Enemies Of Doves by Shanessa Gluhm
Publisher: TouchPoint Press
Publication Date: March 20, 2020
Format: Hardcover: 326 pages
Paperback: 324 pages
Kindle: 3058 KB / 326 pages
ISBN: 978-1946920911
ASIN: B084ZD2MJKBNID: 978-1078778572
Genre: Historical Mystery
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Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Partners In Crime Virtual Book Tours.
Book Description:
On a summer night in 1932, twelve-year-old Joel Fitchett wanders into an East Texas diner badly beaten and carrying his unconscious brother, Clancy. Though both boys claim they have no memory of what happened, the horrific details are etched into their minds as deep as the scar left across Joel’s face.
Thirteen years later, both men still struggle with the aftershocks of that long-ago night and the pact they made to hide the truth. When they find themselves at the center of a murder investigation, they make a decision that will change everything. A second lie, a second pact and for a time, a second chance.
In 1991 college student, Garrison Stark, travels to Texas chasing a rumor that Clancy Fitchett is his biological grandfather. Clancy has been missing since 1946 and Garrison hopes to find him, and in doing so, find a family. What he doesn’t expect to discover is a tangle of secrets spanning sixty years involving Clancy, Joel and the woman they both loved, Lorraine.
Told in alternating timelines from World War II to 1992, Enemies of Doves is a tale of family secrets, jealousy and deception perfect for fans of Kate Morton and Allen Eskens.
Book Excerpt:
Joel woke up to a white world: white walls, white sheets, a white pitcher of water, and a stranger wearing white. White like Mama’s favorite flowers, white like the coat Daddy wore to work, white like the doves that…
No, don’t think about doves. Don’t think about doves ever again.
The white was better than his last memory: black. Ravenous black. It had swallowed everything.
Harsh light speared into the room, painting sharp rectangles on the linoleum floor. Joel blinked involuntarily. The lady in the white uniform noticed. “He’s awake!” she called. “Mrs. Fitchett, he’s awake!”
Mama and Daddy charged in, talking at the same time, asking the same questions.
“I’m okay,” Joel said.
Mama’s hands hovered a few seconds before settling on his arm. “I’m sorry we weren’t here. I told your daddy we shouldn’t both leave but—”
“Are you in pain, son?” Daddy rarely let Mama finish a sentence.
“My stomach hurts.” Joel didn’t recognize the sound of his own voice, so small and croaky.
“Nurse! Bring this boy something for the pain,” Daddy yelled.
“A magnesia tablet.” Mama put her freezing hand on his forehead. “He might have a fever too.”
The nurse let out a noisy breath. She didn’t bother with his temperature, but the two bone-white pills she handed Joel appeased his parents, got them quiet at least. Joel raised his head, sweat-soaked hair sticking to his forehead. Or was it blood? He touched the bandage covering his face and winced. The details of the night before seeped into his mind. He could think of nothing that wasn’t contaminated by this memory.
The pills tasted like chalk and made his throat burn. “Can I have some water?” Before anyone responded, two taps at the door drew their attention away from him, away from that perfect pitcher of water.
Mama rubbed her forehead. “Can’t we go ten minutes without a knock on the damn door?” Joel knew Mama must be upset to use a word like that. Nancy Fitchett taught Sunday School and had taken soap to Joel’s mouth for less.
“Oh, for god’s sake!” Daddy threw up his hands. “He just woke up. Give us a minute with our boy.”
Two figures stepped through the door. A cigarette hung immobile in the mouth of the stubby police officer in front. “I understand, Mr. Fitchett, but the more time that goes by, the more victims forget. It’s vital we speak now.”
Forget? Joel knew better. He couldn’t forget, not till heaven anyway, and at twelve, heaven was a long wait.
The other officer stepped from the shadows. Like Dick Tracy, he wore a black suit and fedora instead of a uniform. He looked at Joel like he already knew the truth or could figure it out in the same effortless way Detective Tracy did in the comics. “Truth is,” —he reached into the hallway and pulled Clancy into the room — “we can’t get any information from this one. We hope your other boy will be more cooperative.”
Joel’s head sank into the pillow. So, Clancy hadn’t told. Even now, he only wanted to protect his little brother. Poor kid looked scared out of his skin.
“You all right, Joel?” Clancy’s voice shook.
“Don’t you worry about me, Clancy. I’m as right as rain, good as gold.”
“Nice as nectarines,” Clancy said. They often played this game, but Joel couldn’t think of another simile, so he offered a smile instead. It hurt like hell, but he wanted to assure Clancy he was okay. Joel was only a year and a half older, but the gap felt wider. Joel had always been mature for his age; everybody said so.
“I have nothing to say, sir,” Joel told Dick Tracy. His voice was still high pitched, but he tried to make it boom like Daddy’s. Tom Fitchett had a way of making people listen when he talked.
“And why’s that?” The tiny officer lit his cigarette.
“I don’t remember what happened.” The bed gave a muffled creek as he adjusted his position.
The detective looked at his partner. “Get Clancy out of here, will you? And the folks too.”
“We won’t leave.” Daddy pushed his shoulders back.
“Have it your way. Look here, Joel; we know who did this to you.”
The words made Joel forget his stinging face and terrible thirst. He watched a cockroach scuttle into a floor crack. Did they know? No one was around for miles. He was bluffing.
“Then go arrest the bastard,” his father said. “Don’t waste time traumatizing injured and frightened boys.”
Had Joel heard Daddy right? Had he demanded these important men, lawmen, stop traumatizing his boys? Something he did for sport? How strange to have Daddy in his corner for once.
“You may reconsider your statement when you learn who hurt the boy.”
“Impossible!” Daddy slammed his hand on Joel’s tray and knocked over the pitcher of water. Mama grabbed a towel and sopped it up. Even in crisis, her instinct to clean up Daddy’s messes took over. “Who did this?!” Daddy yelled.
Joel cringed, but at least this time Daddy’s fury flew at somebody else. Joel took a few deep breaths.
Maybe if he stayed calm, everyone else would calm down too.
“It was him.” The officer stuck his finger in Clancy’s face.
Mama clutched him tighter, her arms a shield against the accusation.
The detective knelt in front of Clancy. “You did this. The only question I have is why?”
The room spun again. Joel looked for an anchor, but the patterns on the linoleum played leapfrog, and the walls closed in. His parent’s gasps faded into the white surrounding him, and once again, the world went black.
No, don’t think about doves. Don’t think about doves ever again.
The white was better than his last memory: black. Ravenous black. It had swallowed everything.
Harsh light speared into the room, painting sharp rectangles on the linoleum floor. Joel blinked involuntarily. The lady in the white uniform noticed. “He’s awake!” she called. “Mrs. Fitchett, he’s awake!”
Mama and Daddy charged in, talking at the same time, asking the same questions.
“I’m okay,” Joel said.
Mama’s hands hovered a few seconds before settling on his arm. “I’m sorry we weren’t here. I told your daddy we shouldn’t both leave but—”
“Are you in pain, son?” Daddy rarely let Mama finish a sentence.
“My stomach hurts.” Joel didn’t recognize the sound of his own voice, so small and croaky.
“Nurse! Bring this boy something for the pain,” Daddy yelled.
“A magnesia tablet.” Mama put her freezing hand on his forehead. “He might have a fever too.”
The nurse let out a noisy breath. She didn’t bother with his temperature, but the two bone-white pills she handed Joel appeased his parents, got them quiet at least. Joel raised his head, sweat-soaked hair sticking to his forehead. Or was it blood? He touched the bandage covering his face and winced. The details of the night before seeped into his mind. He could think of nothing that wasn’t contaminated by this memory.
The pills tasted like chalk and made his throat burn. “Can I have some water?” Before anyone responded, two taps at the door drew their attention away from him, away from that perfect pitcher of water.
Mama rubbed her forehead. “Can’t we go ten minutes without a knock on the damn door?” Joel knew Mama must be upset to use a word like that. Nancy Fitchett taught Sunday School and had taken soap to Joel’s mouth for less.
“Oh, for god’s sake!” Daddy threw up his hands. “He just woke up. Give us a minute with our boy.”
Two figures stepped through the door. A cigarette hung immobile in the mouth of the stubby police officer in front. “I understand, Mr. Fitchett, but the more time that goes by, the more victims forget. It’s vital we speak now.”
Forget? Joel knew better. He couldn’t forget, not till heaven anyway, and at twelve, heaven was a long wait.
The other officer stepped from the shadows. Like Dick Tracy, he wore a black suit and fedora instead of a uniform. He looked at Joel like he already knew the truth or could figure it out in the same effortless way Detective Tracy did in the comics. “Truth is,” —he reached into the hallway and pulled Clancy into the room — “we can’t get any information from this one. We hope your other boy will be more cooperative.”
Joel’s head sank into the pillow. So, Clancy hadn’t told. Even now, he only wanted to protect his little brother. Poor kid looked scared out of his skin.
“You all right, Joel?” Clancy’s voice shook.
“Don’t you worry about me, Clancy. I’m as right as rain, good as gold.”
“Nice as nectarines,” Clancy said. They often played this game, but Joel couldn’t think of another simile, so he offered a smile instead. It hurt like hell, but he wanted to assure Clancy he was okay. Joel was only a year and a half older, but the gap felt wider. Joel had always been mature for his age; everybody said so.
“I have nothing to say, sir,” Joel told Dick Tracy. His voice was still high pitched, but he tried to make it boom like Daddy’s. Tom Fitchett had a way of making people listen when he talked.
“And why’s that?” The tiny officer lit his cigarette.
“I don’t remember what happened.” The bed gave a muffled creek as he adjusted his position.
The detective looked at his partner. “Get Clancy out of here, will you? And the folks too.”
“We won’t leave.” Daddy pushed his shoulders back.
“Have it your way. Look here, Joel; we know who did this to you.”
The words made Joel forget his stinging face and terrible thirst. He watched a cockroach scuttle into a floor crack. Did they know? No one was around for miles. He was bluffing.
“Then go arrest the bastard,” his father said. “Don’t waste time traumatizing injured and frightened boys.”
Had Joel heard Daddy right? Had he demanded these important men, lawmen, stop traumatizing his boys? Something he did for sport? How strange to have Daddy in his corner for once.
“You may reconsider your statement when you learn who hurt the boy.”
“Impossible!” Daddy slammed his hand on Joel’s tray and knocked over the pitcher of water. Mama grabbed a towel and sopped it up. Even in crisis, her instinct to clean up Daddy’s messes took over. “Who did this?!” Daddy yelled.
Joel cringed, but at least this time Daddy’s fury flew at somebody else. Joel took a few deep breaths.
Maybe if he stayed calm, everyone else would calm down too.
“It was him.” The officer stuck his finger in Clancy’s face.
Mama clutched him tighter, her arms a shield against the accusation.
The detective knelt in front of Clancy. “You did this. The only question I have is why?”
The room spun again. Joel looked for an anchor, but the patterns on the linoleum played leapfrog, and the walls closed in. His parent’s gasps faded into the white surrounding him, and once again, the world went black.
Book Trailer:
My Book Review:
In Enemies Of Doves, author Shanessa Gluhm's debut historical mystery novel, the reader follows a riveting tale of family secrets, jealousy, mystery, and deception.
This complex and multi-layered tale is told in alternating timelines between the World War II years of 1932-1946, and the years of 1991-1992. The story begins in 1932 Carthage, Texas, where the reader is introduced to twelve year old Joel Fitchett and his ten year old brother Clancy. A horrific incident has occurred that left Joel with a scar on his face, and the brothers claiming that they don't know what happened. Fast-forward to 1941, the brothers are adults and living in Longview, Texas. They have kept their long-held pact to hide the truth, but they struggle and can't escape the past, as another traumatic incident occurs in 1946 that continues to spin the tangled web of deception, as they make a second pact to hide the truth, and a difficult decision is made that will ultimately change the course of the brothers' lives forever.
In 1991, college student Garrison Stark travels from Ohio to Texas after hearing a rumor that a man named Clancy Fitchett may be his biological grandfather. Clancy and his wife Lorraine disappeared from Longview, Texas in 1946, and Garrison is determined to find the truth and hopefully gain a family. Garrison has no idea that his search will lead him on an emotional odyssey, as he uncovers a tangled web of secrets that spans over sixty years.
Enemies Of Doves is a riveting historical mystery story that easily draws the reader in from the start. The author provides the reader with a fascinating and richly detailed tale that has enough drama, secrets, deception, tension, heartbreak, and surprising twists and turns that will keep the reader guessing until the surprising conclusion. You can't help but get caught up in this multi-layered story, as the alternating timelines slowly reveals Joel and Clancy's past, and just when you think you know the outcome, the author teases the reader with subtle clues cleverly interwoven within the twists and turns, culminating in a surprising ending that will simply leave the reader stunned. I would be remiss if I didn't mention the surprise in learning what the title of the book meant to the brothers, I was intrigued by this conundrum, and when the meaning was finally revealed, I was left with my mouth hanging open, it doesn't get any better than that!
Enemies Of Doves is a well-written, and fast paced debut novel that left me completely satisfied. Diehard historical mystery fans won't be able to put the book down.
RATING: 5 STARS
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This is a rafflecopter giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours for Shanessa Gluhm. There will be 2 winners of one (1) Amazon.com Gift Card each. The giveaway begins on June 1, 2020 and runs through June 16, 2020. Void where prohibited.
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Virtual Book Tour Event
Tour Participants:
06/01 Showcase @ The Book Divas Reads
06/02 Showcase @ Eclectic Moods
06/02 Showcase @ Im Into Books
06/02 Showcase @ Quiet Fury Books
06/03 Review/showcase @ Our Town Book Reviews
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06/05 Review @ Just Another Reader / Beaten Coffee Barista
06/07 Review @ Nesies Place
06/08 Review @ Celticladys Reviews
06/09 Review @ Lynchburg Mama
06/10 Review @ Avonna Loves Genres
06/10 Review @ Niks Nook
06/10 Review @ Novels N Latte
06/10 Showcase @ CMash Reads
06/11 Review @ Nina_the_bookworm
06/11 Review @ The Bookwyrm
06/12 Review @ just reviews
06/12 Review @ Jersey Girl Book Reviews
06/13 Review @ Book Reviews From an Avid Reader
06/14 Showcase @ EienCafe
06/22 Blog Talk Radio w/Fran Lewis
Fantastic review. I want this book!!!!
ReplyDeleteHi Cheryl! This is definietly a book that you need to read, you'll love it.
DeleteThank you so much for this amazing review! I appreciate you being a part of the tour!
ReplyDeleteHi Shanessa! Congrats on a wonderful debut novel. I loved reading it. The alternating timelines definitely kept me intrigued as Joel and Clancy's tory was slowly revealed.
DeleteI’m not one for dual timelines, but this one was perfection with the fifty-year timespan moving forward in tandem. Garrison’s search will cause time to collide, unlocking a lifetime of secrets, and THE PLOT TWIST OF 2020!
ReplyDeleteStellar writing and well-developed characters make this read one to not be missed. Because… that plot twist!