Christopher Zenos

I think the best way to describe this novel is Outlander meets Discovery of Witches. Considering how much I adored both of those novels, this instantly went on my to-be-re-read shelf because I honestly loved it. The opening, with such a frank description of academia (which rang incredibly true to life), drew me in, and then Carthage was such an interesting place that I could hardly put the book down. The main character, Nathan, wrestles with demons I have seen quite a bit of in those that I show more work with. Academia attracts several types of people, and to be honest, one of those types often struggles against depression (or several related troubles that are often, inappropriately I know, grouped together). In the characters growth and experiences, I found myself rooting for him, and completely wishing I could move to Carthage (except for the winters--give me somewhere warm!). A little interesting twist on the inhabitants, and well, I was all in. I don't want to give away too much, because that's part of the allure of the novel, but this was an amazing book that I highly recommend. I'll be re-reading it this autumn for sure.

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this novel in exchange for a review (and LibraryThing for facilitating!) show less

Some novels approach time travel in a simplistic way. Hop aboard a time machine and set the date, or make a wish to go back in time, and poof!

This book takes a more realistic take on time travel and its complexities. I was impressed with the amount of thought the author took in developing the concept of time travel in this book, and how it is done. The main character is also easy to understand, at least for me, because of his issues and his hard time fitting in with people and trying to get show more along with social mores.

The story really unfolds when he gets to Carthage, and we're pulled into a place that contains many secrets. Nathan knows there is something mysterious about this place, and as the story unfolds you just get into it more and more. The concept of Flecting is one I have never seen before, but it was handled well, and realistically with its explanations and limitations.

This book ended well, but I would love to see another book by this author with more Flecting in it, whether with the cast of characters in this book, or a different one altogether (maybe one of the other schools mentioned in the book) show less

One day a package arrives for Professor Nathan Price from his good friend and colleague, Jamie Mackinnon, whom he has not heard from in awhile. Inside the package are documents from the Salem Witch Trials and it includes a letter from Jamie and it is dated 1692. Nathan is skeptical, how can he have possibly gotten a letter dated so long ago from his friend? Carthage Wisconsin is mentioned in the letter so Nathan decides he wants to go to Carthage to see if he can find Jamie or find out what show more may have happened to him.

Carthage is a quaint little town in Northern Wisconsin with equally quaint characters as Nathan comes to find out, but there is a bit of mystery and sinister aspects to this small town and it's peoples. With some digging Nathan finds that all is not as it appears on the surface. He meets Alanna and develops strong feelings for her but she is secretive about the disappearance of Jamie and some other people. He is persistent and learns more than he had bargained for and more than he can wrap his brain around. What does Carthage have to do with the Salem Witch Trials and what does all this have to do with Jamie? These are mysteries that Nathan is determined to figure out.

I enjoyed this book, one, I am a fan of anything pertaining to the witch trials, and two, I happen to live in northern Wisconsin. It is not very often that my small town of Rhinelander is mentioned in any books so I was excited to read this one. The descriptions of the area were pretty close to the actual area and the author wrote in such a way that the book was hard to put down. There is mystery, murder, and time travel, all aspects of a fun story in my opinion, a little bit of everything to keep the reader turning the pages.

I received a copy of this book for review from www.thecadencegrp.com and was not monetarily compensated for my review. show less

Seems I'm reading a lot from the Twilight Zone lately. Autumn in Carthage follows a professor on sabbatical from the University of Chicago to small town Wisconsin, Carthage, to be specific. A grad student's research has turned up a letter from 17th Century Salem, Massachusetts, written in the extremely familiar handwriting of the professor's lost best friend. In the letter, the friend mentions Carthage, Wisconsin, a place unknown, of course, to the people of Salem at the time of the witch show more hunts. Once in Carthage, our hero becomes entwined in the town's civic life, and learns more than he bargained for, including the well-hidden secret the townsfolk keep from the rest of the world. Full of likeable people, even in their damaged state, the novel is quite a ride and the author, writing out of his own mental illness, engages the reader, encouraging us to suspend disbelief and accept that there may well be more out there than we can imagine. Well worth the time spent reading it, in my opinion. show less