This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Reviewed by Mansoor Ahmed for Readers' Favorite
Father From a Putrid Tree by Richard Hodge is a gritty, multi-generational story that explores the dark legacy of the McConnell family, beginning in 1915. The novel opens with Archie McConnell, a poor but determined bare-knuckle boxer who unexpectedly wins a championship fight and becomes entangled in a corrupt business deal with a powerful KKK judge. What seems like a path to success quickly unravels into a twisted journey of crime, abuse, and unchecked power. Each chapter moves forward through time, showing how Archie’s greed and violence leave lasting scars, especially on his son John, who carries that trauma into adulthood. As the family amasses wealth through illegal means, their moral decline deepens. As Archie steps into this world of influence and crime, the story digs into the harsh realities of early 20th-century Southern society and the dark trade-offs behind the pursuit of the American dream.
Richard Hodge's writing is bold and intense, with a fast pace and vivid action scenes that hold the reader’s attention. The story moves quickly, with each chapter bringing new challenges and moral crossroads. Fight scenes are intense, while quiet moments—like family conversations and casual but chilling examples of racism—add emotional weight and realism. The characters are authentic and interesting, especially Archie, whose ambition clashes with his fading sense of right and wrong. Themes of power, corruption, identity, and survival run throughout the novel, making it more than a historical story. Father From a Putrid Tree is a bold, emotionally charged story that offers both gripping entertainment and a thoughtful look at a troubled era in American history.
