All God's Sparrows and Other Stories

Born into slavery in Tennessee, the remarkable “Stagecoach Mary” Fields was a larger-than-life figure who cherished her independence, yet formed a deep bond with the Ursuline Sisters, traveling to their Montana mission in 1885 and spending the last thirty years of her life living there or in nearby Cascade. Mary is believed to have been the first Black woman in the country to drive a U.S. Postal Star Route, the source of her nickname.. In All God’s Sparrows and Other Stories, Agatha Award-winning author Leslie Budewitz brings together three short stories, each originally published in Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, imagining the life of Stagecoach Mary in her first year in Montana, and a novella exploring her later life, including:. All God’s Sparrows, winner of the 2018 Agatha Award for Best Short Story; Miss Starr’s Goodbye, a nominee for the Short Mystery Fiction Society’s Derringer Award; Coming Clean, a finalist for the Western Writers of America’s 2021 Spur Award for Best Short Story; and A Bitter Wind, a brand-new novella in which Mary helps a young woman newly arrived in the valley solve the mystery of her fiancé's death and his homesteading neighbors’ bitterness toward him.. Includes an abbreviated bibliography and historical notes from the author.. Praise for All God’s Sparrows and Other Stories:. “Budewitz captures a complex and complicated Mary Fields and comes closer to the truth than the caricatures that have evolved around the remarkable life of this singular woman of the West.” —Quintard Taylor, PhD., Founder of BlackPast.org. “Finely researched and richly detailed, All God’s Sparrows and Other Stories is a wonderful collection. I loved learning about this fascinating woman . . . and what a character she is! Kudos to Leslie Budewitz for bringing her to life so vividly.” —Kathleen Grissom, New York Times bestselling author of Crow Mary “In All God’s Sparrows and Other Stories: A Stagecoach Mary Fields Collection, Leslie Budewitz masterfully illuminates the life of ‘Stagecoach Mary’ Fields with a deft hand and empathetic eye. Budewitz vividly portrays the remarkable journey of this little-known woman of the West, shining a light on her courage, resilience, and unyielding commitment to justice. Budewitz’s exceptional storytelling prowess is evident throughout this captivating collection of short stories.” —Ann Parker, author of the award-winning Silver Rush mystery series “In this beautifully drawn portrait of Mary Fields and life in 1897 Montana, Leslie Budewitz weaves stories of hardship and dedication, mystery and love. From a half-Blackfeet child to a forthright lady of the night to active and former missionary nuns, you’ll read rich studies of human hearts, the tough life of the frontier, and the contemplative mind of Stagecoach Mary. All God’s Sparrows and Other Stories is a must-read by a master writer.” —Edith Maxwell/Maddie Day, Agatha Award-winning author of the historical Quaker Midwife Mysteries and A Case for the Ladies: A Dot and Amelia Mystery. “Impeccably researched and written with clear fondness and respect for the once-living people who inspire the characters." —Mark Hummel, author of Man, Underground and In the Chameleon's Shadow. About the Author:. Three-time Agatha Award-winning author Leslie Budewitz is passionate about food, great mysteries, and her native Montana, the setting for her national-bestselling Food Lovers’ Village Mysteries. She also writes the Spice Shop Mysteries, set in Seattle’s Pike Place Market. As Alicia Beckman, she’s the author of stand-alone suspense set in Montana and the Northwest. Visit her online at www.LeslieBudewitz.com, where you can find maps of the village and surrounding area, recipes, and more.