Susan Rivers the Second Mrs Hockaday january 10 Review

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Placidia is just seventeen when she agrees to ally Major Hockaday, a homo much older than herself, a recent widower with a small-scale kid. After spending only 2 days together, he is recalled to service in our Ceremonious State of war. Now she is expected to manage his large subcontract, take intendance of his little boy and all with little aid. When he finally returns it is to find that she has given nascency, and said to take murdered the kid. What really happened in the two years he was away.

Told most entirely in journa

Placidia is only seventeen when she agrees to marry Major Hockaday, a man much older than herself, a recent widower with a small child. Afterward spending only ii days together, he is recalled to service in our Civil State of war. At present she is expected to manage his large farm, accept intendance of his little boy and all with little assist. When he finally returns it is to find that she has given nascency, and said to take murdered the child. What actually happened in the two years he was away.

Told almost entirely in journal entries, letters and court documents we follow Placidia, learning well-nigh her life and the answers to this puzzling and horrifically charged upshot. One of my favorite ways to tell a story, seems more personal and realistic. This is in fact based on a true event. A dark volume, simply a book that highlights not only the difficulties the women faced, left alone, the men fighting and dying in big numbers, but likewise the astonishing strength then many of these women had to develop. I liked, admired this young woman, she had to do so much with so little, use skills she had to find that she had never needed before.

A wonderfully written mix of genres, mystery and historical and I believe even a niggling Southern dust. The answer to the mystery and its backwash would linger on, affecting the future generation. They would seek the answers to an event that they didn't know existed. I loved uncovering the story right along with them.

ARC from publisher.

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Jun 24, 2017 Jaline rated information technology information technology was amazing

"Our enemy is [. . .] and all people like him, who never question their motives or doubtfulness their desires. They are put on this globe to cause misery, because what they take so freely for themselves comes always at slap-up toll to others."

This novel is constructed in epistolary form; there are also diary entries and the records of interviews from an inquest. In a very short menstruum of time, I felt like I was the intended recipient of those letters, regardless who was being addressed. This story is

"Our enemy is [. . .] and all people like him, who never question their motives or dubiety their desires. They are put on this earth to cause misery, considering what they accept so freely for themselves comes always at great toll to others."

This novel is constructed in epistolary course; there are also diary entries and the records of interviews from an inquest. In a very short period of time, I felt like I was the intended recipient of those letters, regardless who was being addressed. This story is utterly absorbing.

The fourth dimension begins during the last couple of years of the American Civil War and the setting is a rural farm. The circumstance finds a teenage helpmate left to care for the child of the deceased get-go Mrs. Hockaday and the workings of the subcontract. Her husband of only a couple of days is called abroad to the state of war so there is no choice merely to grow up fast and cope.

During her husband's absence, the 2d Mrs. Hockaday has a kid that does not survive. Nevertheless, this consequence occurs a year or more after her husband left for the war and it is upon his return that he hears more malicious gossip than he can handle in his state of war-shocked condition.

Messages to her cousin are interspersed with records of the inquest interviews. Many other disclosures come at a afterward time through both letters by principal characters and the second Mrs. Hockaday'due south discovered diary entries.

Perhaps considering of the messages coupled with the diary entries and how personal they are, this book took on a sense of immediacy and reality that played out more similar a strong retention – a cellular recollection of a time and identify that was brutally hard yet filled with modest blessings and rewards. Both the pragmatic and the esoteric can be found within these pages, and how this feels will exist a unique experience for each reader.

I loved this book. I highly recommend this book, and I hope that in reading it your life is touched past this story, too.

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December 28, 2016 Linda rated it actually liked it

I received a copy of The 2nd Mrs. Hockaday through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Algonquin Books and to Susan Rivers for the opportunity.

Some stories are told straightforward with details sunnyside upwards. The Second Mrs. Hockaday weaves itself into quite a Joseph'due south Coat of Many Colors. The threads stitch in line and then autumn back onto itself through loops of personal letters, inquest notices, and documentations. A hither, a now, and a long reaching into the past.

Placidia Fincher li

I received a copy of The Second Mrs. Hockaday through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Algonquin Books and to Susan Rivers for the opportunity.

Some stories are told straightforward with details sunnyside up. The Second Mrs. Hockaday weaves itself into quite a Joseph's Coat of Many Colors. The threads stitch in line and so autumn back onto itself through loops of personal letters, inquest notices, and documentations. A here, a at present, and a long reaching into the past.

Placidia Fincher lives quite the life in Kingdom of the netherlands Creek, S Carolina. She's doted upon constantly by her father. It's 1865 and the fringes of the Ceremonious War are drawing in. A mere seventeen years former, Placidia is ill-prepared for the demands that volition soon be placed upon her. Major Gryffth Hockaday, at 32 years of age, asks her male parent for her hand in marriage. Within days, a wedding takes place and Placidia leaves all that she has e'er known to become a wife and a mother to Hockaday's baby male child.

Upon arriving at Hockaday's 300 acre farm, Placidia has set the tone by grabbing the reins of her horse and correcting Hockaday's manner of placing the horse in the stall. He'south non to let this become lightly and their first night together demonstrates that he is in accuse of all and everything.

The major returns to his troops and does not arrive back at the subcontract for years thereafter. He has been imprisoned until afterward the war. Placidia spends those years surrounded in complete disaster with expressionless and starving animals on the farm and crops destroyed sick-tended in the fields. It is a hell that holds her in its clutches until she can barely breathe.

Placidia gives nascence during the long absenteeism of her soldier husband. The kid expires and is buried on the land. But the tragedy can no longer be cached as Hockaday returns as a physically and mentally broken man. He leaves Placidia and brings up charges against her.

Susan Rivers implements those personal letters and inquest documentations to cast a dark shadow upon whose kid laid in that shallow grave. Placidia guards her secret with pressed fingers to lips. And the telling can somewhat frustrate through the back and forth. 1 tin almost grow weary through it all. The dialogue likewise has the authenticity of the time menstruation. It is in the telling that weighs heavy and not the storyline itself.

This is my start book by Susan Rivers. To be sure, I volition look frontward to her next.

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In 1863, 17 yr old Dia marries a man double her age, a major in the Amalgamated army. Afterward ii days, he returns to the front end leaving her with a 300 acre farm, a baby stepson, an crumbling female slave and a few field hands to manage. When he returns at the end of the war, she has given nativity to a baby who had apace died. Given that he hasn't been home at all in the intervening years, there's already a mystery at hand. When he brings upwards charges against her and she refuses to requite the paternity o
In 1863, 17 year one-time Dia marries a human being double her age, a major in the Amalgamated ground forces. Afterwards two days, he returns to the front leaving her with a 300 acre subcontract, a baby stepson, an aging female person slave and a few field easily to manage. When he returns at the end of the war, she has given nativity to a babe who had chop-chop died. Given that he hasn't been home at all in the intervening years, there'southward already a mystery at paw. When he brings upward charges against her and she refuses to give the paternity of the child or tell who has helped her, the mystery compounds.

The book is told through a series of letters, inquest documents and diary entries. The language of the volume is true to the time menstruum and it took me awhile to get into the rhythm and vocabulary. The story is not told in a straightforward fashion. It bounces dorsum and along in time, giving you minor glimpses of what has transpired. At i point, Dia's cousin, Mildred, calls the situation a Gordian knot and it's an apt description. Rivers deals with PTSD and the trauma everyone experienced during the war. No one emerged unscathed. It'south at its best when it focuses on the hardship of those left behind. As Placidia comments, those whose husbands went off to fight were well-nigh at the mercy of the ruffians left to roam the countryside.

Less successful were the parts from 1892. I wasn't nearly every bit involved with that generation. But I understood the need to have a means of communicating the residuum of the story.

This is a well told story and Pia tugged at my heart. Her strength is unbelievable. And in the end, it's a great dearest story

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4.5 rounded up to 5

As a fan of Civil War-era historical fiction, I thoroughly enjoyed this slim debut. An epistolary novel told in its entirety through letters, legal court inquests and periodical entries, it mirrors the existent-life story of a husband and wife in 1864-66 (with flashbacks and wink forward).

While the narrative weaves back and along in time between the 1860s and 1890s – and includes letters from at least a one-half-dozen characters in the telling of the story – I found it piece of cake to follow.

iv.5 rounded upward to v

As a fan of Civil War-era historical fiction, I thoroughly enjoyed this slim debut. An epistolary novel told in its entirety through letters, legal courtroom inquests and journal entries, it mirrors the real-life story of a hubby and wife in 1864-66 (with flashbacks and flash forward).

While the narrative weaves back and forth in time betwixt the 1860s and 1890s – and includes letters from at to the lowest degree a half-dozen characters in the telling of the story – I found information technology piece of cake to follow. In fact, it is the writer's ability to seamlessly unveil the thoughts and reactions of various characters to the aforementioned events (but during different time periods of revelation) that made this a read total of tension. Rivers parses out the right details at just the correct fourth dimension, revealing details through just the right characters, creating a tangible stream of suspense and emotion.

I believe the best novels pose a question upfront – one that the reader feels she MUST observe the reply to. In this volume's case, we already know the "what?" (function of the book jacket description) – that Placidia is leap for jail and accused of having borne a child in her husband's absence as he fights in the Ceremonious State of war. But what we must detect out is: Who is the begetter? So we find ourselves clamoring to know: Under what circumstances did this birth occur? Why is she headed for jail? How did this happen? This volume works backwards and forwards in time and is brilliant in the slow trickle of revealed details that make the reader hungry for more. In that location are plenty of twists and turns that keep the reader guessing up until the end.

I suspect those who have a greater noesis of Greek mythology (I am completely scarce, unfortunately) and those who are familiar with Charles Dickens'southward David Copperfield, will notice insightful parallels to the characters and events of The Second Mrs. Hockaday and Dickens's masterpiece, also as wonderful symbolism wrapped upwards in the references to Greek mythology. Such a lack of familiarity on my function did not, in whatsoever style, hinder my enjoyment of this story of resilience and dear – a story of personal liberty and personhood, a story of injustice and ugliness in its many forms, just ultimately a story about the bonds of dear and nobility. It'southward a story of redemption, heartache and beauty.

Be prepared that this novel takes some liberties regarding what constitutes a 'letter' (though I have to admit that about epistolary novels I've read lately employ the same techniques). For instance, a true 'letter' wouldn't include dialogue or read like an action scene, yet many practice. This is done for obvious reasons – so that the novel doesn't feel like a stale 'retelling' of a story and so that the reader tin can immerse herself in the scene. One time I got used to the mode, I barely noticed it (I had the same reaction to Eowyn Ivey's To The Bright Edge of the World), and honestly – over again – as I was with Ivey'due south novel, I am wowed. Any author who tin tell a cohesive story through written missives entirely, possesses an incredible skillset. To create empathetic characters, a full story arc, and tension through letters, diaries and documents is impressive, indeed.

I definitely recommend this book to fans of literary historical fiction, Civil War fiction, and – of grade – those who love epistolary novels and don't listen not-linear stories. I look forrard to more from this talented author!

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Find this and other reviews at: http://flashlightcommentary.blogspot....

I'm going to be entirely honest and admit that I picked up Susan Rivers' The Second Mrs. Hockaday considering information technology looked absolutely nothing like The Sun King Conspiracy. I'd just finished the latter and I didn't want annihilation to ruin the loftier I'd gotten off reading it and so I intentionally looked around for something different. I'd an ARC of Rivers' debut on hand and the description diameter so little resemblance to the French intrigue

Find this and other reviews at: http://flashlightcommentary.blogspot....

I'k going to be entirely honest and admit that I picked up Susan Rivers' The 2d Mrs. Hockaday because it looked absolutely nothing like The Lord's day King Conspiracy. I'd merely finished the latter and I didn't want annihilation to ruin the high I'd gotten off reading information technology so I intentionally looked effectually for something different. I'd an ARC of Rivers' debut on mitt and the clarification bore and then little resemblance to the French intrigue that I thought it'd make a decent transition piece, just I was wrong. I was very, very incorrect.

The 2nd Mrs. Hockaday is a fantastic novel in its own right and I'one thousand a picayune ashamed of having underestimated it. It's a quick read, loosely based on real people and events, just powerful in both its depictions and themes. Set on the southern home front during the American Civil War, the novel digs into societal norms, expectations, race relations, criminal offence, penalization, cultural destruction, beloved, loss, and survival. Information technology's an ambitious piece, tragic, but beautifully so.

Off-white alarm to all, the mystery at the heart of the narrative isn't pretty. At that place is nothing overtly graphic in The Second Mrs. Hockaday, but in that location are a handful of relatively dark scenes and lots of period appropriate linguistic communication. I personally adored Rivers' dedication to authenticity, but I know a lot of readers feel differently and circumspection that demographic to look elsewhere. Rivers writes with intensity and grit. She embraces the proficient, the bad, and the ugly inside these pages and prospective readers should anticipate the sort of challenges that style and tone produces.

Looking back, I'd have liked more than closure regarding certain characters. Sukie, Agnes, Nerissa, Abner, and Roberta fade like ghosts into the backdrop of the narrative and I wish at that place'd been more definitive resolution to their roles. I likewise struggled with the format Rivers chose. The letters and diary entries are written by multiple characters and I constantly tripped over the transitions between each vocalisation. Achilles Fincher Hockaday'southward showtime letter, at the start of Role 2, is peculiarly noteworthy in that it is nine pages told by a character that upwardly until that point didn't exist. I ultimately understood his part and importance, but in the moment I lost track of the story trying to sort out who I was following.

Structural issues aside, I take to say that I greatly enjoyed the time I spent on this piece and would definitely recommend it to fans of Ceremonious War fiction.

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Decently researched every bit far as battles, clothes, foods, chores and interesting if unnecessarily complicated.
The master grapheme is an extremely romanticized view of a southern white woman who participated in the chattel slave trade. In fact was built-in and raised and married in information technology but seems to hold no prejudiced views towards her 'servants'.
When a white author is besides delicate to accurately characterization chattel slaves they should take that as a inkling and choose a new discipline.
Chivalrous chattel slave owners onl Decently researched as far as battles, clothes, foods, chores and interesting if unnecessarily complicated.
The primary character is an extremely romanticized view of a southern white woman who participated in the chattel slave merchandise. In fact was born and raised and married in it only seems to hold no prejudiced views towards her 'servants'.
When a white author is too fragile to accurately label chattel slaves they should take that as a inkling and choose a new subject.
Benevolent chattel slave owners only exist in the imagination of racist white folks. Every single person who participated in whatsoever aspect of the chattel slave trade was a bad person who'south character is irredeemably scarred. The main character is not realistic to her time and class but is sanitized so modern audiences tin can empathise with her.
I don't.
I don't intendance about her or her husband's pain. It is only that they suffered and I sincerely hope their existence was forever haunted.
None of the black characters are developed or have story lines exterior of their usefulness to the primary white characters.
I've read a fair bit of non fiction almost southern women earlier and during the Civil War; black free, enslaved and white chattel slave oppressing, none of the views expressed or behaviors match the diaries or letters written at that time. Mrs Hockaday does not feel like her contemporaries and her differences are never explained.
White women left on plantations and farms with enslaved peoples had very negative and fearful views of those enslaved peoples the longer the war carried out. They were very angry with them for leaving, fearful of their want for freedom and many white women took information technology very personally. Also they were terrified of armed blackness union troops. As white slave 'owners' felt entitled plenty to black folks labor to steal information technology for centuries, why would the Ceremonious War and it's trials alter that?
We all know it did non.
Miscegenation is invented as a word and becomes illegal in 1864. Mail Ceremonious War the KKK is created. If southern whites all of a sudden realized their 'slaves' were people, why did we have and proceed to have racial segregation and lynching? Both adjure to southern white anxiety resulting in terrorist behaviors carried out on fellow citizens.
This narrative is but grossly apologist in nature. ...more

Jun 10, 2016 Erin rated it liked it

The existent tragedy in my review is that no one is going to be able to read this book for months. I have hope though that people volition take annotation and identify it on their TBR( if it appeals to your literary tastebuds). An epistolary novel( in a serial of letters, diary entries, and court records) set during the time of the American Ceremonious State of war, The Second Mrs. Hockaday took me past surprise. I had no expectations going into the story, but I truly became invested in this heart wrenching tale. However, that The existent tragedy in my review is that no one is going to be able to read this book for months. I have hope though that people volition take note and identify it on their TBR( if information technology appeals to your literary tastebuds). An epistolary novel( in a series of letters, diary entries, and court records) gear up during the fourth dimension of the American Civil War, The Second Mrs. Hockaday took me by surprise. I had no expectations going into the story, simply I truly became invested in this heart wrenching tale. However, that wasn't my initial impression when I began to read it. It had a very Daphne du Maurier beginning. which in retrospect, is a fleck misleading for me to say because the story doesn't ultimately become in that management. Chalk it upwardly to my bizarre mode of thinking!

The limitations in the story are that the type of literary format didn't really give me insight into the minds or motivations of the minor characters. If you didn't like books like The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, Evelina or the History of a Immature Lady's Archway Into the World, or Lady Susan than this book could exist an uphill type of battle. I was specially interested in the enigma of Major Hockaday. I felt that he was very "Bronte-esque", a Mr. Rochester type, that demands caption, but the messages themselves only scratch the surface of this FICTIONAL grapheme.

Why do I scream fictional from the rooftops? Due to the tremendous in-depth research that is woven into the writing, I was absolutely have aback that while based on similar circumstances, Lily and Major Hockaday were figments of the author's imagination. That to me is a great writer- someone that can seduce the reader into falling into the tale.

Thank you to Netgalley and Algonquin Books for an advanced egalley of this book. Check information technology out in January 2017

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"I will tell you the story of a fool- that she could not know how disastrously she had been prepared for life until she stepped into the globe just every bit information technology was breaking into pieces."

Synopsis: Just when one human being thought his life couldn't get whatsoever worse, it does when he comes home from state of war to find out his wife may (or may not) take committed multiple crimes.

Biblio-Blubbering
I Find Your Lack of Punctuation Agonizing: The novel is written in the form of letters and diary entries, and so the narrati

"I will tell you the story of a fool- that she could non know how disastrously she had been prepared for life until she stepped into the globe just equally it was breaking into pieces."

Synopsis: Just when i man thought his life couldn't get any worse, information technology does when he comes dwelling from war to discover out his married woman may (or may not) have committed multiple crimes.

Biblio-Babble
I Find Your Lack of Punctuation Agonizing: The novel is written in the form of messages and diary entries, so the narration style was extremely jarring to read. There are no quotation marks (a personal pet peeve of mine), and multiple run-on sentences that didn't quite make sense on some occasions. I tin can empathize that this was part of the narration style and how the author chose to write it, since I call up most people indeed wouldn't write quotation marks in their letters. Nonetheless, information technology took away some of the atmosphere of the book by making it experience like just ane big, long sentence that never ended.

I Don't Need Sleep, But I Might Demand Answers (I Think): The Second Mrs. Hockaday is a story of contradictions. On the one hand, the synopsis practically begs y'all to think that the narrator (said Mrs. Hockaday) is an unreliable narrator who is weaving together her own version of the story for her ain purpose. And that assumption would be correct in that sense. Placidia is very reluctant to give out details to her side of the story to those she writes, with the ones who know the whole truth existence few and far in between. The whole mystery of what really happened when Major Hockaday is slowly just surely revealed in all it's entirety. Nonetheless, at that place was one pivotal moment that did brand me question all that I had read previously in Placida's letters and journal entries. It could have been an extremely clever twist, just it felt more like a slap in the face up.

Petty Girl Lost: One area where I think the book excels is in showing how disastrously Placidia is thrown into adulthood. She meets and marries Full general Hockaday when she'southward barely seventeen, and he'south called to the front lines of the Civil War merely 2 days after they're married. Withal very much a child, she's left to run the family unit subcontract and raise his son from a previous marriage all by herself with no back up whatsoever. She has no thought what the fuck she's doing, and she's expected to non only essentially run the business organisation while her family's abroad, but to raise a little boy she'south barely gotten to know while yet a child herself. In a sense, what eventually happened to her was extremely tragic but non surprising at all, because she was so vulnerable. Placidia is a very sympathetic grapheme, besides as her husband.

Could We Move Any Slower?: The plot is So. DANG. Wearisome. The author seems to take peachy pride in slowly peeling back the layers of the story and the mystery similar an onion. However, I thought some of those layers were not necessary. We did not demand five to vi pages of describing how hot it is, thank yous very much! We did not need the unnecessary romance between cousins! I call up in an endeavor to make the allure of solving the mystery of what happened more tantalizing, the author got too carried abroad in trying to continue the readers suspense heightened.

XOXO, Where's the Gossip Girl?: (view spoiler)[OK, now we get to the primary trouble I had with this story, and it's the very big, behemothic plot pigsty that should've dragged the story down with information technology; how did the story get out? General Hockaday returns from fighting in the Ceremonious War to rumors that Placidia gave nativity to a son and may have murdered and buried him on the holding. Unfortunately, the rumors plough out to be true. But the i thing that is never explained is how the news that this upshot happened ever got out. It couldn't have been Charles, cause he was also little. The slaves on the belongings had cognition of what happened, but they didn't tell anybody and even if they had, it wouldn't accept been another white person. Placidia did dismiss a slave girl, but that was earlier she had even revealed her condition to anyone. Then who the hell found out what transpired and started the rumor manufacturing plant going?!! Was there an invisible ghost hiding in the bushes I didn't know well-nigh? Did the General Hockaday'southward showtime wife appear in ghost form to terrorize the entire town relating the news? HOW THE DID THE NEWS Go OUT??!! Because with the all the evidence pointing to the fact that nobody had a manner to get the news out, there wouldn't be a story. (hibernate spoiler)]
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A sympathetic main character and problems alarmingly relevant to today'due south time period can't salvage this volume from it'due south plodding storyline, jarring narration, and an extremely large plot hole. Nevertheless, it does show the lasting harm and permanent sorrow that affects a homo who lost everything non one time but twice, and a girl who had to abound upwardly to fast, with disastrous consequences.

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This haunting novel takes place during the Ceremonious War. Placidia is simply 17 years quondam when the older Major Gryffith Hockaday speaks to her male parent about the possibility of marrying her. Major Hockaday'due south wife has died and left him with a immature son. He and Placidia are married inside days of meeting and are only married two days when Major Hockaday has to return to the state of war. He leaves young Placidia to run their subcontract and to intendance for his young son. When he returns from the war two years after, Placidia This haunting novel takes identify during the Civil War. Placidia is only 17 years onetime when the older Major Gryffith Hockaday speaks to her father most the possibility of marrying her. Major Hockaday'south wife has died and left him with a young son. He and Placidia are married within days of meeting and are only married 2 days when Major Hockaday has to return to the war. He leaves young Placidia to run their subcontract and to care for his young son. When he returns from the war two years after, Placidia is accused of murdering the infant she bore out of spousal relationship.

This is a beautifully written book, told through messages and diary entries. The capacity are short and Ms. Rivers is quite good at giving just plenty information in each affiliate to keep you turning the pages. It'southward a compulsive read and a very intriguing one. The love story is very touching. This is a debut novel for Susan Rivers and I think she's a talent to be reckoned with. Recommended.

This book was won by me in a competition given past the publisher through LibraryThing with the implied understanding that I would give an honest review.

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Jan 21, 2017 Nicole rated it it was amazing

Wow! This was a very compelling debut novel that takes identify (primarily) in the s during the Civil State of war, and is told through correspondence. While it is considered historical fiction, several of the events are based on true events and requite the story a very authentic feel. It was easy to go defenseless up in the narrative of the messages and, like the characters, anxiously expect the news that each one brought. Parts of the story are told around 30 years after the war by the descendants of the principal Wow! This was a very compelling debut novel that takes place (primarily) in the s during the Ceremonious War, and is told through correspondence. While it is considered historical fiction, several of the events are based on truthful events and give the story a very authentic feel. Information technology was piece of cake to go caught up in the narrative of the letters and, similar the characters, anxiously await the news that each i brought. Parts of the story are told around xxx years after the state of war by the descendants of the master characters, as they investigate their past. This could very well open the door for a 2d novel as we see the touch their discoveries have on their present and future lives. Highly recommend this novel and I hope we will hear more from this author in the future. ...more than

Mar 22, 2016 Robin rated information technology it was ok

This novel about a immature woman who is thrust into a hard life equally the married woman of an absent-minded soldier and farmer during the American Civil State of war is told through letters, diaries, and other documents. At merely 17 years one-time, and after but one week at her new home, she is left lonely to treat her husband's farm and his son by his previous marriage as he returns to the battle front. When he finally returns two years later, he finds his young wife has given birth to another man's child in his absence, and i This novel nearly a young adult female who is thrust into a difficult life as the wife of an absent soldier and farmer during the American Civil War is told through letters, diaries, and other documents. At only 17 years former, and after only one calendar week at her new home, she is left alone to intendance for her husband'due south farm and his son by his previous marriage as he returns to the battle front end. When he finally returns two years later, he finds his young wife has given birth to another man's child in his absenteeism, and is being defendant of murdering the infant.

I struggled to read this at first, because all dialogue described through the messages or journals is completely unquoted. I'thousand non certain why, because whatsoever quote should be in quotation marks, regardless of whether it'due south inside a letter or diary or not. Information technology was very difficult to know whether the start of a sentence was going to be narrative or dialogue until you lot reached the finish of the judgement. It felt very disjointed.

But the other reviewers seemed to rave about information technology, and so I stuck with it, and it did get easier to read. However, I plant myself simply not caring very much about the characters or what happened to them, and I struggled to finished it.

Advanced review re-create from publisher via NetGalley. My opinions are my own.

Historical Readings & Reviews

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November 08, 2020 Connie Thou rated information technology really liked it

Inspired past true events, "The Second Mrs Hockaday" tells the story of a new wife who was left behind to manage a South Carolina subcontract while her married man fought in the American Civil War. Placidia was only 17 years erstwhile when she met Confederate Major Gryffth Hockaday. She married him afterwards only knowing him for one day. 2 days later, Gryffth had to leave with his troops. He eventually was captured by the Spousal relationship soldiers so was unable to render home for ii years. Shortly before his return, Placidia Inspired past true events, "The Second Mrs Hockaday" tells the story of a new wife who was left behind to manage a South Carolina farm while her husband fought in the American Civil State of war. Placidia was only 17 years erstwhile when she met Confederate Major Gryffth Hockaday. She married him later on merely knowing him for one twenty-four hour period. Two days subsequently, Gryffth had to go out with his troops. He eventually was captured past the Wedlock soldiers so was unable to render habitation for two years. Shortly before his render, Placidia was pregnant with a baby who died mysteriously. Placidia was accused of infanticide, and taken into custody.

Told in messages, diary entries, and courtroom documents, the truth comes out about the pregnancy. Women lived in constant danger of bandits, deserters, and scavengers. Soldiers, both Union and Confederate, would steal nutrient to feed the troops which left the women, children, and farm hands in a precarious land. The book also included heartbreaking scenes of slaves being browbeaten, raped, and separated from their families.

This was an interesting historical mystery. Both Placida on the dwelling front, and Gryffth as a soldier suffered through 2 hellish years. One wondered if their brusque relationship would be enough to sustain the beloved between Major Hockaday and his "darling girl" during those challenging times. The story started with Placidia under abort, and the author keeps u.s. in suspense as the events of two years are revealed.

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My first reaction upon finishing The Second Mrs Hockaday was stunned silence immediately followed by a powerful sense of loss. Placidia's story so entranced me that it took me several hours to mourn the fact that I had finished it. The silence came nearly because her story was then powerful it swept me into her world and made me forget my ain. It has been a long time since any novel has made me feel this style.

Susan Rivers' second novel is the epitome of exemplary utilize of the epistolary literary forma

My first reaction upon finishing The 2d Mrs Hockaday was stunned silence immediately followed by a powerful sense of loss. Placidia's story and then entranced me that information technology took me several hours to mourn the fact that I had finished it. The silence came about because her story was so powerful it swept me into her earth and fabricated me forget my own. It has been a long fourth dimension since any novel has made me feel this way.

Susan Rivers' 2d novel is the epitome of exemplary use of the epistolary literary format and stellar writing. Through the use of personal correspondence, diary entries, and legal documents, Ms. Rivers not only tells Placidia's tragic story just recreates the South at the terminate of the Civil State of war with vivid clarity. Each document has a distinct voice that adds to the story every bit much as their words practise. Other than the inquest documents, the messages are so natural and honest that it is all too easy to get sucked into reading just one more than alphabetic character, and 1 more, and however ane more. The 2nd Mrs Hockaday is the perfect example of an unputdownable novel.

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Oct 05, 2017 Donna rated it really liked it

This was a charming little story. Information technology is historical fiction and it is besides an epistolary novel, set mostly in the Civil War days. (I love anything 1800's. ) It'due south the story of a teenage girl, who meets the dearest of her life and is married within days. Placidia is soon left alone to manage her husband's estate as he goes off to war. I'yard non a fan of romance, but this was about so much more than but that. I liked the messages and the unlike POVs this offered. I was ever gleaning something new fr This was a mannerly little story. It is historical fiction and information technology is also an epistolary novel, set mostly in the Ceremonious War days. (I love anything 1800'due south. ) Information technology'due south the story of a teenage girl, who meets the love of her life and is married inside days. Placidia is soon left alone to manage her husband'south estate as he goes off to war. I'grand not a fan of romance, but this was about so much more than merely that. I liked the letters and the different POVs this offered. I was ever gleaning something new from them. The letters were a great tool used to unfold the story and the author used information technology well.

I listened to the sound and usually I'm not a fan of thick accents, only I loved the strong southern emphasis of the women in this one. So four stars overall.

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Good historical fiction with an underlying mystery. The writer did a marvelous chore of making it experience like information technology was written in that time period. This story is told through letters and diary entries that tell of Placidia Hockaday'due south hardships and endurance with her new husband away at war. Information technology jumps around in fourth dimension which was a bit disruptive for me and for that reason I rate information technology iii stars.

I struggled with this book considering of the writing style. The dialogue of this book is mostly through letters, journals and court documents which are completely unquoted. I really hated that. Its set during the Ceremonious War and it's about Placidia, a teenager (17), left to fend for herself after two days of marriage to Major Hockaday, who is on the front lines of the war. The Major leaves for the ground forces and this new wife is expected to run his subcontract and raise his young child from his start marriage.

Two

I struggled with this volume considering of the writing style. The dialogue of this book is generally through letters, journals and court documents which are completely unquoted. I actually hated that. Its set up during the Civil War and it's about Placidia, a teenager (17), left to fend for herself after two days of matrimony to Major Hockaday, who is on the front lines of the war. The Major leaves for the army and this new wife is expected to run his farm and heighten his young child from his first marriage.

Two years later the Major returns from state of war and Placidia is jump for jail, accused of having borne a child in his absence and murdering it. Such an interesting premise, information technology should have been a great mystery but I was disappointed.

I see a lot of great reviews on this volume but even when the main question was answered (what really happened in the two years the Major was away) I was still disappointed.

I received an advance re-create of this book from the publisher, no promises were fabricated and this is my honest review.

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January 15, 2017 Jane rated information technology it was amazing

I loved this book so much I whipped through it in a day. Written in diary and alphabetic character format, the writer had me guessing from first to end. It combines 2 of my favorite genres: mystery and historical fiction.

Feb 02, 2017 Lesley rated information technology liked it

Interesting mode of storytelling through letters, diaries, and other documents of a young lady during civil state of war!

Sep 05, 2018 Petra rated it liked it

I listened to the audio, read by Julie McKay & James Patrick Cronin, and really enjoyed it.

This is a Civil War story about a immature wife left to fend for herself when her husband is chosen to state of war. It tells of the hardships and trials this immature woman had to nourish to in order to keep her homestead together.
When her married man comes back subsequently 2 years, he hears rumors that she's had a kid and killed it.
This is an epistolary story, which is a good format for it. The letters, diaries and courtroom doc

I listened to the audio, read by Julie McKay & James Patrick Cronin, and really enjoyed it.

This is a Civil War story about a young married woman left to fend for herself when her hubby is called to war. It tells of the hardships and trials this young woman had to attend to in society to keep her homestead together.
When her hubby comes back later two years, he hears rumors that she'south had a child and killed it.
This is an epistolary story, which is a good format for information technology. The letters, diaries and court documents slowly tell the story; it'due south similar an onion being peeled back. Each layer reveals another inkling. I listened carefully to Placidia's thoughts and her story.
I would have liked to know the Major a bit more than. His story is never told. Only a few letters from him to his married woman while he's at war are narrated.
This is an easy going, easy listening story. It doesn't delve deep but gets across the hardships of the Ceremonious War, the fright of the women and the "help" equally the Southern gild changes. In the end, there's a feeling of growth and a maturity of both Placidia, her family unit and the South itself.

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Apr fourteen, 2019 Tina rated it really liked it

Imagine being seventeen, married to a man you lot barely know, left on a farm y'all know nothing nigh managing, with a few slaves and servants, very little coin, and another woman'southward child to heighten while your married man goes off to fight in the Ceremonious War. How alone would you experience? What would you do?

Placidia Hockaday'south story is told through a series of messages and diaries spanning her life during the Civil War until after her expiry. Written based on a true incident that occurred, the Second Mrs. Hockaday

Imagine being seventeen, married to a man you barely know, left on a farm you know nothing about managing, with a few slaves and servants, very piddling money, and some other woman's child to raise while your husband goes off to fight in the Civil War. How alone would you feel? What would you do?

Placidia Hockaday's story is told through a serial of letters and diaries spanning her life during the Civil War until after her death. Written based on a true incident that occurred, the Second Mrs. Hockaday is written with an element of suspense. Scrap by bit, Placidia's life story is revealed in letters between family, a diary that contained a woman's heart, and the struggle to survive the unimaginable.

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Oct 10, 2016 Dorine rated information technology actually liked it

Recommends it for: fans of civil war fiction, mystery revealed thru messages/periodical entries

Rated iv.5 - THE Second MRS. HOCKADAY by Susan Rivers is an splendid historical mystery portrayed through messages and journal entries, unraveling an engrossing tale. For those who love the Ceremonious War era, this novel will surely suck y'all right in.

More historical volume reviews featuring letters located at The Zest Quest.

The volume starts out with a letter from Placidia to her cousin Millie where she describes the day she met her future married man. It so bounces to Placidia describing how she will be re

Rated 4.v - THE Second MRS. HOCKADAY by Susan Rivers is an excellent historical mystery portrayed through letters and journal entries, unraveling an engrossing tale. For those who love the Ceremonious State of war era, this novel will surely suck y'all correct in.

More historical book reviews featuring messages located at The Zest Quest.

The book starts out with a letter from Placidia to her cousin Millie where she describes the day she met her future husband. Information technology then bounces to Placidia describing how she will be released from jail by bond in a couple days. The reader is led on a merry chase past Millie who is trying to convince Placidia to tell the truth, instead of keeping information technology to herself. Millie is a wonder of amusement in her clarification of her life. Some would phone call it babbling, but I idea it was true to the time and amusing. Placidia reciprocates by evading all Millie's concerns and telling her stories from her life. Their correspondence goes back and along as the mystery of what happened unravels.

Placidia tells Millie how Major Gryffyth Holliday arrives at their habitation to buy a mule. Since her sister is virtually to become married, Placidia's father invites the major to join the festivities. Information technology doesn't take long for Placidia's equus caballus breaking talent and baking to garner the major's attention. His wife recently died while he was abroad at state of war. Gryff needs to get dorsum to his duties and wants Placidia to run his farm, as well every bit intendance for his immature son. There is attraction between them, so Placidia accepts.

Their marriage begins and ends rapidly when Gryff returns to the war. They try to meet when he can go get out, simply another battle keeps them apart. Placidia is left with the farm, servants and a child at a fourth dimension when the country is torn apart. She gradually unravels before our eyes and we're fed details and suspicions well-nigh what happened.

Although the volume of characters introduced can sometimes be overwhelming, it authenticates the period. Toward the end, I did become dislocated when the history became more avant-garde and it was Pacidia'due south offspring who were unraveling the mystery. That said, my confusion makes me desire to read this novel once more. Perhaps in my own urgent need to reach the end, I overlooked important transitions which would have made information technology smoother.

My only disappointment is that I want more. I'yard curious about the furnishings of solving the mystery on Placidia'southward descendants. Volition they share what they know with the unabridged family or keep it cloak-and-dagger?

THE SECOND MRS. HOCKADAY is an excellent, well-researched and riveting historical piece of fiction. Not necessarily a romance, this book contains dandy passion and endurance. Their war-time world represents those who endure gainsay in their homeland, never coming out unscathed, only grateful for a scrap of love to come up habitation to, as well equally to concord onto when the nightmares threaten to consume them. I highly recommend THE SECOND MRS. HOCKADAY to those who honey a story told through letters and journal entries. It'due south i of my favorite means to read a well-plotted novel because it reveals only a glimpse, 1 letter at a time, which results in an enthralling suspense. Honest and gripping, this story will tear out your heart and mend it along with the characters' lives.

Review by Dorine, courtesy of The Zest Quest. Digital advanced reader copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley for an honest review.

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This book causes turmoil within the reader, only in a good mode. It is the kind of confusion over why someone would do what they did, which you lot don't really understand until later on in the book and and then suddenly you exercise, and information technology is heart-wrenching.

The story is told through letters exchanged dorsum and along during and after the Civil War, through various family members. I found myself enthralled with this volume inside the first few capacity, and read it in one sitting until I was finished. The graphic symbol

This book causes turmoil within the reader, but in a skillful way. Information technology is the kind of confusion over why someone would do what they did, which you don't actually empathise until later in the volume then all of a sudden you do, and information technology is middle-wrenching.

The story is told through messages exchanged back and forth during and after the Civil War, through various family unit members. I plant myself enthralled with this book within the first few chapters, and read it in i sitting until I was finished. The characters come to life so well through the letters and documents, that you forget after a while that you are reading fiction. This is a beautifully written and very well-researched historical novel with a lot to offer the reader.

I cried. I hate and dearest when that happens. I like to think I have read enough that I am mostly allowed to the cease of the book tears, but this one proved me incorrect. If you love historical books and are looking for something that will not only entertain you during reading, but exit a lasting impression, this is a perfect selection.

This review is based on a complementary copy from the publisher, provided by the publisher and Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

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December xi, 2016 Leah rated it it was ok

This should take been a me volume: it's ready during the Ceremonious State of war, it'southward an epistolary novel, and it deals with a adult female sent to prison after she mysteriously had a child (while her husband, a Major, was off fighting), supposedly killed the infant, and refuses to say who had fathered it.

Sadly, it took me nearly a week to get through this 250-page book. My mind kept wandering and it was just so like shooting fish in a barrel to gear up the book down and not pick it up once again for a few hours. The reason I kept reading until the finish wa

This should take been a me book: information technology's set during the Ceremonious War, it's an epistolary novel, and information technology deals with a woman sent to prison house subsequently she mysteriously had a kid (while her married man, a Major, was off fighting), supposedly killed the baby, and refuses to say who had fathered it.

Sadly, it took me well-nigh a week to get through this 250-folio volume. My mind kept wandering and it was just so easy to set the book down and not pick information technology up again for a few hours. The reason I kept reading until the end was because I was genuinely curious in simply who the father was and when it was revealed information technology was a huge letdown; looking back it was painfully obvious to the point where I wonder if it was even meant to be a mystery at all.

For more than thoughts on this ane and other reviews, head over to The Pretty Good Gatsby!

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Jun 10, 2017 Dana rated it really liked it

This could be a four.5 read, merely the cease barbarous a piddling short for me. The first half of this volume was astonishing! Told through letters and periodical entries, Placadia Hockady (formerly Fincher) reveals the events that took place in the ii years that her new husband is quickly chosen back to the Civil War. When Major Hockaday returns to his young wife two years later, he finds she is in the heart of a scandal involving the death of her newborn child. What follows is her account of events leading up to t This could exist a 4.5 read, just the finish cruel a fiddling short for me. The kickoff half of this book was astonishing! Told through messages and journal entries, Placadia Hockady (formerly Fincher) reveals the events that took identify in the two years that her new husband is quickly called back to the Civil State of war. When Major Hockaday returns to his young married woman two years later, he finds she is in the middle of a scandal involving the death of her newborn child. What follows is her account of events leading upwardly to that fateful nighttime, as well as revelations made along the way and how those events impacted the Hockaday family unit. ...more than

Aug 07, 2016 Becky rated it it was amazing

Thanks to Netgalley for giving me a free digital copy in exchange for a honest review.

Wow, I loved this book! It had everything, historical fiction about a young wife left to manage a farm during the Civil War, a mystery concerning a dead baby, the story slowly unfolding in pieces through diary entries, letters, and courtroom records .... I couldn't put information technology down and keep thinking about it afterwards I'm done. I highly recommend this book!

Thanks to Netgalley for giving me a complimentary digital copy in commutation for a honest review.

Wow, I loved this book! It had everything, historical fiction about a young married woman left to manage a farm during the Civil War, a mystery concerning a dead baby, the story slowly unfolding in pieces through diary entries, letters, and court records .... I couldn't put it down and proceed thinking about it later I'thousand done. I highly recommend this book!

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This is an epistolary novel and I loved the claiming of piecing the story together through letters, diary entries, and legal documents. I also appreciated the immense research and historical setting. But overall, the story and characters fell flat for me and I establish that I just "liked" this novel, but did not "actually like" it. Still - I would recommend this story for those interested in the Civil War and southern historical fiction. This is an epistolary novel and I loved the challenge of piecing the story together through letters, diary entries, and legal documents. I also appreciated the immense research and historical setting. But overall, the story and characters fell flat for me and I found that I just "liked" this novel, but did not "really similar" it. Still - I would recommend this story for those interested in the Ceremonious War and southern historical fiction. ...more

Dec thirteen, 2016 Judy Collins rated it actually liked it

A special thanks to Algonquin Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Review to follow.

I enjoyed this volume merely information technology was hard to keep all the characters straight!

May 30, 2017 Michelle rated information technology actually liked it

Unlike anything I've read. Loved it (especially the 1860s chapters...the 1890s less so though they were necessary to reveal the full story). Unlike anything I've read. Loved information technology (especially the 1860s capacity...the 1890s less and so though they were necessary to reveal the full story). ...more

Susan Rivers began her writing career every bit a playwright, receiving the Julie Harris Playwriting Laurels and the New York Drama League Award, and working as an NEA Writer-in-Residence in San Francisco.

Her focus shifted to fiction with a move to the Carolinas in 1995. Rivers' debut novel, The 2d Mrs. Hockaday, was published by Algonquin Books in 2017. It was a People Mag "Best New Books Choice"

Susan Rivers began her writing career as a playwright, receiving the Julie Harris Playwriting Award and the New York Drama League Honour, and working as an NEA Writer-in-Residence in San Francisco.

Her focus shifted to fiction with a move to the Carolinas in 1995. Rivers' debut novel, The 2d Mrs. Hockaday, was published by Algonquin Books in 2017. Information technology was a People Mag "Best New Books Option" and a Adult female'south Day "Editor's Desk Pick" in 2017, as well as IndieNext, Library Reads and Winter OKRA Picks, and was a Women'due south National Book Association Great Group Reads 2018 Selection. The novel was a finalist for the Heart for Fiction'south First Novel Prize 2017 and the Southern Book Prize 2018.

The author lives and writes in upstate Due south Carolina.

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