Kansas still adheres to many values from the state's pioneer roots. It's a place where hard work is prized and complaining frowned upon. Especially in the rural parts of the state, like the Kaw Valley where this novel is set, many residents trace their family trees back to the early settlers and change comes slowly and sometimes with great difficulty.
The Grelliers
"Bleeding Kansas" tells the story of the Grellier family, a family that has been farming the same land for more than 150 years. Today, the family includes Jim, a pragmatic, non-nonsense kind of guy; his wife, Susan, a dreamer who is fascinated by the Grellier history, particularly the 19th century family diary she's found; Lara, a down-to-earth girl just entering her teens; and Chip, a high school senior torn between the old ways and moderns mores. They are a likeable, typical, late 20th century family.
The Schapens
In contrast to the Grelliers, the Schapens have turned inward, to superstition and rigid religious beliefs to insulate themselves from change. They mock and threaten all who hold different views from theirs. The matriarch, old Mrs. Schapen even maintains a blog where she spews hateful rumors, most of which are unfounded.
A Witch among Them
The uneasy balance between the two families is torn apart when Gina Haring, a Wiccan from New York City, rents a nearby farmhouse for the season. Susan is intrigued by the exotic Gina, but soon the woman's midsummer night celebration and her ambiguous sexuality has the town--especially the Schapens--talking.
"Bleeding Kansas" is a strong, no-nonsense novel that cautions against intolerance. Because of Paretsky's deep understanding of the region and her eloquent prose, the book escapes being a lecture and instead rewards the reader with a rich, multi-layered tale that just happens to share a message.
About Sara Paretsky
Sara Paretsky is the author of 14 novels, all but two of which feature protagonist V.I. Warshawski. She was one of the very first mystery writers to feature a strong, independent woman detective.
A native of Kansas, Paretsky migrated to Chicago for college and has lived in the area ever since. She has received numerous awards for her writing, including the Diamond Dagger for Lifetime achievement award from the British Crime Writers Association. Paretsky is the founder of "Sisters in Crime," an organization that supports mystery writers and readers. She is married to Courtenay Wright, a physics professor at the University of Chicago. You can read more about Sara Partesky on her Web site.
Other Books Set in the Midwest
- The Virgin of Small Plains by Nancy Pickard
- King of the Holly Hop by Les Roberts
- Tombs of Endearment by Casey Daniels
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