Review of The Gravel Pits

[ThankGod Onyishi]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Gravel Pits" by Richard Moorman.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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The Gravel Pits, set in the 1800s and written by Richard Moorman, is a sad tale of actions, consequences, and the ripple effect. How much effect can one singular action have? How powerful can the actions of a single man be?

Dan Farley, young and ambitious, falls in love with Alice, the daughter of his employer, who is a vile man. Their love is cut short, though, when Bruiser catches wind of it. A swift punishment is meted out to him, and he is forced to flee. While away, he takes a job as a shepherd, and soon after, he becomes friends with Brody. He receives news about his baby boy and, excitedly, begins to make plans for his return and his marriage to the mother of the baby and the love of his life. Bruiser appears again on the night of the wedding to end things. A fight ensues, which sets in motion a series of events that irrevocably change the lives of every single person. Faced with a life of uncertainties and fear, what becomes of Dan, his great love, and their innocent son?

The Gravel Pits is an interesting book full of suspense and intrigue. I enjoyed it despite the sadness cloaking it. I loved that the book followed each character into the next one. Man, wife, and son told the story from their perspectives, making it more realistic. It was easy to relate to the young, loving Alice and then to the twelve-year-old Levi. I also liked the real depictions of the horrors of that time, slave labor, and black discrimination, acknowledging the crucial part played by these factors. I also found it fascinating how almost all of the tragedies in the book could be traced back to the single actions of Jack Riley, even up till years after.

I did dislike the ending of the book, though. There was no form of closure, and I think the author could have done better with the ending, even if it is in anticipation of the sequel. Also, it was a bit weird how Levi, who was exposed to a lot very early and portrayed to have matured above his age, didn't act it. For instance, how he behaved with Raven, how easily he accepted his detainment, and his sudden derailment into addiction.

I would give this book a rating of 4 out of 5 stars. Despite the negative aspects, I still find it an interesting book, hence its high rating.

I recommend this book to anyone that likes historical fiction. I would also recommend it to anyone interested in the stories of crime families.

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The Gravel Pits
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