BILLETTE HALL: A Historical Fiction Suspense Thriller

by D.L. Jones

Will they make it to Billette Hall, or die by the hands of the murderous stalker that hunts them?
Southern United States, 1858
Fifteen-year-old Marion knows what happens to slaves who don’t obey the rules, but when an auction ends in the separation of families, she’s forced to break a few rules.
Armed with nothing more than a single shot in her revolver and just enough courage to forgo the dangers, Marion must help the displaced slaves escape a cruel slave master and lead them on a four-day trek through the wilderness to safety of Billette Hall.
Making matters worse, Marion and the rest of the escaped slaves soon discover that there are nightmares more frightening than the slavers.
They are being hunted!
A strange unknown man, covered in mud and wielding an axe, stalks them. Everyone who has crossed his path is dead.
Marion and her tiny group of frightened men and women will suffer the same fate unless they can rise above their fear.

Genres: Horror, Mystery, Historical Fiction

244 pages, Hardcover

Published May 28, 2021

About the author

DL Jones was born in Brooklyn NY, grew up in Newport News VA and has spent the last 8 years in Charlotte NC. He has served time in the US Army and works as an IT Professional. His first love has always been tech, well computers and the web specifically, which has led to a lot of writing. He has had several websites/blogs and podcast over the years.

Reviews

[Miriam still reading! HIATUS from GR]

25% no thank you! returning.

[Dee Cherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

1st read by this author. This story kept me glued to the pages once I finally started reading. Good introduction of the characters as the slaves journey to Billette Hall was quite a difficult one. While the setting was realistically sad, the content and storyline revealed the mission for the slaves. Marion, although young, easily transpired into the leader she was destined to become. Good suspenseful and horrifying scenes as the slave catchers and the unknown lurked-which caused the slaves to rightfully defend themselves. It was surprising to find out the ID of the killer. Good read.

[Monetia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely Amazing Read!!! I Love This Book!!!

[Billie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Southern United States of America, 1858.
A slave auction goes wrong leaving a group of slaves, that were meant to be sold to Billette Hall, in the hands of a cruel slave master. That sale left slaves separated from their loved ones and family members. Marion’s life changes when Master Jesse of Billette Hall Plantation summons her into his quarters for an important task. She must sneak into the auction grounds and help the displaced slaves escape. Those slaves are to be brought safely to Billette Hall.
Armed with a Revolver and a single shot, Marion, the 15-year-old slave girl, must lead the displaced slaves on a 4-day trek through the wilderness to safety. The trek is harrowing and filled with danger as they are forced to avoid bounty hunters, slave catchers and their dogs.
Making matters worse, Marion and the rest of the escaped slaves soon discover that there are nightmares more frightening than the slavers. They are being hunted! A strange unknown man, covered in mud and wielding an axe, stalks them. Everyone who has crossed his path is dead.

I was hooked from the outset with this one. Slavery is horrific enough but compound that with an axe wielding psychotic and you get double the horror.
I enjoyed this book thoroughly and the author was very creative to blend in the history as well
Well developed characters and well developed story line blended with the gruesome sadistic killer!
Really enjoyed this and hope the author does more!
I received an ARC of this book, and this is my honest and voluntary review.

[Pat Eroh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story. During a horrible time in history when so many people here and in other countries owned slaves, many treated them horribly, fortunately, this author chose to focus on the few people who worked toward treating slaves as human and equal, lest we forget those few people existed. Add to the horror of slavery, a horrifying killer on the loose who killed seemingly indiscriminately, whites as well as slaves, and did so in such a horrifying way.

My only struggle was the writing in the present tense which seemed a bit strange at times. Yet the story was so compelling and the storyline/plot so intriguing, it didn't matter in the end. I love this story. I have never read this author before but I will certainly watch for more good books from him.

I received this book as an ARC from AXP and am voluntarily providing an honest review.

[Oralee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Billette hall is a unique story that occurs during the days of slavetraders. It was refreshing to to have a fresh setting for the story. We meet a host of characters who are well developed and likable. However there is one who is not so likable. Multiple murders occur in this tale literally about life and freedom. The story is fast paced and exciting it kept me interested through out the entire book. My only concern with the novel was that at times the perspective of the story seemed to change from 3rd person to maybe first and it threw me off a few times. Despite this occasional feeling of confusion for me I really enjoyed the book and look forward to where DL Jones writing will take me

[JUDITH DICKINSON · Rating 3 out of 5]

This narrative started really well, showing the atrocious conditions that slaves endured and how they were treated by their owners. All was great until the central group of slaves set off to escape their new owners and make their way to Billette Hall, where they were assured they would be well treated and have much more freedom. The further they got into their flight the less the 'slave' featured. Yes they were battling the odds but the individuals seemed to lose that essential feel.
I did read to the end but couldn't really bond with them.

[Katie Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The issue of slavery is terrifying enough. The stories of how families are ripped apart, how human beings are treated as cattle and oxen, are horrific. And yet, the tales of brave souls that stood against this tyranny, that helped slaves run away from cruel masters and certain death to freedom, are shining examples of bravery and strength. Now, add to that a gritty (literally!) sadistic killer that can only thrive in the swamps of the South, and you have this evocative and chilling story.

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got hooked right from the beginning. This is a horror story inside a horror story. Slavery is horrifying enough, but if you add sadistic murders, what you have is a fast-paced, engaging thriller which also deals with themes like the right to life and freedom.

If that's not enough to attract you, think about great characters and writing, and emotionally involving plot. Me? I'm sold, and I'll be waiting for more books from DL Jones.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

She know she needs to break a few rules to escape her cruel.master. She gets all the other rounded up before they leave their cruel.master behind. On the way to a.safe place they will be in car more danger than they expect. They are being hunted and they are being picked off one by one. Can they escape the hunter? Can they reach safety before too many are killed? See if they get to.safety

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Join the Penguin Resistance! · Rating 4 out of 5]

BILLETTE HALL is a heartfelt and adventurous account of slavery before the Civil War. It skillfully exposes the variations among the planter class and also among the sufferers of slavery. Mr. Jones brings his characters to remarkable life. I had no difficult in getting emotionally involved immediately. I fell passionately in love with the blurb: who could resist that description?

[The Endless Unread · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the idea behind this book. However, I don't think it was very well executed with the grammar at times feeling child-like. Maybe this is a language barrier thing, I don't know. Either way it's missing that little extra punch that makes you want to read a book again and again. Great idea for a story but definitely needs better execution.

[Yusuf · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/5
Wasn’t sure what to expect going into this. The writing was stilted, made the whole experience feel as if I were watching it from a distance— it was a bit arduous. “Tell, don’t show” in a way. The structure of the story was where the strengths of this novel lie— that, the creativity to come up with this concept and carry it for 200+ pages, and the scenes of horror.

[Linnell Navarro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this story

Thoroughly enjoyed this fast moving historical fiction story. I felt as if I was able to enter this story and run and hide with these characters. You provided great character and story development. I'm looking forward to reading your next book.

[Karen Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book.

[Charmer (Whatcha Reading) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it.