Blood Harvest

Title: Blood Harvest

Author: Brant Randall

Summary: Blood Harvest was sparked by stories told to author Brant Randall about his grandmother's marriage. Mixed in those remembrances were tales of the KKK's dominance in local politics, moving from a Southern force to a nationwide influence. Randall's grandfather was a Greek immigrant who had worked since the day he arrived on US soil, yet her family hadn't wanted the marriage to happen because he was considered "non-white" and was a Catholic. There was outside influences as well as family trying to stop the union. Bitter about their interferences and implied threats, she left her hometown, never to return. Well into her 90's she still held the Klan in contempt. Blood Harvest is a fictional account of the events surrounding a trial in a small New England town. The defendant is the son of a prosperous immigrant family. Caught in the bushes with a local girl, he is on trial for fighting back when the girl's family tries to administer their own justice. The people involved narrate the events of the three days in the first person. Each of the players has a voice; some are very unsavory, some resigned, some always plotting to advance. Local law enforcement is partially corrupted by the local Klan. The "victim" of the young man is actually an enterprising young woman who is discovering the power her developing chest and willingness has over some men. The forces clash in the three days covered until a final violent night and some survive and go on. Some are silenced. Some get their much-deserved rewards. Some voices are so unusual (preposterous) that I found their storylines hard to follow. I would have liked to have followed some of the main characters more and cut out some of the lesser characters. Randall indicates that he could not use some of the Klan history he discovered because it would be too hard to believe. I found the whole story a bit to difficult to follow, not just because of content, but delivery as well.

Recommendation: This isn't a book I would recommend. It isn't easy to read and the storyline is hard to swallow.

Hearts: 1