The Souls of Clayhatchee: A Southern Tale

by Anthony Todd Carlisle

The Souls of Clayhatchee has been honored with numerous awards Best African American Fiction in the National Indie Excellence Award and the Next Generation Indie Best Award as well as Bronze Medal for Best Regional Fiction (South) in the Independent Publishing Book Awards.A brilliant novel about family ties, generational racism, and a mysterious murder that casts its shadow across a man fulfilling his mother’s dying wish.James Kingsman hated the South. Raised by parents who had migrated north from Alabama years before his birth, he had heard their personal stories of racism, injustice, and fear. At best, he carried a certain disdain for those who stayed behind, no matter how much the South had changed. When James reluctantly agrees to his mother’s last wish to be buried in her ancestral home, his notions about southern relatives are turned upside down. As are long-hidden discoveries about his parents. His father did not migrate north, he escaped. His mother kept an even deeper secret, one of rage and beauty.Some ghosts cannot stay buried."An affirmation of the human spirit. Can a Black American find grace in a land built upon the toil, tears, and blood of his family and ancestors?" ―Margo Wilson, author, The Main Ingredient"Carlisle's words sing on the page in this fascinating genre-bending novel." ―Christina Fisanick, author, The Optimistic Food Addict"The Souls of Clayhatchee shines a light on the magnetism of family and the shattering effects of racist violence. Brisk, touching, and entertaining ... sweeping me into a world I could never enter myself, and I will never forget." ―Paul Hertneky, author, Rust Belt Boy

Genres: Mystery

175 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 4, 2021

About the author

Anthony Todd Carlisle is an associate journalism professor in the Department of Culture, Media, and Performance at California University of Pennsylvania. In addition to teaching journalism courses, Carlisle teaches composition and literature classes as well. Prior to teaching at Cal U, Carlisle was a reporter for 11 years. He worked for the New Pittsburgh Courier, Daily News, Pittsburgh Business Times, Beaver County Times and Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. As a reporter, he won several awards, including the Robert L. Vann Award for feature writing and investigative reporting and the Keystone State Spotlight Award for first place business story.
He also is a veteran. He served in the United States Army Reserves for 14 years, reaching the rank of captain. He worked as both a supply officer and a military journalist. In 2003, he was deployed to the Middle East as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Carlisle continues to work in the journalism field, doing freelance work for local and national publications. In addition, he is pursuing his passion as a fiction writer.

Reviews

[Teng Thumbutu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Family Is Family -- Always

We have all questioned our parents' sanity at some point. Frequently the litmus tests increase as we make our lives work for us and as they age, reminisce and try to remind us of what was.

James Kingsman is puzzled by his mother's adamant request to be returned from Pittsburgh to Clayhatchee, Alabama for burial. Since he is the most diligent of the 4 Kingsman siblings, "Pudding" Kingsman knew her wishes would be carried out.

The novel weaves a story of family and their secrets, family and their revelations, family and their desires for ongoing long-term relationships. This novel addresses history, love, crimes, racial inequalities and reconciliations.

Character development kept the storyline moving. I knew these people and their attitudes, their dreams and disappointments. I finished the book and I will miss the family.

[Maryn Alwayzworkingforzeta formley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A definite page-turner!

I really enjoyed the author's storytelling abilities, as the story took you deeper and deeper into the lives of the folks involved. The topics hit home, in this era of social justice. Towards the end, a couple of scenes seemed a bit rushed, but maybe I wanted a reason to stay in Clayhatchee just a few more paragraphs. I really enjoyed this read!

[Roxina Rumley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Page Turner

From the first chapter on this book held my interest. I enjoyed the characters because everybody got a cousin Bunky. Each chapter has this reader anxious to find answers to the mystery. Well done. R from Delaware

[Brynsma · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Souls of Clayhatchee

A very enjoyable page turner read. A nice plot with believable characters with secrets.There is nothing like the love of family.l look forward to reading more from this author

[Kquigs · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a terrific book. From start to finish, I was pulled along. There are many twists and surprises that make this a great book. A wonderful tale of rediscovering the value of family.

[Debbie Shoulders · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is a story here, a young girl raped, a murder, and an unknown sister but it is told in the fashion of a television drama, so there are really no surprises.

[Yvette M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good storyline. Lots of twists and subplots.

[barbaa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hometown Secrets

From the beginning of this book there was something familiar, my own southern roots immediately came to mind. I couldn't put it down, my interest was held to the end. The characters, family ties all familiar. Very good story!

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel began as a family drama. A northern-raised African American newspaper man goes to the deep South to bury his mother in her hometown. It ends as a buddy story where two opposite types (Northern newspaperman and local drug dealer) work together to solve a local mystery. The author was just trying for too much in a relatively short book. He covers homicide, black/white race relations, poverty, infidelity, passing, queerness, the prison pipeline and more. And some things just didn't make sense. A blinged-out megachurch preacher does not need anyone's money (and he states this), so money should not be the motive for his actions. Why are people in this small town so willing to talk to an outsider? The times seemed a little off to me. It occurs in the present day "Dirty South", but the main character's parents seem to have been raised in the Jim Crow south. The author uses stereotypes, such as a big, loving Auntie who can't pronounce "th". The newspaperman's editor is right out of a Superman comic. And the language seemed dated. Does anyone say "hoochie mama" anymore? The story should have been tightened up and more time should have been spent on the ending. It just seemed rushed to me.

[J.R. Mason · Rating 5 out of 5]

Secretive, Emotional, & Vivid!

For me, this book starts out slowly, but then BAM! It picks up & takes you on a historical journey of deep family secrets, violence and ultimately, murder.

I loved how the juicy snippets from the family's past were interwoven throughout the book making the reader feel like they're getting a sneak peek, though I will say that I wish some were in a slightly different order. Other than that random thought, I really enjoyed the read and would read more from this author.

[Carol · Rating 1 out of 5]

Although the story was good and ended up being a murder mystery the writing was not good.

[Ivelise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this story!
I want to go visit, I want have dinner with them, I want to sit in the front porch & take in the fresh air… wow!