Lost Souls Recovered

“An expertly told tale of loss, love, and second chances.” —Kirkus Reviews

One man’s journey toward a better life.

When the wife of a plantation owner dies on a fateful night in 1887, John Billingsly makes the gut-wrenching decision to leave his mother and everything he knows to flee their slave cabin in Richmond, Virginia. Instructed by his mother to find a cousin in Mt. Hope, Alabama, John wends his way south in hope of a better life.

With the plantation owner shadowing him every step of the way, his journey is perilous. One misstep could cost him his freedom—and his life.

Inspired by a true story, Lost Souls Recovered is a mesmerizing historical family saga of loss and gain, survival and self-reinvention, and one family’s fight for freedom in the midst of the post-Civil War American South.

Awards, Reviews, and Coverage

Author Interview on WCBE

Featured Article by City Scene Columbus

“A profound meditation on family and friendship. In a genre that has its ups and downs, Lost Souls Recovered proves an outstanding read and is recommended without reservation.” –Book Viral Reviews

“A fast-paced adventure that in many ways reminded me of Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn.” –Leigh Kimberly Zoby for Reader Views

“A story which still resonates in today’s society of continued injustice and inequality.” –The Historical Fiction Company

“A fast-paced novel embedded with thrilling scenes” —Online Book Club 4/4 Star Review

“One of my historical fiction favorites of the year!” —Goodreads Reviewer

“A compelling, colorful read” —Goodreads Reviewer

“I was hooked within the first few chapters, and I couldn’t put it down.” —Goodreads Reviewer