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Prior to the Civil War, The Fugitive Slave Act was passed to strong arm northern states into facilitating the return of runaway slaves to their owners in the South. In Soul Catcher, Michael C. White delivers a suspenseful historical novel that captures the tension of these times. In command of the chase is Augustus Caine. He is a drifter haunted by a dark past, fresh out of the Mexican war, with an addiction to laudanum, alcohol, gambling, and the "road". Caine has established a strong reputation for tracking humans, but is repulsed by the occupation. Due to one poorly timed night of gambling and drinking, Caine falls prey to a wealthy plantation owner who manipulates him into one last mission of slave tracking. Caine's target is beautiful, young, and dangerous Rosetta. Her owner will pay any price for her return. At stake for Caine - ownership of his beloved horse and an extraordinary amount of cash. White defines the atmosphere of the hunter and the hunted exceptionally well, with every chapter bringing new characters into play - few of whom can be trusted for very long - and keeping the edge on the chase. Ultimately, this is a story of redemption, love, and starting over for the main characters, but what I especially admired in this novel was the way the author portrayed the myriad complex and shifting attitudes towards slavery at the time. A great pick for readers who enjoy this period of American history. Great writing from a talented storyteller.

Augustus Cain faces a past he wants to forget, a present without prospect or fortune, and an uncertain future marred by the loss of his most prized possession: the horse that has been his working companion for years. He is also a man haunted by a terrible skill—the ability to track people who don't want to be found.

Rosetta is a runaway slave fueled by the passion and determination only a mother can feel. She bears the scars—inside and out—of a life lived in servitude to a cruel and unforgiving master. Her flight is her one shot at freedom, and she would rather die than return to the living hell that she has left behind.

In the perilous years before the Civil War, the fates of these two remarkable people will intertwine in an extraordinary adventure—a journey of hardship and redemption that will take them from Virginia to Boston and back—and one that will become an extraordinary test of character and will, mercy and compassion. It is an odyssey that will change them both forever.

Soul Catcher is a dazzling tapestry of imagination and character, atmosphere and emotion. Poignant and utterly compelling, it is a story to be savored and remembered.

Michael White's previous novels include the New York Times Notable Book A Brother's Blood, A Dream of Wolves, and The Garden of Martyrs. He is the program director for Fairfield University's low-residency MFA in Creative Writing and lives in Connecticut.

432 pages