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In the Shadow of Gold: A Tale of the Lost Confederate Treasure
April 1865. Richmond, Virginia. Two trains. One treasure. And a question worth millions.
As the US Civil War was drawing to a close and Grant was about to take Richmond, two trains left the city in the dark of night. One carried Confederate President Jefferson Davis and his cabinet. The other carried the Confederate Treasury guarded by a young midshipman from the CSA Navy. A few weeks later, Davis was captured by Federal troops near Irwinville, Georgia, and the treasure...was gone. People have been speculating on what happened to the Confederate treasure for decades.
In The Shadow of Gold offers a fresh interpretation of this on-going mystery - imagining what could have happened to the millions in lost gold, silver, and jewelry, and the lives it could have changed for generations to come.
As the US Civil War was drawing to a close and Grant was about to take Richmond, two trains left the city in the dark of night. One carried Confederate President Jefferson Davis and his cabinet. The other carried the Confederate Treasury guarded by a young midshipman from the CSA Navy. A few weeks later, Davis was captured by Federal troops near Irwinville, Georgia, and the treasure...was gone. People have been speculating on what happened to the Confederate treasure for decades.
In The Shadow of Gold offers a fresh interpretation of this on-going mystery - imagining what could have happened to the millions in lost gold, silver, and jewelry, and the lives it could have changed for generations to come.
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Published January 22, 2021
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About the author
Michael Kenneth Smith
9 books26 followersMICHAEL KENNETH SMITH is the author of six historical novels including the international Amazon bestseller, The Postwoman, based on the true story of WWII Resistance fighter, Andreé De Jongh. Trained as a mechanical engineer, Smith turned to writing after building—and selling—a successful auto parts business. Storytelling is his lifelong passion.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 21, 2021
“In the Shadow of the Gold” begins in June 2020 with an introduction to Jonas Arvin, a very wealthy man who has hired someone to investigate the origins of his family wealth. The majority of the rest of the novel takes place back in 1865 at the end of the Civil War and follows two very different people as they make their way through their piece of history.
Overall, the story is really interesting. I mean, who doesn’t love a story about stolen or missing treasure! The dual time line and multiple points of view were an interesting way to tell the story and allowed for more insight into the main characters as well. Ellie and Yancey were each very strong characters in their own right. They were from extremely different backgrounds, with different motivations, and different strengths/weaknesses, but each still held their own within the story. The only weak link for me was in the character development of the present timeline. While it was not a major portion of the story telling, it did serve an important role in bringing together some of the key themes of the story. The connection to the past characters just wasn’t there for the present ones and I wish that I would have either liked or disliked them more strongly. I would enjoy reading more historical fiction by this author and think that it really will make a great screenplay.
The full blog post can be found here: https://heatherlbarksdale.com/blog/bl...
I received a copy of this story in exchange of a fair and honest review.
Overall, the story is really interesting. I mean, who doesn’t love a story about stolen or missing treasure! The dual time line and multiple points of view were an interesting way to tell the story and allowed for more insight into the main characters as well. Ellie and Yancey were each very strong characters in their own right. They were from extremely different backgrounds, with different motivations, and different strengths/weaknesses, but each still held their own within the story. The only weak link for me was in the character development of the present timeline. While it was not a major portion of the story telling, it did serve an important role in bringing together some of the key themes of the story. The connection to the past characters just wasn’t there for the present ones and I wish that I would have either liked or disliked them more strongly. I would enjoy reading more historical fiction by this author and think that it really will make a great screenplay.
The full blog post can be found here: https://heatherlbarksdale.com/blog/bl...
I received a copy of this story in exchange of a fair and honest review.
November 16, 2020
Michael Kenneth Smith’s compelling and imaginative historical novel, In the Shadow of Gold: A Tale of the Lost Confederate Treasure, unfolds in June 2020 on an opulent estate, known as the Arvin property, where we meet billionaire Jonas Arvin. Jonas receives a phone call from someone who is investigating the origin of the Arvin family’s fortune.
He relates to Jonas that the family’s wealth was created in the mid-to-late 1880s. The seed capital, however, was probably amassed closer to the time of the American Civil War. He further points out to Jonas that there is one gigantic puzzle of the war that has never been cleared up. What happened to the Confederate Treasury after the war ended? Apparently, most of the Treasury’s horde of gold and silver, it’s “hard currency” reserves, never was captured by Union soldiers. It vanished. Or did it?
In the subsequent chapters of this electrifying work, Smith takes us back to 1865, the era of the American Civil War, where we follow the central character, midshipman Yancey Arvindale whose task is to guard the Confederate Treasury that fled from Richmond, Virginia, then the Confederate capital, to Abbeville, just ahead of the Union’s soldiers successful effort to capture the city.
The bulk of Yancey’s story reveals how he cleverly would creep at night under the trains he was defending, mount into the appropriate car, snag a box of gold, and submerge it right under the rail car. He carried this out about four or five times. He also carefully maintained a record of precisely where he buried his cache. One day Yancey is captured in the act, lands in jail, and practically loses his life to a savage beating.
After the war ends, Yancey returns to where he hid his stash and deposits it in a few banks. He rationalizes that clearly, he did not plunder the gold, as it did not belong to President Jefferson Davis or his cabinet. As for the people, even if it belonged to them, how would they receive it?
Another narrative thread that Smith cleverly weaves into the novel concerns a runaway slave, Ellie, whose life will be inevitably bound to Yancey’s. With Ellie’s story, Smith draws a vivid portrait of survival and struggle for self-worth against a backdrop of one of the bleakest periods of American history.
We learn that Ellie had stabbed her master to death and made her way to a camp of runaway slaves. The camp occupants had welcomed her with open arms, believing that she was delivered by the Lord to help them. Ellie takes control of the camp and propels the runaways to aid in its management. She warns them they must work collectively to ward off starvation.
While one of the runaways, Simon, is searching for food for the camp dwellers, he runs across a severely injured soldier who turns out to be Yancey. Ellie instructs Simon to take Yancey back where he discovered him, as there is no place for a white man in the camp. Simon refuses and tells Ellie that Yancey is one of God’s children, just like her, and he can’t let him die. Quite interesting is Ellie’s ambivalence about Yancey, who she initially resents and ultimately comes to love.
To read Michael Kenneth Smith’s fascinating novel is to surrender to a raconteur of the traditional school. His writing is rich with strong characterization, compelling plotting, and above all, his storytelling gift, which is abundantly supported, thanks to expertly voiced narration and masterly evocation of time and place. Also, the novel is accessible and written in clear, uncluttered prose that moves steadily forward.
We have quite a romp in which actual events are cleverly intertwined with the author’s imagination. It leaves readers with the feeling that they are not quite sure which to believe. The yarn seems as vivid and immediate as something that happened only yesterday.
Follow Here https://waa.ai/tOLc To Read Norm’s Interview With Michael Kenneth Smith
He relates to Jonas that the family’s wealth was created in the mid-to-late 1880s. The seed capital, however, was probably amassed closer to the time of the American Civil War. He further points out to Jonas that there is one gigantic puzzle of the war that has never been cleared up. What happened to the Confederate Treasury after the war ended? Apparently, most of the Treasury’s horde of gold and silver, it’s “hard currency” reserves, never was captured by Union soldiers. It vanished. Or did it?
In the subsequent chapters of this electrifying work, Smith takes us back to 1865, the era of the American Civil War, where we follow the central character, midshipman Yancey Arvindale whose task is to guard the Confederate Treasury that fled from Richmond, Virginia, then the Confederate capital, to Abbeville, just ahead of the Union’s soldiers successful effort to capture the city.
The bulk of Yancey’s story reveals how he cleverly would creep at night under the trains he was defending, mount into the appropriate car, snag a box of gold, and submerge it right under the rail car. He carried this out about four or five times. He also carefully maintained a record of precisely where he buried his cache. One day Yancey is captured in the act, lands in jail, and practically loses his life to a savage beating.
After the war ends, Yancey returns to where he hid his stash and deposits it in a few banks. He rationalizes that clearly, he did not plunder the gold, as it did not belong to President Jefferson Davis or his cabinet. As for the people, even if it belonged to them, how would they receive it?
Another narrative thread that Smith cleverly weaves into the novel concerns a runaway slave, Ellie, whose life will be inevitably bound to Yancey’s. With Ellie’s story, Smith draws a vivid portrait of survival and struggle for self-worth against a backdrop of one of the bleakest periods of American history.
We learn that Ellie had stabbed her master to death and made her way to a camp of runaway slaves. The camp occupants had welcomed her with open arms, believing that she was delivered by the Lord to help them. Ellie takes control of the camp and propels the runaways to aid in its management. She warns them they must work collectively to ward off starvation.
While one of the runaways, Simon, is searching for food for the camp dwellers, he runs across a severely injured soldier who turns out to be Yancey. Ellie instructs Simon to take Yancey back where he discovered him, as there is no place for a white man in the camp. Simon refuses and tells Ellie that Yancey is one of God’s children, just like her, and he can’t let him die. Quite interesting is Ellie’s ambivalence about Yancey, who she initially resents and ultimately comes to love.
To read Michael Kenneth Smith’s fascinating novel is to surrender to a raconteur of the traditional school. His writing is rich with strong characterization, compelling plotting, and above all, his storytelling gift, which is abundantly supported, thanks to expertly voiced narration and masterly evocation of time and place. Also, the novel is accessible and written in clear, uncluttered prose that moves steadily forward.
We have quite a romp in which actual events are cleverly intertwined with the author’s imagination. It leaves readers with the feeling that they are not quite sure which to believe. The yarn seems as vivid and immediate as something that happened only yesterday.
Follow Here https://waa.ai/tOLc To Read Norm’s Interview With Michael Kenneth Smith
December 1, 2020
Michael Kenneth Smith, a successful businessman retired in 2000, and has since spent his time taking part in various pursuits, including editing a local newspaper. Having always loved storytelling, in 2014 he released his first novel set in the American Civil War called “Home Again.” Since then he has written another four books, three of which, including this, his latest new release, ‘In the Shadow of Gold’ are set during the American Civil War. Packed with excitement, this story is bound to be a hit with history buffs as the author prides himself on his historical accuracy. It spans generations, linking events which happened at the end of the American Civil War to the present day, and offers an interesting suggestion into the eternal mystery, what happened to the Confederate gold.
The majority of the book is set during the Civil War, and it follows the fortunes of two people from very different cultures and lives.
Yancey is the son of Captain Arvindale, he’s working on Yorktown, the ship his father is captaining when it is confiscated at Richmond, near the end of the Civil War. On-shore he soon finds himself with other midshipmen guarding the Confederate treasure which is being transported away by train on the orders of Jefferson Davis. When, by chance, the opportunity arises for him to purloin some of the treasure for himself he does, little realizing that what he does with the fortune will affect future generations.
The other person is Ellie, a slave girl, who, after being ill-treated by her owner kills him, and escapes. After skillfully evading the dogs she finds herself on a perilous journey north, yet despite everything which happens to her, she uses her quick wit, and manages to survive, eventually joining group of other free colored people. When Simon, one of the group discovers the battered body of Yancey by the side of the road, despite being white, he is taken in and cared for, and Ellie cannot understand why. However in time, gradually a deep friendship develops between the two which eventually blossoms into love, changing their lives forever in ways they could never have imagined.
Two people seemingly thrown together by fate, each driven by their own needs, outcast and on the run from the past. Yet destiny decreed their paths would cross…
However, there’s another story which is linked inextricably with those lives, lived centuries after, and for this the author takes his readers into the present day. It is the story and fate of Jonas Alvin, a successful businessman and owner of the Cherry Side Arboretum in Michigan. He has a yearning to discover his past, however, little does he realise that in doing so, the secrets which are uncovered have the potential to create devastating effects on his life, and change his future forever.
In Summary: Packed with suspense, mystery, and adventure, ‘In the Shadow of Gold’ is an intriguing story which lovers of historical fiction, will thoroughly enjoy. Highly recommended! – Susan Keefe thecolumbiareview.com
The majority of the book is set during the Civil War, and it follows the fortunes of two people from very different cultures and lives.
Yancey is the son of Captain Arvindale, he’s working on Yorktown, the ship his father is captaining when it is confiscated at Richmond, near the end of the Civil War. On-shore he soon finds himself with other midshipmen guarding the Confederate treasure which is being transported away by train on the orders of Jefferson Davis. When, by chance, the opportunity arises for him to purloin some of the treasure for himself he does, little realizing that what he does with the fortune will affect future generations.
The other person is Ellie, a slave girl, who, after being ill-treated by her owner kills him, and escapes. After skillfully evading the dogs she finds herself on a perilous journey north, yet despite everything which happens to her, she uses her quick wit, and manages to survive, eventually joining group of other free colored people. When Simon, one of the group discovers the battered body of Yancey by the side of the road, despite being white, he is taken in and cared for, and Ellie cannot understand why. However in time, gradually a deep friendship develops between the two which eventually blossoms into love, changing their lives forever in ways they could never have imagined.
Two people seemingly thrown together by fate, each driven by their own needs, outcast and on the run from the past. Yet destiny decreed their paths would cross…
However, there’s another story which is linked inextricably with those lives, lived centuries after, and for this the author takes his readers into the present day. It is the story and fate of Jonas Alvin, a successful businessman and owner of the Cherry Side Arboretum in Michigan. He has a yearning to discover his past, however, little does he realise that in doing so, the secrets which are uncovered have the potential to create devastating effects on his life, and change his future forever.
In Summary: Packed with suspense, mystery, and adventure, ‘In the Shadow of Gold’ is an intriguing story which lovers of historical fiction, will thoroughly enjoy. Highly recommended! – Susan Keefe thecolumbiareview.com
January 4, 2021
Smith’s richly drawn latest delves into the mystery of the lost Confederate Treasury during the US Civil War, offering a fictionalized version of the story.
It’s 1865, and the American Civil War is drawing to a close. The midshipman Yancey Arvindale is the member of the unit assigned to guard the train fled from Richmond, Virginia, carrying the Confederate Treasury. When, by chance, the opportunity arises for him to siphon some of the gold for himself, Yancey has no qualms doing so. Of course, the plan doesn’t go smoothly, leading to an unfortunate incident. Soon, Yancey finds his path crossed with Ellie, a runaway slave, who has nothing but contempt for him.
Alternating between different time periods, the story moves back in time after the initial few pages, and the reader learns what happened to the lost gold. Smith paints a vivid portrait of the time: the period details of the Civil War era give the story an intimate sense of place. He constructs the narrative structure with great skill, weaving several storylines from different timelines together and fitting them perfectly into a single piece.
The tension stays ripe with plenty of suspense in the background, and the characterization is drawn with great depth and complexity. The narrative convincingly renders deeply rooted insecurities and conflicts among various characters, and it is fun to watch two resilient young characters with different backgrounds, race, and very different views on life. Yancey is the perfect mixture of depth and passion whereas Ellie inspires with her strength and resilience. Their stories make for a stirring testament to resilience of two young people who never knew the meaning of the word quit.
At the same time, Smith also explores several weighty issues such as race, slavery, humanity, religion, compassion, and how a person copes or fails to cope when the fate turns hard against them. Smith delivers a well told story with deeply realized characters, but it is his eloquent prose and the assured storytelling that elevates the novel further.
The greed, deception, and betrayal abound in the story, but they are skillfully counterpointed by compassion, loyalty, and trust. The satisfying, neatly resolved ending is flawless. Smith skillfully incorporates the historical context into the narrative, making the novel a valuable addition to American Civil War literature.
With its clever, immersive storyline and expert execution of the plot, the novel is sure to enchant lovers of historical fiction.
It’s 1865, and the American Civil War is drawing to a close. The midshipman Yancey Arvindale is the member of the unit assigned to guard the train fled from Richmond, Virginia, carrying the Confederate Treasury. When, by chance, the opportunity arises for him to siphon some of the gold for himself, Yancey has no qualms doing so. Of course, the plan doesn’t go smoothly, leading to an unfortunate incident. Soon, Yancey finds his path crossed with Ellie, a runaway slave, who has nothing but contempt for him.
Alternating between different time periods, the story moves back in time after the initial few pages, and the reader learns what happened to the lost gold. Smith paints a vivid portrait of the time: the period details of the Civil War era give the story an intimate sense of place. He constructs the narrative structure with great skill, weaving several storylines from different timelines together and fitting them perfectly into a single piece.
The tension stays ripe with plenty of suspense in the background, and the characterization is drawn with great depth and complexity. The narrative convincingly renders deeply rooted insecurities and conflicts among various characters, and it is fun to watch two resilient young characters with different backgrounds, race, and very different views on life. Yancey is the perfect mixture of depth and passion whereas Ellie inspires with her strength and resilience. Their stories make for a stirring testament to resilience of two young people who never knew the meaning of the word quit.
At the same time, Smith also explores several weighty issues such as race, slavery, humanity, religion, compassion, and how a person copes or fails to cope when the fate turns hard against them. Smith delivers a well told story with deeply realized characters, but it is his eloquent prose and the assured storytelling that elevates the novel further.
The greed, deception, and betrayal abound in the story, but they are skillfully counterpointed by compassion, loyalty, and trust. The satisfying, neatly resolved ending is flawless. Smith skillfully incorporates the historical context into the narrative, making the novel a valuable addition to American Civil War literature.
With its clever, immersive storyline and expert execution of the plot, the novel is sure to enchant lovers of historical fiction.
January 7, 2021
Smith conjures an elaborate American Civil War era and delves into the mystery of the lost Confederate Treasury toward the ending of the war in this excellent latest.
Struggling to become a seaman, Yancey Arvindale leaps at the chance to join the troops assigned to guard the train that is carrying the Confederate gold away from Richmond, Virginia. Soon, an opportunity arises, and with financial freedom on mind, he decides to siphon some of the treasure for himself. But the fate has other plans for the young man. Meanwhile, Ellie, a runaway salve, is trying to stay alive after killing her master. As their paths collide, they face hard realities about themselves and the world they live in.
Smith encompasses historical fact with great ease while exploring his protagonists’ inner trauma and struggles. Smith’s prose is precise, and his skilled worldbuilding allows him to delve deep into the intricate workings of colonialism and social issues of the era, including racism, slavery, and white supremacy as well as humanity, relationships, empathy, resilience, and trust.
Multifaceted, earnest, and arresting, Smith’s excellent tale is sure to keep readers turning the pages fast.
This is an ideal pick for history buffs longing for the American Civil War setting.
Struggling to become a seaman, Yancey Arvindale leaps at the chance to join the troops assigned to guard the train that is carrying the Confederate gold away from Richmond, Virginia. Soon, an opportunity arises, and with financial freedom on mind, he decides to siphon some of the treasure for himself. But the fate has other plans for the young man. Meanwhile, Ellie, a runaway salve, is trying to stay alive after killing her master. As their paths collide, they face hard realities about themselves and the world they live in.
Smith encompasses historical fact with great ease while exploring his protagonists’ inner trauma and struggles. Smith’s prose is precise, and his skilled worldbuilding allows him to delve deep into the intricate workings of colonialism and social issues of the era, including racism, slavery, and white supremacy as well as humanity, relationships, empathy, resilience, and trust.
Multifaceted, earnest, and arresting, Smith’s excellent tale is sure to keep readers turning the pages fast.
This is an ideal pick for history buffs longing for the American Civil War setting.
April 10, 2021
Thrilling suspense and drama around the fabled lost Confederate gold.
Being a brilliantly written historical novel written in parallel with an account set in contemporary times, the author uses historical evidence to create a fictitious saga set in the United States post civil war era. Without drowning the accounts in too much detail, this is a charming account of life during that time, with particular references from a non-white perspective, and how the outcome of the war altered their lives and destinies. Controversial political and social issues are skillfully woven into an absorbing plot describing what could have happened to the fabled Confederate gold that was lost soon after the end of the war. Readers who enjoy accurate historical fiction which magically transports you back into history will find this powerful saga immersive and absorbing. The imaginative idea behind the theft of the gold creates a thrilling plot filled with suspense and intrigue which would be superb if adapted for a TV series or a motion picture.
Being a brilliantly written historical novel written in parallel with an account set in contemporary times, the author uses historical evidence to create a fictitious saga set in the United States post civil war era. Without drowning the accounts in too much detail, this is a charming account of life during that time, with particular references from a non-white perspective, and how the outcome of the war altered their lives and destinies. Controversial political and social issues are skillfully woven into an absorbing plot describing what could have happened to the fabled Confederate gold that was lost soon after the end of the war. Readers who enjoy accurate historical fiction which magically transports you back into history will find this powerful saga immersive and absorbing. The imaginative idea behind the theft of the gold creates a thrilling plot filled with suspense and intrigue which would be superb if adapted for a TV series or a motion picture.
March 28, 2021
There has been a lot of speculation about what happened to the Confederate Gold. This is an imaginative tale of what might have happened to some of it. We also follow the path of several people as their stories converge.
We jump back and forth from 2020 to 1865. The first couple of jumps are clearly labeled, but the author eventually stops notating the time jump. The writing is clear enough that I was never confused when the time jumped. Still, I would have preferred to have the notations.
For people in the south in 1865, the world was ending. Yancey and Ellie both take their destiny into their own hands. Their paths eventually converge as they set in place the foundation that leads to the part of the story in 2020.
Characters are well developed the story is interesting. I recommend this book.
We jump back and forth from 2020 to 1865. The first couple of jumps are clearly labeled, but the author eventually stops notating the time jump. The writing is clear enough that I was never confused when the time jumped. Still, I would have preferred to have the notations.
For people in the south in 1865, the world was ending. Yancey and Ellie both take their destiny into their own hands. Their paths eventually converge as they set in place the foundation that leads to the part of the story in 2020.
Characters are well developed the story is interesting. I recommend this book.
March 31, 2021
The United States 1865, towards the end of the Civil War that ravaged the United States, there is much that happened that is recorded in history. One such event is the loss of the Confederate Treasure that was travelling with the Confederate president and then was lost. In this story, the man guarding the treasure states that a man named Yancey Arvindale (later known by Arvin), stole the treasure and hid it away. This book, set against the backdrop of this tumultuous time, gives us an intriguing account of what might have happened to the lost treasure.
A fascinating tale, I did not know anything about the lost Confederacy treasure and spent a few minutes researching and reading up on the topic prompted by this book. Always a good thing when a book can get you to learn about new things, even if the book is fiction. A good story and a great way to spend some downtime.
A fascinating tale, I did not know anything about the lost Confederacy treasure and spent a few minutes researching and reading up on the topic prompted by this book. Always a good thing when a book can get you to learn about new things, even if the book is fiction. A good story and a great way to spend some downtime.
March 30, 2021
“In the Shadow of Gold” by Michael Kenneth Smith is a gripping tale about the Lost Confederate Treasure. After many mystery and conspiracy theories, this historical fiction tells a new and interesting interpretation of what could have happened with that gold, silver, and jewelry.
Author Smith wonderfully weaves suspense, mystery and adventure, generating a masterfully written novel. His storytelling really captivated me, and this is only strengthened by the strong characterization and convincing plotting.
All in all, this is an intriguing story that was really difficult to put down. There was never a dull moment and it kept me intrigued the whole time. I will certainly recommend this book.
Author Smith wonderfully weaves suspense, mystery and adventure, generating a masterfully written novel. His storytelling really captivated me, and this is only strengthened by the strong characterization and convincing plotting.
All in all, this is an intriguing story that was really difficult to put down. There was never a dull moment and it kept me intrigued the whole time. I will certainly recommend this book.
March 26, 2021
Lost gold of the confederacy
This story is a good read that keeps your attention from the first page and pulls you along the journey to discover the lost gold of the confederate states. During the end of the civil war when Davis was escaping to the south, with the gold reserves from the confederacy, he was captured and the gold was missing. There are many stories about what happened to this massive treasure and where the gold ended up. This book offers a fun and entertaining story of the lost fortune and where it ended up. Great characters and a fun read. I enjoyed this one and you will too. Check it out folks, it is worth the read.
This story is a good read that keeps your attention from the first page and pulls you along the journey to discover the lost gold of the confederate states. During the end of the civil war when Davis was escaping to the south, with the gold reserves from the confederacy, he was captured and the gold was missing. There are many stories about what happened to this massive treasure and where the gold ended up. This book offers a fun and entertaining story of the lost fortune and where it ended up. Great characters and a fun read. I enjoyed this one and you will too. Check it out folks, it is worth the read.
April 1, 2021
I love stories that are a mixture of history and fiction. This is one of those books in which these two worlds converge. This author takes us back to the years of the US Civil War, where the Confederate President Jefferson Davis travels on one train and the Confederate Treasury on another. But ... What happened to the treasure? That is the question that many ask and author Michael Kenneth Smith gives us this fiction where there is speculation about what may have happened to it.
Not only is the story super compelling, but also the characters are incredible. I think there should be more books like this one, which deals with real and historical events and at the same time with fiction.
Not only is the story super compelling, but also the characters are incredible. I think there should be more books like this one, which deals with real and historical events and at the same time with fiction.
April 3, 2021
Packed with a blend of suspense, mysterious sequences of events, time goings and comings, this narrative is good down to the last chapter.
Author Smith has chosen to pen this tale in the form of a dialogue, which I believe helps readers follow the events along.
Given the fact that the plot revolves around the history of the US Confederacy, I first thought the narrative would be dull or hard to follow. However, the events unfold almost naturally, thanks to the author’s great writing ability.
What I loved the most about this book is that I not only enjoy it but I have also learned a lot about topics which I did not know so much about. Great pick!
Author Smith has chosen to pen this tale in the form of a dialogue, which I believe helps readers follow the events along.
Given the fact that the plot revolves around the history of the US Confederacy, I first thought the narrative would be dull or hard to follow. However, the events unfold almost naturally, thanks to the author’s great writing ability.
What I loved the most about this book is that I not only enjoy it but I have also learned a lot about topics which I did not know so much about. Great pick!
April 9, 2021
“In the shadow of Gold”, written by Michael Kenneth Smith, is a book that captured my attention as soon as I read the title. It centers on what happened to the Confederate treasure. Although it is not known, this deals with imaginative options of what could have happened with that treasure, which could have changed the lives of many.
It is a middle length book that deals with a very interesting mystery and speculates about it. I liked it because it left me thinking. It is intriguing and interesting, apart from being clearly and well written. I would recommend reading this book.
It is a middle length book that deals with a very interesting mystery and speculates about it. I liked it because it left me thinking. It is intriguing and interesting, apart from being clearly and well written. I would recommend reading this book.
May 3, 2021
Heartfelt Historical Tale
A fortune in gold - a desperate last move by a defeated government frame a story of integrity and true love. Excellent reading.
A fortune in gold - a desperate last move by a defeated government frame a story of integrity and true love. Excellent reading.
February 28, 2021
Smith at his best
This is Smith’s 5th and finest. The character development of Yancy is phenomenal. Blending a good story line with rich history is a worthy read
This is Smith’s 5th and finest. The character development of Yancy is phenomenal. Blending a good story line with rich history is a worthy read
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews