What do you think?
Rate this book
Duncan McCallum #5
Savage Liberty
The fifth installation of Eliot Pattison's Bone Rattler series follows the exiled Scotsman Duncan McCallum to the stepping-stones of the American Revolution
Acclaimed author Eliot Pattison continues his Bone Rattler series as Duncan McCallum is drawn into dark intrigue surrounding the Sons of Liberty in this gripping thriller set in the early days of the American revolution.
Pattison's deep historical knowledge and attention to detail brings a young America to life, immersing the reader in the atmosphere and events that were to lead to the American rebellion. Protagonist Duncan McCallum is lead into a mystery of murder, treachery, and intrigue with Samuel Adams, John Hancock, and a secret society of American patriots organizing to resist the British throne.
Acclaimed author Eliot Pattison continues his Bone Rattler series as Duncan McCallum is drawn into dark intrigue surrounding the Sons of Liberty in this gripping thriller set in the early days of the American revolution.
Pattison's deep historical knowledge and attention to detail brings a young America to life, immersing the reader in the atmosphere and events that were to lead to the American rebellion. Protagonist Duncan McCallum is lead into a mystery of murder, treachery, and intrigue with Samuel Adams, John Hancock, and a secret society of American patriots organizing to resist the British throne.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published May 22, 2018
124 people are currently reading
768 people want to read
About the author
Eliot Pattison
34 books352 followersEdgar Award winning Eliot Pattison has been described as a "writer of faraway mysteries," a label which is particularly apt for someone whose travel and interests span a million miles of global trekking, visiting every continent but Antarctica.
An international lawyer by training, Pattison first combined his deep concerns for the people of Tibet with his interest in fiction writing in The Skull Mantra, which launched the popular Inspector Shan series.
The series has been translated into over twenty languages around the world. Both The Skull Mantra and Water Touching Stone were selected by Amazon.com for its annual list of ten best new mysteries. Water Touching Stone was selected by Booksense as the number one mystery of all time for readers' groups. The newest installment, Soul of Fire, was included in Publisher's Weekly's list of "Best Book of 2014".
Pattison's fascination with the 18th century American wilderness and its woodland Indians led to the launch of his second critically acclaimed Bone Rattler series.
His dystopian novel, Ashes of The Earth, marks the first installment in his third book series, set in post-apocalyptic America.
A former resident of Boston and Washington, Pattison resides on an 18th century farm in Pennsylvania with his wife, three children, and an ever-expanding menagerie of animals.
An international lawyer by training, Pattison first combined his deep concerns for the people of Tibet with his interest in fiction writing in The Skull Mantra, which launched the popular Inspector Shan series.
The series has been translated into over twenty languages around the world. Both The Skull Mantra and Water Touching Stone were selected by Amazon.com for its annual list of ten best new mysteries. Water Touching Stone was selected by Booksense as the number one mystery of all time for readers' groups. The newest installment, Soul of Fire, was included in Publisher's Weekly's list of "Best Book of 2014".
Pattison's fascination with the 18th century American wilderness and its woodland Indians led to the launch of his second critically acclaimed Bone Rattler series.
His dystopian novel, Ashes of The Earth, marks the first installment in his third book series, set in post-apocalyptic America.
A former resident of Boston and Washington, Pattison resides on an 18th century farm in Pennsylvania with his wife, three children, and an ever-expanding menagerie of animals.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
May 5, 2018
”Battles didn’t revolutionize America, it was scores of thousands of personal revolutions that transformed the colonists, who then transformed the colonies.”
Many of those untamable Highland Scots who survived the Battle of Culloden were expelled by the English in the years following that conflict, landing on the shores of America. They added to an already unruly bunch of colonists who had left their European homeland to search for opportunity, but to also escape oppressive laws, persecution, or quite possibly a criminal past. The melting pot of America was a cauldron of dissidents. Is there any wonder they became difficult for England to govern?
”The British government was blind to the vital truth about its most important colonies: for six generations it had been creating a vast and potent pool of disenchanted colonists by pushing across the Atlantic those who complained about religious repression at home, those who had offended an overreaching criminal justice system, and those who sought to carve out an existence unharnessed by the rigid social economic culture of Britain.”
This brings us to Duncan McCallum, who is one of those unruly Scots. He is the chieftain of an expired clan, whose members did not survive the ire of the British Government. He escaped the hangman’s noose by a whisker and was indentured to the colonies for seven years. His indentureship, which is held by his beloved Sarah Ramsey, is about to expire, and his intentions are to finally marry her. Sarah is not your normal English rose. ”She touched the patch of blood on her shift, then with the blood-tipped finger hastily drew two stripes on each cheek. ‘Come meet my blade!’ she taunted her opponent in the Mohawk tongue. ‘Don’t come sneaking in the shadows against my people unless you are ready to bleed!’ she hissed.”
She is not just talking either. She knows where to stick a blade.
Duncan McCallum is living in Boston in 1768 when the ship Arcturus explodes in the harbor, leaving scores of men dead. John Hancock, who has recently made the acquaintance of the inquisitive Duncan McCallum, summons him to the beach to investigate what is more and more looking like deliberate sabotage by French Agents. They are searching for an important secret ledger that is supposed to be handed off to The Sons of Liberty.
Duncan soon has enough of the treacherous waters of Boston, what with the frustrating antics of Samuel Adams, John Hancock, Robert Livingston, and other, soon to be famous, names of American history. He heads north in search of the truth, taking him farther away from Sarah and the sanctuary of their beloved Edentown. Duncan is wrongly accused of treason and murder, which unleashes a small army of bounty hunters, French agents, and the British regulars who are all vying to be the first to clap hands on him.
The noose always seems to want to find Duncan’s neck.
His recklessness makes his friends wonder about his sanity. ”Ishmael...cocks his head at Duncan. ‘My uncle speaks of the great Battle of Culloden, where Highlanders ran foolhardily into rows of English cannon with nothing but swords and wooden shields. Is that what you seek, a proper Scottish suicide?’”
To add more layers to an already convoluted task, there is a British officer named Horatio Beck who is looking for a lost treasure of French gold coins, who seems to think that Duncan has the answers he seeks. There are bronze skinned, wraithful Apostles. There is a mischievous Capuchin monkey and a Jewish tinker searching for his lost wife. There are loyal friends, such as Ishmael and Conawago, who are the last of their Nipmuc tribe. There is the vengeful insanity of Mog, who wants to add Duncan’s hair to his scalp collection. Fortunately, there are also the Rangers and the Green Mountain commander himself, Ethan Allen, who try their level best to keep Duncan alive.
There are also purple inked letters and engraved powder horns that are mysterious clues to unlocking the last few unknown quantities that Duncan needs to discover what is really going on. And what does all of this have to do with the heroic officer Robert Rogers, who is currently incarcerated in Montreal, charged with numerous capital crimes?
If you have been hearing the soundtrack to the movie The Last of the Mohicans while you are reading this review, you are not imagining things. The French and the Indian wars, which are the backdrop for the Natty Bumppo adventures, have been over for several years, but the simmering hostilities from that conflict are still boiling beneath the surface in 1768. This is a fascinating time period in American history when the colonists are trying to define themselves for the first time as Americans. The seeds of revolution are beginning to sprout with the help of the printing press and the inflammatory language gracing the pages of the incendiary broadsheets. We all know where this is going.
”’There is no land like this land,’declared the old Nipmuc, who had seen more of the world than anyone Duncan knew. ‘There is no freedom like this freedom.’”
If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit http://www.jeffreykeeten.com
I also have a Facebook blogger page at:https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKeeten
Many of those untamable Highland Scots who survived the Battle of Culloden were expelled by the English in the years following that conflict, landing on the shores of America. They added to an already unruly bunch of colonists who had left their European homeland to search for opportunity, but to also escape oppressive laws, persecution, or quite possibly a criminal past. The melting pot of America was a cauldron of dissidents. Is there any wonder they became difficult for England to govern?
”The British government was blind to the vital truth about its most important colonies: for six generations it had been creating a vast and potent pool of disenchanted colonists by pushing across the Atlantic those who complained about religious repression at home, those who had offended an overreaching criminal justice system, and those who sought to carve out an existence unharnessed by the rigid social economic culture of Britain.”
This brings us to Duncan McCallum, who is one of those unruly Scots. He is the chieftain of an expired clan, whose members did not survive the ire of the British Government. He escaped the hangman’s noose by a whisker and was indentured to the colonies for seven years. His indentureship, which is held by his beloved Sarah Ramsey, is about to expire, and his intentions are to finally marry her. Sarah is not your normal English rose. ”She touched the patch of blood on her shift, then with the blood-tipped finger hastily drew two stripes on each cheek. ‘Come meet my blade!’ she taunted her opponent in the Mohawk tongue. ‘Don’t come sneaking in the shadows against my people unless you are ready to bleed!’ she hissed.”
She is not just talking either. She knows where to stick a blade.
Duncan McCallum is living in Boston in 1768 when the ship Arcturus explodes in the harbor, leaving scores of men dead. John Hancock, who has recently made the acquaintance of the inquisitive Duncan McCallum, summons him to the beach to investigate what is more and more looking like deliberate sabotage by French Agents. They are searching for an important secret ledger that is supposed to be handed off to The Sons of Liberty.
Duncan soon has enough of the treacherous waters of Boston, what with the frustrating antics of Samuel Adams, John Hancock, Robert Livingston, and other, soon to be famous, names of American history. He heads north in search of the truth, taking him farther away from Sarah and the sanctuary of their beloved Edentown. Duncan is wrongly accused of treason and murder, which unleashes a small army of bounty hunters, French agents, and the British regulars who are all vying to be the first to clap hands on him.
The noose always seems to want to find Duncan’s neck.
His recklessness makes his friends wonder about his sanity. ”Ishmael...cocks his head at Duncan. ‘My uncle speaks of the great Battle of Culloden, where Highlanders ran foolhardily into rows of English cannon with nothing but swords and wooden shields. Is that what you seek, a proper Scottish suicide?’”
To add more layers to an already convoluted task, there is a British officer named Horatio Beck who is looking for a lost treasure of French gold coins, who seems to think that Duncan has the answers he seeks. There are bronze skinned, wraithful Apostles. There is a mischievous Capuchin monkey and a Jewish tinker searching for his lost wife. There are loyal friends, such as Ishmael and Conawago, who are the last of their Nipmuc tribe. There is the vengeful insanity of Mog, who wants to add Duncan’s hair to his scalp collection. Fortunately, there are also the Rangers and the Green Mountain commander himself, Ethan Allen, who try their level best to keep Duncan alive.
There are also purple inked letters and engraved powder horns that are mysterious clues to unlocking the last few unknown quantities that Duncan needs to discover what is really going on. And what does all of this have to do with the heroic officer Robert Rogers, who is currently incarcerated in Montreal, charged with numerous capital crimes?
If you have been hearing the soundtrack to the movie The Last of the Mohicans while you are reading this review, you are not imagining things. The French and the Indian wars, which are the backdrop for the Natty Bumppo adventures, have been over for several years, but the simmering hostilities from that conflict are still boiling beneath the surface in 1768. This is a fascinating time period in American history when the colonists are trying to define themselves for the first time as Americans. The seeds of revolution are beginning to sprout with the help of the printing press and the inflammatory language gracing the pages of the incendiary broadsheets. We all know where this is going.
”’There is no land like this land,’declared the old Nipmuc, who had seen more of the world than anyone Duncan knew. ‘There is no freedom like this freedom.’”
If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit http://www.jeffreykeeten.com
I also have a Facebook blogger page at:https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKeeten
August 16, 2018
This fifth book in Eliot Pattison's, "Bone Rattler" series is a thrilling ride through 1768 New England and Quebec. The hero, Duncan McCallum, is a highly regarded highlander and former ranger with adept surgical skills, a keen mind, and fighting prowess.
In this story, Duncan is falsely accused of multiple murders and treason. He is being hunted by King George's Army while at the same time he is tracking down clues and threading the conspiracy details together. He along with his dear friends of various backgrounds band together to work out the clues and find their way through the challenges put before them. It is an extraordinary adventure, framed in historical fact, with a double mystery to be solved - a most enjoyable read.
There was one matter that I really struggled with and admittedly, a very minor detail. That was the reference to the 42nd Royal Highland Regiment of Foot as, "The Ladies From Hell". This is a translation of the moniker ("Die Damen aus der Hölle") given the regiment by their German enemies during the First World War of the 20th century. From that point on, that lack of veracity caused me to question other details and treat the book as merely a great adventure and not the supposed well-researched historical fiction that it strives to be.
In this story, Duncan is falsely accused of multiple murders and treason. He is being hunted by King George's Army while at the same time he is tracking down clues and threading the conspiracy details together. He along with his dear friends of various backgrounds band together to work out the clues and find their way through the challenges put before them. It is an extraordinary adventure, framed in historical fact, with a double mystery to be solved - a most enjoyable read.
There was one matter that I really struggled with and admittedly, a very minor detail. That was the reference to the 42nd Royal Highland Regiment of Foot as, "The Ladies From Hell". This is a translation of the moniker ("Die Damen aus der Hölle") given the regiment by their German enemies during the First World War of the 20th century. From that point on, that lack of veracity caused me to question other details and treat the book as merely a great adventure and not the supposed well-researched historical fiction that it strives to be.
September 20, 2020
I have read just two of the six books in this series but have enjoyed them both for the action and challenges faced by the main characters in surviving truly difficult hazards found in colonial America. It is rather fun to hear Shakespeare quoted by a wise old Indian in the midst of life threatening circumstances. The foes are too numerous to name.
Somehow our brave characters come out alive with what looks like a happy ending and even the promise of a marriage soon to be. I will have to read the sixth book to see how they pull off a bit of happiness.
Library Loan
Somehow our brave characters come out alive with what looks like a happy ending and even the promise of a marriage soon to be. I will have to read the sixth book to see how they pull off a bit of happiness.
Library Loan
July 13, 2018
4.5 stars. Wow!
Our continuing hero, Duncan McCallum, is a magnet for trouble. It is the spring of 1768; Duncan, Sarah Ramsey, Conawego and others from the Edentown community are in Boston to replenish supplies, do some shopping, visit friends. Of course, things are bound to happen, as some of Duncan's friends include John Hancock and Samuel Adams and others of the nascent Sons of Liberty.
The action opens with a bang--the explosion of the ship Arcturus, leading to the death of its crew of 37 and the disappearance of a mysterious ledger. The obnoxious Lt Beck (and his ministry masters back in London), wants the ledger. There are French spies who want the ledger and so does Robert Livingston of NY, owner of the Arcturus, and friend of Hancock.
Duncan wants justice for the dead and if that means chasing after the ledger, then that's what he'll do, even with charges of treason and murder hanging over his head. Even if his quest brings a rupture in his relationship with Sarah...
So the chase is on; with bounty hunters and Beck on his tail, Duncan, along with some new found friends, heads towards Fort Ticonderoga and points north in search of answers.
As with the previous books in this series, the author brings along a hefty load of politics and philosophy to go with the action. Just what is meant by 'liberty', 'treason', 'honor'?
The author has a fine time dropping historical figures into the story--Ethan Allen makes an appearance; the famous Army Ranger, Major Robert Rogers, plays a pivotal role.
I gobbled this up, then went back and read it again, slowly, to catch all the wonderful details. I'm already greedy for more!
It is always great to read intelligent, well-researched and well-written historical mysteries. The previous books in this series are on my keeper shelf; this one will be joining them.
Our continuing hero, Duncan McCallum, is a magnet for trouble. It is the spring of 1768; Duncan, Sarah Ramsey, Conawego and others from the Edentown community are in Boston to replenish supplies, do some shopping, visit friends. Of course, things are bound to happen, as some of Duncan's friends include John Hancock and Samuel Adams and others of the nascent Sons of Liberty.
The action opens with a bang--the explosion of the ship Arcturus, leading to the death of its crew of 37 and the disappearance of a mysterious ledger. The obnoxious Lt Beck (and his ministry masters back in London), wants the ledger. There are French spies who want the ledger and so does Robert Livingston of NY, owner of the Arcturus, and friend of Hancock.
Duncan wants justice for the dead and if that means chasing after the ledger, then that's what he'll do, even with charges of treason and murder hanging over his head. Even if his quest brings a rupture in his relationship with Sarah...
So the chase is on; with bounty hunters and Beck on his tail, Duncan, along with some new found friends, heads towards Fort Ticonderoga and points north in search of answers.
As with the previous books in this series, the author brings along a hefty load of politics and philosophy to go with the action. Just what is meant by 'liberty', 'treason', 'honor'?
The author has a fine time dropping historical figures into the story--Ethan Allen makes an appearance; the famous Army Ranger, Major Robert Rogers, plays a pivotal role.
I gobbled this up, then went back and read it again, slowly, to catch all the wonderful details. I'm already greedy for more!
It is always great to read intelligent, well-researched and well-written historical mysteries. The previous books in this series are on my keeper shelf; this one will be joining them.
March 21, 2018
Interesting backdrop for a story. I enjoyed the explanations of the native American history and the inevitable decimation of their culture - very sad but true. I thought the book was a little choppy during scene changes so hard to follow. From reading the summary on the back jacket, I thought the book may involve Hancock, Adams, etc. much more than it did. Instead it's like they're thrown in a little at the beginning so as to lure a reader and then just tossed to the wayside. Too many words - cut out 1/4 to tighten the story and explain in what order events unfold. You could almost lose the love interest altogether and have a better, more focused, and exciting story.
August 20, 2019
Söhne der Freiheit
Im Jahr 1768 hält sich Duncan McCallum einige Zeit in Boston auf. Unter anderen hat beschäftigt er sich mit den Zielen der Söhne der Freiheit. Immer noch ist Duncan der, der die Toten liest und so wird er wieder einmal gerufen, um zu klären wie ein Mensch zu Tode gekommen ist. Bereits diese erste Untersuchung führt ihn und seine Freunde an den Bostoner Hafen, wo ein Schiff explodiert ist. Alle Besatzungsmitglieder wurden tot an Land gespült. Eine grausame Katastrophe, die Duncan keine Ruhe lässt. Er muss einfach herausfinden, was oder wer hinter diesem schlimmen Unglück steckt.
Mit Conawago, seinem väterlichen Seelenverwandten, und einigen anderen, die ihm auf dem Weg zu Freunden werden, macht sich Duncan auf, das Rätsel um die Explosion zu lösen. Dabei gerät er einmal mehr in Gefahr. Genug Menschen gibt es, die ihm nach dem Leben trachten oder ihm drohen, um selbst an Informationen zu kommen. Die Zeit ist herangebrochen, in die Vertreter der Auswanderer so langsam beginnen, sich zu fragen, ob sie als eigene Herren immer tun müssen, was die Gesandten aus der alten Welt von ihnen verlangen. Besonders ungerechtfertigte Zahlungsforderungen führen zu großem Unmut. So langsam formieren sie lose Verbindungen, die für mehr Freiheit und Eigenständigkeit in den Kolonien sorgen möchten.
Bekannt ist Eliot Pattison für seine genau recherchierten Roman und mit seiner Reihe um Duncan McCallum, deren fünfter Band hier vorliegt, hat er sich eines interessanten, aber kaum bekannten Themas angenommen. Nach dem siebenjährigen Krieg beginnt die amerikanische Nation so langsam, sich zu formieren. Doch noch ist die Entwicklung am Beginn und es geht eigentlich nur um Erleichterungen und etwas Anerkennung. Teilweise sehr ergreifend und spannend werden die Ereignisse geschildert, die durch die Explosion in Gang gesetzt werden. Zwar kann es zu einigen wenigen Verständnisproblemen kommen, wenn man kein Kenner der Geschichte ist, doch das Meiste ist so dargestellt, dass die Lektüre auf informative Art fesselt. Der kurze Einblick am Schluss über das, was historisch belegt ist, erlaubt einen kleinen Einblick in die hervorragende Akkuratesse der Geschichte.
Im Jahr 1768 hält sich Duncan McCallum einige Zeit in Boston auf. Unter anderen hat beschäftigt er sich mit den Zielen der Söhne der Freiheit. Immer noch ist Duncan der, der die Toten liest und so wird er wieder einmal gerufen, um zu klären wie ein Mensch zu Tode gekommen ist. Bereits diese erste Untersuchung führt ihn und seine Freunde an den Bostoner Hafen, wo ein Schiff explodiert ist. Alle Besatzungsmitglieder wurden tot an Land gespült. Eine grausame Katastrophe, die Duncan keine Ruhe lässt. Er muss einfach herausfinden, was oder wer hinter diesem schlimmen Unglück steckt.
Mit Conawago, seinem väterlichen Seelenverwandten, und einigen anderen, die ihm auf dem Weg zu Freunden werden, macht sich Duncan auf, das Rätsel um die Explosion zu lösen. Dabei gerät er einmal mehr in Gefahr. Genug Menschen gibt es, die ihm nach dem Leben trachten oder ihm drohen, um selbst an Informationen zu kommen. Die Zeit ist herangebrochen, in die Vertreter der Auswanderer so langsam beginnen, sich zu fragen, ob sie als eigene Herren immer tun müssen, was die Gesandten aus der alten Welt von ihnen verlangen. Besonders ungerechtfertigte Zahlungsforderungen führen zu großem Unmut. So langsam formieren sie lose Verbindungen, die für mehr Freiheit und Eigenständigkeit in den Kolonien sorgen möchten.
Bekannt ist Eliot Pattison für seine genau recherchierten Roman und mit seiner Reihe um Duncan McCallum, deren fünfter Band hier vorliegt, hat er sich eines interessanten, aber kaum bekannten Themas angenommen. Nach dem siebenjährigen Krieg beginnt die amerikanische Nation so langsam, sich zu formieren. Doch noch ist die Entwicklung am Beginn und es geht eigentlich nur um Erleichterungen und etwas Anerkennung. Teilweise sehr ergreifend und spannend werden die Ereignisse geschildert, die durch die Explosion in Gang gesetzt werden. Zwar kann es zu einigen wenigen Verständnisproblemen kommen, wenn man kein Kenner der Geschichte ist, doch das Meiste ist so dargestellt, dass die Lektüre auf informative Art fesselt. Der kurze Einblick am Schluss über das, was historisch belegt ist, erlaubt einen kleinen Einblick in die hervorragende Akkuratesse der Geschichte.
August 22, 2018
A new book just out this year, from an author I'd never read before. Set in the time period I reenact, I was suitably impressed by the authors scholarship in representing that period. His mistakes were few & far between. I was amused by the very PC equality of distribution of both the heroes and the villains, among the English, French, Colonials and Indians. Only the Scots get off Scot free. All the Scots are represented as good hearted, honest & true heroes. It had a bit of light philosophy in it also, meditations by different characters on the meaning of liberty, and you can track a certain evolution through the book of each characters understanding of the concept. i consider it to have been a quick summer read, good for the beach, and I look forward to reading more of this authors work.
May 31, 2018
Love historical fiction and literary mysteries? One of the best series continues here as Duncan McCallum and his companions share the growing pains of colonial America. This fifth entry takes place in 1768 when the Sons of Liberty are starting to make themselves a nuisance in Boston, the French & Indian War is a haunting recent memory, and political intrigue and power struggles run between colonies, tribal nations, and colonial powers.
Pattison once again uses masterful descriptive language to bring this era to life in all its beauty and brutality. A highly recommended series, new readers should start with The Bone Rattler.
Pattison once again uses masterful descriptive language to bring this era to life in all its beauty and brutality. A highly recommended series, new readers should start with The Bone Rattler.
February 18, 2018
This is an excellent mystery taking place in pre-Revolutionary colonial New England. Even though it is fiction, it is filled with lots of historical information that alone would make the story extremely meaningful and riveting to anyone interested in early US history. I thought it is especially insightful regarding the native culture of those times. If that is not ones interest, the story itself and the depiction of that era has enough intrigue and suspense to keep one absorbed through the entire book. I enjoyed all the characters ... especially Duncan ... and will be looking for earlier books in this series.
A worth-while read!
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.
A worth-while read!
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.
September 8, 2023
I do love historical fiction this was of 1700’s colonies and was interesting with sometimes hard to follow plot
September 30, 2019
Pattison is a relatively recent author whom I enjoy a lot. I've read all the McCallum books and about half the Inspector Shans.
This one had all the elements that I enjoy so much in both series: deep understanding of the native culture, an intriguing mystery with large political ramifications, and plenty of action.
In this book, the French and Indian Wars are finally behind McCallum and he appears to be on a path to his freedom (he's an indentured servant) and wedded bliss with the lovely Sarah Ramsey. Or are they? Men are being murdered tied to a ranger raid in far northern Maine during the war. This mystery also rubs shoulders with the growing Sons of Liberty group. This book features many real-life historical figures such as Ethan Allen, John Hancock, Robert Rogers.
Once again, a strong recommendation for Mr. Pattison.
(And on the off-chance Mr. Pattison sees this, might I lobby for another Hadrian Boone novel?)
This one had all the elements that I enjoy so much in both series: deep understanding of the native culture, an intriguing mystery with large political ramifications, and plenty of action.
In this book, the French and Indian Wars are finally behind McCallum and he appears to be on a path to his freedom (he's an indentured servant) and wedded bliss with the lovely Sarah Ramsey. Or are they? Men are being murdered tied to a ranger raid in far northern Maine during the war. This mystery also rubs shoulders with the growing Sons of Liberty group. This book features many real-life historical figures such as Ethan Allen, John Hancock, Robert Rogers.
Once again, a strong recommendation for Mr. Pattison.
(And on the off-chance Mr. Pattison sees this, might I lobby for another Hadrian Boone novel?)
January 23, 2020
Eliot Pattison is an eclectic author. He produced the enduring Inspector Shan series, set in Tibet and imbued with all the complicated cultural politics of that region. He also brings us the Bone Rattler series, set in the unexplored west of pre-revolutionary America; undeveloped in terms of the land Pattison describes, and also in the sense that not many historical mysteries avail themselves of the same time and place. It is, however, more accessible, as I presume that most will know their American history as context better than they know Tibetan history and culture. Both series are worth your time.
The hero in the Bone Rattler series is the Highlander Duncan McCallum. Duncan is a sailor, at home on and in the water; he is a doctor, having studied with Scotland's best; he is the last of his clan who owes no love to the British; he is a Ranger who has fought in the American west of the French and Indian War era, at home with the natives and with the forest. Often at odds with the powers-that-be, Duncan becomes a leaders for those who are adrift. Pattison is very good at revealing the complexities of life in the colonies. It is not a simple tale of British versus the French, or colonists versus the natives, or any variation therein. Pattison is especially sympathetic to the multiplicity of native viewpoints and challenges.
SAVAGE LIBERTY will take the reader from John Hancock and Sam Adams in Boston, to the stories of natives, missionaries, and the French Quebecois in the wilds of what is now upstate New York and Vermont. Duncan's current story will even travel to Montreal as Jesuits add complications to the story, as is their wont. The story's intricacies and the profusion of characters creates a density here, so it can be easy to get lost in the moment as events and participants are described. The cliffhangers are abundant as well, and sometimes feel a bit contrived. But, that is only a middling concern. The story in its entirety, is wrapped up nicely, including an epilogue that serves to tie together any remaining loose ends and create some promises for the future of the series.
The future is not far way. I discovered SAVAGE LIBERTY late, after devouring the previous four books in the series as soon as they were published. That means the next iteration of the Bone Rattler series comes in April 2020, just a few short months away. I'm looking forward to that read.
The Europeans
are fighting; the tribes are too.
Can a Scot survive?
The hero in the Bone Rattler series is the Highlander Duncan McCallum. Duncan is a sailor, at home on and in the water; he is a doctor, having studied with Scotland's best; he is the last of his clan who owes no love to the British; he is a Ranger who has fought in the American west of the French and Indian War era, at home with the natives and with the forest. Often at odds with the powers-that-be, Duncan becomes a leaders for those who are adrift. Pattison is very good at revealing the complexities of life in the colonies. It is not a simple tale of British versus the French, or colonists versus the natives, or any variation therein. Pattison is especially sympathetic to the multiplicity of native viewpoints and challenges.
SAVAGE LIBERTY will take the reader from John Hancock and Sam Adams in Boston, to the stories of natives, missionaries, and the French Quebecois in the wilds of what is now upstate New York and Vermont. Duncan's current story will even travel to Montreal as Jesuits add complications to the story, as is their wont. The story's intricacies and the profusion of characters creates a density here, so it can be easy to get lost in the moment as events and participants are described. The cliffhangers are abundant as well, and sometimes feel a bit contrived. But, that is only a middling concern. The story in its entirety, is wrapped up nicely, including an epilogue that serves to tie together any remaining loose ends and create some promises for the future of the series.
The future is not far way. I discovered SAVAGE LIBERTY late, after devouring the previous four books in the series as soon as they were published. That means the next iteration of the Bone Rattler series comes in April 2020, just a few short months away. I'm looking forward to that read.
The Europeans
are fighting; the tribes are too.
Can a Scot survive?
May 31, 2018
Savage Liberty by Eliot Pattison is a novel that sent me back in time. I love following Scottish characters. I have never read a novel, where they were never not in trouble. There was always something going wrong to keep the action steady. Duncan MaCallum's life was interesting. Death was constantly hanging over his head. Duncan is a strong, determined, and stubborn man. He appeared foolish but is not. He is braver than most men. His relationship with the strong-willed woman, Sarah, is beautiful. Both are good people struggling to survive in their new world. Boston was a place of danger, violence, and uprising. Duncan was smart to leave there but somehow it still chased after him. The time period was captured perfectly. Eliot Pattison created this story in way that deeply engaged me in all the characters' lives. I felt as though I just lived through them all. Overall, I would recommend this to history fans and historical fiction lovers. This was fun to follow.
I received this copy from the publisher. This is my voluntary review.
I received this copy from the publisher. This is my voluntary review.
November 14, 2018
I cannot say enough about this book series. This is the latest in a series of historical thriller/mysteries featuring a highland Scottish indentured servant that begins at the very early stages (1750s +/-) of what will eventually become the American Revolution. Taking place largely in NY, the Adirondacks, the Catskills, and New England it follows the early Indian wars, the early unrest in the Colonies way before the rumblings of the upcoming revolution, and many other things that grade school history leaves out as we're learning. There is a huge focus on native peoples and the importance of culture and history and change, bigotry and acceptance, stupidity and insanity, extreme violence, hate and even love. I cannot say enough about the books. They're not an easy read - Pattison is a scholar... But I learn something amazing about our country every single time I read them, and even a little bit about myself.
January 18, 2021
I always admire the research and vivid characters in Eliot Pattison’s books—I share an interest in this period of history, as well as an interest in the Nipmuc of Massachusetts, but this book was, perhaps, my favorite. Pattison writes about the endings in North America that were turning into beginnings; the beginning of a new people here on this continent. The machinations between Britain and France also were a major part of what happened in Boston in the early 1690’s when Governor Andros was kidnapped by colonists, and the French were hoping to take over Boston and Massachusetts—a fascinating and little-known episode in our history (the Andros Rebellion). However, it is the rich variety of characters that I find most appealing in this book: European, American, First Nation, and animal alike.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 25, 2024
These are fairly tough to read for me. They somewhat align with the Outlander books in a way. Both are survivers of the Scottish cleansing by the English. While Jamie fights at Culloden, Duncan was sent away by his family to study medicine in Holland. Despite some differences in their upbringing and how they came to America their lives are similar in a way.
Duncan gets involved with the Sons of Liberty, where the Colonies are on the cusp of cutting the ties that bind them to England and King George III. This causes a harrowing race to save himself from being hung as a traiter by false accusations. While Sarah's father tries to minipulate Duncan's indenture illegally. The tribes are starting to realize that their life as they wish to live it is vanishing before their eyes and they scramble to save whats left of their tribal lives.
Duncan gets involved with the Sons of Liberty, where the Colonies are on the cusp of cutting the ties that bind them to England and King George III. This causes a harrowing race to save himself from being hung as a traiter by false accusations. While Sarah's father tries to minipulate Duncan's indenture illegally. The tribes are starting to realize that their life as they wish to live it is vanishing before their eyes and they scramble to save whats left of their tribal lives.
June 22, 2018
First, there is probably an advantage to reading the preceding books. There are so many characters, it may help to know something of six or eight of them.
The book is very choppy and about 130 pages too long. The plot is frequently interrupted by long philosophical thoughts or irrelevant asides. Frequently by the end, I was skimming or skipping entire paragraphs and not missing a thing. I went to two stars from one, only because there was some good history. Even with that, though, it helps if you have some background knowledge of the French and Indian War, specifically with Rogers' Rangers.
I was hoping this would lead me back to the beginning of the series because I love historical novels and, in particular, this era in America history. Don't think so.
The book is very choppy and about 130 pages too long. The plot is frequently interrupted by long philosophical thoughts or irrelevant asides. Frequently by the end, I was skimming or skipping entire paragraphs and not missing a thing. I went to two stars from one, only because there was some good history. Even with that, though, it helps if you have some background knowledge of the French and Indian War, specifically with Rogers' Rangers.
I was hoping this would lead me back to the beginning of the series because I love historical novels and, in particular, this era in America history. Don't think so.
November 16, 2018
Savage Liberty is a well-researched book. Historical fiction including real and fictional characters. This is the fifth book in a series. Not having read the previous books, I was at a disadvantage and had great difficulty following the twists and turns and the constant turn of events. I believe that the characters were developed in previous books so I did not feel a strong connection to any. Duncan seemed to have 9 lives, recovering quickly from each near-death experience. I liked how everybody had their flaws and how some of the bad guys had some redeeming qualities. A long book and I wanted to start skimming through or quit, but I hung on. If you are set afire by America's revolution and have a strong knowledge of the events connected with it, you will likely give this book a 5.
January 25, 2025
The path to the American Revolution is moving closer in this book. Duncan McCallum is on the run to find two French agents, who are out to bring back French rule in the Americas and to avenge the death of 37 innocent crew members of a destroyed ship in Boston Harbor. However he is being pursued by a British agent bent open finding what he thinks Duncan is in possession of and ending Duncan's life. The action is good. The twist and turns are not so many. The mysteries just keep on building up. It is nice to read a story set in pre-Revolutionary America, because this period is not covered very well most of the time in history classes. So with this series you are allowed to see what was going on in the daily life of Early America.
September 9, 2025
The year of our lord, 1768, finds Duncan In Boston when a ship carrying goods from the West Indies explodes in fire, killing almost all on board. The explosion has been set by two Frenchmen and their native accomplice and involves the theft of a hidden journal. What follows is Duncan's pursuit of these villains, trying to understand the importance of the journal, worth all those men's lives. The chase involves the appearance of Robert's Rangers who fought against the French in the recently ended war, a war that ended with the signing of a paper by two kings. But is that rather empty gesture enough to satisfy all those who fought and died in that fierce conflict? The answer lies ultimately with a group of Jesuits living in Canada.
March 2, 2018
I received this book in a Goodreads giveaway .
I really enjoyed this book. If you love a good mystery and are a fan of this time period you will not be disappointed. If you are hesitant to read Savage Liberty because you are unfamiliar with this time period you need not worry because Mr. Pattisons knowledge of the era and his writing skills are descriptive enough to make you feel you are there.
I think this book would be a worthwhile addition to anyone's library
I really enjoyed this book. If you love a good mystery and are a fan of this time period you will not be disappointed. If you are hesitant to read Savage Liberty because you are unfamiliar with this time period you need not worry because Mr. Pattisons knowledge of the era and his writing skills are descriptive enough to make you feel you are there.
I think this book would be a worthwhile addition to anyone's library
July 2, 2018
In many ways, I found this a hard book to get through. It seemed to be thoroughly researched, and in the end, I did enjoy it. But, the writing was not what I would call smooth. I almost gave up about half way through, but I'm glad I persevered, as the second half of the book was more rewarding. I found the Preface and the Author's Note very enlightening.
August 18, 2018
3 stars = "I like it" per GR's rating system.
This book is well written. It's rare to find books like this anymore. It's not something you race through but needs to be read thoroughly to get the most out of it. It's one of those historical fiction books that include actual real characters together with fictional ones. Having said all that, I highly recommend that you read the others before you start on this one as you will be somewhat lost otherwise.
I got this book as a free ARC.
This book is well written. It's rare to find books like this anymore. It's not something you race through but needs to be read thoroughly to get the most out of it. It's one of those historical fiction books that include actual real characters together with fictional ones. Having said all that, I highly recommend that you read the others before you start on this one as you will be somewhat lost otherwise.
I got this book as a free ARC.
November 15, 2018
The setup to this mystery was unnecessarily complicated but the details of early American history were interesting. Characters kept making mysteriously abrupt decisions based solely on intuition (usually wrong) or passion (usually overblown) so my eyes rolled more than once. I might pick up another Duncan McCallum story by accident or desperation but won't be seeking them on purpose.
January 27, 2019
Between the French Indian Wars and the Revolutionary War. Real people and real events are interwoven into the story. Historical fiction is my favorite and I liked this story but the print was very small and that really bothered me. Can't ever remember commenting on the print size.
I'm getting old and crotchety.
I'm getting old and crotchety.
December 24, 2020
This entire series is a 5-star for me. The depth of detail of native life and spirituality who first lived on this American continent, along with the Europeans working the land for a better life far from their king. And the firmly based-in-history mystery.
Side characters include John Hancock, Samuel Adams, Ethan Allen, Henry Knox.
Side characters include John Hancock, Samuel Adams, Ethan Allen, Henry Knox.
June 20, 2018
Grew weary of the cat and mouse of it all. Well written, vivid imagery and characters. Ultimately, there were blood and guts galore and I couldn't make it through what felt like the third or fourth near death experience of Duncan's. Too much nailbiting for me...
July 31, 2018
If you want to learn a lot about America before the Revolution and especially the interaction between Native Americans and European settlers AND be engaged in a great mystery with interesting and complex characters, I strongly recommend this series.
September 29, 2019
Very well researched, apparently, and a good balance of character and background. With the exception of one howler about printing "the Aeneid in the original Greek", entirely believable. I'll plan on following these characters further.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews