Today I welcome Lori Crane on my blog. I understand I am ending her blog tour to celebrate “Elly Hays”, her fantastic new novel. Here is my review. Follow this link for some further information about Lori and her tour. Enjoy!

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“Elly Hays” by Lori Crane is an excellent novel giving great insight in to an apparently rather complex political situation. As European I know little of American history and particularly about the Indian Nations.
Crane describes the discussions amongst the Creek Indian Nation, some of whom have intermarried with whites and some of whom foresee the futility of war. However, the British offer weapons against the Americans and some are tempted.
Into this volatile situation comes the Rodgers family, moving into the Eastern Mississippi Territory hoping for economical gain and spurned on by an earthquake.
The time: 1812.
Indians decide to use the Rodgers family and scare them off, as a deterrent to others, without having to enter proper fighting. But when in this encounter between James Rodgers and the Indians the son of a big wig Indian dies, the conflict becomes personal.

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The book is based on real people from the author’s ancestry, which makes reading the story very real and personal. Crane writes with great attention to detail and an authentic historical feel. Her interpretation of the events and the dramatisations seem very believable and are great fiction at the same time. She neither glorifies her ancestors nor does she resort to drama for the sake of it. As great as the suspense in this novel is, it aids the story rather than being in there for effect.
It is a great tribute to courage and shows how it had become impossible to stop the progress and the pushing back of the Indians from those territories. It shows a realistic and balanced image of the Indians in the story and history, making the events personal rather than political.
In all conflict there are good and bad people, people that have torn loyalties and have realistic ideas despite their ideals. It is a great account of events and an insightful snapshot of a moment in history.
Very rewarding.

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