M.B. Gibson Books

The Duncullen Saga

 

Where history becomes personal

Fiction grounded in primary research and lived detail, but always centered on people—on their hopes, fears, and impossible decisions.

Readers will find:

  • Historically accurate settings and events
  • Complex characters shaped by their time
  • Themes of freedom, loyalty, love, and moral reckoning
  • Stories that linger long after the final page

These are not romanticized pasts, but human ones.

 Book One: AROON

Ominous clouds loom over Tipperary’s Duncullen Estate.

Young heir Richard yearns for an academic life. But his father insists he abandon his foppish dreams and run the estate like a man. Will he defy his father’s tyrannical demands? Or is he destined for a dismal life that is not his own?

find out more…

  

 Book Two: HARPS UPON THE WILLOWS

Nan and Father Alistair walk a treacherous road. One that leads directly to the gallows.

You’ll be swept up in this fast-paced saga based on actual incidents that rocked eighteenth-century Tipperary.

learn more…

Book Three: PATIENCE CAN COOK A STONE

The government is in shambles. Battle lines have been drawn.

In the lawless backcountry of 1780 South Carolina, no one is safe.

Experience the fierce fighting along the Savannah River’s frontier during America’s first civil war.

read more on amazon…

26 responses to “The Duncullen Saga”

  1. Chris Hutto Avatar
    Chris Hutto

    I just finished Aroon!! Wow! I could not put it down from the very beginning. Now I need the next book. I have to know what happens to little Nan. Historical fiction is my favorite genre of literature. You did an excellent job writing this one. Thank you for entertaining me with your talent!!

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    1. mbgibson345 Avatar
      mbgibson345

      Thank you. I’m thrilled that you liked it. Don’t worry–more Nan to come!

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  2. Ann Dupree Avatar
    Ann Dupree

    Mary Beth, just finished reading your book and it was excellent, couldn’t but it down and can’t wait for your next one. Your folks would be so proud of you!

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    1. mbgibson345 Avatar
      mbgibson345

      Thank you, Ann. It means so much from someone who has known me as long as you have!

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  3. Helen Bottenfield Avatar
    Helen Bottenfield

    Can’t wait for book 2!!

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  4. aughtry davis Avatar
    aughtry davis

    WOW! Mary Beth, I just finished reading both books. They were certainly page turners. Historical fiction is one of my favorite! Can’t wait for number 3! You did a wonderful job. Thank you for giving us another great
    southern author to follow.

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    1. mbgibson345 Avatar
      mbgibson345

      Thank you, Aughtry! That means so much and spurs me on even more to get Book Three finished.

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  5. Sarah Angleton Avatar
    Sarah Angleton

    It was so great meeting you in Augusta! I’m reading Aroon. It’s wonderful! I can’t wait to continue the series.

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  6. mbgibson345 Avatar
    mbgibson345

    So glad you’re enjoying it! Meeting you in Augusta made the day a pleasure. I’m looking forward to Gentleman of Misfortune!

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  7. Karol DeFalco Avatar
    Karol DeFalco

    Greetings from Skeheenarinky, Co. Tipperary. You know my husband, Ed.

    Just read “Aroon”. First of all, the book is user friendly: the paper, the print size, the short chapters, the story-telling through conversation rather than paragraphs of explanation about Penal Laws, landlords, etc.

    It was fun to see local names and places in “Aroon”: John “Jack” Bridge, Mr. Hogan, Kilmacthomas, Clonmel, the Galty mountains, etc.

    My familiarity is with 19th century landlordism. “Aroon” has opened my eyes to that of the 18th century. Thanks for that.

    Although I had heard ‘Shule Aroon’ several times, I had never paid attention to it. Thanks for broadening my knowledge there, too.

    As everyone else has said, I couldn’t put the book down. Stayed awake long into the night, reading it. Don’t recommend reading about Maeve and Tara’s departure from Duncullen if the reader is just about to try to get to sleep.

    Thanks for “Aroon”, Mary Beth. Now, on to “Harps Among the WIllows”.

    Karol DeFalco

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    1. mbgibson345 Avatar
      mbgibson345

      Karol,
      I’m so excited to hear from you, and especially pleased that you enjoyed the book. From your comments, I think you will find Harps Upon the Willows even more interesting as it incorporates many events I learned about from Ed’s book on Nicholas Sheehy. Thank you for reading Aroon. I look forward to hearing from you again. Merry Christmas to you both!
      Mary Beth

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      1. Karol DeFalco Avatar
        Karol DeFalco

        Hi Mary Beth,

        You said you looked forward to hearing from me again, so here goes. Just finished “Harps Upon the Willows”. Unlike “Aroon” which I seemed to read non-stop, it took me a long time to read Harps/Willows. I wonder if this slowness was because I was already intimately aware of the Fr. Sheehy story and didn’t want to get to the gory bits or if I just didn’t want the book to end. For whatever reason, the reading was slow but intriguing.

        When I read the description of the location of the Griffith house and the stone wall in relation to Shanrahan cemetery and masoleum, I knew you had been here. That knowledge does not come from looking at maps. Too bad we didn’t know you then. Next trip…

        Although I have been to the masoleum dozens of times – even going down into the crypt – your description of Alistair Moore’s time in there was eye-opening – the complete darkness so that he wasn’t even able to see his hand, the stone coldness. Now I understand the phrase ‘stone cold’.

        As you know, there are several thoughts about what might have happened to John Bridge. Your story of a kidnapping was fantastic!

        On to “Patience Can Cook a Stone”. I am chomping at the bit to get my teeth into this book. I’m sure I’ll meet Joe Dillon and Nan. I wonder if Maeve and Tara will make an appearance.

        Karol

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  8. mbgibson345 Avatar
    mbgibson345

    Thank you for letting me know your thoughts about Harps Upon the Willows. I am pleased that you enjoyed it. You are the only person I know who’s read it while familiar with Nicholas Sheehy’s life, so your thoughts are particularly meaningful to me. One more time, I look forward to your thoughts on Patience Can Cook a Stone!

    And if I make it to Ireland, I hope to meet you and Ed for a drink.

    Mary Beth

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  9. Nancy L Eimers Avatar
    Nancy L Eimers

    I was recently visiting family in Aiken when I came across the Duncullen Saga trilogy. It is my quest to purchase books by local authors and these books fit the bill. So not knowing anything about you or the stories I purchased all three.

    It was a great adventure and extremely enlightening about the lives in different areas of the world that I am not familiar with. I came to feel for the characters and picture the situations they found themselves in. Great story telling and well presented history. It was easy reading and enticing to know what would happen next. I also almost felt a personal connection since my mother always called me Nan. Don’t often see the name in writing.

    Prior to reading several historical novels I was never much interested in history but your writing has stirred the desire to find more to delve into.

    Not knowing what your future plans are in regards to writing I do hope you keep it up since I would be ready to read your next endeavor.

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    1. mbgibson345 Avatar
      mbgibson345

      Hello Nancy.
      First, thank you for supporting local authors wherever you go. Second, thanks for choosing my books. I’m so excited that you enjoyed the stories, especially as a “Nan.” I don’t know if you noticed, by Nan is the only character who appears in all three novels. I am working on another book right now that is set in 1830s Natchez. It’s requiring a lot of research but is coming along. Best of everything to you in 2022.
      Mary Beth

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  10. Gary O'Dell Avatar
    Gary O’Dell

    I read your article on “Well I hear you went up to Saratoga” with interest. I am trying to locate an image of John Benjamin Pryor to use in my forthcoming article in the Louisiana Journal of History concerning Richard Ten Broeck, who hired Pryor as a trainer when he took a string of American horses to England to race against English Thoroughbreds. I noticed you had a small photo of Pryor in your article, but it is too low resolution for me to use plus I have to be able to credit the original source. Any assistance with this would be greatly appreciated.

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    1. mbgibson345 Avatar
      mbgibson345

      Hello Gary. I’m afraid that’s the only photo I’m aware of. I found it on ancestry.com, originally posted by someone named Erixon in 2018. I don’t know where the woman got it and anything else about her. There’s also a picture of a white-haired man some claim is J.B. Pryor, but digging a little deeper, I believe it is his brother, Alabama Senator Luke Pryor. I wish I could help you. If you’d like me to try and contact Ms. Erixon on Ancestry, I will do so. I interested in your article. I’m writing a novel based on Ben Pryor would love to read it if that becomes possible. Sorry I can’t be of more help.

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      1. Gary O'Dell Avatar
        Gary O’Dell

        Thanks for your quick response! If you have a way to contact Erixon, I would really appreciate that. I will be happy to send you a copy of the article when published, probably sometime next year. I am thinking that Pryor would make a good subject for a book, glad you are tackling it.

        Gary

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      2. mbgibson345 Avatar
        mbgibson345

        I’ll do so right away.

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  11. Gary O'Dell Avatar
    Gary O’Dell

    I inquired of the Keeneland Library, the National Racing Hall of Fame, and the National Sporting Library and Museum, about an image of Pryor, all replied they did not have one.

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    1. mbgibson345 Avatar
      mbgibson345

      Such a shame!

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  12. Gary O'Dell Avatar
    Gary O’Dell

    I know you are writing a book on Ben Pryor and don’t want to steal your thunder, but can you provide me with some brief biographical information about him?

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    1. mbgibson345 Avatar
      mbgibson345

      Certainly. I’ll send it to your email address.

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  13. Jeb Bennett Avatar
    Jeb Bennett

    Hi, Mary Beth. I just finished reading the Duncullen Saga for the third time. I enjoyed it as much this time as the first. I guess I should be thankful I have a short memory. It adds to the fun of re-reading great books. Hope you and Wendy are doing well. I learn something new with every read.

    All the Best,

    Jeb

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    1. mbgibson345 Avatar
      mbgibson345

      Wow, Jeb! Thanks for the support. It means a tremendous amount!! I’ve recently finished the first draft of my next book (not a part of the Duncullen Saga) and hope to get it out at the beginning of next year. We are doing quite well. Hope you and Gail are as well.
      mb

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  14. Jeb Bennett Avatar
    Jeb Bennett

    Great work.

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