The Third Mrs. Galway

Written by Deirdre Sinnott

Narrated by Rebecca Lee

It’s 1835 in Utica, New York, and newlywed Helen Galway discovers a secret: two runaway slaves are hiding in the shack behind her husband’s house. Suddenly, she is at the center of not only the era’s greatest moral dilemma, but her own as well. Should she be a “good wife” and report the fugitives to her husband? Or will she defy convention and come to their aid.
Within her home, Helen is haunted by the previous Mrs. Galway, recently deceased but still an oppressive presence. Her husband, injured by a drunken tumble off his horse, is assisted by a doctor of questionable ambitions who keeps a close eye on Helen. In charge of all things domestic is Maggie—formerly enslaved by the Galway family and freed when emancipation came to New York eight years earlier.
At the same time, Utica is at the center of emancipation efforts as abolitionists arrive for the founding meeting of the New York State Anti-Slavery Society. Those who plead for an immediate end to enslavement are attacked by newspapers accusing them of being insurrectionists and traitors to the Constitution. Everyone faces dangerous choices as they navigate this intensely heated personal and political landscape.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Everand Productions
• Release date: Jul 6, 2021
• ISBN: 9781094418049

Deirdre Sinnott

DEIRDRE SINNOTT is an author, researcher, and activist for social change. She grew up in the Utica, NY, area and graduated from Syracuse University. Sinnott speaks nationally about the role of Central New York’s residents in the abolition of slavery. She was the originator of Utica’s Abolition History Day Celebration and has directed two award-winning documentaries on mass incarceration/prison issues. She facilitated the program “Resisting the New Jim Crow” at the National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum. Sinnott’s writing has appeared in newspapers, two anthologies, literary journals, and in various online resources. The Third Mrs. Galway is her first novel.

Reviews for The Third Mrs. Galway

[ggerstndss · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent Historical Fiction...I am from upstate New York, so to have the setting in Utica New York was fascinating. It gives you an awesome understanding of what was going on in 1835. The plot of the story was the outstanding and it kept you hanging on until the very end. A wonderful story

[MyFirstName MyLastName · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I give this a four with the fives being truly exceptional works and over five being reserved only for the great works like George Orwell's 1984 or War and Peace. This was a very enjoyable and grossing story with well developed characters. There were a few seeming and anachronisms in spoken language but there was also so much more that you don't find in an ordinary work of fiction set in the times of slavery. I learned a lot about politics closer to the ground about slavery including that slavery was gradually phased out in New York... And that there were many white people who were deeply opposed to slavery long before the Civil War. ...But also that there was a movement to send "them all" back to Africa even they were mostly people who had been living for Generations in America and had no idea of anything about Africa, and even though Africans who did immigrate to Liberia were dying like flies from starvation, disease, and other mishaps.. it seems less like something motivated to set things right with abducted Africans and more like taking advantage of the ones who were naive enough to accept the immigration invitation. Maybe it was just to make more space for white people here. Or as some said a way to spite and weaken the South by helping slaves escape them. The book touches on those arguments making it much more realistic and three-dimensional. But this is well written and believable with only a couple of unlikely coincidences or outcomes. I think it did a good job of presenting people in the layered way that people really are rather than painting people as cartoonishly all good or all bad. I liked that it touched on physical intimacy but didn't wallow in it or seem to relish the details of sexual activity forced on a female, whether slave or wife . So many books about slavery really seem to relish those scenes, dragging them out and adding more detail to them than nearly any scene in the book. More than once it's ruined one of those books for me or dropped a star rating. It's different if something about that scene is very important to the storyline but there are other ways to show the brutality and the cruelty of taking someone against her will. That can be stated or implied without lingering over every prurient detail, turning it into cos-play "sex-slave" aka "B&D" porn under the thin guise of "telling it like it really was"!) A few amazing coincidences and hair thin escapes seemed arranged more to emphasize the emotional complexity of characters and ethical decisions as much as anything, so they're forgivable. I think even if you're not a big fan of romance or historical fiction it's quite likely that you will enjoy this book very much. I often get tired of books before I finish this one but this covered a good long weekend of cleaning and dog walking. I do think that the reader mispronounced a few words and did not know the meaning or was not as familiar with the meaning of others that she knew the normal emphasis when used in a sentence. It was a little like when people are actors in a play by Shakespeare for the first time and don't really know what a phrase means exactly and so they don't sound like natural speakers of the period. But it's good enough and those were rare. Her acting was quite good and I forgot that I was listening to one person much of the time. The anachronisms might be correct and my knowledge wrong. For example did people in the 1700s or 1800s use the word "yeah" to mean "yes"? Not in the sense of "yea though I walk through the valley..." but the word "yes". But I've seen the word "okay" used in other books set in the past. And I think that was a World War I or II American slang term. People still argue about exactly where it originated but I don't think they argue it began before then. I find those jarring and I think that editors need to do a better job of weeding those out in any book set in the past.

[harleymarge25 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A great story. It was a little slow at times.

[Julie Dresback · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What an amazing, complex, tense and warming cast of characters! I couldn’t put it down!

[Tiffany Worley · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Love the tangled up web of this story. The reader also did a great job she made the audio version. I didn’t want it to end. I would like to know what happened to the characters when they went their separate ways.

[Raluca Vomir · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Enjoyed the storyline, good length of a book, without becoming boring. I think the narrator’s voice upgraded the whole story.

[Amy Fortin · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Amazing. Heart wrenching. As a white woman I learned some things. Character development and twists were great fun!

[Karen Chandler · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I had a very hard time getting into this book. Then, all of a sudden, it clicked. Don't give up too soon.

[Eliza · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Heart wrenching at times. I thoroughly enjoyed this audio book

[inezeaton · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is both tragic and uplifting, both tender and bold. The story brightly illuminates a dangerous and necessary time of change in New York and the US. I feel so much richer for having experienced it. The narrator has a warm, strong voice and did the piece justice. I’m quite sure that the beauty, intimacy and strength of the story will resonate with all. I’d love to see more from Sinnot in the future. What a book!!

[MELISSA GREGG · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The narrator made it feel like you were standing there watching the book unfold. Her voice was absolutely perfect for every character. The storyline was intriguing albeit, at times, hard to hear the recount of the inhumane treatment of slavery. I was overcome with anger knowing, while this story was fiction, this ignorant behavior was factual, tolerated, and often applauded. In the end, love is what pushed most every character to choose to do the right thing. It Will definitely make you think harder about choosing to stand up to injustices so that no human being ever has their freedoms taken! Highly recommend!

[Sharon Czudak · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent and informative story. Despite the tragic context in which it was set, it was not without humour or redemption.

[Christa Schopf · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book was romantic, exciting and thought provoking. Great ?

[Ellen Monsma · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Well-written combination of history and fiction. I really liked it.

[AMF Hilferink · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Beautiful and moving story in historic setting. I loved it!

[bluemli · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Love eyerything about this book! Adeep insight into the dark and light side of humans and into slavery. Shed tears if sadness and tears of joy…
Reader is also excellent, love her voice.

[Melissa Johnson · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great story and narration. Which is rare. Thoroughly enjoyed throughout.

[Sandi Tax · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Enjoyed this book and learned a bit of history as well. Character were wonderful

[Saundra · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent writing, good story,and great narrator. A wonderful book all-around.

[Becki Basley · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An interesting story about a Young wife who find runawsy slaves in her outbuilding abd decided to help Them. In doing so, she clears the path for her husband to correct a long buried wrong.

[megan matthews · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I agree with some of the other reviews that say this book has a slow start but riveting ending. There’s a comfy end to a really uncomfortable topic, which is nice and a bit vindicating when you think about how many true stories just like it ended in absolute tragedy. I loved that real historical names and events were blended seamlessly with the story. I wanted to be a part of this unlikely family by the end of the story and I think that’s the mark of a well written book.

[sharon lewis · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I read or listen to a lot of books. This ranks as one of my favorites of 2023!! It had true honest emotion! Kept my interest all through the narrative and I was just hanging on the seat of my chair. The character development was amazing. Read this book.

[Mary Jane Alba · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A gripping but wonderful experience of faith, hope and love.

[Lauren Brigman · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I honestly found it a bit of a hard start. But it down a couple times and honestly didn’t care to go back to it. I only did because I got bored and couldn’t find anything else to read in my library. It’s a good book though. Just takes a little bit to get to that.

[Terra · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A heart stopping piece of historical fiction. Twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat. A story of love, family, risk, pain, heartache and temptation. The reader does a lovely job giving each character their own personality. 10/10

[Bridgid Laheney · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Enjoyed very much. Interesting history . Thanks . Suspense and romance worked well together.

[Sarah Rich · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent book! The characters were relatable and the plot kept me intrigued throughout.

[sue · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent writing. I also enjoyed the narration. A reminder of the origins of racism.

[alekee_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This a riveting read that will linger with you long after the last page is turned. One of the reason I wanted to read this book is I’m familiar with the area, I know where the streets are located as we follow the characters.This story is rich in history, and we put faces to those, actually on both sides.As you put yourself in the shoes of these different people, maybe you will understand how much freedom is worth, we take so much for granted, and parents willing to die to give this gift to their children.I loved how the third Mrs. Galway played into this read, and she should be recognized, she has given it all.From the charlatan doctor, to noted abolitionists, to people looking to survive, and those willing to give it all!I received this book through Edelweiss and the Publisher Kaylie Jones Books, and was not required to give a positive review.

[deanieg_2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very good book, easy to read except for a few boring parts but those weren't hard to get past.This story is about run away slaves looking to find safety, one is wanted for murder and she's very pregnant. She has her little boy with her. Slave catchers are hot on their trail...worth the read.