4.5 stars
I’ve mentioned before in my reviews about how much I enjoy knowing the inspiration for a story and Jack Ford did not disappoint me as he wonderfully describes in his note at the end of this book how Kitty Payne’s story first came to him. Ford’s affinity for courthouses is natural given his background and long career in law and it was while visiting a courthouse from the 1800’s in a small village in Virginia that he first discovered Kitty Payne’s story. He read a plaque that said “KITTY PAYNE***FREEDOM LOST AND REGAINED” and a brief description of her journey. Thus began his interest and subsequent research that led to this remarkable fictional depiction of Kitty Payne.

She was born to a slave woman, fathered by the master, Sam Maddox. When Maddox dies, his death bed wish to his wife Mary is that she free Kitty and her three children. Things become complicated when Maddox’s vile nephew tries to contest the will and get ownership of all of his uncle’s assets including his slaves. What follows is a perilous journey on the Underground Railroad with slave catchers on their trail, as Mary tries to follow through with her husband’s wishes by taking Kitty and her children to Pennsylvania to declare their freedom. While this is the story of one woman, it is so much more. It’s a story that reflects the time and place, the acceptance and rejection of slavery, a story on one level of unfailing friendship and on another level the goodness and courage of the many strangers along the way who risked their lives to bring slaves to freedom. It’s also a legal drama, skillfully drawn by Ford in the riveting court proceedings at the end. It’s a well researched work of historical fiction with the majority of the characters representing actual people and the majority of the events based on fact.

This would have been 5 stars if weren’t for the initial feel of being over written with way too many adjectives in the early chapters. I don’t want to sound picky and I’m mentioning it here because the writing got so much better and the story so much more captivating . I would recommend that if you read it and this bothers you at first, keep reading because this book is so worth the time. I’m so glad I continued. This amazing story of a courageous woman took me out of a 3 star slump! Highly recommended.

I received an advanced copy of this book from Kensington Books through NetGalley.

A fantastic book based on real life events, Chariot on the Mountain is a fascinating tale set in the American South, almost 20 years before the Civil War. Kitty Payne was a young coloured woman, whose father was the white owner of a plantation. When he dies, she fears that she will be sold away from her children, not a groundless fear for a slave at that time, and especially not for Kitty, whose own mother was sold away when she was just a girl. Fearing the worst she flees in a desperate attempt to reach the North and freedom, not knowing that her father's dying wish was that she be granted her freedom. Despite his wife's intention to honor those wishes, it became complicated when his will is contested by a nephew, who seems determined to sell off Kitty and her children to raise some quick cash. The only solution is that Kitty flees, along with her white "mistress" and children. Using the Underground Railroad they head North, travelling at night to avoid the slave catchers hunting them down.
Though based on real life events and people, the author has had to embellish some parts to aid the flow of the book, but I feel that he has done an admirable job. The true story that he lays before the reader is so compelling that it is almost impossible to put the book down. There is a palpable sense of tension in the chapters dealing with the Underground Railroad journey, while those dealing with the ensuing and ground breaking court case would rival any legal thriller in the best seller charts. Truly a memorable and moving read.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are entirely my own.

Kitty's story takes place a about 20 years before the war between the states. Kitty was a real person and this story is full of historical information with some fictional conversations that may have taken place. The facts are documented very well and Mr. Ford has done a masterful job of weaving them into a believable story.

Set in Virginia, Kitty is the daughter of her master and a slave woman. She has been raised in the house, educated and allowed to have a relationship and children.

But what is going to happen when her master dies? Will his widow sell them just to not have to face her husband's proof of infidelity?

Mary Maddox was a wonderful lady. She decides to honor her husband's last wish which was to free Kitty and her children. 
To do so she must work with the underground railroad and take Kitty and her children to freedom in Pennsylvania. Along the way the two women develop a relationship based on trust, kindness and love.

But we have to have a bad guy and that guy was the master's own evil nephew who has no plans to let Kitty remain a free woman when she would fetch a nice price to help clear his many debts.

No sooner is Kitty a free woman than another man of color sells her out and she is beaten and tossed in a wagon and taken back home. But dear nephew has no idea what a few women on a mission can accomplish.

This book was hard to read in some parts, but true. Miraculous things happen when women get together and refuse to back down. The fact that this is some well documented history makes the story even better.  I won't spoil any of it for you though. It is a wonderful story and I am richer for having read it!

Netgalley/Kensington July 31, 2018

I read Jack Ford’s poignant and, largely, shocking revelation of one woman’s legal struggle to be recognised as ‘free’ within mid-19th century Virginia. Based on actual physical trial records from the time, Mr Ford’s fictionalised account, Chariot on the Mountain, highlights the dubious nature of, and attitudes towards, slave-holding and ownership which were once so prevalent in society. The novel left me wanting to know more about each of the characters, being an avid historical fiction reader, which Mr Ford obliges in his Epilogue, for which I am truly grateful. A satisfying and eye-opening read and highly recommended.

Based on true events, this story begins in 1845. Upon the death of her Master and biological father, Kitty's fate hangs in the balance. It is now up to his widow, Mary, to decide whether to free her (as he asked on his deathbed) or not. Yet even with her emancipation, she still must get North and away from Virginia. This story touches on the subjects of runaway slaves, freed slaves being kidnapped and the Underground Railroad that helped slaves escape to freedom. The drama surrounding this novel made it a quick read and one that I couldn't let go. My thanks to NetGalley for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.

I am drawn to stories that are based on actual events in our history, and was glad that I was able to get this book to read and review. For anyone else who likes to read this genre, please add this to your list. The book tells the story of a black woman who was born into slavery as the daughter of her master and a slave woman. But the story-telling doesn't begin there, it begins with the master's death and his wish that his wife, Mary, free Kitty and her children. This story takes place pre-Civil War, in the turbulent days when the northern states were against slavery and the southern states believed it was their God-given right to own slaves. The struggles that Mary goes through in both conscience and morality in deciding to follow through with his wishes, and the battles she has to wage against the nephew to make this happen attest to the inner strength of a woman who knows what she is doing is the right thing. She also has to get Kitty to trust that she truly is working hard to make this happen for her and her children. In the story-telling the author builds upon the growing trust and friendship between the two women as they work together to get Kitty and children to Pennsylvania through the Underground Railway where she is sure to find her freedom. However, the devious nephew has other plans for who he considers to be "his" slaves and Mary and Kitty find themselves facing other types of obstacles. Its a story about the determination of two women and how they ultimately have to challenge the laws surrounding slavery and freedom. What I also appreciated about this book was the author's explanation of how he found out about this black woman named Kitty and how he searched out the details needed to write this book. He also followed through with the "what happened after" story of Kitty and her children. Please be sure to read this section also. I received an ARC from NetGalley of this book in return for my honest review, which this is.

Based on 18% of the book. The story is pretty linear without any hooks to make it interesting. This is a story of a slave woman who tries to escape with her children in order to keep her family together. It is intertwined with a lawsuit of a man who fights with his aunt over the land and slaves his uncle left him after his death. The author brings the authentic language, which reading page after page slows down the read.

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