“Soaring with Vultures”
“Soaring with Vultures” by Dan Kelly, published by Dan Kelly in 2017, is a historical fiction novel set in post-Civil War Missouri. The story follows Union Colonel William A. Warner, who relocates his family in search of peace and prosperity, only to find that violence still permeates their new home in Lafayette County. The narrative unfolds through the perspective of Colonel Warner’s son, Leslie, as he navigates the challenges posed by his family’s tumultuous circumstances, including a contentious divorce and the ensuing chaos.
Readers will encounter a vivid portrayal of an era marked by lynchings, bushwhackers, and political strife, as the Warner family’s dreams are shattered by the harsh realities of their environment. The novel delves into themes of coming of age and the impact of violence on familial bonds, particularly through Leslie’s experiences and his sister Sallie’s troubled marriage to Sam Nutter. With 310 pages, this edition offers a detailed exploration of the historical context and personal drama that defined this turbulent period.
Official synopsis Publisher
“Soaring with Vultures” by Dan Kelly
In post-Civil War Missouri, killing was the way of life.
With the echoes of Rebel gunshots only recently silenced in Kentucky and his near-fatal chest wound still healing, Union Colonel William A. Warner moved his wife and children to a new land in hopes of finding peace and prosperity. Instead, he discovered that violence remained rampant in Lafayette County, Missouri, where his dreams of a new life turned into a family nightmare.
“Soaring with Vultures” presents a fictional account of a real 1868 killing that nearly tore the Warner family asunder. It captures an era rent by lynchings, bushwhackers, and political strife–remnants of the Civil War–and shows how the ubiquitous violence ensnared even the most upstanding of families.
It is told through the eyes of Colonel Warner’s son, Leslie, whose openness and youthful idealism are repeatedly put to the test. He has a front-row seat for the family drama involving his sister, Sallie, who marries Missourian Sam Nutter, only to find he’s a drunk, a thief, and a liar. After she files for divorce, Sam launches a campaign of terror against the Warners that culminates in a fatal shooting and a first-degree murder trial.
Author recommendations
“A contentious divorce, a thirst for revenge, and suspenseful courtroom drama–all tantalizing elements in Dan Kelly’s debut novel, set against the backdrop of tumultuous post-Civil War Missouri. Kelly has skillfully blended fact and fiction in a story filled with colorful characters, absorbing history, and riveting action that will keep you turning pages from first to last.”
Andrea Warren, author of “The Boy Who Became Buffalo Bill: Growing Up Billy Cody in Bleeding Kansas”
“Kelly captures the turmoil and chaos of post-Civil War Missouri–told through the eyes of a young idealist who discovers that betrayal and violence have come to torture his own family. Fans of historical fiction are going to like this one.”
Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author of “The Lost Order”
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