Customer Reviews

Quiet Thunder (Journeys of the Stranger #6)

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I'm not usually the type to read a book unless it keeps my interest. This one did keep my interest, but just barely. This book is nothing like the others, in that this story only barely involves the Stranger. While the others in the series often spend some time developing characters before Stranger shows up, Stranger gets a lot of 'face time' in those books. This one gets deep into the book before he shows up... and he's only there for a page or two. Then, you have to wait again to nearly the end before he shows up again... and again, only for a few pages. I guess what I mean by different is, while the other books are about the "Journey's of the Stranger", this one is about the lives of these people, and how Strangers short visits have impacted their lives.

Also, this book makes heavy use of real historical people. Although this is a novel (ie. fiction), it makes me wonder how much truth the author has put in it too, as I get the impression he is very well read on this subject. That said, I wouldn't rely on it as history. I mean, remember that novel (fiction) that Dan Brown wrote that so many thought was based on real history? :O)

The sixth book in the "Journeys of the Stranger" series isn't really about John Stranger at all. Stranger makes two appearances in "Quiet Thunder," influencing characters in the story as only he can. Yet the story is really of two young men who are unlikely friends--an American Indian and a white American soldier at the time of General Custer.

The actual historical event aspect of this "Journey of the Stranger" novel is unique to it, too. The other six books are pure fiction set in the days of the Wild West. Quiet Thunder takes us to the Battle of Little Big Horn and involves real people who were part of that historical event. I enjoyed the story, told in Lacy's western style. But it was more of a stand alone historical novel than one of the Stranger's journeys.

"Quiet Thunder" begins just before the births of the two main characters and spans the first 25 years or so of their lives. Readers see their friendship begin and deepen in spite of battles over land and rights. Their encounters become less frequent and more challenging as tensions mount between their cultures. Yet Quiet Thunder and Thane Tyler determine to remain true friends and to honor their status as blood brothers through all that takes place.

In the introduction, Lacy tells us that he wrote this book to honor his wife's family history. If this time period interests you, I recommend this book.