Waverly: A Novel

by Amy B. Bellamy

One ordinary day in the summer of 2006, Sarah Harper stops by the family farm to visit her grandfather. She soon finds herself caught up in a mystery centered around events that occurred seventy years earlier in her hometown of Waverly, including a horrific murder and the last public execution ever to take place on American soil. As Sarah learns more about the crime, the trial, the execution, and the housewife-turned-sheriff who presided over it all, she discovers that justice is not always just. And sometimes, our fate is sealed not only by the choices we make, but also by the lies we tell ourselves.

347 pages, Paperback

Published February 27, 2019

About the author

Amy Bellamy spent much of her childhood in a small Kentucky town surrounded by piles of journals. Her love of reading and writing led her to become an educator, so she could share great literature with students. In March 2012, she fulfilled a childhood dream to become a published author with the release of her first book, a memoir full of her childhood memories and favorite family stories. In February 2019, she published her first novel, inspired by her fascination with true crime and her love of Kentucky history.

Reviews

[Kate Meade · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intriguing story

This is a well-rounded story with good character development. I, too, am from Owensboro, Ky and knew about the hanging '36. That being reason I started reading the book, the story drew me in. Well written. Worth reading.

[Kimberly Bartley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful blend of truth and fiction! Bellamy brings to life a story inspired by the true event of the last public execution in America. Well written with relatable characters!

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book provides a fictional tale of the last public hanging in America. It is an easy read that keeps you turning the page to find out what happens next.

[Angie Gunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was immediately pulled in to the story, and because I knew it was based on true events, I stopped frequently to see what were the historical facts and what were the creative additions. I was surprised to find so much related to the hanging and loved how the author unfolded the surprising details. This is a MUST read for fans of historical fiction!