The Watsons of Tethertown

By: Mary Hopkins Moore

Narrated by: Steven Fehr

Seventeen-year-old Joel ran down the road with murder in his heart. This was it. His stepfather had gone too far. He would ambush the violent man before he got any closer to his farm — or to his mother.

The Watsons of Tethertown follows the life of Joel Watson and his family in a small Missouri town from 1886 to 1919. Fun, sensual, and historically accurate, this novel is a window into the texture of everyday life more than 120 years ago. Joel’s adult life begins on the night he flees his family farm and finds refuge with a neighbor who saves him from almost certain hanging. He meets and woos the love of his life Belle and eventually finds his way back to the family farm. Joel and Belle find passion, joy, and sorrow, surviving drought, catastrophic winter weather, and several devastating family tragedies.

Joel’s sister-in-law Beatrice moves in with the family after one such tragedy and eventually falls in love – but with a woman. Years later, Joel’s daughters marry and when the Great War begins, their husbands ship out to fight for the United States. As the girls wait for news, the Spanish flu strikes.

Will the Watson girls’ husbands return home, and will the family all survive the Spanish flu? And what can Beatrice hope for?

Take a trip back in time and discover that no matter how much things change, people remain the same.

Family is everything.

©2024 Mary Hopkins Moore (P)2024 Mary Hopkins Moore

Inspiring and heartwarming

This book is a captivating and historically rich novel that transports readers to a small Missouri town in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. A compelling read follows a journey from a tumultuous family farm to finding love and facing life's hardships, that is beautifully portrayed throughout. Combining a historical accuracy with an engaging narrative, offering vivid glimpses into the lives of the Watson family, that can be filled with passion, resilience, and survival, making this both heartwarming and heart-wrenching.

Listen up!

Calling all history buffs and family drama fans! "The Watsons of Tethertown" audiobook could be your next binge listen. It could whisk you away to another time period and totally get you in the feels.

Captivating and Poignant

Seventeen-year-old Joel is confronted by a ruthless stepfather determined to steal his farm and destroy his life. As a result of his anger, Joel arms himself with a shotgun planning to put an end to the thievery. A kind neighbor steps in and rescues Joel guiding him toward the life he was meant to live.

The author, Mary Hopkins Moore, creatively weaves a moving narrative based on the life of Joel Watson and his family. Based in a small Missouri town around 1880-1920, Mary Hopkins Moore details the tragic story of Joel Watson, his wife, his children, and his sister-in-law through tragedy and love and World War I. Mary Hopkins Moore details the events with historical accuracy, immediately immersing the listener in the narrative while poignantly reminding the listener that family is everything. Moore provides vivid details and rich imagery bringing the narrative to life. The plot twists are well-written and executed. Each character is well-developed and essential to the narrative.

The narrator, Steven Fehr, delivers a steady performance, adding depth and a stronger connection to the characters. His deliberate pauses, clear voice, and cadence bring each character to life and enhance each situation with realism.

This is a captivating and must-have audiobook. The adventure and characters are captivating and poignant.

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

A Journey Through Time with the Watsons

"The Watsons of Tethertown" is an audiobook that hooked me from the start. Seventeen-year-old Joel Watson’s escape from his violent stepfather sets the stage for a rich, historical journey through late 1800s Missouri. The story vividly captures the era, making everyday life come alive.

Joel’s life with Belle is filled with passion, joy, and sorrow, while Beatrice’s unexpected love story adds depth. The Great War and Spanish flu bring tension and authenticity to the tale.

Overall, it’s a compelling listen that beautifully balances history and heartfelt storytelling. Family truly is everything in this captivating tale.

great novel, and intense

I've always enjoyed stories in that period of time in the history, when things are slower, and people just care more about surroundings. Of course life is different at that time. But what stay through out the time and the years is the family bond. Like it says in the book, family is everything. Small town events are also quite intriguing, the plots and character interactions grabs you right in and brings you a very immersive sense of being, that you almost feel you are standing right among them. The narration gave a lot credit to that as well.