Uncivil
Death In Norfolk
By
M E Cooper
This
is the second in the series of Civil War mysteries featuring real-life
Confederate General WW Loring (the first being Uncivil Death). Loring
is still ill with pneumonia and in hospital this time, with his
trusty aide and narrator Lieutenant Conley by his side. He isn’t
there very long before a young doctor is murdered, and thus Conley
is once again sent forth to find out whodunit.
This is a more involving plot than
the first in this series, which was strong on history and atmosphere
but somewhat short on story. Now we are more into true whodunit
territory, with suspects all over the place, plenty of investigation
and red herrings in abundance. History isn’t neglected though,
and also in this slim volume is an account of a battle between the
first ironclad ships, plenty of information about life in a hospital
in those days and very much a feeling of “being there”
which separates good historical fiction from the rest. Conley makes
a fine narrator, and the author has really got under the skin of
the times, even injecting some welcome humor into an otherwise grim
subject with this somewhat prudish young man. This looks to be a
series that is going places – one to appeal to fans of mainstream
historical fiction (especially if this period is one you favor)
as well as history mystery readers.
|
The
Book |
Padlock
Mystery Press |
November
2004 |
Paperback |
0974331600 |
Crime
[1862, Virginia] |
More
at Amazon.com |
Excerpt
|
NOTE:
|
The
Reviewer |
Rachel A Hyde |
Reviewed
2005 |
NOTE:
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