The Final Reveille

Living History Museum #1

by Amanda Flower

As the director of Barton Farm, a living history museum in Ohio, Kelsey Cambridge is underpaid and underappreciated, but she loves every minute of it. Determined to keep the struggling farm open, she plans to impress the museum's wealthy benefactress, Cynthia Cherry, with a Civil War reenactment on the farm's grounds.

Unfortunately, the first shot in the battle isn't from a period soldier. It's from Cynthia's greedy nephew, Maxwell, who fires a threat at Kelsey to cut the museum's funding. The next morning, things go from bad to worse when Kelsey discovers Maxwell dead. Now Kelsey is the police's number one suspect, and she must start her own investigation to save Barton Farm . . . and herself.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Romance, Civil War, Mystery Thriller

326 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2015

About the author

Amanda Flower is a USA Today bestselling and Agatha Award-winning author of over thirty-five mystery novels. Her novels have received starred reviews from Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, and Romantic Times, and she had been featured in USA Today, First for Women, and Woman’s World. She currently writes for Penguin-Random House (Berkley), Kensington, Hallmark Publishing, Crooked Lane Books, and Sourcebooks. In addition to being a writer, she was a librarian for fifteen years. Today, Flower and her husband own a farm and recording studio, and they live in Northeast Ohio with their two adorable cats.

Reviews

[Ian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kelsey is the director of Barton Farm, a Living History Museum with a focus on life in the 19th century and the civil war. When the arrogant nephew of the museum's main benefactor is murdered on the grounds there is no shortage of suspects and considering Kelsey was seen arguing with him just hours earlier she is right at the top of the list.

With the help of a reluctant civil war re-enactor she sets about finding the killer and saving the farm.


There is a fair bit to like about this book. As far as cozy mysteries go it was unique enough to hold my interest. It didn't redefine the genre but it's the first book I've read with this particular setting. That said, it feels a little like a draft copy of a great book. I have a fairly high tolerance for spelling and grammatical errors (people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones), but it really got to the point where I was thinking the book needs a good editor. And the ending could have been much better.

So it's a promising start to a new series but there were a few shaky moments.

[Doward Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this straight thru, couldn't stop! One of the most entertaining debut series I have ever read! The setting, a living history farm and museum, holding a Civil War reenactment; the characters well developed and a most unusual style of murder. I really liked how well our Museum Director, Kelsey, is drawn into the murder to save her museum and job. The setting, background and characters are educational and entertaining but most importantly, believable. It's cozy and mystery in a wonderful package! I can't wait to see how this series builds.

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dollycas’s Thoughts

We have a living history museum here in Wisconsin, Old World Wisconsin, and there is a mystery series set there as well by Kathleen Ernst. I love that series so I knew this new series would fascinate me as well and it didn’t disappoint.

Kelsey Cambridge is the director at Barton Farm where history comes to life in Ohio. She decides to have a Civil War reenactment weekend to bring more people to the museum and help its bottom line. But the weekend gets off to a rocky start with the nephew of the farm’s benefactress is found dead in the village. The guy was planning to cut funding for the place so Kelsey becomes the prime suspect in his murder. So while cannons fire and fights continue on the battlefield Kelsey needs to fight her own battle and try to find the real rebel to save herself and the farm.

This is an excellent start for this series. We meet Kelsey, her son, her father, her ex and his new fiancee’. We are introduced to some of the farm’s employees and the woman responsible for funding the amazing site. We also meet Chase who would like to get to know Kelsey much better.

I especially enjoyed the reenactors and the way many of them try to stay in character for the whole weekend and those the work at Barton Farm staying in character even when the tourists tries to throw them off. Amanda Flower does an excellent job at bringing her characters to life no matter what part they are playing and she has left them will plenty of room to grow. Kelsey has a huge amount of responsibility but she also has a big heart.

In addition to introducing the setting and the characters Flower gives readers a very well written mystery readers can sink their teeth into. I did figure out the killer well before it was revealed but I was actually surprised I was right because that rarely happens.

I am truly looking forward to the next installment of this series as Kelsey is going to have her work cut out for her. It should be very interesting.

[Rebecca Giordano · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this book! You can learn about history and it’s not dull, and still get the option of figuring out the whodunit. You’re led to believe it’s one character, but not at the same time and the author did a great job at toeing that, is it, maybe not, line. Really enjoyable read all around & I’m looking forward to reading more!

[Hilary (A Wytch's Book Review) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who would have thought that a reenactment would lead to murder!

Kelsey Cambridge is divorced and living with her young son on a small cottage in the grounds of Barton Farm, a living history museum, she has arranged a Civil War reenactment long weekend culminating in a Ball, on the opening day the benefactress of the Farm (Cynthia Cherry) has arrived to see what is happening and she has brought her nephew Maxwell and his fiancee Portia with her.  Whilst Cynthia is distracted Maxwell takes the opportunity to tell Kelsey that he will be taking over the Cherry Foundation and that funding will soon be withdrawn.  Kelsey is somewhat stunned as Barton Farm is one of Cynthia's favourite non-profits within the foundation, but she is even more stunned when she discovers one of the re-enactors (Chase) with the dead body of Maxwell! Now she is in the position of suspect #1 and when there is another death it looks even worse for her, now against her better judgement she needs to team up with Chase to stop the Police railroading her, oh and keeping Barton Farm and her job would be good as well!

[Patrizia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apprezzando molto le serie mysteries che questa autrice ambienta in comunità in parte Amish ed essendo appassaionata di storia, ho comprato questo libro non appena è uscito, salvo poi dimenticarmi della sua esistenza. Ehm... Finalmente mi sono decisa a leggerlo: mi è piaciuto, ma non mi ha appassionato come altri di questa autrice o come i due che ho letto della serie, simile per ambientazione, della Ernst. Probabilmente, prima o poi leggerò anche gli altri due che compongono questa trilogia, ma non credo che questo avverrà nell'immediato futuro.

[Eileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kelsey is director of a living history museum and loves the job. Wanting to keep the museum open, she plans a Civil War reenactment on the farm grounds.....Unfortunately a dead body is discovered and she is the one to discover this. She becomes the number one suspect and has to be the one to investigate to save the farm and herself.

[OpenBookSociety.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

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Brought to you by OBS reviewer Kayt

I have to start off by saying that I absolutely love all the books/series Amanda Flower/Isabella Alan writes. When I read about this new series. A Living History Museum Mystery, I was thrilled. Having had some firsthand experience with Civil War reenactments, I was intrigued to see how this amazing author would handle the subject. I was not disappointed, far from it in fact. The Final Reveille is a super first in what promises to be a stellar new cozy mystery series. Amanda Flower writes with so much heart that her characters and storylines always radiate that care. They quickly feel like family and make a fabulous story even better.

The main character, Kelsey Cambridge, is the director of living history museum Barton Farm. Along with her young son Hayden, cat Benjamin Franklin and corgi Tippin she lives in the cottage on the farm. Her father also lives with them during the summer. The farm, including period buildings and her cottage are all thanks to the care and money of the farm’s benefactor wealthy Cynthia Cherry. The cast of characters is wonderful, including friend Laura and other workers at the farm. The reenactors are great and from experience I can say Amanda Flower does a fabulous and authentic portrayal of all of them. Right down to the “cider” secretly being enjoyed by a few.

I cannot wait to learn more and more about all the main characters. I was truly impressed by the way the characters were so well written and developed in this first of the series. The Final Reveille felt more like the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th in a series to me. I felt as if I knew the characters from the start and enjoyed them so much. That is one of the many great things about this author’s writing style. It always feels like coming home. The murders were surprising and the methods were definitely not any run of the mill. The twists and turns were intriguing and exciting yet believable. Kelsey is not one to go bumbling around putting herself in danger. Towards the end I had a very good idea who the killer may be, but the reveal and motive were full of suspense and unexpected.

The Final Reveille did not disappoint this diehard Amanda Flower fan. I was pulled in from the very first pages and never let go. This is a book that was almost impossible to put down. Full of great characters, authentic historical references, flowing writing style and a wonderful mystery. The Final Reveille is a true winner. The only bad thing about this book, it ended and now the wait is on for the next in this series. This is a wonderful new cozy series that promises to just keep getting better and better. You can truly never go wrong reading an Amanda Flower book and The Final Reveille is a supreme example of that.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun romp into the Southern reenactment world, this cozy is a well-paced and entertaining mystery. Kelsey Cambridge is the director of a living history museum and a recently divorced single mom (a different type of character than we usually see in cozies, and that was a great aspect of the novel). Trying to make ends meet, she is dismayed and more than a little angry when the nephew of her benefactress threatens to pull all funding when he comes into the inheritance. Things get a little complicated when the nephew turns up dead the next day – and all evidence points to Kelsey.
I enjoyed not only the mystery but the building of Kelsey's character. Flower is a talented enough writer that she can do both without slowing down the novel. Sure, the mystery wasn't too complicated and there were a few grammatical errors (I would blame the publisher on that), it was just what I wanted in a cozy; unpretentious, likable, and well-rounded characters; a possibility of romance; and a dramatic mystery. I can't wait to see what is in store for Kelsey in the next book, The Final Tap!

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Living history museums have always fascinated me. We have one here in Wisconsin - Old World Wisconsin - but, unfortunately, I haven't visited there often enough. In the summer, I can never imagine walking through the area in the heat (and how the costumed docents make do!) and in the winter, the museum is only open limited hours. But every time I do visit, I always think I should go back more.

Amanda Flower's first Living History Museum mystery, The Final Reveille, takes place at Barton Farm, a living history museum in Ohio. In an effort to boost visitors and revenue, director Kelsey Cambridge has staged a Civil War encampment. Battles between the North and the South take place daily and the long weekend is scheduled to conclude with the first annual Blue and Grey ball.

Deaths are expected in any war, of course, but in a fictional re-enactment, they are most certainly not. When Kelsey stumbles upon a Union soldier standing over a body in the Farm's brick-making pit, she knows something is terribly wrong. Before she knows what's happening, Kelsey finds herself the prime suspect in the murder of the nephew of Barton Farm's benefactress. All the evidence seems to paint her as a murderer, but Kelsey is determined to save the re-enactment, the Farm, and her own reputation.

I enjoyed the story, the specifics of the Farm features and artifacts, and the details of the Civil War battles staged to take place during the re-enactment. Kelsey is a fresh face among cozy mystery heroines and I'm already a fan of the budding relationship between her and Chase. The Final Reveille has many of the classic elements of a crime story with a couple of new creative components mixed in.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Dawn Frazier · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in the Living History Museum mysteries, and what a great book it is! I have to admit, I was hesitant about reading it when it first came out, I am not really a huge fan of history/war books. I can now say I was wrong, I am so glad I finally read this book!! It has made it onto my list of favorite books of the year. I finished it in two nights, it was so hard to put down. The story follows Kelsey Cambridge, who is the director of Barton Farm. She is doing everything she can to keep the museum open, so she decides to hold a Civil War Reenactment on the grounds. This book is so much more than the reenactments, it is a great mystery, I loved the characters, the setting is fantastic, it has some twists and turns, some suspense, and even a touch of romance. When a dead body is found on the grounds, Kelsey throws herself into the investigation to find out what happened, especially since she is considered a suspect. She doesn't need any more bad luck for the farm, or for herself. But will she find out who did it, before it is too late? I recommend this book to anyone who wants a great read, I don't think any review I write can do it justice, you have to read it for yourself to see how great it really is! I absolutely cannot wait until the next in the series!

[Leslie aka StoreyBook Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

History is an important part of our culture and I find it interesting those that choose to reenact battles from American History. They have to have a lot of knowledge of history to be able to act in character from a time a century or more ago.

I thought the story was well written and there were plenty of characters to think might be the killer. I did figure it out but second guessed myself several times for a certain reason that I won't say because it would give it away!

I enjoyed getting to know all the characters, and there are quite a few! I have to say that I was not sad that Maxwell was murdered, he was not nice or up to any good.

Definitely a series to watch

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall I really enjoyed this book and I hope to make another trip to Barton Village. I liked the village and the civil war reenactment was a fun setting. I liked the characters and the mystery was pretty good although I did figure it out a step or two ahead of Kelsey. I did have two problems with the book but they didn't detract to much from my enjoyment. The first was that I found it unbelievable how much information the detective had an hour after the crime and the second was how many times a word was left out of a sentence, usually something small but it happened throughout the book.

[Cari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full disclosure - the author is my friend. I love her writing! My favorite part of this book was the history and the connection to the farm. It's loosely based on a place close to me, and I couldn't help picturing myself there as I read. I felt like the book could have gotten some better line editing, but that isn't Amanda's fault!

[Lake County Public Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the author's writing, characters, setting, and the theme. I did guess who the killer was much earlier. Recommend for those who enjoy cozy mysteries, and don't need the surprise ending.

-- Jo, Merrillville Branch

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy the main character. Love the story, the plot.

[Kellene · Rating 4 out of 5]

This seems to be a lesser read series but Flower, and that's a shame. The concept of murder during a Civil War reenactment at a Living History museum grabbed me immediately and I was hooked. As per usual for this author, the mystery was nicely written, the characters well-rounded and developed and the setting realistic and skillfully brought to life for the reader. Research into reenactments was obviously part of the beginning of the writing because she did an excellent job describing the mindset of devoted participants.

I will say that initially Kelsey grated my nerve. She is suppose to be a strong woman, but she came across to me as bitchy about her independence. As the story developed and her backstory was revealed, I chalked it up to her insecurities, but had I been a part of her world, I might have told her where to go. She was actually more hateful (in my opinion) at the beginning than the detective, who was suppose to come across that way. Thankfully, she mellowed.

As to the mystery, the method of death was incredibly creative and I appreciated that. It's refreshing to see something new when you read a lot of mysteries and see the same method repeatedly. I did have the culprit pegged about half-way through the book, but the motive was not what I had originally expected. All-in-all, it was a well-written story, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I look forward to moving forward in the series.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

This mystery is unlike any other I have read. I am not sure that it qualifies as a "cozy" mystery because of the subject matter, but I enjoyed it even more than many of my favorite cozy mysteries. In The Final Reveille murders take place at a living history museum based on the Civil War. I can tell the author put a lot of effort into the research for this book to represent her setting and characters accurately for the time period. There were several suspicious characters who may have committed the murders and the culprit was a surprise to me!

I love this book because it reminds me of all the field trips I took in elementary school to living history museums and historic sites like Sturbridge Village in MA and the Judson House in CT. Although the sites I visited as a youth were based on the Revolutionary War period and colonial living, this book gave me a sense of nostalgia and interest about the past.

This mystery was so different from my favorite culinary cozy mysteries. I think Flower is a highly skilled writer who creates her mysteries based on topics that are unique. I enjoyed this mystery from beginning to end!

[Mayda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kelsey Cambridge, as director of the Barton Farm complex and living museum, is in the midst of a major fund-raising event: a Civil War reenactment and fancy dress ball. Being in charge and making sure that everything runs smoothly, the last thing Kelsey needs is a dead body. And being one of the suspects. Throw in an ex-husband who is about to be married, an EMT who seems interested in Kelsey but then again, might be the murderer, and her eccentric actor father, and you have the formula for an exciting debut mystery. Well-developed characters and a intricate plot make this a five-star read.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this mystery, despite the typos in the printed book. Thought about correcting them, but since it is a library book, I did not.

This has a bit too much romance for me, but beyond that the setting is unique and the characters are well developed.

Not hard to figure who would be the first to die, but the other deaths were sad.

I have a hard time believing anyone "forgets" to eat, but otherwise Kelsey is an astute investigator and a conscientious Mom. Dad is a treat, as are Laura and the other farm workers.

Did get a sense of the killer before the reveal.

I borrowed a copy from the public library.

[Cara Noyes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like other books by this author, the whodunnit is rapid fire in the last chapter. Wham bam! Thank you mam - here’s the killer and a paragraph or two of motive.

I always enjoy how Flower has an “ordinary” person (non police) be a detective and figure out the culprit.
With the future of the historic farm on the line, Kelsey was highly motivated to solve the crime.
Chase’s chase of the protagonist was amusing. And let’s not forget Frankie the guard cat- another minor character with major attraction.
This was a fast, fun read by an Ohio author. I look forward to more.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, the storyline was good and kept me interested. There was a lot going on in this one and a lot of characters to keep up with. I found the main character Kelsey a bit too blunt and stubborn to the point of annoying at times. The ending was not a surprise. The outcome was predictable. I was hoping for a twist, but it never came. With that being said the book was still decent, just not one of my favorites.

[Ronda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoy Amanda Flowers mysteries regardless of the setting. This 1st installment of the living history mystery series is funny (grouchy gardeners, cheeky reenactment soldiers, and Abe Lincoln, Walt Whitman, and the ghost of Hamlet's father, well, sort of), with a nice balance of light romance and drama and a lot of heart. Hoping for many more visits to Barton Farm.

[Sheri Jesse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read

I really enjoyed this book but it ended way too soon! I need to know where Chase and Kelsey's relationship is going among other things. I can hardly wait to read the next two books in this series. This is a great book for anyone interested in history as well as mysteries.

[Sarah A · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not finish - read half of the book.
I love the mystery writing. I was excited by the living history part and looking forward to seeing where it was going to be important.
I had to stop because of the personal relationships. It was just too much drama and unpleasantness.
I was really sad but just couldn’t deal with that in a book I was reading for fun right now.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this book, and I enjoy books by this author. However, the editing left a lot to be desired. There were missing words and mistakes in verb tense that interrupted the flow. This puzzled me. Why let a book be published with these errors?

[Mary Barna · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting premise - someone is killed during a Civil War reenactment. I know, this plot has been used before, but Ms Flower brings fresh plot twists and engaging characters to the story. There are many historical tidbits salted in the story which increased my enjoyment.

[Coby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another cozy mystery. This time taking place at an Ohio historical site during a Civil War reenactment. The story is good with fun characters. The only problem I had was poor editing; most frequently with words left out of sentences. It became more apparent nearer the end of the book.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Civil war reenactment gone wrong.

A living history museum in Ohio is the site of a civil war reenactment weekend. Throw in a greedy nephew, spurned women, and random jealousy, and you have a recipe for murder.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learned a lot about life in 1863 by reading this book. I enjoyed it but found I was thrown out of the flow with some very jarring editing issues. Wrong words, poor spelling etc and they always seemed to happen as the action was getting juicy.