Louise Schmidt would sacrifice almost anything to protect and provide for her family—even her innocence…
Set in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in the early 1900s, Burning Time epically portrays the life of Louise Schmidt, from early childhood to adulthood, as Louise, her mother, and younger brother fight to survive the abuse of Louise’s father, Will.
The largess of Will’s parents initially provides refuge from her father’s drunken exploits, but Louise learns too young that nothing lasts forever. Though previously ostracized from the family, the prodigal son returns at the behest of his ailing father, and brings along a new wife, Maude, who fans the flames of Will’s inherent avarice and disregard for his former wife and children. At fifteen, Louise is forced from the only home she’s ever known and into marriage with a man ten years her senior. Even as Louise comes to terms with her life and assumes the role of family matriarch, she still must face the consequences of her actions—including a death sentence for murder…
Burning Time by Bob Strother
2nd Edition, Moonshine Review Press (2025), 364 pages, $23.95
ISBN: 978-0-9743410-8-8, Historical Fiction
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AND don’t forget to check out the sequels to this book, A Fire to Be Kindled and Embers on the Wind.
One part Southern Gothic, one part crime novel, one part coming-of-age story, Burning Time is a compelling read I couldn’t put down. It’s beautifully delivered in Strother’s clear, concise prose and authentic Southern voice.
— Susan M. Boyer, USA TODAY Bestselling Author of the Liz Talbot Mystery Series
A page-turner of historical fiction! Strother is a class act whose prose does not disappoint. He has mastered the art of rooting the reader in the time period and then supported that with a great coming of age tale.
— David Burnsworth, Author of the Brack Pelton Mystery Series
Every now and then a book comes along that reminds you why you fell in love with books to begin with. Burning Time is just that sort of book. Lots of people write books, but very few writers achieve the elegance of phrasing that turns a simple story into a beautiful tapestry of experience for the reader. After finishing this book (in less than two days), I found the next few books I picked up to read paled in comparison. I can’t say enough about the beauty of this novel.
In Burning Time, we meet Louise, at age 8, on the morning of her brother Henry’s birth. Affected by the overheard pain of her mother’s labor, she vows to never have a child and promises her tiny brother that she will protect him forever. The story follows Louise through her youth and early adulthood, always finding ways to protect her brother and even her mother. Her family is loving, except for an abusive father, so once he’s out of the picture, life seems perfect. And it is until tragedy strikes her grandparents.
If you read only one book this year, this is the book to read!