The Kingdom of Quail

By: Harris Strickland

Narrated by: David Allen Vargo

Set on a pristine quail plantation in South Georgia, this tale is a Southern saga about complex relationships that take place over decades.

When Luke Johnson and his mother are abandoned by his alcoholic father, they are taken in by the Parkers, a wealthy family living on a pristine quail plantation in the Red Hills region of South Georgia. Luke embraces the natural surroundings and blossoms as a young man in this unspoiled environment. Trouble arises when a romantic attraction develops between Luke and the Parker’s young daughter threatening to end the good life he has found.

Despite family tensions, Angus Parker and Luke bond together when a group of billionaire investors try to take the land for development. Luke is determined to stop the development, but he questions his conviction when an attractive young woman is sent to negotiate the deal.

The future of the Red Hills hangs in the balance.

©2023 Harris Strickland (P)2024 Harris Strickland

Family and the land

The author has done a wonderful job of capturing the importance of family and family land in the South. I was not familiar with quail plantations and found the information about the one belonging to the Parkers new and interesting. As ever in the South, class plays a major role in the story as Luke and his mother are taken in by the wealthy Parkers but real strains develop when Luke falls in love with the Parker's daughter - generosity only extends so far. Luke's love for the land is well described and when developers threaten it he and Angus Parker form an alliance to defeat them. There are complications there as well, however. I was hooked from the first by the personal relationships and the question of what would finally happen to the land. David Allen Vargo has a beautiful voice well suited to sounding "Southern" and the skill and good taste not to overdo it. The accent never descends into parody or caricature. He understands the characters and the complex threads running among them and hits just the right notes. This was a new author for meand I'm looking forward to reading his other book.

A Rare Treat - Amazing in Every Way!

Angus, Annabel, Catherine, Luke, Grace, Lulu, Roosevelt, Eugene, Joe Greene, and Heather … just to name a few, and who could forget Willie … oh Willie … who captured my heart, my soul! These beautifully real, beautifully human characters will be with me forever … and the tears are flowing again as I remember them, and “The Kingdom of Quail”. The realism of this story is astounding! The writing crystal clear, emotional, pulling at my heartstrings the entire time while giving the unique “feel” of the “old south” from back in the day. The smooth progression of time with events in these characters lives intertwining … spanning decades, drawing cheers and tears over and over from this listener! I’ll hold the details to avoid spoiling the beauty, the wonder, the realism of this fabulously rich story, but know that the dialogue rings beautifully true, and EVERYTHING you hear COULD have happened! It feels and sounds that real! Adding to the realistic feel is the narration. This, THIS performance, is MAGIC! Every character comes breathtakingly ALIVE while listening. The tears flow anew as I remember sitting alone in a quiet room, sobbing, feeling with all my being for these beautifully REAL characters. I knew who was speaking and I knew what they were FEELING every moment of this story! I could SEE them exactly as the author described them! The scene setting was also clearly and convincingly voiced, leaving no doubt that EVERY step of the way, I was listening to the story exactly as the author envisioned, and as much as I cried, I LOVED it. I LOVED everything about this story and performance! Don’t pass this one by! “The Kingdom of Quail” is not to be missed! FIVE fabulous stars cause they don’t let me give a hundred!

Heartbreaking

This was an emotional book. Keep your kleenex handy. My heart broke for these characters. There is trauma, loss, betrayal, hope and birth. The book was well written. The execution of narration by David Allen Vargo was mind- blowing. The conviction of emotions shows the level of his talents as a trained actor. He was able to alter his voice to portray a variety of characters from young to old, child, female and ethnic.

Compelling southern saga

Heart wrenching story narrated in a way that brings the characters to life and leaves the listener yearning for more.

Southern Hospitality at its Finest

Have you ever read one of those stories that feels like a big, warm hug? The people are so genuine and friendly, and the atmosphere and everything about where they are and what they do make you feel nostalgic and kind of sad, like you're missing them without ever actually knowing them.

The Kingdom of Quail by Harris Strickland is one of those kinds of novels and had me listening late into the night just so I didn't have to leave.

Starting in the 1980s on a quail plantation in southern Georgia, we follow the life of Luke Johnson, then a young boy who, along with his mother, escapes an abusive relationship and finds themselves taken in by the wealthy Parker family who own the plantation.

As Luke comes out of his shell, he flourishes on the plantation, learning how to train dogs and learn the ins and outs of what is needed to run the plantation sustainably to keep it safe for future generations. The traditions the Parker family keep have deep roots, and many of the surrounding landowners are of a same mind.

Strickland's portrayal of Southern culture felt so authentic. From descriptions of the quail hunting tradition and the careful management and care of the land to the luxurious meals prepared from the day’s hunt, it all kept me fully immersed. Heck, the descriptions of some of the meals had my mouth watering at their descriptions alone!

As the years go on, Luke lives through love and loss, and the possibility that everything he loves may be taken away. Billionaire investors want to buy up the land, starting with Luke's plantation. Seems like it should be an easy thing to fight against, yeah? But there's a complication: Luke's falling for the woman sent to negotiate the deals with the owners.

The narration by David Allen Vargo was faultless. I've listened to a few books he's narrated, and he's always so easy to listen to. The occasional piece of music or sound effects add to the immersion without being overpowering. I'm constantly impressed by his vocal range. In this book he voices everything from delicate, feminine characters all the way through to a rumbling baritone for the sheriff.

Overall, this was a book I was both sad and happy to finish. Happy that I got to hear the story but also sad because I was going to miss many of the characters. It’s certainly a memorable story.

Rich in Culture, Immersive Narrator

Luke, Angus Parker, Joe Green, and others build a strong long-lasting relationship that withstands the ravages of time, fire, and loss. Their passion for the land and quail enables them to protect their way of life longer but will it be long enough? The wolves are howling at their door wanting to develop the land and one of them is quite beautiful!

The author, Harris Strickland, tells the story of Luke, Angus Parker, Joe Green, Quail, and life in the Red Hills region of South Georgia vividly immersing the listener deeply into the narrative. He carefully reveals the background of each character and their tie to the land and Quail building strong connections. Vivid details and descriptions of quail hunting, dog training, way of life, and traditions are complete and thorough. He accurately captured the southern hospitality and culture. The narrative, plot twists, and character development are well-executed and flawless.

David Allen Vargo, the narrator, expertly leads the listener through the narrative, fully engaging them with rich tones and a well-paced cadence that builds suspense. Vargo brings each character and plot to life with emotional depth and subtle nuances. Despite the complexity of the relationships, his clear articulation and timing make the narrative easy to follow. This creates a deeply immersive and resonant experience, drawing the listener deeply into the heart of the story.

This is a fascinating narrative that delves into the richness of culture, the bonds of friendship, and a deep connection to the land. The collaboration between the talented writer and narrator elevates this narrative, bringing it to life with grace and depth.

There were no issues with the quality or production of this audiobook.

A Gem of a Story! Incredible Narration & Listen🎧

Harris Strickland welcomes you to the Kingdom of Quail, taking you on a journey of a lifetime, Luke Johnson’s journey to be more precise in this beautifully written novel that not only captivates your attention the entire time, but tugs at your heartstrings, too. Strickland’s descriptive details take you right alongside the characters, allowing you to see the world through eyes, as well as what they are thinking and feeling. Luke Johnson and his mom fell on hard times, but their luck changed when Angus Parker, a plantation owner, offers her a job and a place to live. Luke was a young boy then, but Angus saw potential in him and gave his own jobs around the plantation, mostly to keep him busy and to learn the lay of the land. He made friends there, first a boy Eugene, the son of a ground’s keeper, and then the Angus’s daughter, who was more of a tomboy then, but grew into her own and their friendship continued to grow and morph into more, a special bond. We watch the kids grow into adults, Luke opts to stay on the plantation, where he is faces challenges, losses and heartbreak, and after all that outsiders come in and want to buy all the property in the area to develop, and this becomes his latest challenge and with the help of Angus and his neighbors they come up with a plan. Luke brings one of those outsiders onto the plantation, the two grow close despite wanting different things with her working for the people who want to buy the land and him fighting to save it. I loved how everything played out in this book and all the layers of the story, a wonderfully plotted story. The world building and character growth and development are fantastic. Harris Strickland, thank you for this for this beautiful story and emotional rollercoaster ride.

🎧📚🎧 David Allen Vargo did an incredible job of bringing these characters and story to life. He covered the roles of all the characters, giving each their own distinct voice, making it easy to follow along and tell who was who. Vargo was excellent at performing both the male and female roles, the southern accents, and was believable in every role. His portrayal of each character was exceptional, showcasing every aspect of their personalities, capturing all their emotions and has you feeling each one. He sets the perfect tone for the story, handles the back-and-forth dialogue naturally and with ease. David Allen Vargo is an entertaining storyteller and his performance elevates this already wonderful story to another level. Thank you for another exceptional listen.

The Kingdom of Quail

I just finished listening to “The Kingdom of Quail”. It was a very heartwarming story that kept you totally involved from beginning to end. David Vargo was the narrator of this book - I have listened to a number of his books, and I can’t express how well he evokes a truly superb story telling talent in the outstanding narration of this novel. With his fantastic abilities, he was able to create a very distinctive voice for each character, which enhanced the novel greatly. David’s reading almost made you feel as if you were in The Kingdom of Quail along with all the other characters. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a delightful read.

Fantastic story!💜

This story was beautifully written. It spans over decades but you’re so caught up in the lives of all these characters that you won’t even realize it’s happening.
This story is very emotional. I personally cried several times and for many different reasons that I will not share because I don’t want to give any spoilers.
You’ll find these characters endearing and special and you’ll just want to wrap them up in a big hug!! Most of them anyway 😆
There were a few moments that felt a little slow for me, that said it was all a part of the story telling and without it, the story may have felt incomplete.
The narration was absolutely brilliant. David Allen Vargo’s voice and talents were perfectly suited for these characters. He moved me… and I felt like I was right there with all of them.
This story does have an HEA and can be read as a standalone!
I highly recommend this book!

Sisters Spotlight 💜

Great book!

It’s a wonderful history , I read it twice , my mind transported me there with the characters. thank you so much!