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The Gaelic Letters: A Novel of the Almost Perfect Crime
A HISTORICAL NOVEL OF SUSPENSE AND INTRIGUE
Quinn Parker, a retired attorney, begins a family history project to learn about family that his Grandfather, Jeremiah Desmond, may have left behind in Ireland when he fled during the Famine. Quinn’s mother sparks his interest in one of their last conversations before she passes away that there were other Desmond family members that did not leave Ireland during the famine years. Quinn’s innocent appearing family history project takes a turn he would regret when he discovers a packet of old, yellowed letters written in Gaelic and stored in his mother’s basement. Quinn receives more than he bargains for when he receives the translations from the Irish translator. His journey searching for answers takes him to the genealogy libraries of Georgia, Minnesota, Utah, and eventually to Ireland where he finds himself embroiled in the ethno-political conflict between Ulster and the Republic. As he progresses in his search, parties on both sides of the Irish question see him as an increasing threat to their interests. The trail he is following leads to the discovery of forged documents, fraudulent conversion of massive family wealth and eventually to murder. In time Quinn realizes the dangerous journey he is on but by then he has been drawn in too deep and tragedy awaits the final outcome.
"The Gaelic Letters" was a 2010 winner of the Royal Palm Literary Award in the Thriller/Suspense category from the Florida Writer's Association.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
R. Thomas Roe, resides along the ocean in Florida and in the mountains of Colorado. Both venues afford him ideal locations to work on his hobby which is writing. He has served 26 years as a pilot with the United States Air Force and retired as a full Colonel. He enjoys his associations with various USAF groups and is an avid reader and mountain biker. Col. Roe graduated from St. Thomas University and from William Mitchell College of Law, both in St. Paul, MN.
Quinn Parker, a retired attorney, begins a family history project to learn about family that his Grandfather, Jeremiah Desmond, may have left behind in Ireland when he fled during the Famine. Quinn’s mother sparks his interest in one of their last conversations before she passes away that there were other Desmond family members that did not leave Ireland during the famine years. Quinn’s innocent appearing family history project takes a turn he would regret when he discovers a packet of old, yellowed letters written in Gaelic and stored in his mother’s basement. Quinn receives more than he bargains for when he receives the translations from the Irish translator. His journey searching for answers takes him to the genealogy libraries of Georgia, Minnesota, Utah, and eventually to Ireland where he finds himself embroiled in the ethno-political conflict between Ulster and the Republic. As he progresses in his search, parties on both sides of the Irish question see him as an increasing threat to their interests. The trail he is following leads to the discovery of forged documents, fraudulent conversion of massive family wealth and eventually to murder. In time Quinn realizes the dangerous journey he is on but by then he has been drawn in too deep and tragedy awaits the final outcome.
"The Gaelic Letters" was a 2010 winner of the Royal Palm Literary Award in the Thriller/Suspense category from the Florida Writer's Association.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
R. Thomas Roe, resides along the ocean in Florida and in the mountains of Colorado. Both venues afford him ideal locations to work on his hobby which is writing. He has served 26 years as a pilot with the United States Air Force and retired as a full Colonel. He enjoys his associations with various USAF groups and is an avid reader and mountain biker. Col. Roe graduated from St. Thomas University and from William Mitchell College of Law, both in St. Paul, MN.
- GenresFiction
412 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 7, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 8, 2015
The story line was great. The editing and handling of the different plot lines and times not so much. The book starts back in the Potato Famine. Then switches to present day where it moves between storylines in Atlanta, Belfast, Dublin and Cork. It has several different sets of characters that eventually intertwine, but also double back as action in one city closes and returns to an earlier time in a different city. This is all fine, but not once is a chapter headed with City, Date. That would have been much easier to read. Even once you have all the players straight it is still sometimes unclear if an event you read about three chapters ago in Dublin has happened when you pick back up in Belfast. Some parts were just overly verbose others had horrendous punctuation like " as apostrophes Enough that it was distracting.
I did enjoy the general plot though sort of a crime story sort of a genealogy story not real sure how to classify but it was enjoyable
I did enjoy the general plot though sort of a crime story sort of a genealogy story not real sure how to classify but it was enjoyable
March 13, 2012
The bookclub girls just left and we read the Gaelic Letters this month. This is an interesting book that follows an American retired lawyer as he researches his family back to Ireland. The book had a tendence to repeat and repeat and repeat historical fact, but not spend enough time developing characters. They were all pretty shallow. There were likeable people in the good and the main character, Quinn, is a favorite. But I think the author rushed the ending and the book lacked editing.
Having said that, I liked the book, will recommend it, especially to those who love history and Ireland.
Having said that, I liked the book, will recommend it, especially to those who love history and Ireland.
August 6, 2011
A great yarn about looking into your family history and finding something that piques your interest so much that you just have to look further... and then travel to Ireland as the mystery unravels even further. Definitely a page turner.
January 30, 2011
UGH! This was a book group pick. It's a convoluted tale told with too many words, but the core of the story line was really quite good. I just wish the guy had hired an editor.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews