South of Shiloh audiobook

What can I say about this book that captures the doubts and hesitations that meant I almost abandoned it several times, and took a painfully long time to get through it, while at the same time reflects the fair and positive, because I actually did enjoy it, and in many ways found it very impressive.The downside first, so we can end on a high note: this is a book that seriously needed a firm Editor. I suspect that this was a Labor of Love project (and perhaps, just a little, even a Vanity Project) that Logan earned from his publishers because he has earned them a LOT of money with his well-written but, let's admit it, formulaic thrillers. This is Mr. Logan writing about a topic (the Civil War, and Civil War re-enactors) that he knows and cares about, and demonstrating that he can make his reader care, too. And, I suspect, this is Chuck Logan saying, I can write! I don't do just formulaic! I can do character-driven ruminations on the impact of the Civil War that we are living with, even today!! Both excellent worthwhile things, but I still think Mr. Logan could have profited from a firmer hand from his editor. I think "South of Shiloh" would have been a better book if it had been up to 100 pages shorter: Logan tends to go deep into describing everything that happens in a scene: John Rane turned the key in the lock and let himself in. He put the groceries on the counter, and turned on the shower. While he was waiting for the water to heat up, he made himself a coffee, grinding the beans ... It was during long, pointless descriptions like that that I started to lose the will to live, let alone read on.And yet, I did -- and here we come to the Good Part: this is a thoughtful, slow burn of a novel that features interesting and engaging characters, challenging moral dilemmas (not all of them to do with the Civil War), and a couple of nice twists, that still manage to avoid the beartraps of thriller formulae. In fact, in "South of Shiloh," Logan gleefully defies formula: be warned, it is about 100 pages before "anything happens." But when it does happen, the buildup of those 100 pages make it devastating, and genuinely heartbreaking -- you feel the violence in this novel, and you care about the loss, because Logan has taken the time to build up real, intriguing characters who are suffering the pain, or being lost or suffering the aftermath of that loss. (That is not to be mistaken, however, with long digressions on how hot John Rane likes his shower, or how he grinds his coffee beans -- I stand by my opinion that we don't need that!)Highly recommended if you like something that bucks the formula, and immerses you in a strange world: the world of Civil War re-enactors.

Highly recommended.The author Chuck Logan is nothing if not reflective. He imbues his characters with such insight they become three dimensional within the first few pages of each of their introductions. Also in his novels, no one is ever really good or bad, evil or saintly. The worlds he creates are not delineated with simple black and white concepts, hence the deep insights and reflections of his characters - they think, feel, question, doubt, but above all, they know themselves and are able to showcase this wisdom through his writing.This is a stand-alone novel but just as good as the strongest entries in his Broker series. I have read the last Broker book chronologically (Homefront) and was disappointed. I desperately hope he is able to write one more so we can say goodbye to his main protagonists on a stronger note. By the way, skip the movie.He has come out with another Broker book (Broker) but it is set chronologically before all the others. I look forward to it but desire a more satisfying farewell to the series. He also has another stand-alone (Fallen Angel) I haven't read but own. After that, I'll have read all the books by this great author. That will be sad for me as I do so enjoy him. He really is a cut above the rest.

The first time I tried to read this book was back in 2008 (when it came out) but I quit around chapter 5. I just couldn't get into it. Nothing much was happening and it just didn't seem to be going anywhere. But I was hunting for something to read, I didn't have anything new from any of my favorites, and so I was looking over my shelves for something that I hadn't gotten around to yet and "South of Shiloh" once again caught my eye. I have really enjoyed Chuck Logan's Phillip Broker series so I thought I'd give this one another try. I pushed through chapter 5...6...7...8...almost put it down again, but vowed to get through it this time. So I pushed ahead and, finally, it got going. By the time I finished I was really, REALLY happy that I'd stuck with it. It was a good story, informative, well written, fairly well paced (once it got going), and it had a good strong finish. I highly recommend it, especially if you're at all into Civil War history. I'm not, but I still learned a few things about the war and also about the whole Civil War re-enactors activity.

I found Chuck Logan's tale, "South of Shiloh" at the Carrollton, Miss., library and plucked it up. What a ripping good yarn! I haven't read Logan's other books but wonder how he decided on this particular Minnesota-Tennessee-Mississippi Civil War/Re-enactor experience with very human touches that also works in modern day warfare and creepy crawlies that involve memories of camel spiders on one hand and cottonmouths on the others.

It took a few chapters to lay out the people involved in the plot, so I was a little bored. But then it all came together and I highly recommend commend as a good read.The contrast between the northern and southern characters made for much interest. Requirement for the number of words in the review is stupid.

Well done, fast paced

This book starts out a little slow and I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to finish it. However, about 1/4 of the way through it picks up and then I couldn't put it down.

Minnesota crime author Chuck Logan came up with the biggest jerk of a protagonist ever in "Absolute Zero." I gave the novel its own absolute zero in this review. But there was something about ol' Chuck that I liked. No matter how much I hated his characters, his writing style piqued my interest.I decided to give him another chance, this time with his 2008 release, "South of Shiloh." The novel centers on a Civil War re-enactment that goes haywire when a Minnesota man is shot and killed for real.John Rane, a reckless photographer for the St. Paul Pioneer Press newspaper, heads to Mississippi to find the killer. He teams up with local law man Ken Beeman. They lift the lid off years of bad blood, set to boil over at the next re-enactment.As a Civil War buff, I was hooked on this book. If you're unfamiliar with the War Between the States, this novel is as much educational as it is entertaining. Logan's haunting descriptions bring to life the Old South as it decays alongside the battlefields. He fleshes out complex North and South perceptions about the war, never siding with one over the other. Many of the reasons Americans killed each other in the 1860s are the same reasons people do re-enactments now.This fascinating back drop is the perfect setting for a murder. It's a surprise more people aren't killed in real life during these re-enactments."South of Shiloh" is at its best when it sticks to exploring the murder and the Civil War. Logan builds suspense until the final re-enactment. The last 100 pages or so are what can only be described as "unputdownable." I read the book in line to get a flu shot.The B story isn't as gripping. It pertains to the widow of the murdered Minnesota re-enactor. Although it's critical to the plot, I couldn't help but jump ahead to the murder investigation.I also couldn't help but notice similarities between "South of Shiloh" and "Absolute Zero." Both contain a rich person in a coma with people squabbling over a will. And both, unfortunately, contain an ass of a protagonist.John Rane, the photographer, is another of Chuck Logan's too anti anti-heroes. John's head isn't straight ever since he killed seven Iraqi Republican Guards in Gulf War I. After returning home, he knocks up his latest squeeze and leaves her with the bill.Granted, Rane is more likeable than Phil Broker, the protag from "Absolute Zero." At least Rane tries to redeem himself.In the end, I liked "South of Shiloh." It wasn't "tell everyone I know to read this book" good. More like "read this if you like history and crime fiction." It gives me a new appreciation for Chuck Logan. He's 1 for 2 with me. The extra chance I gave him proved to be worth it.

The is my 3rd Logan and my favorite thusfar...I previously thought the earlier works were workman-like, but entertaining...certainly a non-formulaic murder mystery...I love the analyses of the clashes of Southern culture with the attitudes of the American Mid-West...it rivals the descriptions provided by James Lee Burke...great characters...so-so plot...great dialogue

I loved this story, it was intense, with prose that really pulled you into feeling what the characters were going through. Plus, as a reading fan of the Civil War, it was fascinating to be brought into the world of CW re-enactors and experience how and why they are so devoted to this experience.

I started this on recommendation from Jeeks, our favorite librarian!!!! when she heard that Robert was going to be traveling through the south and visiting Shiloh area. Took a little to get into it, the author used 100 pages to get you to care about anything.... but all in all, it was a good read.

Densly written; some nice surprises and keeps you guessing. Well-drawn characters.