First Sentence:
“I don’t believe it!” Arlette Ross McKintyre’s
eyes flashed fire as she looked up at the Presidential box.”
Captain Matthew Grand happened to be attending the play at
Ford’s Theater when Lincoln is shot. He attempted to
apprehend Booth, but failed and is sent to London undercover
to track down one of the co-conspirators. Jim Batchelor has
been investigating a series of garrottings by the Haymarket
Strangler but is hired to do an article on Grand and the assassination.
The unlikely pair team up when there are signs the two cases
may be related.
The story begins with an opening which starts out light but
quickly turns much darker and tragic. What is interesting
is that one never thinks of Lincoln’s assassination
from the perspective of a bystander, yet Trow does an excellent
job of making you feel as though you were there.
The characters are fully drawn. Grand’s fiancée
is catty, ambitious and highly annoying; yet her butler is
delightful. Grand has the confidence of a former military
captain, yet you feel his overwhelm in coming to London. Batchelor
is canny and a survivor who believes in what he does.
Trow provides fascinating references to historical characters
and events, most of which may have been previously unknown
to readers, yet their inclusion adds extra dimension to the
story. For all the grimness of the situations, Trow’s
voice and touches humor, of situations and the dialogue.
“The Blue and the Gray” is a very good
read introducing two wonderful characters. How delightful
to find a new series to follow.
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