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The Final Decree
In 1746 at the Battle of Culloden, the British, led by William Hanover, the Duke of Cumberland, overwhelmed the Scots and brought them under the reign of King George II. Twenty years later, his successor, King George III, signed a decree giving the Scots their independence, and sent the Duke
back to spread the news. Waylaid on his journey, the decree was lost. Two hundred and fifty years later, clues to the decrees existence are uncovered, but can the decree be found, and Scotland set free?
back to spread the news. Waylaid on his journey, the decree was lost. Two hundred and fifty years later, clues to the decrees existence are uncovered, but can the decree be found, and Scotland set free?
264 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 15, 2023
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May 16, 2024
The author gave me a copy of this book without obligation, and I’ve elected to write a fair review.
What if an 18th Century King of England had penned a decree giving Scotland independence, but the document got lost until the present day? That’s the fascinating premise of this novel.
The early chapters present a beleaguered King George III, forced by circumstances to cut Scotland loose from the United Kingdom. The king’s uncle takes the decree to Scotland, but mishaps occur and the document gets hidden, then forgotten.
The action shifts to the early 21st Century, to the years before the 2014 referendum on Scottish independence. A young man named Gus finds a copy of the decree while cleaning the family garage. He also finds directions about where to find the original. In time, he’s forced to work with Tom, a one-time friend who Gus holds responsible for his mother’s stroke and subsequent ill health. But there’s more to Tom, who’s not as evil as Gus thinks, though too trusting for his own good.
The book’s premise may sound like alternate history, but it’s more like ‘secret history,’ a distinct subgenre with its own rules and definition.
Overall, I enjoyed the novel, despite some confusing parts and editorial errors. The author’s use of dialect and details of everyday life in the Scotland of the 1700s and 2000s really transported me into the book. I found the characters engaging, complex, and believable.
Readers of historical fiction, and all fans of Scotland, will be delighted by this book. Moreover, it will get you wondering about what potentially world-shaking artifacts sit ignored and forgotten in garages, basements, and attics throughout the world. Maybe next time you won’t be so quick to haul stuff to the dump without examining it first.
What if an 18th Century King of England had penned a decree giving Scotland independence, but the document got lost until the present day? That’s the fascinating premise of this novel.
The early chapters present a beleaguered King George III, forced by circumstances to cut Scotland loose from the United Kingdom. The king’s uncle takes the decree to Scotland, but mishaps occur and the document gets hidden, then forgotten.
The action shifts to the early 21st Century, to the years before the 2014 referendum on Scottish independence. A young man named Gus finds a copy of the decree while cleaning the family garage. He also finds directions about where to find the original. In time, he’s forced to work with Tom, a one-time friend who Gus holds responsible for his mother’s stroke and subsequent ill health. But there’s more to Tom, who’s not as evil as Gus thinks, though too trusting for his own good.
The book’s premise may sound like alternate history, but it’s more like ‘secret history,’ a distinct subgenre with its own rules and definition.
Overall, I enjoyed the novel, despite some confusing parts and editorial errors. The author’s use of dialect and details of everyday life in the Scotland of the 1700s and 2000s really transported me into the book. I found the characters engaging, complex, and believable.
Readers of historical fiction, and all fans of Scotland, will be delighted by this book. Moreover, it will get you wondering about what potentially world-shaking artifacts sit ignored and forgotten in garages, basements, and attics throughout the world. Maybe next time you won’t be so quick to haul stuff to the dump without examining it first.
Displaying 1 of 1 review