Does anyone edit anymore? This book is so ambitious and well-intended and rich. It should have been so much easier to get into, but the lack of editing and the constant back story during the first chapters drove me up the wall. For half the book, I knew what was going to happen - it felt as if I'd read it all before. It did settle down and become its own read,though, notably when the Strofes and Preacher take off after Henry. Preacher is a cliche bad guy, and once he vamoosed, everything went forward. White's research is knit pretty seamlessly into the story - the writer worked hard to ensure that the historical part of the fiction blended, and I liked Rosetta's character and the growth and development of their relationship. I'm wondering what a book in her voice would have sounded like.

Eberly is a rich, poor excuse for a human being, owner of many slaves. He is very distraught since the escape of his favorite slave, Rosetta, a beauty he truely must have returned. I won't let you in on to their true relationship in fear of ruining the plot.

Cain is a slave catcher. He conducts searches for escaped property in return for a handsome monetary reward. He does not condone slavery, however through his own childhood rearing believes slaves are better off being the property of someone else since they would not be able to fully take care of themselves. Mud hut vs warm shack and food in return for services. Not a bad exchange.

Cain is paid alot of money to locate and return Rosetta. It is his job. Once Rosetta is located the journey back to Virginia commences along with a search for his own soul. The title of the book is even interesting in that a soul catcher is an individual who captures the beings of captured slaves. It may also apply to Cain and his own quest in capturing his true self.

A must read

Michael C. White's novel Soul Catcher is a unique novel that takes place on the cusp of the United States Civil War. Colorful, yet simple words describe the landscape and characters' emotions throughout the story His vivid characters come to life with the emotions and situations that were kept under wraps during the days of slavery.

Cain, a man with regrets, and past emotions he refuses to acknowledge, is swept up on an unexpected adventure after a night of poker and drinks. A runaway slave girl, Rosetta, is the object of the chase. But Rosetta's cause for running is of more shock than Cain could have ever imagined. He will have to choose between duty to her owner or the duty of humanity and love. But even when Cain chooses his path, he still has to let go of the one he ends up loving the most.

For those that love historical fiction written with the rawness of life and emotions from history, Soul Catcher is a novel not to be missed.

No writer is better at getting you into a character's head than Michael White. Cain, the main character, is a person of many facets, some flawed, some polished smooth, many coming at each other from conflicting angles. The characters who accompany him through the story are equally interesting and well developed. White takes the topic of ante-bellum slavery and, by reducing it to one man chasing down one run away slave, tells us more about the horrors and atrocities of that institution than any story since "Roots". It is simply a great read.

In Soul Catcher, Michael White has created a complex and fascinating look at the internal search for meaning and truth. His book is set in the antebellum world of slaves and slave-catchers. The main figure, Cain, is a wonderfully developed character of great depth and strength. His biblical name is very apt as one who leaves his settled world, sacrifices all that is dear to him, and enters a new world, protected by God's mark. Rosetta, the main female character, is likewise a very strong character. She is almost Mosaic as she leads Cain through his personal wilderness into a place of self-acceptance.

I did have one problem with the book. It may be a personal grudge, but I was really disappointed when White makes Cain into almost a super-human character. He was shot and stabbed more times than I could count and yet, like the Eveready bunny, he keeps on ticking. This just didn't ring true to me and detracted from an otherwise breathtaking book.