Fame Western Heritage Wrangler Award, and The Quilt That Walked to Golden, recipient of the Independent Publishers Assn. Benjamin Franklin Award.
Turning to fiction in 1990, Sandra has published eight novels, including Prayers For Sale. Sandra is the recipient of the Women Writing the West Willa Award for New Mercies, and two-time winner of the Western Writers of America Spur Award, for The Chili Queen and Tallgrass. In addition, she was a finalist for the Colorado Book Award, the Mountain and Plains Booksellers Assn. Award, and a four-time finalist for the Women Writing the West Willa Award.
The mother of two daughters—Dana is an attorney in New Orleans and Povy is a photographer in Golden, Colorado—Sandra lives in Denver with her husband, Bob.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/sandra...
A journalism graduate of the University of Denver, Sandra began her writing career as a reporter with Business Week. A staff member for twenty-five years (and the magazine’s first female bureau chief,) she covered the Rocky Mountain region, writing about everything from penny-stock scandals to hard-rock mining, western energy development to contemporary polygamy. Many of her experiences have been incorporated into her novels.
While a reporter, she began writing the first of ten nonfiction books. They include Sacred Paint, which won the National Cowboy Hall of Fame Western Heritage Wrangler Award, and The Quilt That Walked to Golden, recipient of the Independent Publishers Assn. Benjamin Franklin Award.
Turning to fiction in 1990, Sandra has published eight novels, including Prayers For Sale. Sandra is the recipient of the Women Writing the West Willa Award for New Mercies, and two-time winner of the Western Writers of America Spur Award, for The Chili Queen and Tallgrass. In addition, she was a finalist for the Colorado Book Award, the Mountain and Plains Booksellers Assn. Award, and a four-time finalist for the Women Writing the West Willa Award.
The mother of two daughters—Dana is an attorney in New Orleans and Povy is a photographer in Golden, Colorado—Sandra lives in Denver with her husband, Bob.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/sandra...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews
November 8, 2025
This is the fourth book I’ve read by Sandra Dallas and with each one I’m engaged in the stories of strong women with determination and grit who settle and thrive in the west at various times in history . While my favorite so far is Westering Women, this one set in the 1930’s dust bowl in Colorado also meets the standards of excellent historical fiction. Women sometimes restricted by the times, subservient to their husbands come together to help other women enduring abuse or illness when times are tough for the whole community as a result of the dust storms. Women trying to do the right thing by keeping secrets to protect their loved ones and their neighbors. While there is kindness, there is also mean spiritedness among the townspeople of Burke and even worse a murderer among them.
A young girl comes of age, learning to do the right thing for her neighbors, do right by her best friend, and protect her mother. This story is dark at times and doing the right thing is not always as cut and dry as it seems. Two little boys bring some light that was touching. An unexpected twist leaves Martha Helen with a secret as she tries to do the right thing. Well written as are all of Dallas’ books, this one is a little more intense and thought provoking when the rain finally comes.
I received a copy of this book St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley.
A young girl comes of age, learning to do the right thing for her neighbors, do right by her best friend, and protect her mother. This story is dark at times and doing the right thing is not always as cut and dry as it seems. Two little boys bring some light that was touching. An unexpected twist leaves Martha Helen with a secret as she tries to do the right thing. Well written as are all of Dallas’ books, this one is a little more intense and thought provoking when the rain finally comes.
I received a copy of this book St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley.
October 14, 2025
4.5
This is a coming of age story about Martha Helen, living in Colorado during the Dust Bowl years, 1937 … they hadn’t seen the rain in 7 yrs!
Everyone’s crops dried up, everyone is living on slim to nothing.
A handsome young stranger, Otis, comes to town looking for work and Martha Helen’s family takes him on as a “hired man” just paying him with room and board. The family is faring better than most in the area and they are all just wonderful characters!
A series of events happens, and a death.., and the people in town blame Otis.
Martha Helen’s family sticks by Otis as he is tried for the murder.. but all is not as it seems!
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel.. my first by this author. It was a fast read with themes of prejudice, poverty.. and the desperate choices people make during times of hardship.
Thank you to Netgalley and St Martins Press for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Available March 31
This is a coming of age story about Martha Helen, living in Colorado during the Dust Bowl years, 1937 … they hadn’t seen the rain in 7 yrs!
Everyone’s crops dried up, everyone is living on slim to nothing.
A handsome young stranger, Otis, comes to town looking for work and Martha Helen’s family takes him on as a “hired man” just paying him with room and board. The family is faring better than most in the area and they are all just wonderful characters!
A series of events happens, and a death.., and the people in town blame Otis.
Martha Helen’s family sticks by Otis as he is tried for the murder.. but all is not as it seems!
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel.. my first by this author. It was a fast read with themes of prejudice, poverty.. and the desperate choices people make during times of hardship.
Thank you to Netgalley and St Martins Press for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Available March 31
July 16, 2025
This interesting and captivating historical fiction novel we'll surely be one that is the ride of your life. Set in Colorado in the late 1930's it will follow the struggles of a town that is quick to judge without asking questions first and a loving family that will do just about anything to uncover the truth. I will say that I was deeply impressed with the direction that this novel went. Thereare character that you adore and then there are the ones that you can't stand. However, in the end it is what balances out the complete story and that is what is important.
In the late 1930's we are introduced to Martha Helen and her family. They are very poor but are very kind and compassionate compared to some of the other families in town. When a penniless drifter name Otis comes around looking for work they take him in. However there are those in town who are suspicious of this outsider and say nothing good could come of it.
Everything seems to be well until Martha Helen's best friend disappears and is later found dead. The whole town believes the drifter has something to do with it while Martha and her family think it was someone else. Wilk they be able to uncover the truth before another person goes missing and will they be able to do so without the town tearing themselves apart?
i received an arc copy from Netgalley and all opinions are of my own.
In the late 1930's we are introduced to Martha Helen and her family. They are very poor but are very kind and compassionate compared to some of the other families in town. When a penniless drifter name Otis comes around looking for work they take him in. However there are those in town who are suspicious of this outsider and say nothing good could come of it.
Everything seems to be well until Martha Helen's best friend disappears and is later found dead. The whole town believes the drifter has something to do with it while Martha and her family think it was someone else. Wilk they be able to uncover the truth before another person goes missing and will they be able to do so without the town tearing themselves apart?
i received an arc copy from Netgalley and all opinions are of my own.
October 9, 2025
The Hired Man by Sandra Dallas is a quick read set in 1937. It’s been seven years since the devastating dust storms began, a time known as the Dust Bowl. A stranger arrives in a small town, and a family decides to take him in as a “Hired Man,” setting off a chain of events that will forever change their lives.
The novel explores themes of prejudice, poverty, and the desperate choices people make when faced with hardship. I was pleasantly surprised by the depth and complexity of the story, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a compelling historical fiction read.
Thank you, St. Martin’s Press, for publishing this excellent book.
The novel explores themes of prejudice, poverty, and the desperate choices people make when faced with hardship. I was pleasantly surprised by the depth and complexity of the story, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a compelling historical fiction read.
Thank you, St. Martin’s Press, for publishing this excellent book.
August 15, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
I love the way Sandra Dallas creates her characters and brings the plot to life. This book easily kept my attention. There were a couple of twists that I didn't see coming. I don't want to give spoilers but this book does make you think about how people are treated.
I love the way Sandra Dallas creates her characters and brings the plot to life. This book easily kept my attention. There were a couple of twists that I didn't see coming. I don't want to give spoilers but this book does make you think about how people are treated.
November 25, 2025
Quick read and a great story about life in Colorado during the Dust Bowl era. Without giving away the plot, I'll say that this book shows how poverty, combined with prejudice and desperation, can lead to explosive results. If you are a fan of realistic historical fiction you will like this one.
I received an advance copy to be able to write this review.
I received an advance copy to be able to write this review.
December 21, 2025
The Hired Man is a slow-burning, emotional read about love, resilience, and the struggles of ordinary people in tough times. The characters stick with you, and the story has a quiet weight that lingers long after you finish it.
Emphasis on slow-paced, but I didn’t mind it one bit. Learning about the characters, their lives, mannerisms, history with one another and their quirks was worth it to me and made the story a 5 star experience for me.
I learned more about the dust bowl era but this was not HEAVY on history only as much as it was about the story of what happened when a stranger who stumbled his way into a tight-knit, small town in Colorado during the 1920’s.
Definitely going to be picking up Sandra’s backlist and reading through them in 2026!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
Emphasis on slow-paced, but I didn’t mind it one bit. Learning about the characters, their lives, mannerisms, history with one another and their quirks was worth it to me and made the story a 5 star experience for me.
I learned more about the dust bowl era but this was not HEAVY on history only as much as it was about the story of what happened when a stranger who stumbled his way into a tight-knit, small town in Colorado during the 1920’s.
Definitely going to be picking up Sandra’s backlist and reading through them in 2026!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Sandra Dallas has once again proven why she is a staple on my bookshelf. She possesses a rare talent for transporting readers into historical settings with such authenticity that the era becomes a character itself. In The Hired Man, we follow Martha Helen on a poignant coming-of-age journey set against the harsh, unforgiving backdrop of the 1930s Dust Bowl.
Dallas masterfully illustrates how poverty combined with desperation can result in explosive, life-altering situations. As the story unfolds, we see the often unethical realities of the adult world seep into Martha’s awareness, ultimately shaping her identity and her understanding of loyalty and bias.
The writing is so seamless and unobtrusive that I frequently forgot I was reading; I was simply there. With great characters and a vivid sense of place, this is a compelling look at the resilience of ordinary people and the complexities of the human spirit.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for bringing to life both the brutality and the beauty of the rugged American West during one of its most challenging eras.
Dallas masterfully illustrates how poverty combined with desperation can result in explosive, life-altering situations. As the story unfolds, we see the often unethical realities of the adult world seep into Martha’s awareness, ultimately shaping her identity and her understanding of loyalty and bias.
The writing is so seamless and unobtrusive that I frequently forgot I was reading; I was simply there. With great characters and a vivid sense of place, this is a compelling look at the resilience of ordinary people and the complexities of the human spirit.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for bringing to life both the brutality and the beauty of the rugged American West during one of its most challenging eras.
August 14, 2025
My mind is still grappling with the twist and turns from this book. This is the first read from this author for me. Thank you to Net Galley for this ARC! I love a good historical fiction, but this one caught me with not only the history of the dust bowl, which I had little knowledge of, but also unexpected surprises. The story starts out with a small town during the dust bowl and a young girl who’s coming of age. Her family hires a wanderer, who the town is unpleased with because he’s not a local. There is a heaviness to this time period with the lack of food and the loss of every day luxuries, loss of life and the struggles during the dust bowl The family is the spotlight of all that is good and doing the right thing against all odds.The storyline kept my interest, and tho I typically can predict the outcome of a story, that was not the case in this story, I was left at the end, reviewing what happened and how I missed the plot twist coming. I I honestly might have to read it again just so that I can slow down and take it all in that being said there are some hard issues dealing with abuse and rape so this might not be a great read for younger readers.
July 29, 2025
It's 1937 in Colorado and the dirt has rolled in "it was Texas all right, because the dirt was red. Kansas sent yellow dirt. Oklahoma's dirt was brown." The clouds at this time were filled with dust instead of rain and life was hard. When a drifter blows in covered in dust carrying a heavy object, which turns out to be a missing boy from a neighboring farm, events are set in motion to expose the prejudices towards those who drift from place to place looking for work.
Prayers for Sale is one of my favorite Sandra Dallas' books and I believe The Hired Man is her best book. The kindness and brutality of man go hand in hand and Dallas has found a way to portray that dichotomy in her likable characters. About 7,000 people died during the Dust Bowl in the Dirty Thirties from lung disease, including lung pneumonia, malnutrition and accidents. Dallas has provided a glimpse into that historical time and life. The death of a young girl reflects deep seated beliefs as to who could possibly harm her. Her best friend, grief stricken, is torn between the evidence before her and public opinion. A heavy burden to carry. Excellent choice for Book Clubs and YA readers.
Prayers for Sale is one of my favorite Sandra Dallas' books and I believe The Hired Man is her best book. The kindness and brutality of man go hand in hand and Dallas has found a way to portray that dichotomy in her likable characters. About 7,000 people died during the Dust Bowl in the Dirty Thirties from lung disease, including lung pneumonia, malnutrition and accidents. Dallas has provided a glimpse into that historical time and life. The death of a young girl reflects deep seated beliefs as to who could possibly harm her. Her best friend, grief stricken, is torn between the evidence before her and public opinion. A heavy burden to carry. Excellent choice for Book Clubs and YA readers.
August 12, 2025
I enjoyed this book for several reasons! This was a new author to me and I liked the way she wrote this story. I enjoy historical fiction and this had a mystery in it as well. I haven’t read anything really about the dust bowl during the depression before WWII and this book centers around a small town in the grip of depression. So many families got dusted out and had to move or starved to death. I was completely wrapped up in this story and I’ve already bought two more of her books.
Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced copy.
Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced copy.
August 14, 2025
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. The book will be published on March 31st, 2026.
A coming-of-age story for Martha Helen, a young woman growing up in Colorado in the 1930s amid the drought, dust bowl, and an ever increasing supply of vagrants. One day, in the middle of a huge dust storm, a vagrant (Otis Hobbs) stumbles to her family’s door with a half conscious boy he found buried in the dust. He becomes a room and board only “hired man” for the family, despite the ill will of many in the town. When a young girl is found murdered much later, the town is sure Otis is the perpetrator while Martha Helen’s family staunchly defends him.
Things don’t go the way you might expect — I won’t give anything away but I was happy that there was more to this story than the obvious. It’s a true coming-of-age, so we watch Martha Helen grow as more and more of the (not always pleasant or ethical) real world makes it into her awareness and eventually the composition of her adult self. In the process she reflects on loyalties, biases, good and evil, and understanding people as individuals. The town people really fell into “good” and “bad” categories, which normally feels shallow and manipulative to me. But in this case, you could see that those in the “good” category adhered to strongly held principles, while those in the “bad” category did not, either not having principles or literally not understanding when the crossed the line. It was particularly interesting to me to watch Martha Helen shift her understanding of individuals by watching what they actually did. Martha Helen put it well:
“For better or for worse, the drought and ill winds showed what we were made of. Some folks stole and cheated and hoarded. Others rose above the hardships and displayed strength and courage, even though it threatened to destroy them. The dust bowl changed us. Mr. Hobbs did too . During the time he lived with us, I grew up. I was barely more than a girl when he joined our family. By the time everything was over I was a woman.”
Good story, great characters, a real sense of place and time, all supported by writing that is so good and unobtrusive, you forget that you’re reading at all.
A coming-of-age story for Martha Helen, a young woman growing up in Colorado in the 1930s amid the drought, dust bowl, and an ever increasing supply of vagrants. One day, in the middle of a huge dust storm, a vagrant (Otis Hobbs) stumbles to her family’s door with a half conscious boy he found buried in the dust. He becomes a room and board only “hired man” for the family, despite the ill will of many in the town. When a young girl is found murdered much later, the town is sure Otis is the perpetrator while Martha Helen’s family staunchly defends him.
Things don’t go the way you might expect — I won’t give anything away but I was happy that there was more to this story than the obvious. It’s a true coming-of-age, so we watch Martha Helen grow as more and more of the (not always pleasant or ethical) real world makes it into her awareness and eventually the composition of her adult self. In the process she reflects on loyalties, biases, good and evil, and understanding people as individuals. The town people really fell into “good” and “bad” categories, which normally feels shallow and manipulative to me. But in this case, you could see that those in the “good” category adhered to strongly held principles, while those in the “bad” category did not, either not having principles or literally not understanding when the crossed the line. It was particularly interesting to me to watch Martha Helen shift her understanding of individuals by watching what they actually did. Martha Helen put it well:
“For better or for worse, the drought and ill winds showed what we were made of. Some folks stole and cheated and hoarded. Others rose above the hardships and displayed strength and courage, even though it threatened to destroy them. The dust bowl changed us. Mr. Hobbs did too . During the time he lived with us, I grew up. I was barely more than a girl when he joined our family. By the time everything was over I was a woman.”
Good story, great characters, a real sense of place and time, all supported by writing that is so good and unobtrusive, you forget that you’re reading at all.
August 29, 2025
During the dust bowl, Martha Helen's family is struggling to survive. Food is scarce, people are leaving their small farming community, and the dust storms have turned dangerous. When a drifter named Otis shows up, Martha Helen's mother hires him to help around the farm, sparking controversy and distrust among the town residents. When Martha Helen's best friend Frankie goes missing and is later found murdered, the town turns on Otis. Martha Helen is forced to question what she knows about Otis, those in the town, and even her own family. But things aren't always what they seem and she is forced to make a decision that will have lasting consequences.
This was a quick read that kept me engrossed! I was really invested in the story and the characters. I thought the author did a very good job of showing how the dust bowl affected the lives of the townspeople - the hunger that they faced, the desperation, the choices parents were forced to make to protect their children. It was heart wrenching. I also thought the author did a good job of balancing the historical aspect of the novel within the story; this was a book, not about the dust bowl, but set during the dust bowl and while it impacted the story, it wasn't the main event.
At times during the novel, I did feel like the book was a bit too wholesome. I'm a bit surprised that the book wasn't listed in the 'Christian Fiction' genre. Not that I would have had a problem with that, but it would give readers a better sense of the novel. I also thought there were some things the author could have explained better. Martha Helen's family doesn't seem to be as affected by the poverty that most others are facing. They still have plenty of food, they can afford to buy fencing supplies, they still have livestock. But we never find out how they are surviving so well.
Overall, this was a quick and enjoyable read. This was my first Sandra Dallas book and I'm looking forward to reading more. 3.5 ⭐s rounded up.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy. The book is scheduled to be published on March 31, 2026.
This was a quick read that kept me engrossed! I was really invested in the story and the characters. I thought the author did a very good job of showing how the dust bowl affected the lives of the townspeople - the hunger that they faced, the desperation, the choices parents were forced to make to protect their children. It was heart wrenching. I also thought the author did a good job of balancing the historical aspect of the novel within the story; this was a book, not about the dust bowl, but set during the dust bowl and while it impacted the story, it wasn't the main event.
At times during the novel, I did feel like the book was a bit too wholesome. I'm a bit surprised that the book wasn't listed in the 'Christian Fiction' genre. Not that I would have had a problem with that, but it would give readers a better sense of the novel. I also thought there were some things the author could have explained better. Martha Helen's family doesn't seem to be as affected by the poverty that most others are facing. They still have plenty of food, they can afford to buy fencing supplies, they still have livestock. But we never find out how they are surviving so well.
Overall, this was a quick and enjoyable read. This was my first Sandra Dallas book and I'm looking forward to reading more. 3.5 ⭐s rounded up.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy. The book is scheduled to be published on March 31, 2026.
September 14, 2025
Title: The Hired Man
Author: Sandra Dallas
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
In the midst of the Dust Bowl, a lone man approaches the house that Martha Helen lives alongside her family. In his arms, a missing boy who was lost in one of the black blizzards. Due to the lack of trust for hobos by locals in the small town, Martha Helen’s mother hires him to help around their farm in exchange for a bed to sleep in and meals. As Martha Helen experiences the prejudices of the townspeople, one friend “disappears” and another is found dead. Who is found to be responsible by gossip and the residents - the wandering man, Otis. Will Martha Helen’s family be able to get the people to believe that their lack of trust in outsiders isn’t reason enough to accuse Otis of murder?
Takeaways:
1. Part historical fiction, part mystery, Dallas brings you into the mind and life of teenage Martha Helen as the experiences of the book bring maturity and acceptance for those that don’t fit a mold. You walk the path of the loss of innocence with her as she starts to come to her own conclusions about the people surrounding her.
2. Martha Helen’s mother is the true center of this story. Her life has brought her to this point in her life to give trust where others refuse. When her full picture is painted, you step back in admiration of what she has been through and how she is trying to right wrongs.
3. This book is one you fall into a rabbit hole with and don’t come up for air until the last page. Phenomenal writing once again by Dallas.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy. Opinions expressed are my own. This book will be published on March 31, 2026.
#netgalley #arc #bookstagram #stmartinpress #thehiredman #sandradallas
Author: Sandra Dallas
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
In the midst of the Dust Bowl, a lone man approaches the house that Martha Helen lives alongside her family. In his arms, a missing boy who was lost in one of the black blizzards. Due to the lack of trust for hobos by locals in the small town, Martha Helen’s mother hires him to help around their farm in exchange for a bed to sleep in and meals. As Martha Helen experiences the prejudices of the townspeople, one friend “disappears” and another is found dead. Who is found to be responsible by gossip and the residents - the wandering man, Otis. Will Martha Helen’s family be able to get the people to believe that their lack of trust in outsiders isn’t reason enough to accuse Otis of murder?
Takeaways:
1. Part historical fiction, part mystery, Dallas brings you into the mind and life of teenage Martha Helen as the experiences of the book bring maturity and acceptance for those that don’t fit a mold. You walk the path of the loss of innocence with her as she starts to come to her own conclusions about the people surrounding her.
2. Martha Helen’s mother is the true center of this story. Her life has brought her to this point in her life to give trust where others refuse. When her full picture is painted, you step back in admiration of what she has been through and how she is trying to right wrongs.
3. This book is one you fall into a rabbit hole with and don’t come up for air until the last page. Phenomenal writing once again by Dallas.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy. Opinions expressed are my own. This book will be published on March 31, 2026.
#netgalley #arc #bookstagram #stmartinpress #thehiredman #sandradallas
January 11, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ My review: I read Dallas's last book and it was a sweeping peek into American history through the eyes of regular people. The Hired Man is the same--the history of the Dust Bowl and the Depression, a family that works hard and loves each other, mystery and suspense, and surprising twists.
Martha Helen is the main character, the only daughter of a family that is making do with what they have. They take in a wanderer as their hired man and that does not sit well with many of the townspeople. Martha Helen's parents are kind, supportive and loving people. And their care for others is evident but not always appreciated. When a murder occurs in town the blame and suspicion falls onto their hired man. As things start to spiral, Martha Helen feels caught between what seems "off" and what she wants to believe. Drama, history, small town machinations, and family dynamics make this novel fascinating and hard to put down.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an advance digital copy to review. The opinions on this book are my own.
Martha Helen is the main character, the only daughter of a family that is making do with what they have. They take in a wanderer as their hired man and that does not sit well with many of the townspeople. Martha Helen's parents are kind, supportive and loving people. And their care for others is evident but not always appreciated. When a murder occurs in town the blame and suspicion falls onto their hired man. As things start to spiral, Martha Helen feels caught between what seems "off" and what she wants to believe. Drama, history, small town machinations, and family dynamics make this novel fascinating and hard to put down.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an advance digital copy to review. The opinions on this book are my own.
October 1, 2025
I have always enjoyed books written by Sandra Dallas. The Hired Man was no exception. This book deals with small town farmers during the dust bowl in the post post WWI era. Many men are out of work and the vagrants who travel through town are not welcomed or treated kindly. One family, The Kessler, are the exception. They offer room and board to a young homeless man, Otis, in exchange for help on the farm. Whenever something goes wrong the citizens of this small rural community are quick to blame Otis. When a young girl is found murdered, Otis becomes the prime suspect.
This story deals with prejudice, poverty, murder and revenge. I was engaged throughout the story and I enjoyed the unexpected ending.
Thank You Netgalley and the publisher for the Advanced Reader’s Copy. This opinion is unbiased and my own.
This story deals with prejudice, poverty, murder and revenge. I was engaged throughout the story and I enjoyed the unexpected ending.
Thank You Netgalley and the publisher for the Advanced Reader’s Copy. This opinion is unbiased and my own.
September 1, 2025
Excellent historical fiction. The characters and basically the Kessler family were written with heart. The times were tough on America from Oklahoma to Colorado to Texas suffered greatly during the great dust bowl, can’t remember the title but I read a book on it. So the Kessler family made a mistake and took in a tramp. The town was in a tizzy and I kept waiting to see if Otis was black and I never got that answer. I just needed that to see if that was the issue. Just a guy without family trying to earn a living doesn’t make for so much hate.
The story of Emmett was pretty interesting and also left me with a question . Henry and Willie were good “brothers” The main character I think was Martha Helen and she was a force.
Who is the killer? That’s the big question
The story of Emmett was pretty interesting and also left me with a question . Henry and Willie were good “brothers” The main character I think was Martha Helen and she was a force.
Who is the killer? That’s the big question
Read
September 9, 2025It's 1937 in Colorado in the midst of the dust bowl. People are desperate for rain but it's been so long since it happened, they can hardly remember. Seven year! Can you even imagine? Everyone in Burke is struggling to survive. So much death, so many leave in hopes of a better life elsewhere.
I've only read one other book about the dust bowl and I don't know how accurate the author's descriptions are but if it's real, what a horrible time! The story begins with Martha Helen's family seeing a stranger coming up the road carrying something only to find out it's a small boy that had gone missing. He was buried on the side of the road in the dust. Can you imagine?! The stranger, Otis, is hired on to help Martha Helen's family and so the story begins.
The story has some mystery, some historical fiction, plenty of hardship and thought provoking what is right, what is wrong and what would you do?
Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of this book.
I've only read one other book about the dust bowl and I don't know how accurate the author's descriptions are but if it's real, what a horrible time! The story begins with Martha Helen's family seeing a stranger coming up the road carrying something only to find out it's a small boy that had gone missing. He was buried on the side of the road in the dust. Can you imagine?! The stranger, Otis, is hired on to help Martha Helen's family and so the story begins.
The story has some mystery, some historical fiction, plenty of hardship and thought provoking what is right, what is wrong and what would you do?
Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of this book.
October 19, 2025
My first Sandra Dallas novel, and I absolutely loved it. This is a beautifully immersive coming-of-age story with an unexpected twist at the end. The setting is so vivid you can practically feel the weight of the Great Depression pressing down on every page. I grew genuinely attached to the characters—each one felt so real and full of heart. Dallas’s writing flows effortlessly, and I devoured this book in just a couple of days. While I was left with a few lingering questions at the end, the story as a whole was deeply engaging and memorable. A truly worthwhile read! I’m already looking forward to diving into more of her books. Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy!
July 19, 2025
NetGalley ARC
Sandra Dallas tells a story about what happens when a farming family living through the Dust Bowl allows a wandering vagrant to become their hired man. She tells the story in her typical quiet way of allowing the narrative to unfold, but then she wallops readers at the end with a conclusion that had me wailing to the heavens.
I was happy to see quilts make an appearance in "The Hired Man." Dallas, of course, has made needlework a bit of a trademark in her work. The story is told from the perspective of a 15-year-old girl, but it contains some adult situations.
As it turns out, I've read several books this year that have been set during the Dust Bowl. "The Hired Man" does a better job of telling its specific story about the effect the vagrant's presence has on the small community than in telling the story about the Dust Bowl. The farming disaster was a secondary matter.
Still, I enjoyed this novel. The ending, though, left me unsettled.
Sandra Dallas tells a story about what happens when a farming family living through the Dust Bowl allows a wandering vagrant to become their hired man. She tells the story in her typical quiet way of allowing the narrative to unfold, but then she wallops readers at the end with a conclusion that had me wailing to the heavens.
I was happy to see quilts make an appearance in "The Hired Man." Dallas, of course, has made needlework a bit of a trademark in her work. The story is told from the perspective of a 15-year-old girl, but it contains some adult situations.
As it turns out, I've read several books this year that have been set during the Dust Bowl. "The Hired Man" does a better job of telling its specific story about the effect the vagrant's presence has on the small community than in telling the story about the Dust Bowl. The farming disaster was a secondary matter.
Still, I enjoyed this novel. The ending, though, left me unsettled.
August 17, 2025
Thanks to Net Galley and St. Martins Press for this eARC of The Hired Man by Sandra Dallas. This historical fiction set in the western USA during the dust bowl years finds the Kessler family hiring a man down on his luck to help around their farm. Dallas does an exceptional job of developing these characters and the many families and townspeople that surround them during this tough time in our country’s history. There are secrets kept and suspicions grow as a tragedy occurs involving Otis, the hired man. I found this book very compelling and hard to put down. I would highly recommend this
July 25, 2025
You had me at Sandra Dallas. I’ve read all of her books. I was thrilled to get an ARC of her newest book from Net Galley. Her writing mesmerized me, and yet it told a familiar story of hard life during the Depression. I liked so many characters, especially Willie, Sunshine and Otis. The ending. Nope.
January 16, 2026
I liked the history in this book The story was simple and easy to read even though some of the topics were rough to read about. I would have liked to read more about the dust storms and the hardships most endured.
July 24, 2025
NetGalley ARC
Thank you for the opportunity to read this book as an ARC.
The story revolves around a young girl named Martha Helen Kessler. One night, a young man by the name of Otis Hobbs, a vagrant saves a little boy and as a result the Kessler family decides to hire him to work on their farm.
Martha Helen's friend Frankie Tucker is found murdered shortly after Otis Hobbs is hired and Hobbs is the main suspect. The townspeople all but accuse him.
Martha Helen must make a decision between justice and taking matters of justice into her own hands.
Overall, the story itself was really good. I will give the plot a 5/5 stars. The Hired Man is a departure from most Dust Bowl era books where the main plot or the focus are the storms and the aftermath of it, like The Four Winds.
This book is a coming of age with a murder mystery along with it. It blends two genres together seamlessly. So plot 5/5
The ending:100000000/5 My entire face went numb.
Where the story falls a bit weak is in the character development of Martha Helen. She shows little emotion after the death of her best friend. It's almost like "ok my best friend's dead." Some more depictions of grief from Martha Helen would make her less robotic and more human. So character I'll give a 3/5 I did like Martha Helen.
There were a lot of characters in this book and many times they came in and out as fast as they were introduced. I think that the book could have had less characters. The time it took to introduce all this cast the author could have spent it on our protagonist navigating her own grief in a changing world.
Overall I give this story a solid 4/5 stars because the plot was amazing and the ending rocked me.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this book as an ARC.
The story revolves around a young girl named Martha Helen Kessler. One night, a young man by the name of Otis Hobbs, a vagrant saves a little boy and as a result the Kessler family decides to hire him to work on their farm.
Martha Helen's friend Frankie Tucker is found murdered shortly after Otis Hobbs is hired and Hobbs is the main suspect. The townspeople all but accuse him.
Martha Helen must make a decision between justice and taking matters of justice into her own hands.
Overall, the story itself was really good. I will give the plot a 5/5 stars. The Hired Man is a departure from most Dust Bowl era books where the main plot or the focus are the storms and the aftermath of it, like The Four Winds.
This book is a coming of age with a murder mystery along with it. It blends two genres together seamlessly. So plot 5/5
The ending:100000000/5 My entire face went numb.
Where the story falls a bit weak is in the character development of Martha Helen. She shows little emotion after the death of her best friend. It's almost like "ok my best friend's dead." Some more depictions of grief from Martha Helen would make her less robotic and more human. So character I'll give a 3/5 I did like Martha Helen.
There were a lot of characters in this book and many times they came in and out as fast as they were introduced. I think that the book could have had less characters. The time it took to introduce all this cast the author could have spent it on our protagonist navigating her own grief in a changing world.
Overall I give this story a solid 4/5 stars because the plot was amazing and the ending rocked me.
January 16, 2026
This interesting page turner historical fiction book was so hard to put down. It was set in Colorado in 1937 during the Dust Bowl. It was about a family that takes in a drifter that saves a local boy. This story is told through Martha Helen’s point of view. Everything seemed like it was going well until Martha Helen’s friend Frankie was murdered. This is first book that I read by this author and she did an amazing job writing this book. It was a fast paced moving book. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review. This review in my own and I did not use any resources to write this review.
October 5, 2025
Wow! I had no idea what I was getting into when starting this ARC. This was my first ARC and my first read by this author so I kind of went in blind to this book. I’ll start by saying Sandra Dallas did well in researching for this book and I believed the time setting that it was placed in. I even learned some things by reading it that I hadn’t in school.
I loved the character creation Sandra had with “The Hired Man” and I fell in love with the Kessler family and their good morals and behaviors. Mrs Kessler (Ruth) and the boys especially. Ruth was an incredible character and a force, despite the way men saw and treated women in this period of history and her husband was a great example of what a good man is. I loved these characters! I did have struggles with Martha Helen and relating with her sometimes but it didn’t take away from the reading experience. It was slow moving at first but interesting enough to keep my attention. The slow build up and attention to detail was perfectly met with twists and turns in great timing. I thought I had it all figured, and granted I did have it all figured out, until the last few twists, though seeds were well planted. Sandra did a great job keeping the suspense realistic but held out in a way that the turns of plot weren’t fully expected before the wrap up of the story.
I was stunned by this book and though I don’t typically like books that have a lot of sad things, and its not really a book that is entirely my style/genre, I was satisfied with how things turned out. Sandra Dallas did a good job depicting what American times were like in the years of the dust bowl.
I loved the character creation Sandra had with “The Hired Man” and I fell in love with the Kessler family and their good morals and behaviors. Mrs Kessler (Ruth) and the boys especially. Ruth was an incredible character and a force, despite the way men saw and treated women in this period of history and her husband was a great example of what a good man is. I loved these characters! I did have struggles with Martha Helen and relating with her sometimes but it didn’t take away from the reading experience. It was slow moving at first but interesting enough to keep my attention. The slow build up and attention to detail was perfectly met with twists and turns in great timing. I thought I had it all figured, and granted I did have it all figured out, until the last few twists, though seeds were well planted. Sandra did a great job keeping the suspense realistic but held out in a way that the turns of plot weren’t fully expected before the wrap up of the story.
I was stunned by this book and though I don’t typically like books that have a lot of sad things, and its not really a book that is entirely my style/genre, I was satisfied with how things turned out. Sandra Dallas did a good job depicting what American times were like in the years of the dust bowl.
August 27, 2025
THE HIRED MAN tells a tale of a vagabond, hired by a struggling farm family, that sparks anger and retribution in a small Colorado town during the Depression. Everyone is struggling financially as the dust never leaves and farms dry up in Eastern Colorado. Vagabonds and tramps roam the countryside seeking work, housing or even just a free meal. These wanderers produce intense xenophobia among the remaining townspeople. And then a series of unexplained ‘departures’ of young women cause the rumor mill to lurch into overdrive with all anger focused on the hired man. Author Sandra Dallas is very good at writing historical fiction that brings readers directly into the story. The environment and struggles of the characters feel as real as our own. There are some well telegraphed twists in the tale that keep things lively. Another good book to read from this author. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.
December 30, 2025
ARC received via NetGalley!
The Hired Man by Sandra Dallas is an engaging and emotional read that blends small-town charm with real tension. From the start, I was drawn into the setting and the believable relationships between the characters. Dalles does a great job of capturing that mix of comfort and complication that comes with small-town life, and her writing feels warm and authentic.
The pacing moves steadily with just enough twists and emotion to keep me hooked, though there were a few parts where I wished the story picked up a bit faster. Still, the characters felt real, and their growth and connection made it easy to care about them.
Overall, The Hired Man is a heartfelt story about trust, redemption, and finding connection where you least expect it. Perfect for fans of contemporary women’s fiction and small-town romance.
The Hired Man by Sandra Dallas is an engaging and emotional read that blends small-town charm with real tension. From the start, I was drawn into the setting and the believable relationships between the characters. Dalles does a great job of capturing that mix of comfort and complication that comes with small-town life, and her writing feels warm and authentic.
The pacing moves steadily with just enough twists and emotion to keep me hooked, though there were a few parts where I wished the story picked up a bit faster. Still, the characters felt real, and their growth and connection made it easy to care about them.
Overall, The Hired Man is a heartfelt story about trust, redemption, and finding connection where you least expect it. Perfect for fans of contemporary women’s fiction and small-town romance.
August 12, 2025
In the time between the World Wars, and post stock market crash, drought conditions devastated a large swath of the country, reducing some towns from friendly communal places to towns where people were actively starving and desperate and suspicious of every new face.
When a stranger stumbles out of a dust cloud, holding a small boy, there is a mixed reaction by the townsfolk. While some are grateful that the child was found, more are suspicious as to why this man was the one to find him, and what he expected in return. It's a mean-spiritedness that is born out of hard times and fear. Mrs Kessler can't let this good deed go unrepaid, so she offers the man a job as hired man - work around the farm in exchange for a place to sleep and meals. Neighbors are angry and jealous because his presence means the Kesslers have enough to share with a stranger, while neighbors go with out.
Teen aged Martha Helen Kessler and her best friend Frankie are both attracted to and nervous about Otis's presence. He's good looking but older, and as part of his work arrangement Martha Helen has to see him at every meal. It is better to keep the lines clearly drawn. Frankie though has a different set of circumstances. Her angry defeated father beats her mother in frustration over a farm where nothing grows in the dust that blows non stop, but soon Frankie's mother leaves town and now Frankie is responsible for the house and her younger brothers. She looks at dating as a break from the misery but wonders if marrying any of the boys in town would amount to more than going from the frying pan into the fire. She flirts with Otis to Martha Helen's discomfort and the girls argue. As Frankie heads home a dust storm comes up and as everyone struggles to get to safety and then to clean up after the storm, they discover that Frankie never made it home.
A search party quickly gathers, because it is possible to 'dry drown' in the dust, so finding someone who's become disoriented by the dark clouds of dust, is a matter of life or death. Mr. Kessler, Otis, and Martha Helen join the search and eventually come across Frankie's lifeless body. Her shirt is missing, her skirt blown up, exposing her body. Did the wind do this? Animals? A man? Martha Helen is distraught and when the deputy Sherif wonders why of all the search groups, it was the group with Otis in it that found the body - a case of a criminal returning to the site of their crime? - she begins to have doubts about Otis.
The Kesslers meanwhile defend Otis, going so far as to use their savings to hire a lawyer to defend him. They are mindful that Martha Helen's older brother struggled after the war, and hoped that people were kind to him as he made his way home from California. We also learn that Mrs. Kessler had been unable to defend a man that came to her aid once and he was put to death when people misunderstood the situation. They feel a strong karmic debt and understand that being unemployed, or homeless isn't an indicator of evil. Mob justice isn't always just, but sometimes a person ends up in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The details about this moment in time when dust was something that could kill you, or at the very least change your way of life are sobering. Erosion and drought meant that crops didn't grow, life stock couldn't really feed, stores closed down because people had no money to spend, men lost there livelihoods and took to the roads in search of work and a chance of a better life. Tramps or hobos, were everywhere. People feared them because they understood the desperation that lead them to this nomadic life, and because they knew that they were not so far from being cast out themselves. Women were expected to keep a household running with nothing and some, like the men who became hobos, chose to leave the misery they knew in hopes of finding something better, even if it meant leaving behind family.
Even those like the Kesslers, that still had a roof over their heads, some chickens and cows, enough to eat, still had to deal with the insidious dust. Days where after a storm, you would open a refrigerator and find the red or yellow dirt of another state inside it. Where all your once clean laundry that was inside your house, in your dresser drawers, would have to be washed again because it was now covered in dirt. It got everywhere and needed to be cleaned out.
Eventually, a rain storm comes out of nowhere and slowly life starts to go back to normal, the wind taking the dust and it's many secrets, with it.
When a stranger stumbles out of a dust cloud, holding a small boy, there is a mixed reaction by the townsfolk. While some are grateful that the child was found, more are suspicious as to why this man was the one to find him, and what he expected in return. It's a mean-spiritedness that is born out of hard times and fear. Mrs Kessler can't let this good deed go unrepaid, so she offers the man a job as hired man - work around the farm in exchange for a place to sleep and meals. Neighbors are angry and jealous because his presence means the Kesslers have enough to share with a stranger, while neighbors go with out.
Teen aged Martha Helen Kessler and her best friend Frankie are both attracted to and nervous about Otis's presence. He's good looking but older, and as part of his work arrangement Martha Helen has to see him at every meal. It is better to keep the lines clearly drawn. Frankie though has a different set of circumstances. Her angry defeated father beats her mother in frustration over a farm where nothing grows in the dust that blows non stop, but soon Frankie's mother leaves town and now Frankie is responsible for the house and her younger brothers. She looks at dating as a break from the misery but wonders if marrying any of the boys in town would amount to more than going from the frying pan into the fire. She flirts with Otis to Martha Helen's discomfort and the girls argue. As Frankie heads home a dust storm comes up and as everyone struggles to get to safety and then to clean up after the storm, they discover that Frankie never made it home.
A search party quickly gathers, because it is possible to 'dry drown' in the dust, so finding someone who's become disoriented by the dark clouds of dust, is a matter of life or death. Mr. Kessler, Otis, and Martha Helen join the search and eventually come across Frankie's lifeless body. Her shirt is missing, her skirt blown up, exposing her body. Did the wind do this? Animals? A man? Martha Helen is distraught and when the deputy Sherif wonders why of all the search groups, it was the group with Otis in it that found the body - a case of a criminal returning to the site of their crime? - she begins to have doubts about Otis.
The Kesslers meanwhile defend Otis, going so far as to use their savings to hire a lawyer to defend him. They are mindful that Martha Helen's older brother struggled after the war, and hoped that people were kind to him as he made his way home from California. We also learn that Mrs. Kessler had been unable to defend a man that came to her aid once and he was put to death when people misunderstood the situation. They feel a strong karmic debt and understand that being unemployed, or homeless isn't an indicator of evil. Mob justice isn't always just, but sometimes a person ends up in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The details about this moment in time when dust was something that could kill you, or at the very least change your way of life are sobering. Erosion and drought meant that crops didn't grow, life stock couldn't really feed, stores closed down because people had no money to spend, men lost there livelihoods and took to the roads in search of work and a chance of a better life. Tramps or hobos, were everywhere. People feared them because they understood the desperation that lead them to this nomadic life, and because they knew that they were not so far from being cast out themselves. Women were expected to keep a household running with nothing and some, like the men who became hobos, chose to leave the misery they knew in hopes of finding something better, even if it meant leaving behind family.
Even those like the Kesslers, that still had a roof over their heads, some chickens and cows, enough to eat, still had to deal with the insidious dust. Days where after a storm, you would open a refrigerator and find the red or yellow dirt of another state inside it. Where all your once clean laundry that was inside your house, in your dresser drawers, would have to be washed again because it was now covered in dirt. It got everywhere and needed to be cleaned out.
Eventually, a rain storm comes out of nowhere and slowly life starts to go back to normal, the wind taking the dust and it's many secrets, with it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Title:
The Hired Man
Author: Sandra Dallas
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 3.25
Pub Date: March 31, 2026
I received a complimentary eARC and ALC copies from St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted
T H R E E • W O R D S
Simple • Informative • Atmospheric
📖 S Y N O P S I S
1937. It’s been seven years since the dust storms started in Colorado. Folks can barely remember a time when the clouds were filled with rain instead of dirt, and when the fields were green instead of brown. High school student Martha Helen Kessler and her family are luckier than most; they still eke out a living from the land. Even so, evidence of the Dust Bowl’s grim impact on families, especially on the women who bear the brunt of their husbands’ frustration and their children’s hunger, is everywhere.
When Martha Helen’s compassionate mother insists they take in Otis Hobbs, a handsome drifter who saves a local boy from a vicious storm, she quickly discovers a darker side to their rural community. Suspicion, jealousy, and prejudice grip their neighbors – and emotions reach a frenzy after Martha Helen’s best friend, Frankie, disappears and is then found murdered. Ultimately, Martha Helen is forced to make sense of her conflicting feelings and loyalties in order to help find retribution and to reconcile the difference between the law and justice.
💭 T H O U G H T S
I'd read and enjoyed one of Sandra Dallas' books in 2025, so I added her upcoming 2026 release, The Hired Man to my list of books to check out. Thanks to the publishers, I was able to do an immersive read ahead of publication and went into it knowing little beyond it being set in Colorado during the Dust Bowl years.
Part coming-of-age story and part historical fiction, I'd have to say this novel gave me great insight into the time period and the lived struggles families were faced with as a result. I'd even go so far as to say I wanted to know even more about it, rather the story focuses on the town drama, which I found to be way less interesting. It's this drama that weaves a thread of mystery into the narrative and drives the story forward. However, I thought the writing lacked the emotional potential and the pacing seemed to ebb and flow unnaturally.
The audiobook, narrated by Jesse Vilinsky, was fine. She manages to give voice to the main character. Her tone and pacing were consistent throughout. She does a decent job voicing the other characters as well, but it could become confusing without also having the ebook and knowing who is who. I'd have so say nothing truly stood out and the listen was lacking the emotional depth such a story should evoke.
While The Hired Man was an interesting story, everything felt as though it was kept simple and surface level. For some reason I was expecting something a little more from it. The cover is also somewhat deceiving as it gives off romance vibes, something this book isn't. Sandra Dallas does a great job in giving voice to the women from various time periods and anyone who enjoys those types of stories will likely enjoy this one.
📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• strong female characters
• the Dust Bowl time period
⚠️ CW: death, murder, alcoholism, violence, rape, child abuse, sexual assault, cancer,
Author: Sandra Dallas
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 3.25
Pub Date: March 31, 2026
I received a complimentary eARC and ALC copies from St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted
T H R E E • W O R D S
Simple • Informative • Atmospheric
📖 S Y N O P S I S
1937. It’s been seven years since the dust storms started in Colorado. Folks can barely remember a time when the clouds were filled with rain instead of dirt, and when the fields were green instead of brown. High school student Martha Helen Kessler and her family are luckier than most; they still eke out a living from the land. Even so, evidence of the Dust Bowl’s grim impact on families, especially on the women who bear the brunt of their husbands’ frustration and their children’s hunger, is everywhere.
When Martha Helen’s compassionate mother insists they take in Otis Hobbs, a handsome drifter who saves a local boy from a vicious storm, she quickly discovers a darker side to their rural community. Suspicion, jealousy, and prejudice grip their neighbors – and emotions reach a frenzy after Martha Helen’s best friend, Frankie, disappears and is then found murdered. Ultimately, Martha Helen is forced to make sense of her conflicting feelings and loyalties in order to help find retribution and to reconcile the difference between the law and justice.
💭 T H O U G H T S
I'd read and enjoyed one of Sandra Dallas' books in 2025, so I added her upcoming 2026 release, The Hired Man to my list of books to check out. Thanks to the publishers, I was able to do an immersive read ahead of publication and went into it knowing little beyond it being set in Colorado during the Dust Bowl years.
Part coming-of-age story and part historical fiction, I'd have to say this novel gave me great insight into the time period and the lived struggles families were faced with as a result. I'd even go so far as to say I wanted to know even more about it, rather the story focuses on the town drama, which I found to be way less interesting. It's this drama that weaves a thread of mystery into the narrative and drives the story forward. However, I thought the writing lacked the emotional potential and the pacing seemed to ebb and flow unnaturally.
The audiobook, narrated by Jesse Vilinsky, was fine. She manages to give voice to the main character. Her tone and pacing were consistent throughout. She does a decent job voicing the other characters as well, but it could become confusing without also having the ebook and knowing who is who. I'd have so say nothing truly stood out and the listen was lacking the emotional depth such a story should evoke.
While The Hired Man was an interesting story, everything felt as though it was kept simple and surface level. For some reason I was expecting something a little more from it. The cover is also somewhat deceiving as it gives off romance vibes, something this book isn't. Sandra Dallas does a great job in giving voice to the women from various time periods and anyone who enjoys those types of stories will likely enjoy this one.
📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• strong female characters
• the Dust Bowl time period
⚠️ CW: death, murder, alcoholism, violence, rape, child abuse, sexual assault, cancer,
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