The Deliverance of Barker McRae

by Stacia Pelletier

Genres: Historical Fiction

320 pages, Hardcover

Published September 2, 2025

Reviews

[Stefanie Carroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel set in 1833 Georgia completely drew me in. The young heroine and her older, unlikely companion don’t seem like the kind of people who could change each other’s lives, but they do.
The author has a gift for showing resilience, grit and the struggle through adversity in a way that feels relatable to the world today. Even though the setting was nearly 2 centuries ago, the emotions and challenges are ones we recognize. The best part is how this novel taught me about this often overlooked chapter of Georgia’s past while keeping me completely entertained. I came away moved by the characters’ journey and more aware of the injustices that shaped their world.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really did enjoy this. If you know the names Ron Rash and William Gay, but prefer George Saunders or Liz Moore, you should read this. Clearly, this was well researched, but didn’t big itself down by showing you how much research it took. There are some of the hallmarks of Southern Gothic (I.e. gritty descriptions of eye gouging that present them as banal as a fist fight). The decay in this book is the introduction of gold rushers. So, it pre-dates the decay often seen in the genre.
There are serious treatments of religious fervor. It captures the itinerant preachers and camp meetings of the 19th century well.
My naivety tells me that Barker’s drive for independence and freedom to preach is anachronistic, but the one line about her recognizing that she would never be able to administer the sacraments seems to tamp that read. It could well be that what I’m seeing as first wave feminism is just basic individualistic desire to pursue one’s own happiness.
If you are uncomfortable with the painful reality of sexual assaults, skip this. The language for those assaults is truly feminine in description which adds to the authenticity of the story.
It was my first read of this author, but I am definitely open to further readings.

[JANE DUBOSE · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book brings to mind others featuring a spunky girl on the frontier trail with an older male protector - think True Grit and News of the World. Unlike those offerings, The Deliverance of Barker McRae is set not in the West but in 1830s Georgia where the state is undergoing a culture change much like ours today as it reckons with Cherokee nation removal and a gold rush. The protaganist is Barker McRae, abandoned by her Methodist circuit-rider father who is still mourning the death of Barker's mother. Barker is left in the care of an aunt and evil uncle, Wiley Wood. The other primary character is a 60-something-year-old land lottery messenger, Samuel Higgenbotham, who delivers a land contract onto Barker early in the story. The action swiftly takes off through lawless mining towns and into near-misses with a determined county militia. Barker seeks her father. The uncle seeks revenge and Barker. And Higgenbotham seeks a second chance at family.

[David Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It would be easy to imagine myself an ideal reader for a book like this one- my familiarity with the north Georgia region in which the story takes place, my exposure to the history of the southern gold rush that occurred here, and my own experience as a preacher who responded to a call to share the gospel vocationally. So it's not surprising that I began the book expecting to enjoy my time spent reading this one. What may have surprised me, however, was the extent to which I found myself completely fascinated with the characters the author has created for this wonderful novel, characters both heroic and horrifying. I love it when I have a book that I am excited to pick up and continue reading a story so interesting and exciting that I can't wait to know what is going to happen next. This book is one of those.

[Lana Branson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stacia Pelletier's new book is one I couldn't put down. Her vivid descriptions of her characters and their lives add real historical depth to her story. It's a heart wrenching tale about a dark time in Georgia history right at the Cherokee removal and a young girl, Barker McRae, who's caught right in the middle with her own struggles. She's spunky, courageous and beyond her years and has to find her way through dangers and hardships to find her place of safety, peace and happiness with the help of her one loyal friend. I have to say I was extremely impressed with the historical research done to write this book.

[Mary Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haunting, lyrical, and unforgettable. This novel drew me in from the very first pages with its vivid historical detail and emotional depth. Barker McRae is a heroine you can’t help but root for, brave, vulnerable, and determined to survive against impossible odds. The backdrop of the Georgia Gold Rush, the seizure of Cherokee lands, and the fervor of frontier religion is masterfully woven into her story, creating a tale that is both suspenseful and deeply reflective. A powerful read that lingers long after the last page.

[Sheri Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely gorgeous writing in a compelling story that calls to mind Lauren Groff’s The Vaster Wilds and Charles Portis’s True Grit. Well-researched and affecting, the books explores some lesser-known events of 1830s Georgia in a way that makes them piercingly relevant to our contemporary crises, as good historical fiction should.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast-paced, gripping novel with incredible historical detail (details I didn’t know about even though I am born and raised in Georgia). It is a crushing story in the most moving way.