Timber Beasts

Sage Adair #1

by S.L. Stoner

The U.S. economy is in shambles. The ordinary citizen is slipping in his battle for family survival. The incoming president denounces the financial shenanigans of speculators and vows to regulate the greed of those who have precipitated the disaster. Vast acres of national forest and a plethora of small businesses are in a life and death struggle against corporate powerhouses skilled at making and exploiting the law. In ballot boxes across the country, the progressive vision has been ratified, promising a counter-offensive against decades of corporate control. The year is 1902.

Within an historical context eerily reflective of the current day, John Sagacity Adair, Sage to his friends, is determined to expose the chicanery of the financial establishment. He works secretly on behalf of the growing labor movement, pursuing his mission into hobo jungles, lumber camps, seedy saloons and the drawing rooms of the rich. Fighting beside him are a parlor house madam, a leader in the local Chinese tong, an Appalachian coal-miner's daughter and an Afro-American maitre d' who shows more class than the people he serves.

On the night Sage uncovers a potential timber fraud, he is also faced with a cry for help. A brutal railroad guard has been murdered and his friend's young nephew must be cleared of the crime. Faced with the choice between pursuing the personal or the political, Sage chooses the personal only to find himself led straight back to the political. Events cause Sage to question how he will maintain his humanity and hope over the course of what promises to be a life long struggle.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction

268 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Ryan Mishap · Rating 3 out of 5]

While always wary of historical mysteries, I'm also a big fan of books set in my locale. Combine the latter with a strong working class bias and I'm in. I'll give books an extra star just for taking a political stand because most authors are afraid to (and, in affecting an apolitical stance, they are actually saying something: the status quo is so quo with them, when, as Dr. Horrible once said, "The staus isn't quo.").

Anyhoo, this is a decent mystery set in Portland, Oregon of 1902. Restaurateur Sage Adair is actually an undercover agent for an anti-capitalist group, and he's about to completely worm his way in with the bankers, corrupt politicians, and other elites. The nephew of his cook, however, is being sought for the murder of a railroad man who had killed the nephew's brother. The dead railroad man had a secret, though, connected to timber land swindles.

The historical detail isn't overdone, just enough for setting. The main character has a tendency to think in Declarative Thoughts and his memories are prompted at convenient times to bring out he and his mother's past. All first mystery writing traps and forgivable.

I appreciate that Stoner creates a person in the sidekick/teacher Fong--and he doesn't ignore the Chinese and black presence in Portland--but the whole "wise Asian" who just happens to know a fighting technique can't escape racist stereotypes. That costs him a star.

[Kathy Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a definite perk that it took place in the Pacific Northwest where I have lived my whole life. I knew the places S.L.Stoner spoke of in the book. It was a fun mystery that kept my attention.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun read, because of the historical recreation of Portland, Oregon, in 1902. At that time, Portland was run by the wealthy elites - lumber and railroad - and conditions for ordinary people, especially women, were grim. It was still a wild and woolly city. The protagonist is an interesting choice, a fictitious secret agent of labor. This was a time when it was dangerous to be a labor organizer. Agencies like the Pinkertons, as well as separately hired thugs and scabs, were hired by businesses to break unions and union members and leaders.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book more for the history than the mystery. I thought there were just a few too many coincidences for my tastes. Still it opened me to history with which I lacked familiarity. I will try the next book in the series

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed Timber Beasts. The characters are well drawn and interesting. The mystery seemed a little contrived, nevertheless interesting. I found this novel particularly enjoyable because it's setting in Portland Oregon is where I live and I am interested in it's history.

[Karin Leach · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and the historic aspects of the Portland and PNW region. Don't know if I like it enough to read ore.

[Bruth George · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting for its location in late 19th century Portland and for the accompanying historical notes

[Kappy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very fun. Set in the Pacific Northwest where I have lived most of my life. The history was interesting.

[June Hiza]

Kate Shugak

[Melinda Field · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so enjoyed this historical mystery which begins with one of the most terrifying and haunting first chapters I have ever read. S.L. Stoner's fluid storytelling highlights life in Portland, Oregon in 1902, exposing the fraudulent timber rings that so impacted and devastated the poor and and working class. This character driven novel features, Sage Adair, a once poor, now wealthy man who leads a double life working as a secretive operative for the labor movement. As a wealthy restaurant owner by night hobnobbing with the "Timber Beasts", he mingles and is trusted by the working poor by day. You will be moved by his altruistic heart. He ultimately risks his life for a young transient accused of murder. Sage's Chinese butler and protégée Fong, is a delightfully, mysterious character who imparts wisdom to his boss and friend through inadvertent spiritual koans. The well written dialogue is true to the era and the insights into the lives of hobos is authentic and moving. An altogether wonderful and entertaining journey into another time, sadly much like our present in its exposé of a society ruled by the corrupt rich and the negative effect their dominance has on good people. Timber Beasts, the first in a series of three, is a great adventure.

~Melinda Field

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I found the mystery a little thin, it was fun to read a book that includes local places. It seemed like the author must've researched Oregon history, and I was hoping to see some sort of mention about it in the acknowledgments/notes (maybe even something about the author's local library being a help? I love it when authors thank librarians). There is some mention of actual events and trends during that time, but alas no mention of where that info came from. In any case, a fun read.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting historical perspective of turn-of-the-century Portland, Oregon, and the various working-class issues of the time, encompassed in an entertaining mystery with a charming protagonist. The writing is a bit clunky (which I especially noticed due to juxtaposition with the 3rd Outlander book that I read right before this), but that may be because it's her first book. Certainly going to read the others in the series!

[Cheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book that kept my interest. It revealed the story in bits and pieces, just enough at a time. I really enjoyed all of the Portland and Pacific Northwest references, down to the street names. It gave me a feeling of what Portland must have been like in the early 1900s.

S.L. Stoner first book makes me want to read the ones that follow.

[Lois · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the setting in 1902 Portland. I am not an expert in Portland history, but from the spot-checking I did on some of the landmarks the author mentions, it seems she did her research. However, there were so many errors of misused words and apostrophes, which should not have made it past a copy editor, that the book was kind of hard to read.

[Joel · Rating 2 out of 5]

The creation of the world of Portland 1902 was interesting and the character was original. The author seemed to be writing as if the reader knew almost nothing of the times which weakened the book, made it seem written for adolescents, not adults.

[Zane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really liked that it was set in Portland OR

[Gaildb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the 1902 Portland OR setting. The last line of the book nearly spoiled the whole thing. That line really didn't fit.

[Frank Snell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good mystery set in Portland a little after 1900. It claims to give an accurate description of Portland society at that time. The author is a labor union and civil rights lawyer.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love reading historical fiction about my hometown! Will be putting the second book in series on hold at my library.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. Local setting (Portland), mystery, and history all together.