William Shefski

Shot Tower: Harry and Silas Make the Big Shoot William Shefski

Publisher Marketing: History-mystery. Shot Tower is historical fiction set in the U. S. Civil War era. Teen friends Harry and Silas, the former the son of Irish immigrants, the latter a black from a Quaker family, travel South in search of the murderer of Harry's mother. They witness the naval assault on Port Royal Sound. It's a loud affair and becomes known to the locals afterwards as "The Big Shoot." Harry left his sweetheart behind while Silas encounters a romance on their adventure. They track down the suspected culprit but learn they may have the wrong man. "The history and emotion in this work of fiction fuse together to form a powerful book that takes on many dimensions as the plot develops. The characters' bewilderment is palpable as they arrive in the New World and fight in a bloody civil war tearing apart a new nation that cares little for its recent immigrants' lives. But that's just the background to the engaging mystery young Harrison Cormack must solve, the murder of his beloved mother before the imposing presence of the Shot Tower. This landmark becomes a complex symbol of not only the oppression of developing industrial society, but also the power that men hold over each other's fates. All in all this book makes for a tantalizing read as soon as the second chapter. Especially amusing and interesting are the familial quips and tales of Irish culture and history. Shot Tower made me both smile and feel sorrowful. This is a wonderful read, and worthy of publication by a major press. I look forward to the rest of the series." - Sean Lynch, a reader