Undercurrent of Secrets - A Review

 

Undercurrent of Secrets

by

Rachel Scott McDaniel

A Review

Two stories, two mysteries, two romances, separated by one hundred years, joined by the love for a paddle-wheeler that had its beginnings in 1914 and that is still plying its trade along the Ohio River serves as the backdrop for this well-told plot.The author weaves the stories together using two narrators, one from the past and one from the present. Together these two narrators allow us to follow the lives of Devyn Asbury and Hattie Louis and their loves and adventures. Bootleggers, kidnappers, arsonists, and murderers all add to this exciting tale.

There are few books that will bring tears to my eyes as I finish them - this one did. I give this piece of faith-based historical fiction five-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.  

The Barrister and the Letter of Marque - A Review

The Barrister and

the Letter of Marque

by

Todd M. Johnson

A Review

Todd M. Johnson has written a fun piece of historical fiction. Based in the early 19th century, Lady Madeleine Jameson has gone into great debt to purchase and support the first voyage of the brig Padget after its service in the earlier war with France. Captain Harold Tuttle had received a Letter of Marque, allowing him, his crew, and the ship to capture smugglers and claim their cargo as its own. But when the ship returns to London full of tea captured from pirateers in the Indian Ocean, the Letter has disappeared and the Captain and his crew are arrested for piracy.

At that point, Lady Jameson contacts William Snopes, barrister, to defend Captain Tuttle, her cousin, at trial. It becomes immediately clear that something is amiss. Rather than allowing the defendant months to prepare for trial, he is given days. At the same time Captain Tuttle has disappeared - not to be found in any of the city’s jails. Potential witnesses have also fled town. It would be a difficult case.

The result is an exciting story that takes the reader throughout the streets of London and into the English countryside. The author mixes the best and worst of smugglers, politicians, and lawyers, to create an attention holding story for this reader. The plot involves some well known historical figures (i.e. the dandy Beau Brummell), though with some non-historical settings and events. We become familiar with the infamous Newgate Prison, the Old Bailey courthouse, etc. I can only hope that the author has enough imagination to continue the story into future volumes; alas, it does not appear likely.

The plot, characters, and setting, easily make for a five-star book.

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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.

The Scarlet Pen - A Review

The Scarlet Pen

by

Jennifer Uhlarik

A Review

The Scarlet Pen is a bit of history wrapped up into a gritty mystery.

Many have become familiar with serial killers through the television show “Criminal Minds”. Most will not realize that there is a long history of serial killers throughout history. This book follows the story of one who killed at least nine in the mid-1870s in Iowa and Nebraska. Stephen Lee Richards had become known as the Nebraska Butcher or Nebraska Fiend. The author wraps her story around this man using a fictional fiance and a Secret Service Agent who is tracking the counterfeit money that Richards is also passing as he travels from Ohio to Iowa to Nebraska.

The story is gripping and attention grabbing as Clay Timmons seeks to protect Richards’ fiance, Emma Draycott, and apprehend the “special kind of tetched” criminal himself. Having lived in the area described in the book, it was difficult to imagine the evil this man left along the Platte River and in Western Iowa

What is amazing is that the author and the murderer himself are able to communicate God’s grace to our broken world. History tells us that both in a final testimony and in written correspondence, Richards confessed faith in Christ prior to his being hanged. The fictional Clay Timmons summed up an appropriate response when asked, “Did he really believe?’

Part of me hopes he was tellin’ the truth, that God has welcomed him home -- because if God can forgive and receive the likes of him, there’s incredible hope for all of us.

With the mixture of history and grace, I give the book 5-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.

 

Bridge of Gold - A Review

 

Bridge of Gold

by

Kimberley Woodhouse

A Review

Certain moments in life define a person.
Moments that invoke physical

feelings that can’t be described.
That flood the heart and soul
with more emotions

than could possibly be fathomed.

This was one of those moments...

Ms. Woodhouse has written a faith-based thriller interweaving four era’s in the history of San Francisco CA. Beginning with California’s Gold Rush in the 1850s and ending with a present day archaeological visit to the very bottom of the Golden Gate Bridge, the reader makes a literary trip through time.

The Lucky Martha had gone down in the bay north of San Francisco in 1849. It was rediscovered in 1893, 1933, and, again, in modern times. The first three occurrences triggered death. It almost happened again. Mechanical engineer Steven Michaels and underwater archaeologist Kayla Richardson would assume the task of understanding the ship’s history and the deaths that seemed to follow it through time.

Bridge of Gold is part of a series of books commissioned by the publisher asking each author to develop a fictional mystery around events that occupy events in real history. The story of Bridge of Gold surrounds the development and restoration of the Golden Gate Bridge. This is the second book in the series I have been privileged to review with one more scheduled for next month. It was an exciting read, with enough history and citations for the reader to explore more details on his or her own. The author makes clear what is history and what is fiction. The result is a readable story about life above and below the surface of San Francisco Bay. I give the book five 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.

The Silver Shadow - A Review

The Silver Shadow

by

Liz Tolsma

A woman’s place was
in the home, raising children,
caring for her husband, keeping house.
She had no business out working a job,

thinking she didn’t need a man.

That was the thug’s motivation for attacking the women of Denver CO in the ending months of 1900 and the beginning of 1901. The problem was that it was not only his thoughts, but also those of the Denver Post’s editor, Joseph Ward, and at least one rising star of its newsroom, Harry Gray. And the only woman assigned to the newsroom, an attempt to show that an early 20th century employer could be inclusive, Polly Blythe, had to work in that environment.. It also appeared to be the attitude of the Denver Police Department’s Chief of Detectives, Hamilton Armstrong.

And if that was the case, why should anyone, police or otherwise, investigate the brutal attacks on 11+ women on the streets of Denver. The attacks involved the use of a lead or copper pipe hitting the women over the head - three died, the others were injured with varying degrees of physical damage. None were robbed; none were sexually assaulted. Altogether, it did make a good story - except many of the facts and people were taken from Denver’s historical record. Borrowing from that historical record, the author has done a surprising job of weaving a believable, faith-based, tale from the known facts of the era. The remarkable story concludes with a brief epilog describing the actual events that provided a foundation for the plot. The book provides fictional answers to many of the unanswered questions that remained from the actual events that took place in early 20th-century Denver.

In the present book, Polly Blythe and Denver Detective Edwin Price would be the two characters with enough gumption and curiosity to continue to follow the story - though many city leaders thought it a less than worthwhile task. Their work and the creativity of the author merit this five-star review.
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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.

Faking of the President - A Review

Faking of the President 

Edited By

Peter Carlaftes

It sounded fun when I chose to review it, but I found it less so. The stories are darker than most cozy mysteries with the focus being on the commission of a crime, rather than the discovery of their perpetrators.

The Presidents are guilty of murder or planning the murders. What makes these stories interesting is that most are rooted in historical events - not the murders themselves but the circumstances and people involved. They forced the reader to review Google for historical events and people mentioned in the stories - always a pleasure when reading historical fiction.
______________This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are my own.

Hope Never Dies - A Review

Hope Never Dies

by

Andrew Shaffer

A Review

Barack Obama and Joe Biden may have retired from their most famous positions. However, if Andrew Shaffer’s story is to be believed, this famous pair remain active in the Washington DC area, not as politicians, but as private investigators.

Biden’s favorite Amtrak Conductor has died in a tragic accident. The police are content with calling it an accident; Biden is less convinced.

Obama and Biden’s investigation will take them from Amtrak stations to Wilmington, DE, to the somewhat hidden hangout of the Marauders outlaw bike gang. With the assistance of a Secret Service Agent assigned to protect Obama and an undercover DEA Agent, the team follows the clues to discover the truth.

Shaffer’s story is as inviting as it is exciting. The story has the feel of historical fiction, yet is written in the contemporary era — well-done.

Shaffer’s Obama says he is done with serving as a PI, but this reader hopes that Shaffer and Obama will change their minds — allowing Biden and Obama to again team up and work together to solve a crime that the police have ignored or have chosen to pursue the wrong suspect; together, Biden and Obama will choose to make justice right again.

For the characters, the plot, and the setting, it is easy to make this a 5-star review.

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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.

the

The Maggie Bright - A Review

The Maggie Bright

by

Tracy Groot

A Review

Nahum 2:1-2 (RSV)

The shatterer has come up against you.

Man the ramparts;

watch the road;

gird your loins;

collect all your strength.

The Maggie Bright tells a story, but that story is fiction. On the other hand, its setting is far bigger, far more important, than the story itself. As I read, I was forced to review the beginning of England’s posture in WW II - a war that seemed almost over before it began.

More would follow as America eventually joined the war, but for now England had to save itself. It was not the British Navy or the British Army that would do that job - but the people of Britain itself.

The book presents a picture of war and a picture of humanity. It is both ugly and beautiful at the same time. History unfolds around a small boat - a craft designed to hold 12 vacationers, but destined to save nearly a 100 men on those fateful days at Dunkirk.

For those who are fans of World War II, those who enjoy the heroism of men who were not born to be heroes, and for those who believe in the power of prayer, this book belongs to them. My first thought when I saw the book was, “This is better suited for my wife.”  When I read the description I was convinced that I would not like this book - I do not like war stories. But my head and my heart were drawn into the story - with tears in my eyes as I came to its end. Not all my questions were answered - but that was okay. The book was satisfying in ways I did not expect. I was forced to review my history as the book unfolded. An operation of common sailors that was expected to save 30,000 - 45,000 men would save 340,000. Another 40,000 were left behind to surrender to the Germans, to be set free only at the end of the war.

The book is a story of a boat, of a war, and of humanity, and the price they paid for the freedom we have even today.

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This review is based on a free copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.  The opinions expressed are my own.

The Illusionist’s Apprentice - A Review

The Illusionist’s Apprentice

by

Kristy Cambron

A Review

Fairytales can take many forms. This one takes the form of an historical cozy mystery set in the years following the First World War. But also woven between its pages are flashbacks to Wren Lockhart’s troubled childhood and her adventurous teen years. Along the way we meet Harry Houdini and we get to make brief visits to the Palace of Versailles in France. We also get a glimpse of the classical collection of tales found in W. Jenkyn Thomas’ “The Welsh Fairy Book”.

Wren Lockhart watched her mother die and always blamed herself for not preventing her sister’s causing the death. It would take 30 years for her to discover the truth and to find the freedom to forgive herself and learn to love and trust another person, while a variety of vile characters would try to destroy her life and heart along the way.

The book was part cozy mystery, part history (I enjoyed the author’s note at the end of the book), and part adventure.  The hint of faith and romance add value to the book for many readers.

For the reader looking for a fairytale wrapped in modern colors, this book might just fill the bill.

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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 my own.

The Cairo Code - A Review

Cairo Code

by

Glenn Meade

A Review

A reprint of an older book by Glenn Meade, The Cairo Code is a spy thriller worth reading. The majority of the book takes place in the final months of WW II, as Roosevelt and Churchill prepare to meet outside Cairo to discuss a strategy that is hoped to bring an end to the war.  The Nazis have gotten wind of the meeting and have set in motion an operation to make the meeting meaningless, it will be up to three friends from before the war to stop the unthinkable from happening.

Loosely based on actual historical events, the book is non-stop action as the good and bad get pushed together in unexpected ways with more than one twist. We meet many of the major players of the European theater of WW II - along with those already mentioned, we meet Hitler, Himmler, and other, lesser known, characters in the war. There is enough historical drama to keep the reader making regular dashes into Google in order to verify facts, people, and events. Google maps were, at times, a wonderful tool to understand the sites in Northeastern Egypt that played a role in both the history of WW II and in this tale.

My one surprise is that it presents itself as a Christian book - both by its publisher and by the stores that sell it.  Though it is certainly not an embarrassment to the church, I find little in the book to allow the label “Christian” to be added to its description. A couple of misused Bible quotes do not make a Christian book.

As many know, I am not a great lover of military history - fictionalized or factual - but I could not put this book down. It is a long book, longer than most that I review; but it was well worth the time I spent in its pages. The book comes with a strong recommendation; it will make a good summer or fall read. Whether the reader enjoys war, espionage, or mystery, the book will his or her attention for several hours of excellent reading.

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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 my own.

Whispers in the Reading Room - A Review

Whispers in the
Reading Room

by

Shelley Bray

A Review

I don’t think I have ever read a book that left me with such mixed emotions. The author presents a beautiful picture of how God can take broken lives from a variety of backgrounds and transform them into something of value and worth. At the same time, the author reminds us that we cannot judge a book by its cover or a man by his coat.

The story takes place in the weeks and months following the closing of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. Lydia has the responsibility of running a local “Reading Room” in the Chicago community. Thus begins this mystery. I would call this a “mystery embedded in a romance” (which I find a bit uncomfortable reading), rather than a “romance embedded in a mystery” (which is more to my liking). But the four main characters have all strayed from their faith - when fate (i.e. God) brings them together.

Though Sebastian Marks is a man of mystery, the true mystery does not begin until the 50% point (using Kindle’s measurement) of the book. The death of Lydia’s ex-fiance will force each member of their small group to rethink friendships, beliefs, and behaviors. And because of this, the book is much more about relationships than about the mystery.

The book is well-written, by a skilled writer. Her ability to weave the history of the era (and forcing this reader to search Google to discover more) is always a sign of a good book. Though the author seems to confuse the three fires that destroyed the remains of the World’s Fair site over a year’s time into a single event, the story was alive and real.

Bottom line - I enjoyed the book. I wish there had been less romance, but then i am male and thrive more on the excitement than on the romance. Would I recommend the book? Yes - for everyone, but for some more than others. If you like a mix of history, mystery, and romance, you will enjoy “Whispers in the Reading Room.”

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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.

The Fruitcake Murders - A Reviews

The Fruitcake Murders

by

Ace Collins

A Review

The first murder occurred in December 1926 - and they convicted and executed the man caught with the murder weapon in his hand.

But then the murders started again in December 1946.  They were connected - the victims had been drugged and then clobbered with a heavy, full fruitcake can. But there were differences - they came from different cultural groups: the district attorney, the homeless, a hooker. And it would take a newspaper reporter, a police detective, and a private eye to collect the pieces of the puzzle that would bring all the pieces together into a complete picture that gave meaning to the deaths that spanned two decades.

The book brings together the right amount of mystery, history, romance, and a bit of faith, to make an interesting story that had to be read quickly to maximize its enjoyment. I wanted to pick the book up every free moment I had - I had to finish it.

For the reader looking for an early winter read, The Fruitcake Murders might just fill the need.  

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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 my own.

A Curious Beginning - A Review

A Curious Beginning

by

Deanna RayBourn

A Review

Victoria Speedwell is a self-taught student of natural history with lepidoptery (butterflies) being her specialty. She was also the most dangerous woman in all of England - and she did not know why.

It would take the help of her new friend, Revelstoke Templeton-Vane, know to his friends as “Stoker”, and others - some to be trusted, others less so.  Set in the turn-of-the-century (i.e. 1900) England, I repeatedly expected to see Sherlock Holmes stepping out of the shadows. Thankfully, he never did, making Ms. Speedwell and her friends a suitable group of detectives on their own.  

The book first appears like a good detective novel, but turns into a well-written piece of historical fiction that occasionally drove me to Wikipedia to connect its characters and events with the actual circumstances of the era. The interweaving of this book’s plot and actual history was not quite as complete as I have seen in some previous works, but it was sufficiently well-done to make for an interesting and lively story.

For those with an interest in English history and culture this piece of fiction may just fill the reader's interest.  I know it did mine.

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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 my own.

The Last Con - A Novel

The Last Con

by

Zachary Bartels

A Review

Attention holding.
Emotionally gripping.
And dare I say, educational.

All these describe Zachary Bartels’ sophomore novel.  Rooted in events upon which the French Revolution had its beginning, the novel picks up as a group of grifters try to recover the ancient artifacts that were the center of events on the Isle of Malta in the late 18th century.

The book is really two stories. Once basically historical as they describe the events involving Malta and Marie Antoinette. The second story focuses on the group of grifters trying to recover the famous necklace (search for the “Affair of the Diamond Necklace”). The story becomes more real as two men in the present time, one a fake preacher, the other an ex-con who was converted while serving time, both question the faith upon which they have built their lives.  They find themselves asking the same question, “Who is the real me?”  They are surprised at the answers that they find.

As I first began to read, the book felt like a crime novel from the 30’s or 40’s.  But it did not take long to find that the book was more like one from Dan Brown (ala “The DaVinci Code”) or John Grisham (ala “The Firm”). A perfect read for the long, hot summer nights.  The Christian will find faith plays a significant part in making this book come alive. The unbeliever will find the historical connection makes this a worthwhile read.  

Reruns are on TV, baseball is done for the evening, time to pick up a book - “The Last Con” would be a perfect choice.

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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 my own.