In Lincoln's Shadow

by Rohn Federbush

Obsession with Lincoln has followed me from Illinois. I have a twelvevolume set of all his collected sayings. My detective Steffen Blaine quotes Lincoln when his emotions need calming. His first wife committed suicide due to postpartum depression. The Lee family's pregnant mother of six closely resembles the symptoms Steffen's wife suffered. Called in to investigate the grandmother's death, Steffen invites Bernie Johnston, a social worker who wants to become a detective, to help him on the case. The youngest girl was one of the cases Bernie worked on. Bernie and Steffen immediately know their association is going to last past this suspicious death.

246 pages, Paperback

First published August 28, 2015

About the author

Motivations for my Novels.
My husband says I need to practice talking about my books, not the content but how I came up with the ideas. So here goes, as far as I remember. I’ve always written. When I was a full-time employee of the University of Michigan, I couldn’t wait until I retired to write all day. I thought I would be published by a traditional publisher by now. I’ve finished more than fifteen novels and two novellas. After buying three filing cabinets and FILLING them with rejection slips for my poetry, short stories, and novels. I decided to self-publish.
The first novel was “Salome’s Conversion.” I never liked Oscar Wilde’s seduction rendition or the death scene in the Strauss opera where the soldiers kill the dancer by plummeting her with their shields. According to Josephus’s history, Salome was merely twelve or thirteen when she danced at her mother’s request for her step-father. Claiming her innocence, I decided to write about her escape from Herod and where she might have taken refuge during the three years our Savior, Jesus Christ walked the earth. In my King James Version the authors move around the miracles to suit their tastes. I did the same. I also made Mary Magdalene the Mary, whose brother was Lazarus. Salome doubts all the miracles until the Resurrection.
Then I published three historicals. As a member of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church’s history group, I was able to take advantage of their access to the Bentley Library. Diaries of members and the general populations have abstracts to choose from. The biggest donor to the church also became the first president of Michigan’s History Society. It seems he was innocent of a larceny charge and took it all the way to the Supreme Court to prove he was free of any wrong doing. Apparently he wanted future generations to be aware of his struggle. However, when he was only thirteen, he attended the Maumee Rapids Treaty signing, which gave President Monroe enough land from the Indians to build the Erie Canal. The treaty with all the names of the seven tribes around the Great Lakes in 1818 is kept in the Ann Arbor District library. So I wrote “North Parish” to reconstruct the trip around the lakes to acquire consensus for attendance at the treaty signing. Of course, I wrote about a young couple that falls in love with each other during the voyages.
My 1841 novel “Floating Home” was inspired by a lighthouse keeper’s diary. He had propagated seven children before his Ann Arbor wife sent him off to man a lighthouse in Lake Superior. The diary contained descriptions of his lonely hours and daily tasks as well as a detailed drawing of a large wooden globe and its rotating stand. For my hero’s heroine I chose an Irish gal escaping the potato famine. The young nobleman is an artist and wants the lonely habitat to fulfill his dreams of being an artist.
The 1879 novel “Love’s Triumph” came from reading a biography of a man called Vaughn who funds scholarships for chemistry students at the University. I use him as a well-documented villain of Ann Arbor’s typhoid epidemic. For the heroine I conjured up the second female lawyer in Ann Arbor living with her Civil War veteran grandfather. Her hero is the oldest son of a furniture maker who loses most of his family to the disease.
Agatha Christy and Elizabeth George books tempted me to try my hand at mystery writing. “Sally Bianco Mystery Series” contains four different crimes and their solutions by a sixty-nine year old retired lady.
“Bonds of Affection” combines the female race-car driver who lived in an apartment across the hall from me in my younger days with my mother’s loss from cancer and a pair of high school twins who fill out the romance'sstory line.

Reviews

[Ana Meyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never expected this novel to take me on the path that it did. I honestly thought it would be rather boring with quotes from Lincoln but I was happily surprised. The story focuses mainly on Bernie and her path from social worker to criminal investigator. It was more of a crime novel, a who done it, with pieces of learning love and family tied in. I became invested in Bernie and wanted to know how her life paned out and I was happy with the ending and the life she found. It was an enjoyable read and never got boring.

[Jordan Silva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Throughout my career, particularly in relation to how it was expressed in the case of Bernie Johnston, In Lincoln’s Shadow has been of much significance for me. I can understand her frustrations with the legal system that does not care about the innocent, because I feel the same on my job every day. This is the reason why the book also presents the psychological aspect, which in this case is the burden of working in child protection, which especially deals with how justice loving Bernie had to quit her job. The confinement was unbearable and so was the experience watching her interact with of the same detective Steffen Blaine who was a tortured soul courtesy of his past. From the narrative, a certain degree of intimacy is brought into the story by how Steffen battling his personal demons engages with and quotes Lincoln. The work does great justice to depicting the professional challenges that come with working with distressed family settings as well as the emotional stress that one has to endure working in such cases. And this is a call to all social workers that as much as action has to be taken towards justice, there is still an uphill task ahead and there is need to be strong and endure the many obstacles.

[Nancy Bowman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engulfed in Lincoln’s Shadow is an enthralling combination of detective fiction, history, and sociopolitical review. This dynamic narrative is derived from homicide cop named Steffen Blaine, who draws his strength from black leaders such as Abe Lincoln. In a way, the central plot of the book is about the death of a grandmother under questionable circumstances and what happens after that, which is the investigation. However, the actual goodness of the book is reflected in trauma and the state of minds. The readers can also relate to the transformation of the social worker named Bernie Johnston into a detective, which reflects the predicament many people face due to the justice system. The mystery is quite interesting on its own, but the reason why this book stands out are the characters and their struggles. This part mixes up Steffen’s past and Bernie’s present in a way that tells a beautiful story about a person’s ability to overcome challenges. At some point in the essay, excessive detailing of the characters’ internal conversations becomes a distraction, but the narrative still succeeds in being a complex account of grief, the pursuit of justice, and redemption.

[Alan Palmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Lincoln's Shadow is an historical narrative I found interesting as a historian, chiefly because of its strategic inclusion of quotes attributed to Lincoln as a recurring motif throughout the text. The obsessive passion that Steffen Blaine has with Lincoln offers a fresh perspective of in the facet of the narrative. Rohn Federbush intrigually modernizes a narrative while integrating the figure of Lincoln as a character in the plot enabling people to understand that historical persons can still have a bearing on our choices in the present day. The quotes are engaging anchor points for the characters, though especially Steffen because his career and personal life require him to look into the past and seek Lincoln's wisdom. History can, in such ways, eases a person and advises in even the fattest tangles. In the case of any reader who ever wondered how the past refracts into the present, this book is an insightful and comprehensive description of the relevance of Lincoln to American society and its members at large.

[Daniel Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found In Lincoln's Shadow to be rather interesting with the additional factor of incorporating Lincoln's quotations as a constant aspect. The character Steffen Blaine in the story is obsessed with Abraham Lincoln. This contrasting element also provides a historical engagement in the plot. Rohn Federbush knows how to insert Lincolns’ imprint in the modern age in a mystery story to make readers appreciate how such people can still drive one’s decisions even after they are long gone. These quotes are not just added spice; they have emotional relevance for the characters, especially for Steffen, whose yearning for the words of Lincoln helps him solve his heart and work issues. This gives a thoughtful perspective on how history can comfort and instruct even when trying to untangle the most knots. For anyone captivated by history’s ability to fill in the present’s storyline, this text perfectly becomes an intellectual, and engaging treatment of the relevance of Lincoln in the American society and the people of the country.

[Michelle Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Lincoln's Shadow struck a chord with me most personally. The main idea of the story, which consists of parents protecting children and the issues of abuse and neglect, felt more realistic. It was realistic and raw when Bernie Johnston, a social worker, was frustrated trying to put the system in motion for the children’s justice. I was aware of the enormous pressure that she experienced, particularly because of the system's negligence towards the oppressed. The bond that they share is very much like that of the abused – a detective Steffen who lost his wife to suicide, where consolation is all that is needed in their brokenness even familial support. Steffen hysterically reciting Lincoln, among other quotes, created a captivating historical aspect and demonstrated his attempts to deal with the repercussions of losing his wife. This novel goes beyond the conventional boundaries of a mystery to vividly express the challenges faced in the aspect of family unity. It made me think of the necessity of protecting those we love.

[David Bishop · Rating 5 out of 5]

Steffen Blaine, the book's detective, resonated with me a lot because I am a veteran. I identified with him, especially as an ex-army medic who became a homicide detective—something that many transitioners go through in a bid to find direction after hanging their uniforms. He wakes up every day haunted by the traumatic events surrounding his wife’s suicide and I totally empathized with the way he borrowed quotes from Abraham Lincoln; it’s quite normal at times to hold onto the words we are accustomed to when chaos reigns. In the story, Steffen is depicted as being highly compromised in terms of emotions, duty and loss as he is investigating the murder of Lee's family. I particularly liked the way the author skillfully integrates the personal and professional aspects of the storyline, especially when he began to compare the suicidal tendencies of Mr. Lee to those of his wife. This book serves as a potent cautionary tale about how the wounds of the past not only haunt us but also how, like Steffen, we need to learn how to keep going despite everything.

[Bryan Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading In Lincoln's Shadow as a father gave me a different view on the delicateness of family relationships. Steffen Blaine, weighed down by the loss of his first wife, demonstrates the burden of emotional scars on a family. I could empathize with the representation of the Lee family, particularly the distressed mother and her offspring. I sat down a few seconds gazing again at my children. As a dad, I have moments when I think I should be more in charge of the emotions of my kids. The book stands as a warning that without proper intervention, the effects of such illnesses can be intergenerational. The maternal element imbued with post-partum depression, and the grandmother’s passing all contributed to a dynamic I found both tragic and relatable. Federbush depicts the realities of bringing up children when they are in a difficult situation, emphasizing the importance of family members supporting one another.

[Barbara Olson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being a detective myself, I would say that In Lincoln's Shadow was realistic in terms of describing the emotional and mental exhaustion that we undergo in solving cases. I found Steffen Blaine’s character interesting; he is not the ordinary unfeeling detective, but has a tortured past that affects his vocation. I can understand why many of us can connect with the approach of quoting Lincoln to calm his jangled nerves. The book skillfully deals with the complexities of addressing family-related cases with high emotional factors, where there are almost no easy solutions. I admired the manner in which Bernie and Steffen complemented each other, balancing the pursuit of justice with the difficulties they faced in their lives as individuals. This narrative presents an intriguing mystery and then uncovers the delicate feelings that the majority of us who work in law enforcement choose to hide behind our badges.

[Ralph Payne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I felt an instant bond with the character of Steffen Blaine. He served as an army medic and later became a police officer which perfectly illustrates the problem that many have of integration from the army to the civilian world. I understood the emotional baggage he bore from both personal and occupational perspectives. I found it realistic that Steffen needed Lincoln’s quotes to help him with his feelings, because, as it is most often the case, people look for support from figures they love and respect when dealing with any trauma. And I appreciate the way in which the author treats the issues of mental health, which are very relevant in the book, particularly stress after trauma. In Lincoln's Shadow transcends being merely another crime thriller: it also serves as a heartbreaking commentary on the effects of trauma and the process of healing. This story for us veterans is a well-developed idea of how our history influences the present day.

[Barbara Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book 'In Lincoln’s Shadow' is a drama, a history with a mystery, and an emotional journey! It is Rohn Federbush who excels in creating a compelling plot with multi-layered character interactions. The story is propelled further by the enigma of the grandmother’s death; however, structurally, it is the characters in particular, Steffen Blaine and Bernie Johnston, who hold the reader’s attention. There is an added dimension in the story because Steffen is fond of quoting Lincoln, which serves to take the plot away from being a mere detective drama. I must say though that in some instances, the flow of events was quite irregular especially in relate to certain emotional scenes that stretched for far too long. That said, the plot’s examination of trauma, mental illness, and justice remains engaging and topical. The author’s ability to fuse these major issues with an intriguing mystery makes the book fit well into the genre.

[Anna Campos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being a teacher myself, the narrative of In Lincoln's Shadow was quite insightful, especially in relation to protecting the child. For instance, Bernie Johnston, the social worker, is one of the many professionals I have dealt with concerning suspected child abuse within the confines of the law. Many teachers understand the fight Mary Johnston waged with the courts, which no doubt tried to place children into dangerous homes. Also, Mary Alice — a young girl from a dysfunctional family — was somewhat familiar to some of the children I worked with. Mental health and post-traumatic stress injury, are not only important in this book but are also issues that teachers should be sensitive and compassionate about. The way the book presents Bernie’s internal conflicts made me think about the weight of care giving and emotional investments. The book attempts to assess both in an articulate discussion of protective services and the emotional turmoil inherent in such work.

[Andrew Brewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can relate to the disorderliness of family life depicted in In Lincoln's Shadow, especially as a mother of five. The family of Lee who had six children, with another on the way, living in a double-wide trailer was quite relatable. Met or unmet needs of each child while coping with the spouse's illness or depression can be daunting at times. The image of a mother with six children experiencing postpartum ailments and further having to be likened to Steffen’s late wife was a shocking reminder of the burdens that come with motherhood. The help extended to this distressed family by Bernie was impressive to me but also pointed out the huge shortcomings of the system. The text stresses the parents’ mental health as a very crucial aspect that needs protection in addition to children. I enjoyed the fact that this narrative was able to address such real-life challenges in the context of an intriguing mystery.

[Amanda Leonard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can relate to the disorderliness of family life depicted in In Lincoln's Shadow, especially as a mother of five. The family of Lee who had six children, with another on the way, living in a double-wide trailer was quite relatable. Met or unmet needs of each child while coping with the spouse's illness or depression can be daunting at times. The image of a mother with six children experiencing postpartum ailments and further having to be likened to Steffen’s late wife was a shocking reminder of the burdens that come with motherhood. The help extended to this distressed family by Bernie was impressive to me but also pointed out the huge shortcomings of the system. The text stresses the parents’ mental health as a very crucial aspect that needs protection in addition to children. I enjoyed the fact that this narrative was able to address such real-life challenges in the context of an intriguing mystery.

[Louis Nichols · Rating 5 out of 5]

One aspect that particularly impressed me in In Lincoln’s Shadow is the depiction of mentorship. Bernie Johnston’s choice to ask Steffen Blaine for help shows how important it is to have such people when opting for drastic career shifts. The character of Bernie in the story grows as she develops not only in Steffen’s vocation of a detective, but furthermore appreciates his strength as a person. This type of professional relationship is very pertinent to me in that I think every student or young professional should have someone they inspire to and learn from. In addition, the book contains justice as well as ethical issues which may come in handy when, for instance, discussing making painful choices in class. The narrative is a captivating and attention-grabbing one that underscores how important it is to depend on people for one’s advancement both career wise and socially.

[Sophia Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was saddened by the portrait of the Lee family depicted in the book In Lincoln’s Shadow. The image of a mother fighting a mental illness while taking care of six kids was particularly disturbing. The text addresses the issue of mental healthcare, and specifically how maternal mental illness is often completely disregarded, and how families can be crushed as a consequence. The character of Bernie Johnston and her compassion for the kids as well as her desire for justice were more than just aspects of the plot, they were touching to me. It is a lesson on why it is important for all women, including the very troubled and challenged ones, to have women support them. Having read Rohn Federbush's writing about family dynamics and the challenges that come with raising children, any mother would be able to identify to such depressing circumstances and to such a narrative in general.