A Stranger In The Kingdom (2002) - Plot & Excerpts
I loved this book - a great literary read! This book can be easily divided into halves. It is written in 1st person by a grown man, Jim Kinneson, who describes his life growing up in the small rural town of Kingdom County, Vermont. The 1st half details the founding and history of the town, it's quirky inhabitants, nostalgia and reminiscences from his childhood, and the preparation for the drama in the 2nd half. The 2nd half takes place specifically in 1952 when he is 13 years old and involves murder, mystery, and courtroom drama. The town needs a new preacher and hires one sight unseen from Canada over the phone. When Walter Andrews and his son, Nat, arrive in town everyone is shocked to find out he is black. Prejudices, spite, envy, and jealousy begin to surface among some of the townfolk. His few supporters are the newspaper editor, Charles Kinneson; his wife; his son Charlie, the local lawyer; and his young son, Jimmy. Claire LaRiviere is a young Canadian girl who has come to town with a carnival/sideshow. She was picked up on the side of the road while hitchhiking and then was expected to be a part of their sleezy porno show that happens at night. All she wants is to go to Hollywood and become a movie star. Fleeing the carnival she shows up at the Kinneson home and later is taken in by the preacher who then tries to find her a place to live. She is murdered and the preacher is arrested for killing her. Young Charles becomes his lawyer and the trial is reminiscent of "To Kill a Mockingbird". I couldn't put the book down during the courtroom chapters.The author, a superb writer, captures the spirit and life in this unique town to make this an exciting and memorable story. I would highly recommend reading it.
Kingdom County, Vermont, 1952, is its own world. Jim Kinneson is just turning 13 and big changes come to his life when a black minister and his son come to town. They are the only black people to live in the Kingdom in decades and they are treated with racism by some but generally accepted. However, when a troubled young girl who had been staying with the minister is found murdered, the minister is arrested and charged. Jim's brother, Charlie, takes the case of defending the minister but has a rough time finding who else might have killed her. This novel is filled with interesting characters and historical stories. It starts slow as you get to know Jim, his family, the people of Kingdom, and the beautiful land but the story is engrossing.
What do You think about A Stranger In The Kingdom (2002)?
As others have stated, the book gets off to a slow start. For me the pace picked up dramatically after the first fifty percent. The pacing is slower at the beginning of the book as the author sets the tone by allowing the reader ample time to become acquainted with the book's time period and setting while also thoroughly developing the main characters. Set in rural northern Vermont in the 1950s, families, friends and strangers become embroiled in a brutal murder trial. A GREAT book for discussion of the 'classic' themes - prejudice, community values, acceptance of strangers and religious hypocrisy. Excellent choice for a book club!
—Linda
I picked this up to read for an upcoming book group discussion and was blown away. It's more than 20 years old but this book is an absolute classic. I don't give many 5 star ratings but Mosher's book was fabulous. I'd never read anything by him and just loved his voice; it felt like I was sitting down with a favorite uncle or grandfather who was relaying the story. The story takes place in the early 1950s in northern Vermont. A small town community hires a preacher after interviewing him by phone only to find he's a "negro" when he arrives in town with his young son. Small town secrets, racial tensions and a murder lead to a trial that is so well-written, I literally could not put the book down until I finished it. I've been told that some of Mosher's other books feature the same characters as Stranger in the Kingdom. You can bet I'll be reading them. The writing, the topic...everything about this book should make it a classic on every high school reading list. Yes...it's that good.
—Michelle
Really enjoyed this story set in the 1950s in the Northeast Kingdom in Vermont, a real place up on the border with Canada. A new preacher comes to town; he's been hired over the phone, and when he turns out to be a black man there's a buzz all through the town. For some, it's a shock and an adjustment and for others it's nothing to remark on. But when a young girl comes to town as a mail-order bride, his kindness toward her sets events in motion that lead to a murder trial in which he's accused as the killer. The story's told from a young boy's point of view, but like Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird , he's looking back on the events and narrating them from his adult voice.
—Sarah
