Perish from the Earth

A Lincoln and Speed Mystery #2

by Jonathan F. Putnam

A murder aboard a steamboat forces Abraham Lincoln to make a fateful choice—one on which the future of the nation may hang, if his client doesn’t first—in this gripping follow-up to the “masterfully crafted” These Honored Dead ( Alex Grecian)

Newly minted trial lawyer Abraham Lincoln is riding the circuit, traveling by carriage with other lawyers and a judge to bring justice to the remote parts of Illinois. Meanwhile, Lincoln’s close friend Joshua Speed steams up the Mississippi River aboard a steamboat owned by Speed’s father. Suddenly, his journey is interrupted when a rigged card game turns to violence—and then murder.

Speed enlists Lincoln to defend the accused, but soon they come to discover that more than just the card games are crooked aboard the Speed family’s ship. As the day of judgment hurtles toward them, Lincoln must fight to save the life of his client while also preserving the cause he holds so dear.

Meticulously researched and deftly plotted, Jonathan F. Putnam’s second Lincoln and Speed mystery, Perish from the Earth , revolves around a true historical murder that, while nearly forgotten today, was one of the most infamous crimes of the nineteenth century and played a key role in driving the nation toward civil war.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Historical Mystery, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller

325 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2017

About the author

Jonathan Putnam is a writer and attorney. A graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School, he is a nationally renowned trial lawyer and a recognized Lincoln scholar. His historical mysteries in the Lincoln & Speed Mystery Series include A House Divided (July 2019); Final Resting Place (published 2018), Perish from the Earth (2017) and These Honored Dead (2016).

Jonathan has given many lectures about Lincoln to historical societies, libraries, bookstores, civic organizations, and lawyer groups around the country. The focus of his Lincoln scholarship is the great president's early professional years, including his defining, lifelong friendship with a well-born Southerner named Joshua Speed.

Reviews

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good blend of historical fiction and mystery. Joshua Speed is a younger son of a wealthy planter, tasked with looking out for his father's interests. Lincoln is a newly-minted lawyer making the circuit of the area. When a man is killed, and someone is arrested, they set out to investigate.

The thing I liked the most about this book is how it actually used the time in history as an aspect of the mystery - it wasn't just a a modern-type story that happened to be set in the 1800s. Tensions over slavery were running high, mob mentality sometimes prevailed, and the legal system was very different from the system of today (not that I'm saying today's system is great....).

Thanks to netgalley for the review copy.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I saw that Doris Kearns Goodwin enjoyed Jonathan F. Putman's first Lincoln and Speed mystery novel, I decided to request the second in the series, Perish From the Earth. The idea of a mystery involving circuit court lawyer Abe Lincoln and his bunkmate Joshua Speed intrigued me.

The action takes place in St. Louis in 1837, at a time when Abolitionists were considered radical lawbreakers.
Joshua Speed, our narrator accepts slavery, although he is disturbed by scenes of abuse. Abe supports it as constitutional but hopes that it will be phased out over time.

1837 saw the inauguration of Martin Van Buren and the Panic of 1837, a financial crisis. Oberlin College became the first in the nation to accept female students. (Michigan also became a state!)

Speed is on the War Princess, a Mississippi paddleboat owned by his father, investigating why it has not been a profitable venture. While he is on board, a man goes missing and his body is afterward found by Speed and Lincoln. A rival in love, the artist George Bingham, is accused of his murder and Lincoln agrees to represent him in court.

As Speed and his intrepid sister Martha investigate, the reader learns about American society at the time: slavery, plantation life, abolition, the newfangled justice and prison system, and life on a paddleboat.

Events and persons are based in history. A mob murders an abolitionist newspaperman, based on Elijah Lovejoy. Other characters drawn from history include the gambler Devon, George Bingham, and persons in the legal system. Likewise taken from history is the prison in Alton. Robert E. Lee shows up, managing a project for the War Department's Engineering Corps.

Lincoln had a deep commitment to the law and an abhorrence of mob rule.
We see Lincoln as a trial lawyer, employing his gift of storytelling and turning his failures into successes.

I liked the characters and enjoyed the vivid descriptions that brought the historical time period to life. Everything felt probable and in keeping with what we know of Lincoln. This was an enjoyable read.

I received a free ebook from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

[Bonnye Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

GNab I received a free electronic copy of this historical novel from Netgalley, Jonathan F. Putnam, and Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review. Thank you all, for sharing your hard work with me.

In this day and time of political turmoil, unrest and blatant racism, a review of President Lincoln's speech addressing the Young Men's Lyceum in Springfield, Illinois on January 27, 1838 is very relevant. It is offered as a Historical Note in this novel. The importance of 'rule of law' is vital to ALL of our freedoms and safety.

I have always been interested in Abraham Lincoln and his time in history, and this novel based on his days as an eager new lawyer riding the circuit with his friend Joshua Speed is a fast and enlightening read.Jonathan F. Putnam put in a great amount of time with researching this time, place, and people, and he shares with us much of that in the endnote. This is a book I am happy to recommend to friends and family.

pub date July 11, 2017

[Glen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This second book in the Lincoln and Speed series is an excellent historical mystery.

During an economic panic, Speed is sent to one of his family's assets, a riverboat, to collect money owed. While he is on board, he meets a young planter, who loses his fortune gambling. The planter soon ends up dead.

Lincoln, now a circuit lawyer, represents the artist accused of the murder. Speed and his sister help out, and have some pretty harrowing adventures.

Great stuff.

[Barbara (The Bibliophage) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full review at TheBibliophage.com.

Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Perish From the Earth by Jonathan F. Putnam is the second book I've read this year about riverboats and intrigue during the the early 1800s. (The first being Martha Conway's The Underground River). Both include historically accurate topics and events, and even a few people from history.

Putnam's book takes it a bit further, in that most of the main characters are people who existed in history. (Thanks, Wikipedia!) Joshua Speed, the son of a Kentucky judge and planter, owns a general store in a Springfield, Illinois. During the 1830s, Speed shared a room with the young lawyer and state legislator Abraham Lincoln. In addition, several of the other characters are true historical people.

Speed is at the center of this novel, but don't get the idea that Perish From the Earth is dry and boring. In fact, it's a solid whodunit mashed up with police and legal procedurals. But don't forget the procedures are from 1836, so hanging is still the alternative to innocence. That adds a layer of intensity to the stakes!

[Wesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun, enjoyable read! A compelling mystery with a captivating and gripping plot that weaves in historical facts as well. Through his words, Mr. Putnam paints a picture for the reader of traveling the Mighty Mississippi River on the great steamboats of the past, as well as life in the mid 1800's — all the while, leaving the reader guessing about the mystery that is unfolding. I also enjoyed the "Historical Note" section at the end of the book, referencing key people, and historical facts in the novel. Thoroughly researched, and well written.

[Lorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mississippi River. St. Louis levee. October 1837. Jonathan F. Putnam’s Perish from the Earth (Lincoln & Speed Mystery #2) is a joy to read. Not only are the characters developing beautifully, the reader learns some American history at this time period which involve A. Lincoln, lawyer, and Joshua Speed, retailer, their actual trips, their difficulties, and their deepening friendship. Speed is on a steamboat which is owned by his father, the War Eagle, traveling up the Mississippi to Alton, Illinois where he meets his friend, Abraham Lincoln, a lawyer who is traveling the circuit with a judge and other lawyers. Speed recalls details of his trip to Lincoln when Lincoln sees what appears to be a body. Speed recognizes the body as a passenger from the War Eagle, but all is much more involved than anyone believes. Enter: an abolitionist, Elijah Lovejoy, an actual historical figure, whose murder brings the USA closer to the Civil War. Lincoln’s views are presented in dialogue with Speed. “We are a nation of laws and must remain so.” Lincoln is referring to mob justice. One interesting point is Lincoln and Speed are on opposing sides concerning slavery. The author, a trial lawyer, has produced a well-researched story with true historical personages. Beautifully done!! 5 stars.

[Tracey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I keep saying how uncomfortable I am with real people being used as characters in novels … but I keep reading novels in which real people are used as characters. I'm a masochist, I guess? But in this case I found it hard to resist a novel featuring Abraham Lincoln. Come on, I saw Ken Burns's Civil War during my formative years – as much as any human being can be a hero, he's always been it for me. By this point in my life I've become too jaded to really see anyone as a full-fledged hero (except maybe Janusz Korczak, or Noor Khan), but … still. Lincoln. Afraid as I was of mishandling, I wanted to see him run as a character (to go a bit D&D on you), depicted not as the president, not as the public figure, not as a hero, but as a man. I wanted a book by a really great writer who knows Abraham Lincoln inside and out and can channel his voice, make me learn more about him in all his roles.

Oddly, though, it didn't feel like there was that much Lincoln in this book. Which I mean two ways: first, he wasn't the central focus; his friend Speed was. I was interested in Speed – but a novel about his adventures wasn't what I hoped for. Second … the Lincoln that did appear in the story felt like a cardboard cutout – a paper doll of Young Lincoln moved through the plot as necessary.

I just wasn't entirely convinced by … any part of this, really. The courtroom scenes felt like something from primetime tv with a thin gloss of 19th century. The story was … fine; it kept me reading through to the end, and no part of it ever annoyed or offended me enough to make me quit. But I don't feel any need to read more of the series.

The usual disclaimer: I received this book via Netgalley for review.

[Cynthia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe I expected too much from this mystery novel. I enjoy books that incorporate history with storyline so I was excited to read this second installment in Putnam’s series with Abe Lincoln and his roommate Joshua Speed. As a young Illinois lawyer Abe was a circuit lawyer going up and down the Mississippi trying cases. Speed is also an historical figure who’s family owned farms and businesses as well as a riverboat. When they weren’t sleeping over Speed’s store head to foot they were out together solving mysteries.

In this installment their client is accused of a horrible crime and Lincoln and Speed don’t have much time to prove him innocent or see him hang...only as long as it takes for the circuit to come back around to Alton, Illinois. And that’s only if they can protect their client from mob rule long enough to hold a trial. Lots of the action takes place on a riverboat from the Midwest and down through New Orleans. As you’d expect with book that includes Lincoln slavery and its consequences plays a vital role.

Perish the Earth was pleasant but I often felt distracted rather than intrigued by it. There’s Lincoln trivia included in it doesn’t add much to learning about the man or the time period.

Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance reader’s copy.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

First and foremost, this is excellent historical fiction. Second, I love the fact that it's a fictional account of actual historical figures. (There are even some fun cameos by historical celebrities before they were famous) As an attorney myself, this book holds a special interest for me. I was intrigued by the history of the circuit riding court and the parallels to today's legal system. I also found the trial scenes to be very realistic.

The plot is well-paced, and the book kept my interest up throughout. This was my first read in this series, but I would definitely go back and check out book 1, and read more going forward. I feel like this book set the stage for following Lincoln on his road to the presidency - painting a vivid picture of his morals and values, and what eventually led him to believe he had to do more than just win justice in the courtroom. I hope the series will continue through his journey into office.

Fans of historical fiction and legal fiction alike will find plenty to enjoy here. This book will certainly appeal to a wide audience.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

1837 and Joshua Speed just manages to board the steamboat War Eagle, owned by his father as it travelled up the Mississippi River.
Meanwhile new lawyer Abraham Linclon is on the circuit in Illinois hearing cases, when they meet up later on shore and discover a body. A body of a man who while recently on board the steamboat had lost all his money. Speed encourages Lincoln to defend the accused, while he aims to discover proof of innocence.
A very enjoyable introduction for me to this series, some good rounded characters and a well constructed mystery.
A NetGalley Book

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Lincoln and Speed series. It set upon the Mississippi River. It covers the slave, gambling and family problems. Lincoln is riding with the circuit court which stopped at Alton, a town on the river. Speed joins the his Father's riverboat, the War Eagle to investigate why it's revenue is down. A murder occurred on the boat and Speed convinces Lincoln to represent the accused. (This an important case in the 18th century) Lincoln must prove the accused is innocent without revealing what happen in order to protect the others on board the War Eagle. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK AND SERIES.

[Becky Loader · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ehhh.

[Angie Boyter · Rating 3 out of 5]

3+
Young Joshua Speed books passage on his father’s steamship War Eagle in order to look into some business issues for his father, but on board a young man gets ruined financially in a rigged card game, and a man is murdered. Speed and his friend, attorney and state legislator Abraham Lincoln, become involved in order to clear a young artist who is arrested for the crime, and they discover that crooked gambling is only one of a number of very shady activities along the mighty Mississippi.
When I open the second book in a series, I always do it with my fingers crossed. Will the author be able to keep up a reader’s interest, or was one book all he had? Perish from the Earth, I am pleased to report, is even better than the first volume, with a good solid mystery AND more substantial historical flavor.
Author Jonathan Putnam tells a good story, with satisfying surprises (including the choice of murder victim, who was NOT the person I expected to get killed!). Appropriately for a novel written by a Harvard Law School grad, there is a delightful courtroom scene in which the judge delivers his verdict from a rather unusual perspective! The book blurb and subtitle could mislead a reader into thinking Lincoln is the main character in the series, but Steed is definitely the protagonist, ably assisted by Lincoln, Joshua’s feisty sister Martha, and the ancient enigmatic all-knowing Nanny Mae.
A successful historical mystery demands a lot from an author if it is to build an authentic picture of the age in which it is set, and Jonathan Putnam has clearly done meticulous research, which he documents in a Historical Note at the end of the book. There is a good depiction of the controversy over slavery as it was fomenting in 1837, including the working of the underground railroad along the river and the murder of a prominent radical abolitionist, Elijah Lovejoy, at the hands of a mob. I especially enjoyed, however, the aspects of 1830s life that were not as prominent in my history classes, like life along the river in Illinois and Missouri, the steamboats with their riverboat gamblers, and even the Illinois State Prison. It is also fun that Joshua Speed was, indeed, a good friend of Abraham Lincoln and roomed with him when they were both young.
Perish from the Earth delivers all the elements a reader wants in a historical novel: a good story and insights into an earlier time. I hope the series continues!
NOTE: You can enjoy this book fully even if you have not read the first in the series.
Well-done historical mystery---good story, interesting history

[Margaret M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an early copy and excitedly read the second Lincoln and Speed mystery book. Reading PARISH FROM THE EARTH felt like a best friend sharing his memory of a mysterious, knotty adventure. I hung on every word. I am happy to say it was even better than THESE HONORED DEAD, which I loved!

[Viviane Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meet the characters who just might be responsible for the murder of a man who was angry over losing the possible love of his life:
The Gambler – a man who deals cards with an unheard-of speed and who sweats up a storm when one person figures out his tricks and lets others know.
A Drunken Fool – a man who is mourning something but not sober enough to speak about what it is but drunk enough to lash out at anyone who approaches him.
A young Artist who can sketch anyone’s facial image or a focused setting in moments but who can’t seem to make a living beyond that skill.
A Barkeep doling out drinks and scanning the crowd for trouble and maybe something or someone else.
A Dandy dressed “to the nines” with a Negro servant quietly knitting but also watching everyone quite carefully.
A vivacious Actress dressed in red who graces all with her becoming, fluttering eye glances.
The victim – John W. Jones of Ames Manor, Nashville, TN of the doughy face and passionate nature.
Joshua Speed – the investigator who assists Abe Lincoln in solving the crime of Jones’s murder
Abraham Lincoln- lawyer, fierce advocate of abolition of the slaves, who with Speed investigates the murder.
As legal cases in Nashville are heard on a “circuit” system, Lincoln and Speed have little time to solve the murder mystery or the accused perpetrator will have to wait almost another year before going on trial, a year in a jail that is cold and cruel enough to kill anyone.
It turns out Speed’s father owns the ship where these nefarious characters are traveling and interacting. The card game is obviously rigged but for what purpose. The money Speed is supposed to collect is supposedly unavailable and so one realizes there’s something about this steamboat and its members that’s hiding something nefarious. Speed must clear his own name since it’s guilt by association. One also notices that guilt is quickly assigned based on the conjectures of both witnesses and acquaintances of any of these characters.
Perish from the Earth… is a fine mystery that keeps the interest consistent through the whole tale and makes the reader want to read more about this duo who have sharp sleuthing skills and a passion for ending wrongdoing. Lincoln’s passion for ending slavery is a subplot that only adds to the suspense. Nicely done, Jonathan F. Putnam!

[Philip Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A rather decent read I was set to rate 4 stars until I reached the very end, at which point it easily became five stars. A pre-civil war era story with a twisting plot. The setting is the Mighty Mississippi River in the early days of steam boat paddle wheelers as well as assorted other river vessels. Love, murder, thievery, riots, slavery and the story of the judges and lawyers of the times, traveling from county to county doling out justice, representing defendants, prosecuting law breakers with the constant turmoil provided by those for and against slavery. At the end, reading the authors notes, I discover the nuggets of historical fact regarding one of the lawyers, a Mr. Lincoln, first name Abraham, yes that one, living a life of near poverty. Not in this book but perhaps in an upcoming book in this series, he went on to become President of our nation, and most of us know how that turned. Nice job by Mr. Putnam authoring this series.

[Missi Martin (Stockwell) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perish From The Earth is the secnd book in the Lincoln & Speed Mystery series bu Jonathan F. Putnam and even though I haven't read the first book (yet) it felt like it was a stand alone story.

In Perish From The Earth you spend some time riding on a ship with Joshua Speed. As he is on the ship conducting business for his father who owns the ship, he witnesses a heated arguement between the gambler on the ship and a cotton planter. The cotton planter Jones, loses all his money and causes a big scene until he is escorted back to his room by one of the crew members.

Once back on land Speed meets up with good friend circuit lawyer, Abraham Lincoln. While out for a walk by the river the two of them come across a rather large bundle. Upon closer examination they are shocked to find it is a body..... a body that Speed knows. It is the cotton planter Jones from the ship. Then a short time later an arrested is made for the murder. A traveling artist Bingham who was also on the ship is arrested in front of Speed and Lincoln and Lincoln quickly convinces Bingham to appoint his as his lawyer.

Lincoln is given 3 weeks in order to obtain evidence proving his client's innocence. Speed and his sister Martha travel the river talking to whoever they can to help Lincoln win his case.

This book was very interesting to read. You got a glimpse into the slavery aspect of the time, traveled a steamboat, and met a lot of interesting characters without leaving the comforts of your living room. I love when a book is so good that the story takes you away and Perish From The Earth does just that !!

You will enjoy the journey that Joshua and Martha take and you will truly love the twists and turns as you get into the middle of the trial of Bingham.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful murder mystery! It's full of twists, suspense, believable characters, excellent imagery, and simple surprises. Told by Joshua Speed, it details his difficulties in investigating the financial problems his father is having related to the captain of the riverboat the family owns. In the course of this investigation, Joshua comes across the body of a man who had been a fellow passenger on said riverboat. He also is happy to see his old friend Abraham Lincoln,who is a lawyer riding the circuit with several others. Then another of the riverboat passengers, an artist, is charged with the murder of the dead man, and Lincoln becomes his lawyer. A very self important constable wants to see the artist tried and found guilty in order to elevate his own status. The trial cannot be held for several weeks, so Speed heads off to further his investigation of the captain's probable embezzlement, and also to find witnesses and other evidence that the artist is not guilty.
Of course, there is lots more to the tale, but it is all very well done, and does clearly portray the prevailing attitudes and practices of the time.
Many thanks to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to request this book from the publisher who provided an ARC at no cost to me.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, I have to admit to a strange fascination with all things Abraham Lincoln, so when I saw this title I had to read it. Second, I must also admit that NetGalley and the publisher furnished me with a pre-pub copy to review. That being said, I really like this story and will have to go back and pick up the first title in the series. Lincoln is a young trial lawyer riding the circuit. His friend Joshua Speed is a shopkeeper who finds himself on a Mississippi steamer to check on his father's poor returns on a new investment. The two join forces when a man from the steamboat is found floating in the Mississippi while another passenger is charged with his murder. As the two investigate the crime, they find themselves in the middle of a moral conundrum which may destroy their friendship. Jonathan Putnam does a wonderful job of bringing young Abe to life, creating a mystery that fits so well into the time period, and showing how Lincoln's principles and ethics may have developed from his life experiences in his early years. The cast of characters is well developed with plenty to love or loath, as fits the occasion. Well worth the read. I'm glad I've found a new series to follow.

[Mary Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mr. Putnam hit his stride with this second book. Much better than the first book of the series. Gripping story and excellent historical backdrop. Lincoln comes through much more clearly as he works the courtroom in a circuit murder case in Alton, Illinois at the time of the mob killing of the famous Abolitionist, Elijah Lovejoy. Life along the busy Mississippi River during the frontier expansion is described with vibrancy and detail. The two Speed siblings, Joshua and Martha, are likeable and interesting characters and have a greater depth in this story. The voice of Joshua as the main storyteller is much more confident and believable this time around. The time setting is more spot on as the pre-Civil War culture tensions are more fully developed and understandable. I highly recommend this book and will be sharing with friends and family.

[Argum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lincoln is riding the circuit and Speed is investigating a shortfall in receipts from his father's steamboat. They meet in Alton around the time of Elijah Lovejoy's murder. While on the ship Speed meets a young man who then loses a fortune. The captain is hiding something, but the crew is so loyal no one will explain. When he meets up with Lincoln they go for a walk to see a famous Indian painting and stumble on a body, the young man from the ship. As the police arrive and are overzealous in accusations, Lincoln takes a painter on as a client and Speed serves as his investigator. This takes them back to the boat and way down river for a very different look at the antebellum South than we had seen before in this series. The last third or so of the book is a very gripping trial scene. Lincoln the orator is being born in this book. Fascinating as history (mostly real), gripping as a legal thriller, and just plain enjoyable

[Debra Jeakins · Rating 4 out of 5]

PERISH FROM THE EARTH BY JONATHAN F.PUTNAM is a genre cross LINCOLN AND SPEED book.
This Historical Fiction/Mystery set back in the 1830s, gives the reader an amusing look at Abe Lincoln, newly minted lawyer riding the trails and trials of rural Illinois. Mr. Lincoln at a stop in Alton, Illinois joins up with young Joshua Speed to figure out the mystery of the murder aboard Speeds fathers steamboat the WAR EAGLE.

I loved this book! It does have the best of both worlds: historical fiction & a fairly good mystery. It was amusing to read about the young Lincoln. I felt like I had stepped back in time to listen to Mr.Lincoln defend the innocent & tell his tales of his very young life.

I received this book free from goodreads in exchange for an honest review

[Kathleen Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is this fan fiction about Abraham Lincoln or a good historical mystery/legal novel? It's both. Keep in mind that Joshua Speed is the main character, not Lincoln but it's fun to watch Abe as a lawyer, not as a President. I liked the atmospherics on the riverboat and the courtroom scenes. The mystery isn't too twisty but it will keep you guessing. The card game, which I know is integral to the plot, went on a bit too long for me but that's ok because I learned a few things. Try this one for something different that's pretty entertaining and well written. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I hadn't read the first book and that wasn't a problem; I'm going to look for the next one.

[Linda Epach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joshua Speed enters a card game con while traveling by steamboat up the Mississippi River. Before the trip is over, there has been a murder. Speed gets his best friend, young attorney Abraham Lincoln, to defend the person accused of the crime. This is great historical fiction, using real people and settings in a fictional story. I really liked this book, although Perish from the Earth was not as good as its predecessor These Honored Dead, Jonathan F. Putnam did not disappoint and I would (and have already) recommend this book.

[Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks Crooked Lane Books and netgalley for this ARC.

I'll never think of Lincoln or the Civil War the same after reading this series. It's history sneaked in with the mystery that never comes across as a history lesson. I love the camaraderie and brother/sister drama that rounds out the story.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent blend of history and what if! The author does a great job of creating an wonderful story as well as giving a good look at history. This story provides a good look at a important time in history while being very entertaining. Enjoyed this book from start to finish. Look forward to reading additional books by this author. I won this book in a GoodReads Giveaway!

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am proud to be the 1st to review this book. I won it in a giveaway on Goodreads. I believe this book would make a great movie. The characters are well developed. It is a very well written mystery and I loved the 1800's dialogue.

My favorite quote was "A sense of menace prevailed."

[nikkia neil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks Crooked Lane Books and netgalley for this ARC.

A twisted, puzzling, and sparky murder mystery that continues a strong series in the capable hands of Jonathan F Putnam. You wont' see the finale coming which make all the more cool.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very engaging story of the early Abraham Lincoln. I don't know about his partner Joshua Speed but I wanted to finish this story to see what happened. Isn't that what we all want from a book?