Harrowing historical fiction.

„Here 120 men, women, and children were massacred in cold blood in early September. They were from Arkansas.“ ~ Inscription by US Cavalry, marking a mass grave at Mountain Meadows, Utah.

As this quote at the start of the book makes clear, „None Left to Tell“ tells the fictionalized story of the Mountain Meadows Massacre that took place in Southern Utah in September 1857, culminating on September 11, 1857. It was one of the deadliest massacres on US soil before 9/11/2021.

Though the story‘s aim is, per the author‘s note at the end, not „us-versus-them“, the novel is in fact told through the eyes of three women that find themselves on very different sides of the events taking place:

- Katrina „Kit“ Huff is a 38-years old mother of four from Arkansas, making the trek West through Utah with her family to give her sick daughter the chance of a better future.

- Lucy Robinson, also a mother of four, is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (also historically referred to as „Mormon“) who helped settle the town of Fillmore, Utah with her husband after having fled from religious persecution in New York, Missouri and Illinois.

- Kahpeputz / Sally is a Native American girl kidnapped from the Bannock people as a young girl and gifted to the household of Brigham Young, then president and prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, as a servant. At seventeen, she was then given to Chief Kanosh of the Paiute, residing in Corn Creek, Utah, as his fourth wife.

As the emigrants from Arkansas pass through Utah territory on their way to California, the lives of these women intersect inevitably and with devastating consequences, which the author compiles into a superbly written and deeply moving novel.

The most harrowing historical fiction is the one where you are told in the beginning (or already know) the horrific ending of the events covered in the book, yet the story is written in such an engaging and moving way that you keep hoping for a different outcome. „None Left to Tell“ does exactly that. You know the massacre is looming, is inevitable in its historic certainty, and yet you cannot stop imagining different futures for protagonists you know are doomed, so that when the worst still happens, it is even more haunting heartbreaking. Therein, then, lies the true strength of this book, and the whole first part was absolutely shattering, gripping, and devastating.

On the other hand, the whole second part of the book with its dramatized descriptions of the massacre’s aftermath fell fairly flat for me in comparison. An utterly unnecessary romance is one thing. It is another thing completely to have a character who historians believe met a very different end have a completely new/fictional storyline, regardless of my hopes for her story to have a happy ending. While it is inherent to historical fiction that - besides the bare facts of what we can prove happened - most of it is made up, this rubbed me the wrong way. The same can be said for making some protagonists - in this case, the ones based on the author‘s own ancestors, of all people! - out to be active participants in the massacre and its aftermath in the book only to have to specify in the afterword that they did not, to the author’s knowledge, have a role in any of it.

For me personally, the stunning, harrowing way in which the tragedy was brought to life in the first part of the book was somewhat cheapened by these storylines. In fact, it seems to me that simply stating the known facts of what happened after the massacre to the people the protagonists in the book are based on - similarly to the epilogue at the end of a movie based on true events - would have been more impactful (and respectful) than that.

Interestingly, the book‘s afterword makes it clear that the author grew up as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints herself, but before you think she has unconscious, favorable bias towards the „Mormons“ in this story, the afterword actually gives the impression that she has since left the Church, suggesting a different kind of unconscious bias. In fact, of the three women protagonists, Lucy comes off as the most morally ambiguous, despite being based on the author’s own ancestors.

Similarly, speaking from a research point of view, there was definitely some intentional selection of the historical sources quoted in the book to fit a specific narrative.

There is no question that the perpetrators of the Mountain Meadows Massacre were, by and large, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, in particular local church leaders. In fact, the Church itself very clearly acknowledges this in its account of the massacre:

“What was done … long ago by members of our Church represents a terrible and inexcusable departure from Christian teaching and conduct... We express profound regret for the massacre …. A separate expression of regret is owed to the Paiute people who have unjustly borne for too long the principal blame for what occurred during the massacre. … [T]hey would not have participated without the direction and stimulus provided by local Church leaders and members.“

However, the book’s strongly suggested involvement by Brigham Young himself has never been conclusively proven. Seemingly presenting evidence of the presumed guilt of Church officials on all levels, some direct historical quotes from Young in the book are actually taken out of context to *only* include inflammatory speech given against the backdrop of the Utah War. Missing is, for example, Young’s direct order to the men in lying siege to the wagon trains in Mountain Meadow, dated September 10, 1857, that „you must not meddle with them [the emigration trains passing through the Utah settlements].“ To not include both seems historically inaccurate.

All in all, while not perfect, „None Left to Tell“ covers a horrible event sensibly, with deep empathy and haunting, unflinching prose that never resorts to unnecessarily gory descriptions of a tragedy that is still unknown to many. It is an often difficult read, and all the more important because of it.

Thanks to Dynamite Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

„None Left to Tell“ is slated to be released on October 10, 2024.

Absolutely heartbreaking story! It was my first time hearing of this horrible event. Even though it was a very sad story to read I loved how it was written and the awareness of what truly happened.

None Left to Tell is a powerful and gripping historical novel that brings to life the harrowing events surrounding the Mountain Meadows Massacre, one of the darkest chapters in U.S. history. Through the perspectives of three women—Lucy, Katrina, and Sally—the novel delves deep into the personal toll of religious persecution, survival, and revenge.

The novel shines in its vivid portrayal of frontier life and the tension between settlers and the unforgiving land they occupy. The author’s depiction of the events leading up to the massacre is both haunting and thought-provoking, providing insight into how fear and fanaticism can spiral into unimaginable violence.

None Left to Tell is not just a story of tragedy but also of resilience, showing how, even in the darkest moments, people can find strength to survive. A must-read for fans of historical fiction!!!!

Historical fiction based on the 1857 Mountain Meadow Massacre, NONE LEFT TO TELL is an emotionally charged story of three women who will stand their ground in the face of outstanding odds against them. Noelle Ihli is best known for her thrillers, yet brings her considerable writing skills to bear in a story not so well known in history and brings it to life in a manner where readers will feel the adrenaline as the characters prepare to fight and protect their community. It seems Ihli is more than a thriller writer, she's a woman of awesome skills.

This is absolutely my favorite read of this year. And I'm over 130 deep so far.

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book and I put it off until the last minute. I knew from the intro and the content warning that it was going to be an emotional read and I didn't have that in me at the time. Once I started I could not stop.

This is my first book by this author but her writing is so descriptive you feel like you're there. I was genuinely immersed in the book the entire time. It had me emotional at about 10% of the way through and in tears at 25%. And the book continued to make me cry. The story is so powerful.

If you read the Dear America journal series growing up, this feels like the adult version. Obviously based on true events, but from a very relatable perspective. Three female POV's in part one and part two.

I can not recommend this book enough. I just know it's going to stay in my mind and heart for a long time. Please read the content advisory before you read. But please read.

Noelle is a master author…. Her books are like a skein of yarn. While she carefully spools all these threads of characters and storylines together to make one big ball of a colorful story.
I was truly impressed more so by her Authors story in and the background of how she came to write this book. Growing up we were never told the hidden secrets of the American people. It’s not all what our history books tell us, yes a lot is dark and scary. What Noelle does here is shed light on a very important story of Americas Dark History in a way that you are sympathetic to all involved.

None Left to Tell
by Noelle West Ihli
Pub Date: Oct. 10, 2024
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Based on true events, None Left to Tell is the story of the Mountain Meadows Massacre.

**This book contains some graphic descriptions of violence, including violence against children; the death of a child; and a non-graphic scene involving the death of an animal. It also includes outdated and racially insensitive phrases and words about Native people, endemic to the time period.""
Ihli clearly poured her heart into this story, and the attention to detail is impressive. It’s a beautiful yet heartbreaking tale that shines a light on a tragic part of American history that deserves more recognition. While the story starts a bit slow, the emotional depth and powerful themes make it a must-read.

Bravo to Noelle West Ihli for another captivating novel! This story is both special and touching, leaving you with a lot to think about. If you haven’t heard of the Mountain Meadows Massacre before, this book will definitely change that!

Based on true events, None Left to Tell follows 3 women during one of the deadliest massacres in American history. Lucy, a Mormon wife, was driven out of Illinois 10 years ago by an anti-Mormon mob. She is now living in Utah when the same people that drove her out of her home are traveling through on their way to California. Katrina is a mom of four and is one of the people making her way to California with her husband and children. Sally is a newly married women who is the now fourth wife of a prominent figure in her community. The marriage was not her choice and she is struggling to come to terms with her new life. How will their stories all interconnect? And will any of them survive the massacre that is upon them.
Review:
3.5 stars
I had read a couple of Noelle's books prior to reading None Left to Tell and have really enjoyed them. I know her writing to be thriller based, but this book is much more a historical fiction read based on true events than thriller. I think it is important to understand that before picking this one up. I am not a historical fiction reader, and found myself having a hard time getting into this book. This is not a bad book by any means, I am just not the targeted audience for this one. I did find myself getting more invested around the half way point. The writing is superb as always with Noelle's storytelling. The overall story is heartbreaking and devastating to say the least. I found myself getting attached to the characters and feeling their despair and heartbreak. It is extremely evident that this story means a lot to Noelle and she put a lot of time and effort into bringing awareness to a massacre that a lot of people have never heard of (myself included). I commend her for taking on that challenge and think she did an incredible job!
None Left to Tell publishes on 10/10 and I recommend picking this one up if you enjoy historical fiction based on real events.
Thank you to NetGalley, Noelle West Ihli, and Dynamite Books for this ARC of None Left to Tell in exchange for an honest review.

Noelle Ilhi is an auto read author for me and I was so pumped for this ARC. Her books are always fast paced and they are all so different which is even more of a testament to her talent.

None Left to Tell pulls you right into the lives of three women caught in the chaos surrounding the Mountain Meadows Massacre that happened in Utah. Lucy is done being passive and is ready to confront the men who wronged her family. Katrina just wants to survive the journey to California but finds herself facing unimaginable dangers. While Sally, forced into a polygamous marriage, has to figure out where her loyalties lie when her new husband gets involved in a dangerous plot for revenge.

I will admit this one is a bit heavier and I’m not okay, and won’t be okay for awhile after reading this. The stories from the three women’s perspectives were heartbreaking yet so thrilling and left me understanding each women’s motivations. There's something about reading a story based on historical events that’s so much harder as you can’t separate life from fiction and it becomes so much more impactful. The research was done so well and respectful and I’m shocked I had never heard of this before.

If you enjoy historical fiction with strong female leads and high stakes, this book will grab your attention but be prepared for heart wrenching moments.

Thank you very much to Dynamite Books, NetGalley and the author for providing me this ARC in return for an honest review.

None Left to Tell is a harrowing story of a mass slaying in Utah in the 1800s.

First things first - this is not a thriller as it blatantly says on the cover. This is a historical fiction of a lesser known tragedy in American history. If anything, it's more true crime coded. This does not hinder the story (which is great) and is not the fault of the author but it is being marketed incorrectly.

This was such an interesting look into the dynamics of Paiute tribe, Mormons, and a emigrant wagon caravan. Told through interconnected stories of 3 women, we see a different side to this story and the toll the massacre took on all parties.

Overall a very satisfying and interesting journey, if not utterly heart wrenching. Noelle W. Ihli added so much humanity into None Left to Tell and leaves us with a broader knowledge of a part of history that has been hidden for a long time.

Thank you to Netgalley, Dynamite Books and Xpresso Book Tours for this ARC the below review is of my own thoughts.

None Left to Tell is a historical fiction book based on the events of the Mountain Meadow Massacre. The story is mostly done in three POVs Lucy, Katrina and Sally.

Lucy a mormon who has been pushed out of her previous hometowns by anti-mormons is now ready to take a stand.

Katrina, is part of the people journeying on the wagon trail accompanied by her family, her husband, four children and brother in law's family and others. She knows the journey to California is not going to be easy but she is willing to do whatever it takes to protect her family.

Sally has been "gifted" as a fourth wife and has never felt part of her new tribe. However, when her husband wants acts of revenge against another group, Sally is faced with having to stand up to what feels right to her.

This was my first ever historical fiction book and the first time reading a book that is based on true events. I saw a lot of people talking about this author and this book on social media, that is why I decided to apply for the book and read it and I am so glad I did. I had never heard of the Mountain Meadow Massacre before and I learned so much with this book.

In my opinion, Noelle W. Ilhi did an amazing job telling this story and made it very captivating for the readers. I could tell how much research went into this book and I enjoyed how much historical detail was present in the story, making me learn more about this subject. This was my first book by this author but it certainly will not be my last.

I read Ask Andrea and really liked it. So when I saw Noelle West Ihli had another novel coming out, I was quick to put my request in for an ARC. First and foremost - this book is nothing like Ask Andrea. None Left to Tell is a retelling of a five-day attack outside Cedar City that resulted in the killing of 120 men women and children and was one of the deadliest massacres on US soil prior to September 11th, 2001. The author did an excellent job telling this story - it was rough to get through. Please read the content warnings. Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review None Left to Tell. I don’t think this story was covered with the respect it should have been.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

when I first read the synopsis for this book I was hesitant on how I would feel about it, since this is a bit different than the other books by this author but I really enjoyed my time. you can tell the author took a lot of time to do research on the subject and then take that information and turn it into a good fictional story. I do love that the author used some of real names for the characters. I did not know anything about this massacre before this book and it got me excited to do my own research and learn more. I highly recommend giving this book a try!

Heartbreaking saga based on a true events. Definitely not what I expected after reading all Ihli’s previous books, but was pleasantly surprised. This book tells the story of three women who are trying to survive what ends up being one of the worst massacres in US history. Well written story of perseverance in the worst situation possible.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for this ARC!
This is the first book that I have read from this author, and it was truly a wonderful reading experience.
My exposure to this author is in the thriller genre, and I have to give a fair warning to any potential readers that this is not the kind of thriller one may expect from this author, but it was absolutely worth time put forth to read this fictional story that is based on true events.
This is a part of our history that I was completely ignorant to, so thank you to the author for educating me…what a powerful story and sad pattern of events that are captured here.

A novel based on true event of the Mountain Meadow Massacre, None Left To Tell was a difficult read for me for a couple of reasons.
• Book’s genre was listed as a thriller so I went in blindly to request it based on the Author’s previous work. The book should have been listed as Historical Fiction.
• I was very unfamiliar with this series of events but I felt as though the story dragged on a bit longer than necessary.

Overall this was an ok read for me. Very informative on the historical event and told the story of 3 brave, strong women during a very difficult time. Thank you NetGalley, Noelle W Ihli and publisher for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

I was lucky enough to be selected for an ARC for this book, and let me just tell you this was an incredible read! The fact that this was based off of true events, the pain and emotions were so real! The way each character was written had me second guessing if I was there with them! So good! This story definitely took my breath away, the twists, the turns and the most brutal massacre in history, if your not familiar with the Mountain Meadow Massacre, it was one of the most brutal massacres in US history which occurred during the Utah war in 1857. This book drops on October 10th so go get yourself a copy, you won't be disappointed!!

3.75 stars
Historical fiction with thrilling moments
Slow paced
Multiple POVs (3)

3 women connected to the brutal Mountains Meadow Massacre. Not what I expected. Heartbreaking and hard to read.

I had a REALLY hard time getting into this book. Unfortunately, i got 40% of the way through and i could not continue to finish it. It says a Thriller on the cover, but it reads more like a historical fiction novel. I read Noelle’s last book, Ask Andrea, so I was excited for this one. But while it was yes very beautifully written, it just was not exciting for me enough to keep my attention. I am so sorry to say that. I know other reviews I have read loved it but it just is not for me.

3 stars

For what this book was it was good. However I just grabbed it because the I saw the authors name and liked her other books I have read from her

I did not realize this was not really a thriller and more of a historical fiction. I may have passed knowing it was not really a thriller. It’s definitely nice to branch out and read other genres it just was not what I was expecting.

If you are a history buff I think you would be super into this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.