DEVILS HOPPER: Mystery Novel of Colonial Bog People Discovered in Contemporary New England

In the Massachusetts hamlet of Marktree, the discovery of a colonial era, mummified couple sets off startling discoveries that threaten to turn the lives of its citizens inside out.

Boston, MA (PRWEB) September 13, 2004 -- In Devils Hopper, the Pongawog Indian tribe has gained the right to dock a Long House casino boat on their sacred territory along the meandering Charles River. During excavation of the dock, two bodies are exhumed from a cold spring bog. The pair is a colonial young white man and an Indian maiden; forensics reveals they went to their death at the founding of the town of Marktree in the early 18th century. Their mysterious appearance sets off a chain of strange events that unravels the history of the town and turns the lives of its citizens inside out.

Key to this mystery and its solution are a spirit circle of psychics operating through the local Unitarian parish; like their spiritualist ancestors they attempt to solve the mystery of the bog couple through psychic means combined with historical research. Meanwhile the towns oldest manufacturing industry, a doll factory, has reached out to new high tech investors and begins a major undertaking to renew its financial vigor. History recapitulates itself age after age; and as the ancient wisdom warns: the sins of the fathers will be visited upon the children. Yet carrying on in the old way of hard scrabble Yankees, these citizens of Marktree muster up like the Minutemen of old, and press on through the round of four seasons into an uncertain, but perhaps redeemable, way of life.Through the unique and evocative voices of five key citizens of Marktree, Massachusetts (who curiously echo an ensemble of 19th century literary Transcendentalists), the mystery of the colonial bog couple, and the ever-widening implications of those dark discoveries, unfold into a near orgy of civic deconstruction. Mirroring the mysterys narrative, theres the on again, off again townie couple Lucky & Jewel; theres the towns minister, Lewis Meriwether, with his well-intentioned interest in spiritualist detection; theres his old Viet Nam era buddy Cloverleaf and his literary discoveries; and finally, theres the youthful, poetic voice of Emilou who reaches toward the future. Taking turns, these character testimonials advance the unfolding mystery of a body politic as it appears to consume itself in a fit of provocative miscalculations.

Jim Stallings is an anthropologist, writer and editor. He lives near and writes often of his imaginary small town Marktree just outside of Boston. His other books include Tales for Commuters & Other Time Travelers, Hunters in the Fog: War Diary to Screenplay, and Neon Nirvana: A Romance of the New Age. See his website: www.jimstallings.com for more info.

About Devils Hopper. Published September 2004, $13.95 paperback (ISBN: 0-595-32771-0); hardcover, $23.95 (ISBN:0-595-66683-3); & e-book, from iUniverse; available from iUniverse.com or on web bookstores like amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, booksamillion.com, as well as special order through your local bookstore, or off the authors website: www.jimstallings.com

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