A novel of family and long-buried secrets along the treacherous Underground Railroad.
The author of the New York Times bestseller and beloved book club favorite The Kitchen House continues the story of Jamie Pyke, son of both a slave and master of Tall Oakes, whose deadly secret compels him to take a treacherous journey through the Underground Railroad.
Published in 2010, The Kitchen House … Railroad.
Published in 2010, The Kitchen House became a grassroots bestseller. Fans connected so deeply to the book’s characters that the author, Kathleen Grissom, found herself being asked over and over “what happens next?” The wait is finally over.
This new, stand-alone novel opens in 1830, and Jamie, who fled from the Virginian plantation he once called home, is passing in Philadelphia society as a wealthy white silversmith. After many years of striving, Jamie has achieved acclaim and security, only to discover that his aristocratic lover Caroline is pregnant. Before he can reveal his real identity to her, he learns that his beloved servant Pan has been captured and sold into slavery in the South. Pan’s father, to whom Jamie owes a great debt, pleads for Jamie’s help, and Jamie agrees, knowing the journey will take him perilously close to Tall Oakes and the ruthless slave hunter who is still searching for him. Meanwhile, Caroline’s father learns and exposes Jamie’s secret, and Jamie loses his home, his business, and finally Caroline.
Heartbroken and with nothing to lose, Jamie embarks on a trip to a North Carolina plantation where Pan is being held with a former Tall Oakes slave named Sukey, who is intent on getting Pan to the Underground Railroad. Soon the three of them are running through the Great Dismal Swamp, the notoriously deadly hiding place for escaped slaves. Though they have help from those in the Underground Railroad, not all of them will make it out alive.
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A sequel that does not disappoint!
I read The Kitchen House about a year ago and absolutely loved it. So when friends told me I needed to read the sequel, Glory Over Everything, I put it on my to read list. I put my name on the library waiting list and now months later I finally got to read it. I was worried that it had been too long or that it wouldn’t be as good as the first. Boy, was I wrong on both counts! This is a stand alone story that absolutely stands on its own merit. It has been a while since a story so captivated my attention. I had trouble putting the bookmark in place at bedtime! This is a story of secrets, survival, the goodness and the cruelty of mankind, struggles outside and within one’s self, and the power of love. The story takes place during the time of slavery in the Old South and involves a trip on the Underground Railroad. I continue to be awed by those who took life and death chances to help others and for those who sacrificed so much to save so many. I highly recommend this book!!
The first book is The Kitchen House. It was very good. Presents the story of several slaves, their families and how terrible this way of looking fee was. Glory over everything continued the story of a few of them. These people had a strength and love of life I’m not sure we find today. Very interesting characters.
This is the sequel to THE KITCHEN HOUSE and, yes, you will need to read them in order – this is not a stand alone novel. That being said, this was just as good, if not better than its predecessor. Ms. Grissom has a talent for developing the characters with depth not often seen in a new author. I cannot wait until her next novel – I’ll be first in line. Once again, the subject matter is a tough one – but well written with the point of view reversed as we don’t typically see.
Follow up to her 2010 book, The Kitchen House. Just as compelling.
I enjoyed this book right after reading The Kitchen House. The author portrays a grown Jamie well, showing his strengths and flaws. Also, the place settings are well-described, along with characters you either love or hate. Highly recommend.
I love the way Grissom puts us squarely in the pants of a man who had believed he was white and yet discovered his mother was a light colored African American. In this way, I could feel all the terror of this young man’s plight as he struggled to retain ANYTHING. His very life as he ran from slave catchers, any kind of love and family, his sense of identity, the good opinion of his adoptive mother when she learns of his heritage. Everything he worked for could be taken from him in a second if anyone found out.
The way the narrative comes together in this book is incredibly elegant as two lives merge with meaning. My favorite passage from the book, which made me cry and pray: “I know about the God in the old preacher’s Bible, but I’m thinking maybe He only looks out for white folks. I talk to Him anyway and ask for His help.”
I just finished this book and I’m crying! What an outstanding ending! From the very start I was so immersed in this book I had a hard time putting it down. What an extraordinary sequel to the Kitchen House. Kathleen Grissom writes a truly remarkable story full of suspense, danger, loyalty and courage. It is so emotionally charged with characters that stole my heart once again. I hope there is yet another so I can continue to follow the life of Jamie, Pan, Kitty, Caroline (baby Belle) and Robert.
Was a very good book
A great follow up on The Kitchen House! A great book and worth reading.
Love it! A very difficult read for me at times. I felt shame in how the treatment and view of slaves were. The story line was touching and well written and had me on the edge of my seat at times
I just found out there was a book 2, The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom
Will be catching it next!
I read Kitchen House the year it was first published and just recently listened to the audio as I prepared for The Glory Over Eve which I also listened to on Audible.
Masterful writing. Beautiful storytelling. Heart rendering, harsh realities told with grace, absolutely must read or listen!
Wonderful sequel to The Kitchen House.
Another amazing book by Kathleen Grissom!! It follows Jamie Pyke and his life after leaving Tall Oaks. I don’t wish to spoil any of the plot twists and turns but would highly recommend reading or listening to this incredible read! You will take a walk through American history, no class needed!
I really wanted to like this book. I enjoyed the Kitchen House so much, I was hoping for a good sequel. I rarely ever stop reading a book; I had to force myself to get through the first 150+ pages. The beginning just dragged on. Too much explaining, tedious details, and not enough phrases or words of depth to contemplate. Then I finally came to the true grit of this story and it became a page turner. Mind you, this is not deep literature, however, the last half of the book gives the reader something more than a story to consider. Without giving away the final and true story of this novel, I hope Grissom has it in her to pen the tale characters that ends the book. It is in these characters that there may be a story that has a unique take on slavery and freedom and distinguish itself as a work that personifies redemption and a renewed faith in humanity.
This was really good. Read The Kitchen House first, this isn’t a stand alone.
Wonderful follow up to The Kitchen House.
This is a book that I enjoyed becauseI like books about slavery. The characters are well written and believable and having reaprevious book The Kitchen House I was hooked. She is a beautiful writer.