Author Description

Father Daniel Shanahan has been named the new parish priest in his Wisconsin hometown of Wright Valley. He has not been home in ten years. When an unfamiliar woman picks him up, he begins a journey back to the valley of his fathers, a world of contested power, unrequited love, racial strife, terrible loss, and utter madness. His father, a local business leader, demands that Daniel focus on his new responsibilities. His aunt warns of a plot against him. Both of them tell Daniel to forget his best friend from childhood, Saul Herbst, who still owns a farm in the area. Saul's father, Conrad, sustained horrible injuries in a failed suicide attempt. Saul's wife, Liselotte, behaves erratically, but despite this, Daniel's brother, Dennis, is infatuated with her. On that first morning, in the fall of 1975, Daniel is picked up from the diocese office by Roberta Walker, one of Wright Valley's only Black residents. She and her husband had come to the area to try to make a living off the land. Upon his arrival in town, Daniel is greeted by his whole family and must begin his work immediately. In addition to navigating his changed family dynamics, he must also make his way through his first leadership position as the parish priest. Between preparing for Mass, reconnecting with community members, and steering the pastoral council, Daniel has more to do than he can handle. Everyone in town sees Daniel's father, Michael, in charge, and Daniel must work to prove them wrong. In Valley of Our Fathers, J. Alt delivers an immersive experience, enveloping the reader in the small town of Wright Valley and the story of a man trying to discover himself.