Customer Reviews

Fire Bell in the Night: A Novel

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Crime, conspiracy, manipulation, racism, slavery, honesty, and mystery are all themes dealt with in this page turning novel. The setting is pre-civil war in the US. The mix of detailed history and research provides a rich learning experience about America of the past through the telling of a unique historical trial in the South. North-South divisions are debated through the perspectives of southern plantation owners, residents and a northern reporter, John Sharp.

Throughout this story, we learn about a simple man, Darcy Calhoun, who is charged with harboring a slave. We learn about this man's history and fate through the investigative reporting of John Sharp. John uncovers many secrets that are held by the plantation owners throughout his adventures.

Angry mobs and fires are common occurrences in this normally quant city of Charleston, SC. John's little friend Samuel helps to research the fires and disturbances around the city which lead to further discoveries and several near death experiences for John.

At the end of the trial, John struggles with the information he uncovers about his new friend Darcy Calhoun. John must decide how to handle this information as he will have to live with these decisions that will impact the rest of his life. These life changing experiences make John a stronger character as he has grown from a novice questioning reporter to a decisive strong man at the conclusion of the novel.

With his maiden work, Geoffrey S. Edwards is already a young master of the literary craft. In Fire Bell in the Night, the thirty-one-year-old author has shaped the raw materials of an historically-based tale into a stellar work of art.

Sent in 1850 to Charleston, South Carolina, New York Tribune reporter John Sharp is tasked with following the trail of his freshly killed colleague in covering the trial of a slave-aiding defendant whose guilty verdict and hanging sentence are all but certain before the jury is even sworn in. The bigger story he probes, however, is the dissention about secession showing itself as a series of fires, each of which is punctuated by bongs from the town's church steeples in each evening's darkest hours.

I will give you no more details about the plot, so as not to spoil the deftness of Edwards' weaving a great Southern tapestry. I will, however, share with you examples of what makes this author such a delight to enjoy. Fire Bell in the Night reads like a succulent piece of prime rib, perfectly hot and crusted on the outside, exquisitely rare and juicy on the inside, with a flavor so detailed with a variety of notes that you have to close your eyes with every bite in order to savor it appropriately.

Edwards is superb in rendering his settings on the page. He deftly both allows and causes a reader to pause and enjoy people, place, and play of a scene. For example, early on he let's us see the loveliness of Charleston through what flows down the steps of the Charleson Hotel.

"A flower fluttered to the pavement from above, followed by a gentle exclamation of regret. A white glove appeared against the black wrought iron of the balcony railing, and a young woman peeked over at the sidewalk below. She wore a white dress with an impossibly tiny waist and a full hooped skirt. A parasol framed her auburn hair. A gentleman looked down also. No one would have mistaken the man for a New Yorker unless he had a career on the stage, yet he appeared representative of his class in Charleston. Every element of his appearance spoke of flamboyance--a looser cut in his coat and pant legs, wide lapels, a flowing silk cravat, and a tall stovepipe hat perched atop his long, wavy hair. His comment made the girl laugh--a soft giggle quickly covered by the glove. They stood there for a moment looking down at the street, she casually turning the parasol with her fingers as he puffed on a thick cigar. The smoke hovered just above their heads, swirling and stagnating with no breeze to disturb it. Then the man offered his arm, and they turned to walk across the landing, moving so effortlessly that they could have been gliding on a sheet of ice, with no extraneous movement save the twirling of the parasol."

One cannot read such a paragraph without finishing it with a deep sigh that says, "Holy Heaven, this man can write." And when you look at the six-foot-six, bald, goateed, linebacker who supposedly wrote it, you just have to ask yourself, "Where in the heck did that come from?"

Not only does Edwards describe a scene well, he also impresses on the reader how its contents make his characters feel and should make the reader feel as well. Note Sharp's first close view of slaves in the South.

"John and Samuel stopped for a wagon to pass on the cross street before them. A row of men, all black, lined the periphery of the wagon bed, their legs dangling over the side, their arms entwined in the fencing that surrounded them. A second tier stood in the middle--five or six men teetering precariously back and forth as the wagon bumped along the uneven road. They rode in silence, their faces emotionless. It was their eyes that sent a chill through John. No flicker of movement betrayed acknowledgement of his presence; their focus did not seem to extend beyond the cart. No aspect of the scene around the men seemed to make any difference to them whatsoever."

But the book is not all fiddle-dee-dee and falderal. The dialogue is genteel when allowed and terse when called for. Tension and conflict are slathered on every slice of this roast like a perfect horseradish sauce. Its proportion and content perfectly enhancing the experience of the meal.

And then, all too soon, page 444 leaves us begging for dessert as we scream for help like a Fire Bell in the Night.

About the Reviewer: Kenneth R. Besser is a husband, father, son, brother, friend, community leader, author, entrepreneur, and lawyer, in that order. His motivational parable Great! All the Time! has been enjoyed by countless readers and the first book of his young adult adventure series, Arnie Carver and the Plague of Demeverde, is enjoying rave reviews. In between polishing the next Arnie Carver Adventure, Arnie Carver and the Legend of Omarosa's Dowry, he is working on a "big picture" parenting manual, Practically Perfect Parenting, and a book to help people over their heads in debt, the title of which is Dealing with Debt Collectors.

Nothing is as it seems. Readers of Geoffrey Edward's debut novel, Fire Bell in the Night, would do well to remember that. Edwards uses the historical event of the Crisis of 1850 as the backdrop to this thriller, set during that fateful summer in Charleston, South Carolina.

A white plantation owner and his family have been slaughtered in a slave uprising. A white farmer, Darcy Calhoun, is about to go on trial for harboring a runaway slave. As the temperatures rise in the June heat, so do the tempers and tensions of the slave-owning plantation owners and the frightened, angry townspeople. Adding to the heat are a series of unexplained fires, curfews for blacks, and a buildup of the militia. Into this simmering cauldron, in the author's words, a "pressure cooker", enters John Sharp, a 22-year-old reporter from New York, sent to cover the trial. John, and the reader, will be forever changed by what happens next.

The story Edwards tells is complex, but his masterful story telling style never makes it complicated. Through the eyes of his lead character, Edwards presents all sides of the story to the reader, without judgment, respecting the reader's ability to discern the subtleties and dichotomies of the choices facing these people, and our nation at that volatile time. Edward's background as a history major, and his extensive research into the place and the era, provides a solid grounding of authenticity to this exciting, and gut-wrenching, novel.

This is not a book to be rushed, but to be savored. Edwards has a gift for description. Strolling through Charleston with the lead character, or at a weekend plantation party, one is surrounded with the sights, and scents, and sounds of 1850 in this southern harbor town. In one brief paragraph, at the opening of Chapter 15, Edwards traces the effects along the path of a simple breeze with such elegance and grace that the reader will sigh with as much relief as if that breeze had cooled their own overheated cheeks. Edwards also has a gift for characterization. From the lead characters to the merest shopkeeper, each person is fully realized, three-dimensional, and has a unique voice.

There is nothing easy about this novel. It is multi-layered, textural, and lush. The languid pace of the southern heat barely hides the relentless drumbeats of the impending march to secession, and war. The Fire Bell in the Night sounds not only a warning to the residents of Charleston, but to the nation. Edwards skillfully brings the story to a personal level, a level to which the reader can relate. Unexpected friendships blossom in the summer's heat, but so do violence, deceptions, and betrayals. This is, at its core, a simple story of men who are trying to do the right thing, men who are trying to bridge the chasms between them, and men whose every step can lead to unimaginable consequences. But the reader is reminded again, that for each of these men, nothing is as it seems.

"Fire Bell in the Night" was the second of the Gathers First Chapters book contest winners, and what a tale it is. Set in Charleston amidst pre-Civil War tension, Edwards crafts a mystery that will have you up into the wee hours of the early morning in a race to finish this finely crafted tale. Edwards has done here what many novelists only attempt to do: tell his readers a fascinating story, while giving them great historical context that is never dull.

In so many works of a particular historical setting, readers are overloaded with details from history that bog the story down. In the case of "Fire Bell in the Night," not only has Edwards used a profound quote from Abraham Lincoln to set the stage, he has made the historical milieu of the Old South pieces of the puzzle to be solved, rather than dragging the story into the "bore zone," which is so often the case for those who are not keen on historical settings.

In this novel, set in the summer of 1850, tensions are high as talk of Secession by the Southern states fills the air. A series of fires has erupted thoughout Charleston, which are being blamed on revolting slaves. On trial is one illiterate farmer, accused of hiding a runaway slave, who must be made an example of. Into this setting, enters John Sharp, a newspaperman from New York (read disliked Yankee) who has come to replace a colleague, killed mysteriously by a fire engine rushing to a fire. Is the death accidental? Will the trial set off rioting within Charleston? Or is something altogether more sinister going on?

Making the novel even more interesting, Sharp is befriended by some interesting folks, both on his side and those seeking to use him to their own ends. Among them is plantation owner Tyler Breckenridge, who seemingly rescues Sharp from danger, only to befriend Sharp and show him a side of Charleston that can make the argument for slavery more palpable, and the situation infintely more confusing for Sharp. This book is ultimatly about John Sharp's search for the truth in the story, whether he can report it or not.

Edwards has done an amazing job of luring his readers in with his plot, then teaching them some things about the North-South tension that led to the Civil War that only the most fervent history buffs will already know. But he does this all without the pain of dull historical passages. Instead, the action zings across the pages, and will have its readers up all night trying to see where the story goes next. They'll be in for a few surprises along the way. In short, "Fire Bell in the Night" is a red hot read and even more impressive because it's from a first time author. I can't wait to see what Edwards has in store for us next!

Geoffrey Edwards is the Finalist in the Gather First Chapters Writing Competition that began last January in connection with Touchstone/Simon & Schuster.

Fire Bell in the Night is a gripping historical novel set in the pre-civil war South of 1850 and tells the story of New York reporter John Sharp, who is sent to cover the trial of Darcy Calhoun, a local farmer accused of harboring a fugitive slave.

Nothing in our contemporary reference can prepare the modern reader for the magnitude of what this trial meant in the time period, because harboring a fugitive slave was a capital crime.

Filled with rich historical details, Fire Bell in the Night has reporter Sharp match up with fellow reporter Owen Conway who, together believe that local scion Tyler Breckenridge may be involved in a covert militia buildup.

The novel is set in the highly charged atmosphere of threats of secession and war of the Crisis of 1850, an historical period that began after America's victory over Mexico in 1848, but which ignited slavery as a divisive issue, once again. The new lands as set by the ending of the Mexican War were threatening to tip the balance between the 14 free states and 14 slave states. If California and New Mexico were admitted as free states, then the South would secede from the Union. (From the book's Preface and also from Geoffrey's website)

As the novel unfolds, mysterious fires in white establishments bring in the militia and a curfew for blacks, thus increasing the already-thick tension in the fugitive slave trial of farmer Darcy Calhoun, while reporters Sharp and Conway try to expose the secessionist conspiracy and head off war.

Set against the trial and sharply divisive disputes is the genteel, sophisticated society of Willowby plantation owner Tyler Breckenridge and his lovely sister, Clio.

A book excerpt, from the beginning of Darcy Calhoun's tiral:

"For a moment the courtroom was silent as everyone studied the accused. Then, a solitary "boo" rang out, followed by countless other cries of disdain. As wordless condemnation rained down from the balcony in powerful unity, Darcy Nance Calhoun raised his head to look at the crowd.

With each surge in the catcalls, he hunched forward his shoulder just a fraction, bracing as if a physical object had been hurled. Still, he was far from cowering. He looked less like a beaten man than one filled with interest, peeking up at the rafters like a squirrel from its hole. His eyes darted about the courtroom, and though he seemed frightened, he was not afraid to lock eyes. His stare descended to the lower level, stopping momentarily on those who stuck out: the lawyers, Mr. Aubry, the odd man in the black suit...

John studied the eyes that met his, bright sky blue irises filled with a furtive curiosity. He was clean-shaven, revealing a seasoned tan on top of his light complexion. Two large ears poked through his hair and stuck out almost sideways, features that were just short of comical....

...As the murmur tapered to silence, the sheriff led Darcy Nance to the far table of lawyers. He unlocked the prisoner's cuffs, then picked up a sheet of paper from the desk. ...

..."The accused stands charged with violation of the Fugitive Slave Act of this nation, ratified by Congress in the year of our Lord, 1793. That on the date June 2 of this year, the accused assisted in the attempted runaway of a slave belonging to Mr. Giles Irwin of Chatham County, Georgia. That he attempted to harbor and assist this property in its deception. And that, when specifically confronted by a group of citizens pursuing the property, he lied on its behalf. So are the charges brought before this court..."

..."Excuse me, Mr. Calhoun. Are you telling me that you are not satisfied with your counsel?"

"Yes, Your Honor..."

...The courtroom hummed, and the reporters present went scurrying into their pockets for pen and paper....


* * *

Fire Bell in the Night is a thrilling must read - not only for history lovers, but for everybody.

I bought this book out of curiosity. It was a reader's chioce in the Gather First Chapters competition. Could it possibly stand on its own merit as an entertaining and thought-provoking read? Could winning a popularity contest possibly correlate with quality, professional work?

About 10 pages in, it's clear that Geoffrey is a real writer, with real ideas and real literary talent. The man writes masterfully. There's nothing fancy about it, he lets the story unfold at its own pace with solid writing chops.
Beyond a compelling and easy-to-read story, I appreciate how he shows both sides of the issues behind the civil war that cost so many lives. If you like historical fiction, then this book belongs on your bookshelf. I consider myself a bit of a talent scout and I predict that Geoffrey has a long and successful career ahead of him. Well done, sir!
Ken Coffman is the author of Steel Waters, Glen Wilson's Bad Medicine and five other novels.

I admit to feeling a flicker of terror when I first held Fire Bell in the Night in my hands. On March 21st, I wrote a glowing review of the novel's opening chapter in the Gather.com First Chapters Contest. In the months that followed, Geoffrey Edwards and I became friends. Despite being a finalist in the contest, I was very happy that Geoffrey won. I can attest to the fact that he is a good person and a fine gentleman, but what if the book was terrible? What kind of review could I write if I didn't like it?

And then, I opened the book:

"Someone tossed a pine log into the campfire. It hissed and popped, and sparks swirled in the updraft like fireflies.

My Lord

Ten men arose and moved wordlessly away, single file down the dirt path. Their black forms blended with the night.

My Lord."

I was, as on March 21st, pulled into the story of Fire Bell in the Night. What I had forgotten in my moment of fear -- Geoffrey Edwards is an amazing writer.

Despite its success in the First Chapters' contest, one might think that the structure of Fire Bell in the Night would not lend itself to such a competition. The Prologue and Chapter One (essentially an introduction to the plot) don't introduce the reader to the novel's main character, John Sharp. However, not only are the first two sections well-written and interesting, they are brilliantly used to elevate the reader to a position of superior knowledge from that of the characters in the novel. This technique creates for the reader a feeling of comfort, empowerment. No matter how little one may know of the antebellum south, Charleston, or the details leading to the Civil War, the reader never feels lectured. That's not to say that Edwards doesn't educate. He effortlessly describes the vital details of the period in ways that are both fascinating and entertaining.

We follow young reporter, John Sharp, as he covers a story about a white southerner on trial for aiding a runaway slave. A guilty verdict would result in a sentence of death. As if that were not tension enough, the novel takes place just a decade prior to the Civil War, the bloodiest era of our nation's history. As the novel progresses, one senses that with increasing rapidity, matches are being struck on a powder keg.

On his first major assignment away from the familiarity of New York City, John attracts an array of interesting characters which Edwards describes with efficient details. The characters stand out as real people, and we feel after a short time, as though we know them. But can we trust them? Regardless, they effortlessly guide John through a story that is both timeless and unique.

Containing masterful language, Fire Bell in the Night will entertain, intoxicate, infuriate, and enlighten. Ultimately it may challenge the reader's perception of an era that is often all too willingly and conveniently overlooked. For those of us who enjoy freedom and equality, slavery and its racial implications for our nation is a topic difficult to examine. Without preaching, this novel explores many of the values we hold dear. It asks us keep an open mind about other people, to discard stereotypes, but does so while entertaining. In sum, I encourage any readers interested in history, or human nature to read Fire Bell in the Night and prepare to be transported to antebellum Charleston, South Carolina.

My Lord.

Charleston was hot in June of l850. There had been a slave uprising and a white family was brutally murdered. The tension was at its height. There had been several fires through out the city. People were afraid of whose house would go up in flames next. On top of everything else Darcy Calhoun a white farmer's trial was ready to start. Calhoun was accused of harboring a slave. John Sharp a New York reporter had arrived to get the story on the Calhoun case. John a greenhorn was determined to uncover the truth. This is a most interesting book of the tension among our nation before the war. Edwards is very talented writer. By Ruth Thompson author of "The Bluegrass Dream" and "Natchez Above The River

What a pleasant surprise this novel turned out to be! It has most of the best elements of fine literature: a thoroughly engaging plot, excellent research, cleverly drawn characters with distinct goals, and a fish-out-of-water protagonist. Although the story focuses on the pre-Civil War South, there are a few passages that resonate with our modern society (not slavery, of course, but other issues). Also, the author slyly shows dual sides of the thorny issue of slavery and justice. The middle section, set mostly on the plantation, drags a bit and Sharp's arrival there requires a touch of willing suspension of disbelief, but no more than any similar novel. The finale, however, is both surprising and satisfying. Put this novel on your bookshelf beside E.L. Doctorow's The March.

Amazing, amazing, amazing! This is a fantastic book that is written in the era preceding the Civil War. It gives a picture of life back in those days and the animosity that grew between the North and the South. I loved the historical details and the way the story line develops. You need to read the entire book or you will miss the heart and soul of the book. If you only like to read fluffy beach time books this may not be for you...although sometimes I like those too.