This is a voluntary review for a complimentary ARC kindly provided by NetGalley and the author/publisher.

I generally love historical-based books but I struggled with Rednecks. The dialogue took some getting used to but did smooth out once the story proceeded. There’s lots of information here that a certain audience will love but it was a tough one to stay with.

Several years ago after reading The Gods of Howl Mountain I planned on reading more by Taylor Brown, but until now, haven't. Based on this, Rednecks, I will keep that vow. His writing is sharp, meaty and exceedingly well researched. He is passionate about his subjects and makes sure the details align with reality, nothing romanticized to increase readership. Here we have the story that John Sayles began with his 1987 movie, Matewan. About the West Virginia/Kentucky coal miner wars of the early 1920's. The bloodiest, most violent and cruel, ruinous war fought on American soil since the Civil War. Brown does create some characters so this is not a wholly nonfictional account. But he does so realistically, with respect. Intermingled with actual personalities from the time, the fictionalized characters round out the population and make emotions and conversations possible, but this doesn't distract from the overall power of this book. Highly recommended.

Rednecks is an intriguing historical fiction novel about the Battle of Blair Mountain in 1920. This provided me with a ton of insight into the conditions between the coal miners, and their work in unhealthy conditions which led to a civil uprising.

Rednecks is an incredible book where the plot is a historical event that most haven't ever heard of but should be more well-known. The book is well-written, and the author did an incredible job bringing the story to life. The characters captivate you from the beginning of the story and carry on throughout the story. Once I began the story, I couldn't put it down. I was immersed in the setting and felt an entire range of emotions while reading this novel.

Thank you so much to the publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me to preview an ARC of the novel.

My very first ARC (advanced reader copy)!

This was such an interesting read! It was filled with so much information that I found myself telling multiple family members about different things I had learned. For example: Redneck, the term, doesn’t come from necks being burned while working in the sun but from the red bandanas the coal miners wore when they took up for their rights and stormed the holds of King Coal. I also learned that the @nytimes still has articles about Smilin’ Sid Hatfield available to read on their app!

I would highly recommend this book. Even if history isn’t necessarily your preferred genre. This book has everything: adventure, information, and compelling characters (Doc Moo!! Big Frank!!).

I am so thankful to @stmartinspress for my FIRST ever ARC. I am so excited to be given the chance to read more books this year! thank you to @netgalley for the opportunity to request books. And last, but not least, thank you @taylorbrown82 for writing a story that is full of information, adventure, and most importantly love.

"Rednecks" by Taylor Brown is a historical fiction book about a battle you may not have heard of - The Battle of Blair Mountain. This battle took place in West Virginia in the early 1920s. Mining conditions were horrible back in the 1920s and since owners called all the shots, miners were necessary but disposable. This book is definitely slanted in the pro-union side - and fiery Mother Jones makes a few appearances. Would I have liked this book a little more balanced regarding the “sides,” maybe - but I think the characters are what really sold this book. Frank, Dr. Moo, Musa, Mama B, Smilin’ Sid, and others capture different aspects of this story wonderfully. I think this book would be made into a great TV movie of some sort - it’s got depth, action, motives, and community. I’ve already recommended this book to someone who likes both Mother Jones and history. Very well written, very well researched, and overall a very well done book.

During 1920 to 1921 in the hills of West Virginia, striking mine workers and company men faced off against one another in a forgotten war. Over one million bullets were fired, bombs were dropped, and men died in droves. This book singles out a handful of characters including Doc Moo a Lebanese-American, Frank Hugham, a black miner and Smilin Sid Hatfield, the town’s sheriff.

This was a well written and engaging book - I had a hard time putting it down! I was amazed that this battle was fought on American soil, but is not mentioned in the history books. I am also fascinated by the history of labor relations in the US and how workers struggled and fought for their rights. Overall, highly recommended!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This is a story about a war in West Virginia between coal miners and the owners of the mines. Coal miners are expected to work 6 days a week for 12 hours a day risking their lives just to scrape by making a living. The owners of the mines have hired thugs to bully miners into working in terrible conditions, taking away their houses and putting all of their belongings in the streets when anyone is thought to be considering joining a union.
It is always mind blowing to me that these types of things were happening in the United States just in the last century. The things that these miners and their families had to endure just to survive is so appalling and it was just the way things were back then!
On a side note, I absolutely loved Dr. Moo and he was my favorite character in this book.
This is a great story for anyone that likes a realistic historical fiction. It seremed a bit repetitive to me, but overall was a decent read.

Historical fiction can be such an underrated and unappreciated genre but this author not only brings the story to life but does it in a way that does justice to the truth in the story. The characters are real and honest and captivate you alongside the story. The writing style feels historically accurate as well. Highly, HIGHLY recommend this book if you want a fun quick read that tells a good and TRUE story.

Rednecks was a piece of history lost in the history books. Considered the "Second Civil War," it begins with the Matewan Massacre, and heading into the Battle of Tug, it follows Dr. "Moo" as he battles which side to take, Coal Miners, or "King Coal" and the business men. While his internal struggle allow him to treat the victims on both sides of this bloody battle between the working man and the rich man, he eventually reaches a point of no return, where he is forced to pick a side, choosing those in his town, the working man.

This story follows both sides of the battle, but focuses on the struggles the coal miners endured throughout this "war." There was a lot of research put into this story, a little fiction in the characters and how the story played out, and a clear, descriptive history of this event that goes unnoticed. The depth of a battles was a little much for me at times, but also very necessary in setting the tone and understand the severity of the fighting.

Note: LinkedIn won't link and has not for months... ironic, right??? So I posted it there on its own.

Synopsis (From Netgalley, the provider of the book to review)
*******************************************************
It is a historical drama based on the Battle of Blair Mountain, pitting a multi-ethnic army of 10,000 coal miners against mine owners, state militia, and the United States government in the largest labour uprising in American history.

Rednecks is a tour de force, big canvas historical novel that dramatizes the 1920 to 1921 events of the West Virginia Mine Wars--from the Matewan Massacre through the Battle of Blair Mountain, the largest armed conflict on American soil since the Civil War when some one million rounds were fired, bombs were dropped on American soil, and the term “redneck” would come to have an unexpected origin story.

Featuring real-life and invented characters--men and women, adults and children, Black and white and immigrants from many countries who worked in the dangerous West Virginia coal mines--Rednecks tells a dramatic story of rebellion against oppression. Taylor Brown introduces crucial point of view characters: "Doc Moo" Muhanna, a Lebanese-American doctor (inspired by the author’s own great-grandfather) who serves the mining camps; Frank Hugham, a Black miner who helps lead the miners' revolt; Frank's mother Beulah, who fights to save her home and her son; and true-life folk hero "Smilin" Sid Hatfield, a sharp-shooting sheriff who dares to stand up to the “gun thugs” of the coal companies. These and other characters come fully to life in a propulsive, character-driven tale that’s both a century old and blisteringly contemporary: a story of unexpected friendship, heroism in the face of injustice, and the power of love and community against outsized odds.

Through inspired portraits of real-life characters including legendary union organizer Mother Jones, to dynamic battle scenes set in the West Virginia hill country, award-winning novelist Taylor Brown reimagines one of the most compelling events in 20th-century American history.

Being Canadian, I had never heard of this strike before but on a cold winter night, this was a great book to snuggle in with. Lots of facts for those of us ignorant of the strike, and well written to not read as nonfiction but as a gripping historical novel. Perfect for individual readers and books-clubs alike: #shortbutsweetreviews

They should make this book into a movie, however, if they were true to the written word, I would not watch it. It would be too bloody and gory, and horrifying to watch the reality that is portrayed in these pages. It is difficult for me to comprehend that I never heard of this battle in West Virginia, on American soil with dirty bombs and US Army involvement. I was engrossed in the story and highly appreciated the writing style and accounts of the fights for human rights that was realistic enough to get the point across of the horror of it all, but not gory for the sake of gore. This is a new author to me, but I will definitely be checking out his previous books and will be on the lookout for his next one. I wish I could give this book 10 stars instead of five. Thank you to NetGalley for the advance read copy.

The story of the coal miners fighting for better work conditions and wages. The miners worked very long hours, 6 days a week in the dark, using shovels and pick axes for a poverty wage, while the owners got rich.
When they complained and organizers began to unionize, the coal miners were kicked out of their shacks and new workers brought in. For months they lived in tents, starving and cold until they rebelled. A magnificent account of the deadliest rebellion where over a million shots were fired. Based on fact with fictional fill ins. An excellent reminder of how and why we have unions today.

Another brilliant novel by Brown. I have read all his books to date and he is such a wonderful author. I live in this area and had no idea about this situation happening. His books are always such a joy.

This novel brings to mind the lyrics of the mournful Merle Travis folk song, “Sixteen Tons.” One can’t help but hear the words sung by either of these proud “rednecks”  Tennessee Ernie Ford or Johnny Cash. “You load 16 tons, what do ya get? Another day older and deeper in debt … I owe my soul to the company store.” Clearly, the labor of West Virginia miners in the 20’s was essential for the world economy, yet their welfare was poorly appreciated by corporate owners and a complicit government. Brown’s novel emphasizes the cruel injustices that the miners faced as well as their heroism and comraderies. Their violent struggle has been lost to history because, as Brown points out, the history is told be the winners. Despite the shocking nature of what Brown depicts in this novel, many of the underlying issues have yet to be fully resolved. Union busting and corporate/government collusion still present problems for society.

The focuses of the story are the violent confrontations in the 20’s between the coal barons along with their hired thugs and politicians versus miners in Metewan and especially Blair Mountain. Conditions were inhumane, including long hours below ground, constant danger, low pay, a shortened lifespan, and an oppressive system that bordered on slavery. The latter included payment in script that was only good in the company stores, laissez faire medical care, and company owned housing that could be withdrawn at any time leaving families homeless and destitute.

Brown tells the story in exquisite detail using a combination of actual historical figures (e.g., "Smilin" Sid Hatfield and Mother Jones) and fictional characters who are loosely based on actual people (e.g., "Doc Moo" Muhanna, Frank Hugham, and Frank’s mother Miss Beulah). Brown’s narrative imagines the humanity of these people along with the extreme level of violence that took place during the uprising. Human life was unmistakably cheapened. He conveys senses of hopelessness and rage that undoubtedly pervaded the outgunned miners. If the novel has any shortcoming, it might be a lack of balance in the telling. He represents the miner side as almost universally high minded and heroic, while the owners and their supporters are shown as greedy, almost depraved, and undoubtedly racist. Their symbol of red bandanas worn around the neck persists to this day as a racist meme.

The description of the book seemed interesting, so I wanted to check the story out. Unfortunately, it is not working for me right now. It is nothing against the story or the author, but I couldn't get into the story/characters. I may try and find a physical copy to add the my library when it is released, though, because I think my readers could like it!

Rednecks by Taylor Brown is a well written historical fiction that I had such a hard time putting away.
A brilliantly-written adventure story. A captivating time in history, well-paced plot, lovable, but flawed characters.
The rich details given by the author were very satisfying, and made the history come alive. And the beautiful prose, I found myself immersed in this literary fiction.

Thank You NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

I read this book with an eye toward purchase for my history buffs at the high school level, and it did not disappoint. A compelling narrative nonfiction that will resonate with my blue collar population.

Most people have heard of the ongoing struggles of miners against the owners of coal companies, but Rednecks illuminates a very specific episode largely absent from histories of the United States. In the early part of the 20th century, an actual war was fought by men whose only crime was wanting decent working conditions and a living wage in exchange for back-breaking work. The miners and their families were cruelly abused by hired thugs, wealthy local volunteers, and, eventually, by American soldiers. (It was ironic that many of the miners were veterans of the First World War, who wore the same uniforms that they wore in the trenches of Europe.) The term "Rednecks," which has become a slur against certain people, actually refers to the red bandanas worn by the miners.
Taylor Brown writes beautifully about tragic events. He creates powerful characters alongside of actual historical persons like Mother Jones and Sid Hatfield. The book is long but it never lags. I felt as if I were present for the brutal battles of Blair Mountain.
While I am glad to have read this book, I would not say i enjoyed it. I have never liked reading or watching fight scenes, battles, or assassinations and Rednecks is almost completely devoted to such horrors. There are a few plesant scenes - a young boy's first kiss, an old woman petting her dog, a family enjoying ice cream sundaes - but these were brief and soon gave way to tragedy.
One caveat - the people were, without exception, either good or bad, heros or villains, saints or sinners. Real people are more complex and I would have preferred that the author acknowledged that truth in his characterizations.
I appreciate the opportunity given me by NetGalley to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

A great read about the coal miners & families & what they went through trying to form a union to insure that they would get fair pay for all the back breaking work they did in the coal mines.
This takes place in mostly the Appalachian mountains and much if not all is based on fact.
The author certainly did his homework & I would highly recommend this read as it's very enjoyable.
A thank you to netgalley for offering this free read to it's members.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Let me just start off with :This man can write! There are authors who can tell a story and those that use complicated prose that makes your mind really work to figure out what is happening. Taylor pains us a picture so real that you FEEL what it is like to be one of the miners who labor days by day is 4 foot tall tunnels, their lungs sucking in the black dust, all the while the robber barrons live a life of elegance. When the minors DARE ask for some basic human rights they are denied . When they insist and dare join a union they are thrown out of their company shacks and forced to move their families in to shoddy tents. When they dare strike, they are murdered in cold blood by company thugs with the approval of the sheriff , and the governor.
This story tells of the battle to wins their rights, where 10,000 minors came from all over the area to find their powerful oppressor in the bloodiest battle on US soil since the civil war. Though the characters are fictional, you wont soon forget them. Recommend.