Better Angels - A Review

 

Better Angels:
A Kate Warne Adventure

Written By Jeff Jensen
Illustrated By George Schall

A Review

This graphic novel follows the true story of Kate Warne, better known as America’s First Female Detective. To get her job she had to disguise herself as her deceased husband and convince the Pinkertons to hire her.

One of her first cases involved preventing an early attempt on the life of Abraham Lincoln - this book tells that story. It does the job well - though a little pre-reading of her history made the story even more enjoyable. The graphics were nicely done, though, like movies and TV shows depicting that era, the colors are somewhat muted in order to indicate the age of the story.

For the adult, teen, or pre-teen, reader looking for a powerful story depicting a female protagonist (a true story at that), this book should fill the bill. I would like to see more stories featuring Kate Warne and her team of sleuths. This book gets 4-1/2-stars.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are mine alone.

Murder In the Oval Library - A Review

Murder In the Oval Library

by

C. M. Gleason

A Review

The year is 1861; Lincoln has been inaugurated, and the South has started to succeed; the country is on the brink of a civil war. Oh, and a body is found in the Oval Office of the Whitehouse.

Abraham Lincoln assigns Adam Speed Quinn the task of digging for the truth. Sophie Gates, an independent reporter writing for the New York Times, appoints herself as his assistant. Together they will need to put together the pieces of a puzzle that will only become more complicated once Washington DC is invaded by the Rebels from the South.

The story was a fun read and held this reader’s attention for the duration of the book. Well worth my time.

A “Note From The Author” does a good job of helping to connect the story to the historical events in the days immediately following the inauguration. What was disappointing was that events discussed in the book could not be verified through Google, etc. As I have said in earlier reviews, the ability to follow up with a bit of independent research is what makes an historical novel particularly interesting. The brief essay at the end ties the book to some of that history, but it also leaves some questions unanswered.

Having said that, I have ordered an earlier title by the same author written with the same characters and similar sitting. I do not expect to be disappointed.

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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions are mine alone.

Perish From The Earth - A Review

Perish From The Earth

by

Jonathan F. Putnam

A Review

Blending a great deal of history with a believable, though fictional, story, takes talent and skill. Jonathan F. Putnam had done just that.

My acquaintance with Lincoln began and ended with his Presidency. “Perish From The Earth” takes the reader back to an earlier time in Lincoln’s career when he served as a circuit riding lawyer in Illinois. We are introduced to his best friend and roommate from that era, Joshua Speed. Similarly, we are introduced to Lincoln’s co-workers, prosecutors, and judges. Others from that era that make an appearance also have their roots in the history along the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. The mid-19th-century river boat culture takes on a life of its own as the story develops. Wrapped in a mystery and a courtroom scene in the town of Alton, IL, worthy of a great 20th-century writer, the who, what, where, and why’s, that make this story engrossing, readable, and exciting.  

For any fan of Lincoln, for any fan of historical fiction, and for any fan of great courtroom drama, this book should quickly become a must read. The author hints that more may be coming - I do not want to wait, I want more now!

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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions are mine alone.

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