The Making of Isaac Hunt

The merging of parentage leads to such descriptions of children being: A chip off the old block, the apple from the tree, the proof in the pudding. Accepting that who we are is rooted in the genetic makeup and personal habits of our parents has governed the unauthorized paths of the lives of many generations. Within the pages of The Making of Isaac Hunt, each of the aforementioned adages will be challenged as the protagonist seeks to find the truth of his origin and the road to self-identity. With skill author Linda Leigh Hargrove gives readers something they can sink their teeth into. Entwined in Isaac's quest to discover the identity to his beginnings, you become intimate with the mindset of a vulnerable young man, heartache brought on by loss, the dangers of unearthing secrets and the value of folksiness and down-home hospitality. The Making of Isaac Hunt, without overkill provides substance on a variety of subjects most shy away from. It is a novel that speaks to a reality that, at times will pull at your heartstrings, but offers a hope. It is a hope for the future of those holding on to unforgiveness, pain of loss and a past steeped in racial prejudices. Reviewed by Dr. Linda F. Beed On Assignment Reviews

Linda Hargrove knocks it out of the park with her debut novel. Isaac Hunt offers faith, intrigue, mystery, romance and a tinge of humor. Pace and plot takes the reader on a ride from cover to cover. Description is picturesque without being overdone. The dialogue is believable and tight.

When I ordered this book it was not at all what I was expecting when I received it in the mail. Being an adopted child I was really excited when I realized what the book was all about. This was a beautifully told story, with great characters that you could easily relate to, and being so close to North Carolina it was like being there almost. I give this book 5 stars out of 5. If you don't grab a copy for yourself your cheating yourself of a great experience.

With realistic and complex characters reminiscent of Lisa Samson and a plot line weaving in not only racial and relationship issues, but a page-turning mystery, you'd certainly never dream that The Making of Isaac Hunt is Linda Leigh Hargrove's first published novel. Isaac Hunt is a fair-skinned, blue-eyed, black man who has grown up as the only child of wealthy and powerful parents--his father a judge, his mother a city councilwoman. While he may be able to "pass" for white, as his best friend Tate often reminds him, Isaac is tired of feeling like he never fits in--to the blacks he is too light skinned and to the whites his features are too "black." Isaac just wants to find his place in the world. When his granddaddy's deathbed confession reveals that Isaac is adopted and his birth mother, Betty Douglas, lives in North Carolina, Isaac can't let it rest, even though his adoptive parents do everything they can to discourage him from finding her. Hiring a private investigator to obtain more information, Isaac begins a journey that will take him to the small town of Pettigrew--ruled by the powerful and white Benson family--and uncovers secrets that some would prefer remain buried. Along the way, Isaac meets people who challenge his perceptions--of others, of himself, and most importantly, of God. People like Miss Lucretia, who welcomes him into her home and family as if he had always belonged; Miss Lucretia's granddaughter, Catty, who gets under his skin and challenges every stereotype he ever had about poor black women; and Trip, the white preacher who minces no words but will no more give up on his friends than a dog will give up a bone. Not since reading Sharon Ewell Foster's Passing by Samaria have I been as impressed by how an author deals genuinely and authentically with issues of racial prejudice. Linda doesn't shy away from "touchy" subjects, but they are not there to make a point, they are there as part of the story. Since her bio states that she has co-led racial reconciliation discussion groups and conducted panels on racism in the church, this authenticity shouldn't be surprising. Don't miss this debut novel by an author I look forward to reading much more of in the future! --reviewed by Sheryl Root for TitleTrakk

Wow! What a fabulous story. Linda Leigh Hargrove grabs her readers from the very first page and keeps the suspense going to the end. Great writing. As I read I thought, where did this woman come from? This can't be a freshman novel. If you're looking for a great read, a departure from the standard drama that's available on the shelves and an author with a fresh voice - The Making of Issac Hunt is for you.