Life as a gunnie isn’t always easy, and thus Lizbeth Rose is adjusting to a new crew after her last disastrous assignment (see AN EASY DEATH for more details). Their assignment seems simple: accompany and guard a crate headed to Dixie. Dixie isn’t the most desirable destination, but Lizbeth is happy to be working again. Unfortunately, things go seriously awry and now the crate is missing. Lizbeth realizes quickly just how different Dixie is from her home in Texoma, as she relies on a friend who appears to help her fit in. Can she find the crate and help change the status quo in Dixie?

A LONGER FALL is the second book in the Gunnie Rose series. While it can be read as a standalone, I think it is better appreciated if you’ve read the first book, AN EASY DEATH, first. Charlaine Harris did a magnificent job with character development in the first book and she continues building upon that in A LONGER FALL. In addition, we are seeing hints of a story arc that intrigue me greatly as I love seeing the tidbits of information about the Russian empire in this alternate universe.

Dixie is like a twisted version of the American South prior to the Civil Rights Movement. Charlaine Harris tackles some weighty themes within the context of A LONGER FALL, including racism, social status, and the societal expectations for women. Lizbeth struggles with the differences she sees between her home in Texoma and Dixie, offering us an intriguing viewpoint on the events that transpire.

A LONGER FALL is a splendid combination of multiple genres, most notably westerns and fantasy/alternative history. I’m normally not a fan of westerns, but Charlaine Harris puts a unique spin on westerns that has me hooked. Charlaine Harris shows that she is a master at any genre she puts her pen (or computer) to, and I can’t wait to see what is next in store for us with the Gunnie Rose series!