American Red by David Marlett
Genre: Historical legal thriller
Publisher: The Story Plant
Publication Date: July 2, 2019
Many thanks to NetGalley, David Marlett, and The Story Plant for a copy of American Red in exchange for an honest review. I appreciate it!
Summary
Early 20th century America. Mine owners work their employees pitilessly with a callous disregard for safety and human life. In response, miners unionize. The labor unions target the owners with an equally callous disregard for life. Few in power know how to respond to the conflict.
When the governor of Idaho is assassinated, Bill Haywood, the ruthless union boss of the Western Federation of Miners, is the obvious suspect. He hadn’t liked how the governor had arrested the union miners during a strike. And Haywood’s been known to order a killing or two–or more. Other people do the dirty work while he stays in Colorado. He’d have to be extradited to Idaho for a trial, but there are no grounds for an extradition.
No legal grounds, that is. But the Pinkertons (the famed detective agency) have their eyes on Haywood. The overzealous Chief Detective McParland, joined by an Idahoan senator and judge, work to find a way to get the presumed-guilty man to Colorado.
But Haywood’s attorney is none other than Clarence Darrow, “America’s Lawyer.” He’s a wily, persuasive defender who’s protected the union boss’s interests in the past. Still, though, Darrow’s itching for a case to reach the Supreme Court–and this might just be the one.
In the meantime, Haywood’s polio-striken wife Neva struggles with whether or not to support her husband. She’s turned a blind eye to his affair with her sister (even allowed it). She’s also justified his past killings as “necessary” for the greater good. But her life’s reaching a crisis point. A blind eye may not be adequate anymore.
Two young people, Jack Garrett and Carla Capone, work for opposing sides. Each must wrestle with their new knowledge of what their employers are willing to do in the name of justice. Each question the limits of justice, loyalty, and whether the ends truly justify the means.
My thoughts:
What works for me:
The history
This is a well-researched, heavily-detailed novel. Marlett knows his subject matter. He has a gift for making history come alive. The opening plunges us into the conflict between two parties. One, the ruthless mine owners, who use capitalism and patriotism to justify their merciless treatment of their employees. Two, the equally ruthless union miners, who use the owners’ wrongdoings to justify their own merciless, bloody treatment of their employers. Fascinating. Disturbing. Intriguing.
Marlett also adds little tidbits of deliciously crazy facts, proving that truth is sometimes stranger than fiction.
The characters
This is a huge cast of characters. It would be easy to get lost among the various lawmen, law-breakers, attorneys, politicians, and the ever-shifting line between who is “right” and “wrong” in their actions. But we don’t, thanks to Marlett’s ability to juggle this cast.
Many are historical figures. Again, Marlett’s done his research. Their personalities and quirks all mesh with what the historical record shows.
Among them are Clarence Darrow, the criminal defense attorney for union boss Bill Haywood. (Darrow found later notoriety in the “Scopes monkey trial.”) He was a wily, slippery character, able to argue circles around everyone else. Newspapers dubbed him “America’s Lawyer.” I particularly enjoyed reading about him.
Neva Haywood, Haywood’s polio-striken wife, piqued my interest. Her continual self-justifications for “allowing” her husband to cheat with her sister were heart-breaking, but it’s infuriating how she turns a blind eye to her husband’s murders.
Two other characters of note: Jack and Carla, fictional characters who represent the Pinkertons and the union, respectively. Their own actions unsettle them. Each comes to a realization that neither “side” is truly in the right and that both sides are ruthless and resort to underhanded tactics.
The conflict
Marlett does a terrific job of showing how both sides engage in deceptive tactics. Judges, lawyers, lawmen: almost everyone in the novel bends or breaks the law. All of them justify their actions. It’s troubling.
What doesn’t work for me:
This is more a caution than a negative aspect of the book.
This is historical fiction. Characters hold prejudices and use language that is no longer socially acceptable. This includes racial and ethnic slurs, sexist terms, and the like. Even otherwise “sympathetic” characters use them. Still, most historical fiction readers should understand why these terms are used in this context.
A must-read for fans of historical fiction.
This review of American Red appears on Goodreads and Bookbub. In July, it will appear on Amazon and Barnes & Noble’s websites on the publication date.
Bonus tip for writers from American Red
Find the right point of view for your story.
Have a large cast of characters? Writing a sprawling, multi-generational with multiple geographic areas and settings? Try an omniscient point of view.
Here, it works because this POV gives Marlett the range and freedom to dip into various characters’ heads. Then we can develop sympathy (or not) for them, while still being able to show the big picture of where these characters’ actions fit in the overall story.
This point of view works well for the historical story he’s telling.
If you decide to go with this point of view, bravo. I haven’t read very many recent novels that aren’t either first or limited third person point of view. (Classic novels, yes.) My advice? Seek out knowledgeable beta readers who have experience with this POV, either writing or reading it.