River of Light and Shadow

The Whitlock Trilogy, Book 1

By: Allen Kent

Narrated by: Gryphon Corpus

Length: 8 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

After mob violence threatens their lives, they flee to the wilderness

During Missouri’s Mormon Wars of the mid-1800s, the Whitlock family seeks to escape mob violence on the state’s western frontier by hiding in the rugged north Missouri wilderness where the Hill Spring Trail crosses the Chariton River. Here, in constant fear of discovery, David Whitlock meets and falls in love with Suzanna Shattuck, the independent and spirited daughter of a nearby settler.

Drawn together by love, divided by different worlds

As David and Suzanna struggle with their growing passion for each other and with the differences that separate their families, two other figures move inescapably toward each other and the young couple. In Jefferson City, legislator Jacob Randall champions the cause of Missouri's outcasts while Sheck Rogers, a self-appointed Mormon hunter, roams the state murdering and mutilating those he suspects of belonging to a church against which the Governor has issued an extermination order.

In this entrancing historical novel of love, fear, courage and redemption, two young lovers seek to find themselves and each other in Missouri’s untamed wilderness.

Their families struggle to survive the politics and passions of one of the nation’s most tumultuous periods. River of Light and Shadow touches the deepest recesses of the heart while provoking, inspiring, and teaching in ways that characterize the best historical fiction.

©2013 Kent A Farnsworth (P)2019 Kent A Farnsworth

Sweet Historical Fiction

I listened to book 2 first and fell in love with it. Book 1 explains how the couple from book 2 met and why they were so far from family. It also gives a lot more background on the Mormon roots of this family barely mentioned in book 2.
This book gives an historical telling of the Mormon Wars. It does not give opinions on the religion as right or wrong, but explains the differences from the Methodist faith as some of the other characters hold to, and the fears many political and regular people faced during this time. Of course much is about the persecution of the Mormons and those who allow the Mormons to live as they desire too. I felt the author did an accurate telling and stayed far from opinions on the validity of the Morman faith. The focus, besides a budding romance, was to tell of the horrific persecution of people from a different belief system than the major Christian views held by America at the time. In honesty, it's a repeated scar across American history from the Natives, to the slaves, to the immigrants. Those nominal Christians (those in name only) persecute what's unknown and what they're afraid of. Many in the name of Christ, but they couldn't be farther from the teachings of Christ!! I pray that we read books like this so we don't end up repeating our country's mistakes!

Great historical novel

I had already read this book. Enjoyed the audio very much. I look forward to more audio books by this author.

A gentle romance blooms in a turbulent time

Set against the violence of Missouri's "Mormon troubles" of the 1830's and 40's, this book follows a family that chooses to leave the community of the Latter-Day Saints and make it on their own in the woods. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is more of a background than a topic for the book, and is treated respectfully by the author. The pioneer way of life seems well researched; I feel like I know how to build a sod house now. The romance between the main characters is passionate but sweet. The reader did a good job of differentiating the voices of the characters and bringing the story to life. Gryphon Corpus is new to Audible, but I predict she will become a favorite.

fully enjoyed this story

I was given this free copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. I fully enjoyed listening to this book and was sorry that it came to an end. Would truly like to know what happens to and how all the characters proceed in their lives in years to come. Thank you for such a good read.

A very good read

I enjoyed this book. Bigotry, hard living and ambition. Young people in love, older people who work hard to make their farm work.
Suzanna befriends the the Whitakers son against her families hating of Mormons. They soon fell in love and have secret meetings in the woods.


This book
was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.

Interesting historical

You don't know what you don't know. And while this is historical fiction, we know it is based in fact. I had no clue about the Mormon Wars. It was a very good story but hard to listen to at times because of the treatment and the way the situation was handled. The characters are lifelike and will draw you into their story.

Good History and Fiction Combined

I enjoyed listening to this audiobook because it did have some history with some fiction about the
Missouri's Mormon Wars of the mid 1800s as told by the Whitlock and Shattuck families. There was violence on the western frontier by hiding in the rugged north Missouri wilderness where the Hill Spring Trail crosses the Chariton River. Suzanna Shattuck falls in love with David Whitlock who is a Mormon and experiences the hatred for Mormons by some men who don't like people that are like they are.
In Jefferson City, legislator Jacob Randall champions the cause of Missouri's outcasts while Sheck Rogers, a self-appointed Mormon hunter, roams the state murdering and mutilating those he suspects of belonging to a church against which the Governor has issued an extermination order.
River of Light and Shadow touches the deepest recesses of the heart while provoking, inspiring and teaching in ways that characterize the best historical fiction

Learned some things

This is a historical romance set in Missouri in the mid 1800s against the backdrop of the Mormon wars. I learned some things about this historical event and felt the book was well-researched. This is the story of Suzanna and David. David is a Mormon whose mother and father left their home to make a home in the wilds of Missouri. He meets and is attracted to Suzanna who while not opposed to the Mormons, her family is. Hence, their meeting and romance begins and is followed throughout the book. The audiobook was good but at times, I found it difficult to keep the characters separated in my mind by their voice. Overall, I enjoyed the book and the story and look forward to reading/listening to other books by this author. I received a copy of this audiobook at my request and have left this review voluntarily.

Wild West History

I love the history of the Wild West. Even this audiobook is a fiction, it is completely within that time period, as well as I can tell. I could not get next to the evil side of "Good vs Evil". But I connected to the good people in the story. I highly recommend this book. Now for the obligatory: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Romance During the Mormon Wars in Missouri

I love historical fictions and this one had a really interesting setting. It's a history that isn't discussed much in the schools, but I personally find it fascinating. The Mormon Wars in Missouri was a very tense time for people that lived in and around Independence, Missouri areas due to the amount of prejudice, mob mentality, and Governor Bogg's Mormon Extermination Order. This is the story of a young man who is a Mormon that starts falling for a young woman outside of his faith in the middle of this very turbulent time. It was very well told and researched. The narrator did a great job and was fun to listen to. This was a great clean historical fiction during a lesser-known confrontation and I am personally looking forward to the next in the series.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.