President Lincoln's Spy

Fitz Dunaway #1

by Steven Wilson

1861. As the Civil War rages on, one man is determined to prove himself on the front lines of battle. But destiny has far greater plans for him. . . On the battlefield, Captain Fitz Dunaway is a man of action with a keen, intellectual prowess. But when he humiliates his commanding officer, he finds himself facing a court martial for his maverick behavior. Now his only chance to redeem himself is by working as a spy to uncover a plot to assassinate President Lincoln. Searching through gas-lit alleyways for traitors who will embrace him as one of their own, Fitz discovers just how fine the line is between allegiance to your cause--and allegiance to your country. . . In this rousing novel of loyalty and patriotism, betrayal and scandal, honor and valor, Lincoln scholar and expert Steven Wilson blends meticulous detail with captivating characters, taking readers back to one of America's most defining moments in history. "The reader can taste the grit and feel the excitement and expectations of a pivotal time in American history. In President Lincoln's Spy, Wilson has given us a time machine." --John Lutz "Steven Wilson writes a story as vivid and engrossing as the Civil War itself." --Troy Soos "If Robert Ludlum had written a Civil War novel filled with spies, double-crosses, murders, romances, and battlefield mayhem, it would read like President Lincoln's Spy." --Clint Johnson, author of The Chase, Capture, Persecution and Surprising Release of Confederate President Jefferson Davis

Genres: Historical Fiction, Own, Fiction

324 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

In "President Lincoln's Spy", Wilson chronicles the story of Fitz--a hardheaded, opinionated, albeit skilled Captain who refuses to sacrifice the well being of his soldiers by obeying the orders of a cowardly Colonel during the opening battle of the Civil War. The Union army can't decide whether to reward him for the lives he saved, or court martial him for insubordination so he ends up in house arrest while they make up their minds. At this point he gets an offer to become a spy (hence the title of the book), and the plot picks up.

Pros: The descriptions of 1860s Washington D.C. are vivid, and probably more honest than many other books that take place in this time period.
Also, the book is a fairly quick page turner, and recommended for those who like action packed thrillers.

Cons: A lot of the inner dialogue Fitz has is merely telling himself *again* that he can't trust anyone, or that he wants to trust someone, or that he really, really hopes he can trust one person in particular. The character development is almost nil, and there isn't a whole lot in the way of suspense building (although the pace does pick up in the last few chapters).

Over all, I gave it an above average rating of 2.5 stars.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not your average spy. A troubling time when very little is as it seems, but looking back after the action filled climax, a very modern man. Fitz is almost a James Bond type. He is not really comfortable with many people and prefers action to just about everything. If only he would stop and think just a bit, he might be able to sort things out instead of rusnig headlong into disaster. Will read the next one just to see if he learns anything or continues to be one dimensional with no character growth.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fitz Dunaway is a Southerner who stayed loyal to the Union at the start of the Civil War. Working as a spy in the nation's capital, he discovers a plot to assassinate Lincoln. A good thriller, it keeps you turning pages. I particularly liked that it was set in the Civil War period. At the end, there's a chase in the unfinished Capitol Dome....

[Ayelet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once again, I started in the middle of a series without realizing it. When I went back to read #1 I already knew some of the conclusions. Still, it was interesting. Now I'm waiting for #3 to be written.

[Johnny Moore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just not my bag, but I can see something in it. dnf at 50%