A Connecticut Yankee in Criminal Court

Mark Twain Mysteries #2

by Peter J. Heck

A sequel to Death on the Mississippi takes place in New Orleans, where a black man is wrongly accused of murder and on the verge of being executed, but famous author and sleuth Mark Twain will stop at nothing to prove the man's innocence. Reprint.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction

311 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Peter Jewell Heck (born Chestertown, Maryland) is an American science fiction and mystery author. His books include the "Mark Twain Mysteries"—historical whodunits featuring the famous author as a detective—and the "Phule's Company" series, in collaboration with Robert Asprin, best described as "F-Troop in space".

Heck has also been an editor at Ace Books (where he edited Lynn S. Hightower and Robert J. Sawyer, among others), and created the SF newsletter Xignals and its mystery equivalent Crime Times for the Waldenbooks chain. He is also a regular reviewer for Asimov's Science Fiction and Kirkus Reviews.

In 2007, Heck began working as a reporter at the Kent County News in Chestertown, MD, where he and his wife moved after a number of years in Brooklyn, NY. His work for the paper includes articles on local government and history and coverage of the arts. He also plays guitar and banjo in a local band, Col. Leonard's

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's difficult for me to define what I look for in a book. And what I want in a piece of fiction is different, of course, from what I want in the nonfiction I read. But there are a few preferences I have, and there are also things an author can use that will get my attention every damn time. I like mysteries. A lot. And within that genre, I have a definite weakness for historical mysteries. As a free plug, let me just say that the Berkley Prime Crime imprint has some very good historical mysteries. Anyway, I am predisposed to give a mystery a chance I might not give another book. This one was great anyway. Many things that automatically make me enjoy, force me to keep reading. Mark Twain as the detective, with am impressionable and priggish young man as his secretary for contrast. 1890's New Orleans. Voodoo. Racism. Jimson weed. The ghosts of the Civil War. The early days of Jazz, as well as the intricacies of corrupt politics. Recommended to mystery lovers. And to those who don't realize that they love mysteries yet.

[Phyllis Kohn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the second Mark Twain Mystery. Now I will surely read the first one!

[William Crosby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical socio-cultural fiction with an acerbic and charming Twain as a Sherlock along with Wentworth, a secretary, playing the Watson role.

Fast plot.

[Jan C · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a light series featuring Samuel Clemens and his secretary/companion Wentworth Cabot. Clemends is on a speaking tour. I think the first book he was lecturing going down the Mississippi River. In this one they have landed in New Orleans and meet with local writer George Washington Cable. He presents them with a mystery. A local politician was recently murdered and a young black man, the man's cook, has been charged with the murder. He had recently had a falling out with his employer so he must have done it. Cables' question to Clemens: Did he do it?

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is second in the series, and builds upon the premise established in Death on the Mississippi with young Mr. Cabot acting as the eyes and muscle to Sam Clemens/Mark Twain's brain. It's not quite Archie Goodwin and Nero Wolfe, but the characters are fun and work well together. I am not a huge fan of taking a historical figure and turning them into an amateur detective, but this series does a nice job blending into the known facts of Twain's life, and the N'Orleans setting was amusing, too.

[Natalie Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're a lover of Mark Twain and mysteries, then you've hit the veritable jackpot of the best of both worlds, pilgrim! Heck takes pains to reproduce the style of Twain's manner, the historical references of the time, and even introduces others, like Kipling, to the mix! I've enjoyed this series immensely, though I don't think I've but two left to read of five.

Heck's a Sci Fi writer as well, so I plan to check that out too!

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mark Twain has the makings of a fine solver of mysteries. The book started out promising with its characterizations of Twain, his traveling secretary, and 1890's New Orleans, but then it stalled and became kind of dull. It did perk up somewhat towards the end, but that desert of boring in the middle almost made me give it up and read something else. Maybe the first book in the series was better.

[Jack · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read that corresponded with our visit to Hartford and the Mark Twain House. Nice cast of characters and a New Orleans setting. Many of the supporting characters were based on the actual historical figures which added to the authentic New Orleans vibe.

[Rey Dekker]

wrong book, Goodreads...