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One Drop--A Slave!
A Frontier Thriller!
In 1815 a plot is hatched in the sultry French Quarter of New Orleans. Banker Jules Signet has found a way to acquire vast wealth, exploiting a new “science” that seems to justify racial superiority. He and his lawyer prepare to take down some of New Orleans’ top citizens. His sinister web ensnares “Doc” Thomas Applegate, a drunken but highly gifted physician, and John Harkness a weak, corruptible federal judge. Both men become reluctant partners in Signet’s scheme.
Their first victim is Philippe Bouchard, protégé of Pierre Delacroix, one of New Orleans’ leading merchants. What happens in the courtroom ranks as one of the most appalling crimes in American history. Two people are ruined—Phillippe and Kayla, the beautiful quadroon carrying Judge Harkness’ child. Both are sold to Portuguese slave masters in the vast cane fields of inland Brazil. Doc and the judge have a change of heart, but Signet has grown too powerful to resist, and he has already chosen another victim. Doc seeks the aid of Delacroix, Father Valentin Poitier, and a bandy-legged, one-eyed smuggler, Emmett Barnett, who commands a band of pirates in the bayous. A dangerous sea voyage takes Doc and Emmett to Brazil and the Caribbean island of Martinique, where proof of Philippe’s ancestry might lie.
Signet casts his web into Kentucky where Craig Ridgeway and his wife, Mary, struggle to deal with the “Year Without a Summer,” slave catchers, an influenza epidemic, and misfortune that no parents should have to face. Despite the hardships, they find themselves caught up in the commercial and political growth that mark the “Era of Good Feelings.” Whiskey distilling, tobacco and hemp farming, hog drives, corn shuckings, maple syrup making and a new industry keep Craig and his in-laws busy. Surprise visitors enter their lives—and they may hold the answer to Craig’s slave problem.
Judge Wilfred Bozarth, the philandering lawyer and militia commander in Cottonwood Bend, engages in an adulterous affair and foolish speculation that could bring financial ruin. Despite his moral weaknesses, his fighting skills will be put to the ultimate test. Evil men descend upon the little settlement—armed mercenaries paid to abduct an innocent family. Outgunned and confounded by new technology, the neighbors must come together to defend their own.
In 1815 a plot is hatched in the sultry French Quarter of New Orleans. Banker Jules Signet has found a way to acquire vast wealth, exploiting a new “science” that seems to justify racial superiority. He and his lawyer prepare to take down some of New Orleans’ top citizens. His sinister web ensnares “Doc” Thomas Applegate, a drunken but highly gifted physician, and John Harkness a weak, corruptible federal judge. Both men become reluctant partners in Signet’s scheme.
Their first victim is Philippe Bouchard, protégé of Pierre Delacroix, one of New Orleans’ leading merchants. What happens in the courtroom ranks as one of the most appalling crimes in American history. Two people are ruined—Phillippe and Kayla, the beautiful quadroon carrying Judge Harkness’ child. Both are sold to Portuguese slave masters in the vast cane fields of inland Brazil. Doc and the judge have a change of heart, but Signet has grown too powerful to resist, and he has already chosen another victim. Doc seeks the aid of Delacroix, Father Valentin Poitier, and a bandy-legged, one-eyed smuggler, Emmett Barnett, who commands a band of pirates in the bayous. A dangerous sea voyage takes Doc and Emmett to Brazil and the Caribbean island of Martinique, where proof of Philippe’s ancestry might lie.
Signet casts his web into Kentucky where Craig Ridgeway and his wife, Mary, struggle to deal with the “Year Without a Summer,” slave catchers, an influenza epidemic, and misfortune that no parents should have to face. Despite the hardships, they find themselves caught up in the commercial and political growth that mark the “Era of Good Feelings.” Whiskey distilling, tobacco and hemp farming, hog drives, corn shuckings, maple syrup making and a new industry keep Craig and his in-laws busy. Surprise visitors enter their lives—and they may hold the answer to Craig’s slave problem.
Judge Wilfred Bozarth, the philandering lawyer and militia commander in Cottonwood Bend, engages in an adulterous affair and foolish speculation that could bring financial ruin. Despite his moral weaknesses, his fighting skills will be put to the ultimate test. Evil men descend upon the little settlement—armed mercenaries paid to abduct an innocent family. Outgunned and confounded by new technology, the neighbors must come together to defend their own.
744 pages, Hardcover
Published February 24, 2018
1 person is currently reading
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 29, 2018
Reviewed by Michelle Stanley for Readers' Favorite
One Drop--A Slave! is a historical fiction novel by Eddie Price. In 1815 Jules Signet, a power-hungry banker, manipulates Doctor Applegate and Judge Harkness into executing a most atrocious conspiracy to ruin wealthy business owners in New Orleans. His first victim, Philippe Bouchard, finds himself on trial, unable to defend himself against the accusations, and is sent to Brazil as a slave. Remorseful Applegate and Harkness unite with Pierre Delacroix and a pirate to rescue his protégé, Philippe. But the mission becomes dangerous with Signet’s deadly retaliation.
The year 1816 is known as “The year without a summer or Eighteen-Hundred-And-Froze-To-Death.” An unusually long spell of cold weather destroyed crops and livestock, and brought an epidemic and other adversities to Cottonwood Bend, Kentucky. Craig Ridgeway and other farmers don’t need more problems from heartless gangs plaguing their community.
One Drop--A Slave! is an enthralling historical novel that’s difficult to put down. I had a lot of mixed emotions when reading due to its poignancy. Slavery is the main topic, but there are other significant social issues the characters cope with, based on the era. The intriguing twists made me quit guessing the outcome of scenarios. The year without a summer actually happened, and Eddie Price included other historical information I found interesting.
He writes compellingly and created impressive characters within a powerful, memorable story. Judge Bozarth will keep you amused, while Signet will evoke your repugnance. The cover illustration complements the novel too. One Drop--A Slave! by Eddie Price is a frontier thriller that I recommend for your book list.
One Drop--A Slave! is a historical fiction novel by Eddie Price. In 1815 Jules Signet, a power-hungry banker, manipulates Doctor Applegate and Judge Harkness into executing a most atrocious conspiracy to ruin wealthy business owners in New Orleans. His first victim, Philippe Bouchard, finds himself on trial, unable to defend himself against the accusations, and is sent to Brazil as a slave. Remorseful Applegate and Harkness unite with Pierre Delacroix and a pirate to rescue his protégé, Philippe. But the mission becomes dangerous with Signet’s deadly retaliation.
The year 1816 is known as “The year without a summer or Eighteen-Hundred-And-Froze-To-Death.” An unusually long spell of cold weather destroyed crops and livestock, and brought an epidemic and other adversities to Cottonwood Bend, Kentucky. Craig Ridgeway and other farmers don’t need more problems from heartless gangs plaguing their community.
One Drop--A Slave! is an enthralling historical novel that’s difficult to put down. I had a lot of mixed emotions when reading due to its poignancy. Slavery is the main topic, but there are other significant social issues the characters cope with, based on the era. The intriguing twists made me quit guessing the outcome of scenarios. The year without a summer actually happened, and Eddie Price included other historical information I found interesting.
He writes compellingly and created impressive characters within a powerful, memorable story. Judge Bozarth will keep you amused, while Signet will evoke your repugnance. The cover illustration complements the novel too. One Drop--A Slave! by Eddie Price is a frontier thriller that I recommend for your book list.
January 4, 2019
only a slight drop in quality but still a highly readable book. plenty of suspense just not quite as much historic placement. still a very compelling look at slavery and some things I didn't know. highly recommend.
August 9, 2018
This is the second historical novel from Eddie Price. I loved Widder’s Landing and was equally surprised by its sequel, One Drop A Slave.
One Drop picks up where Widder’s left off with Craig Ridgeway, his family and in-laws living in Breckinridge Country Kentucky along the Ohio River in 1815. I found this novel to be a fast moving, adventure that kept me hooked from page 1 to the Epilogue on page 739. The author did a superb job of keeping two story lines flowing, one in Kentucky following Craig’s family and the McDonells, the other in New Orleans where the unscrupulous evil banker, Jules Signet schemes to steal the inheritance of Lucinde, who is married to Owen McDonell and living in Kentucky. She is the only daughter and sole heir of his rival, Pierre Delacroix. To take possession of Delacroix’s fortune and also Lucinde and her children, he uses the law, which stipulates that a slave cannot inherit property, and since Lucinde is one sixteenth Negro she herself is a slave as are her two children.
Several of the scoundrels in New Orleans who are working with Signet, redeem themselves and become heroes as does the flawed Kentucky Judge, Wilfred Bozarth. The last chapters about the daring rescue on the Ohio River led by Judge Bozarth, his band of farmers turned militia, Craig Ridgeway and the McDonells, were very well crafted.
Price leads you through the story, keeping a perfect balance of details and action, emotion and violence – but not too graphic. And I feel the novel never dragged or got boring as the reader stays tuned in to the numerous subplots weaved throughout. The added touch was the accurate recounting of the “year there was no summer” in 1816 and the historical information about the introduction of steam boat travel along the Ohio and Mississippi. Again another great read.
One Drop picks up where Widder’s left off with Craig Ridgeway, his family and in-laws living in Breckinridge Country Kentucky along the Ohio River in 1815. I found this novel to be a fast moving, adventure that kept me hooked from page 1 to the Epilogue on page 739. The author did a superb job of keeping two story lines flowing, one in Kentucky following Craig’s family and the McDonells, the other in New Orleans where the unscrupulous evil banker, Jules Signet schemes to steal the inheritance of Lucinde, who is married to Owen McDonell and living in Kentucky. She is the only daughter and sole heir of his rival, Pierre Delacroix. To take possession of Delacroix’s fortune and also Lucinde and her children, he uses the law, which stipulates that a slave cannot inherit property, and since Lucinde is one sixteenth Negro she herself is a slave as are her two children.
Several of the scoundrels in New Orleans who are working with Signet, redeem themselves and become heroes as does the flawed Kentucky Judge, Wilfred Bozarth. The last chapters about the daring rescue on the Ohio River led by Judge Bozarth, his band of farmers turned militia, Craig Ridgeway and the McDonells, were very well crafted.
Price leads you through the story, keeping a perfect balance of details and action, emotion and violence – but not too graphic. And I feel the novel never dragged or got boring as the reader stays tuned in to the numerous subplots weaved throughout. The added touch was the accurate recounting of the “year there was no summer” in 1816 and the historical information about the introduction of steam boat travel along the Ohio and Mississippi. Again another great read.
July 13, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Written by Kentucky native Eddie Price, it is the sequel to his first book Widder’s Landing, and picks up right where that story left off. If you liked Widder’s Landing, you’ll enjoy this one as well.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews