One Drop--A Slave! by Eddie Price is a novel with strong characteristics of a thriller, a story that will bring tears to the eyes of readers and keep them turning the pages nonstop. Set in the French Quarter of New Orleans, the story introduces readers to a banker, Jules Signet, who has come up with a brand new scheme to get rich and has enlisted the help of two other unscrupulous people; a gifted, drunk physician and an easily manipulated federal judge. Judge John Harkness and physician Thomas Applegate find themselves manipulated to support a racist scheme set to exploit the top people in New Orleans in a way no one had known before. Philippe Bouchard is the first victim, and after the horrendous crime in court, Signet’s new minions want to turn away, but it’s just the beginning for Signet.

The reader is immersed in a story that recalls the painful reality of slavery, a story with compelling characters, unexpected twists, villains keeping pace with heroes. The writing is atmospheric and readers will love the setting which paints images of pirate adventures, the harshness of some terrains, and the political and racial manoeuvres of the time. The story evokes elements of history, and even though it is fiction, the compelling narrative voice and the strong setting make this a very realistic story. Readers will enjoy characters like Judge Wilfred Bozarth, Craig Ridgeway, and others. Eddie Price injects humanity into the characters and readers will hate the villains of this story in the same way they will be compelled to share sympathy with the victims. One Drop--A Slave! is a page-turner, a thriller that will rouse all kinds of sentiments in the reader. Intelligently plotted and skillfully written.

One Drop--A Slave! by Eddie Price is an engrossing novel that captures the world of slavery and where greed can lead some people. Readers are introduced to an array of complex characters, each with a perilous world to explore. In a story set in 1815, banker Jules Signet, by sheer cunning, imagines a new way of amassing wealth — exploiting the rich in the French Quarter of New Orleans and playing on the idea of racial superiority. He quickly involves the drunk and gifted physician, Thomas Applegate, and the corrupt federal judge, John Harkness, into his scheme. It will be difficult for these two men of high social standing to back out of Jules Signet’s plots. It won’t be long before their first victims are sold into slavery. Follow a tale of greed and man’s inhumanity to fellow man as characters including pirates, a priest, and others are trapped in the schemes of a malicious man.

Eddie Price has created a gripping novel with an intriguing historical setting that depicts a racist environment. The characters are well-written, multi-dimensional, and with backgrounds that reflect the theme of slavery. The writing is riveting and readers will enjoy the power of the descriptive narrative and how the author uses dialogues to portray the level of conflict and help move the plot forward. The setting in New Orleans is well done and readers will love characters like the one-eyed smuggler and leader of the bayou pirates, Emmett Barnett. It’s a gritty story that explores what racism can do to people and what it takes to win back freedom after it is forcibly taken. One Drop--A Slave! reads like an action-packed thriller, an entertaining book that would transfer well to the big screen.

One Drop--A Slave! is a historical fiction novel by Eddie Price. In 1815 Jules Signet, a power-hungry banker, manipulates Doctor Applegate and Judge Harkness into executing a most atrocious conspiracy to ruin wealthy business owners in New Orleans. His first victim, Philippe Bouchard, finds himself on trial, unable to defend himself against the accusations, and is sent to Brazil as a slave. Remorseful Applegate and Harkness unite with Pierre Delacroix and a pirate to rescue his protégé, Philippe. But the mission becomes dangerous with Signet’s deadly retaliation. The year 1816 is known as “The year without a summer or Eighteen-Hundred-And-Froze-To-Death.” An unusually long spell of cold weather destroyed crops and livestock, and brought an epidemic and other adversities to Cottonwood Bend, Kentucky. Craig Ridgeway and other farmers don’t need more problems from heartless gangs plaguing their community.

One Drop--A Slave! is an enthralling historical novel that’s difficult to put down. I had a lot of mixed emotions when reading due to its poignancy. Slavery is the main topic, but there are other significant social issues the characters cope with, based on the era. The intriguing twists made me quit guessing the outcome of scenarios. The year without a summer actually happened, and Eddie Price included other historical information I found interesting. He writes compellingly and created impressive characters within a powerful, memorable story. Judge Bozarth will keep you amused, while Signet will evoke your repugnance. The cover illustration complements the novel too. One Drop--A Slave! by Eddie Price is a frontier thriller that I recommend for your book list.

One Drop--A Slave! by Eddie Price is a historical novel that takes a closer look at the time when having slaves was a prize and the best men in society were keen on making as much money from the misfortunes of others as possible. Craig and his wife Mary may not have an ideal life, but they are living a relatively good life. Yes, they have their troubles, especially now that they are living in the “Year without Summer” and an epidemic that is powerful enough to destroy everything they have built.

While they have financial problems to fight, they have many other ways to make money that can guarantee them a good life. Kentucky is thriving on hemp farming, alcohol, tobacco and a new industry that is very lucrative but very dangerous. Although it is dodgy, Craig wants to get into it to make money and have a better life. What he does not realize is that some new people are going to appear in his life and change everything for him and his wife. They might seem like the answer to his prayers, but are they? Should he really trust them or should he trust his instincts?

This is a brilliant, complex novel that delves deep into the history of Kentucky and how the people there tried to survive during that chaotic time, and how the area drowned in misery after some time. The story has strong strains of politics, terror and some graphic violence that keeps the plot going. The historical parts of the novel were handled with skill and care. Eddie Price creates an accurate image of that era and I was lost in the desperate world he created. A very enjoyable and entertaining novel.