After the War, Before the Peace - Farrell Family Saga

The Farrell Saga, the first of seven novels about the Farrell family, begins with four South Carolina brothers, post U.S. Civil War, on a mission to avenge atrocities suffered by the Farrell family during the war years. Rogue Yankee solders had raped their mother and burned their plantation to the ground. After the War, Before the Peace, follows these Southern brothers on their journey to manhood, a quest for love and peace with respectability.

The story begins when Michael has just turned eighteen and has asserted his right and responsibility to join his two older brothers, Jim and Joe, in activities bordering on breaking the law. Eventually, youngest brother, Danny demands to ride with his brothers.

Once all four Farrell brothers are united in their cause to avenge the Farrell family, their exploits take them further and further up North to find the men who hurt their mother. A raid on a farm in Illinois brings them in touch with a Yankee couple who, after hearing of what had been done to the Farrell family during the war, become their adversaries.

While the brothers take care of Family Business, the Farrell women work toward providing the brothers a measure of peace and safety during their brief retreats between raids. Elizabeth, their mother, and Jim’s wife Nora manage the family ranch in Missouri. Michael falls in love with Lita, a girl in a border town, who provides solace for both him and his brothers between raids. Danny is used by Deborah, a hometown girl, who craves adventure not preached by her minister father.

After one significant raid, the brothers decide that their quest to avenge is over. Serious family issues arise as they begin to work toward convincing legislators to grant them an amnesty - issues that threaten their manhood, their quest for love and their need for peace in their lives.

Reader comments include – has a Gone With the Wind flavor, reminiscent of The Thornbirds and another Lonesome Dove.