The Lost Despatch: Enriched edition.

by Natalie Sumner Lincoln

Natalie Sumner Lincoln's 'The Lost Despatch' is a gripping mystery novel that follows the story of a missing diplomatic pouch that holds crucial information for national security. Set in a post-Civil War United States, the book combines elements of detective fiction and political intrigue, making it a compelling read for fans of both genres. Lincoln's descriptive prose and attention to historical detail immerse the reader in the world of late 19th-century America, adding depth and richness to the narrative. Natalie Sumner Lincoln, a prolific writer of mystery novels, draws on her own interest in history and politics to craft a story that not only entertains but also educates. Her background in journalism and her keen eye for detail are evident in the meticulous research that underpins 'The Lost Despatch'. Through this novel, Lincoln sheds light on lesser-known aspects of American history and highlights the importance of diplomacy and national security during a tumultuous period of the country's past. I highly recommend 'The Lost Despatch' to readers who enjoy atmospheric mysteries with a strong historical backdrop. Lincoln's skillful storytelling and engaging characters will keep you turning the pages until the very end, eager to uncover the fate of the missing despatch.

181 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1913

About the author

Natalie Sumner Lincoln (4 october 1881 - 31 august 1935) was an American writer. She was born in Washington and spent her whole career in this town. She was editor of the D.A.R. Magazine (Daughters of American R) from to .

She wrote 10 crime mystery novels with Inspector Mitchell from the Washington Police Department (1916-1927), and 2 novels with Detective Ferguson in the same town (1920-1921).

In 1922, The Washington Times mentioned her as The Conan Doyle of Washington.

Reviews

[Perry Whitford · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entering into the last year of the American Civil War, a clever Confederate spy is at work in Washington, stealing secret despatches and ferrying them south.

Though no one will credit it, the spy is a woman, the beautiful and intrepid Nancy Newton, a friend to Lincoln himself.

Nancy is bound to her dishonest task by a promise made to her dying father, who had raised her as though she were a son. Now three years into her service, the dogged though disbelieved Captain Lloyd is on to her.

Captain Lloyd's childhood friend Major Goddard, on the other hand, has fallen for Nancy, finding it incredulous that she could be working for the enemy.

Half way through, The Lost Despatch has you wondering exactly where it's going, with a traitorous heroine and a patriotic soldier willing to lie for her out of affection.

And true enough it didn't exactly go where I thought it would, to the extent that I was pleasantly surprised. The writing is hardly great, some melodrama does creep in, yet the unexpected developments turned a potentially creaky love story into a fairly decent mystery.

Lincoln's various cameo appearances also helped to add some weight and, to top things off, some pathos.