Spring Drive: A North Country Tale

Set in Menominee, Michigan, in 1881 and based on an historical event, the story centers on the McDonald boys, two loggers who roll into town planning to collect their pay, have some fun, and leave for Oregon. Before they can do so, however, they are caught up in a violent swirl of events that leads to their lynching. It is a gripping, even terrifying tale. In telling the story, the book probes a complex web of environmental, social, and personal issues which remain important in today's America.

"Guilford's (Paradigm, 2006, etc.) use of multiple points-of-view gives the reader a wider scope for the action . . . his prose is appropriately quick-moving, since the narrative stakes are so high. Guilford also retains period slang and dialect, providing for a richer reading experience . . . An action-packed morality tale." -- Kirkus Discoveries

"This true historical event is brought alive by Guilford's fictional portrayal of the characters, particularly through the tight, fast-paced dialogue and the psychological portraits of the inner turmoil that motivates their actions. . . .While Guilford does not spend a great deal of time on description, he includes enough information to make 1881 Menominee appear very vivid."
- Tyler Tichelaar, Marquette Monthly