Cindy Vallar's Blog, page 10

Review of I. M. Foster's Murder on Oak Street

Murder on Oak Street by I.M. Foster

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Jilted at the altar, Daniel O’Halleran accepts a job that combines his two passions: medicine and criminal investigation. He moves to Patchelogue, Long Island, where Kathleen Brissedon, the daughter of a wealthy resident, asks him to look into an unsolved murder for her desolate stepbrother. The case is one that has haunted Daniel for two years; he did the autopsy and was frustrated because the New York City police gave the crime only a cursory examination.

Before Daniel has a chance to delve into the mystery, a new murder occurs. On a hot summer night in 1904, someone slits Thomas Brissedon’s throat. With the help of a local police sergeant, as well as an uncle who works for New York’s police department, Daniel learns the victim collected secrets and was willing to use anyone, including his own children, to get what he wanted. Daniel discovers there is a connection between the two murders, but how and why must wait until he figures out who killed Thomas. Was it the angry stepson? The callous, drunken son with gambling debts? The guttersnipe wooing Kathleen? The cousin in love with the maid, whom Thomas fired? The wife whose husband has what Thomas wanted? The partner he ruined? Or is Kathleen the murderess?

While it takes one third of the book to introduce the characters and set the stage for the murder, once Thomas succumbs, the pace quickens and it becomes an intriguing who-dun-it. This first book in the South Shore Mystery series interweaves murder, mayhem, and romance with well-drawn characters rife with foibles and a vile, despicable villain. Foster, a historian and librarian, brings the Edwardian period and bygone Patchelogue to life, and readers will look forward to Daniel’s next mystery as well as his developing relationship with Kathleen.


(This review originally appeared in Historical Novels Review: https://historicalnovelsociety.org/re...)



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Review of Karen K. Brees's Crosswind

Crosswind by Karen K. Brees

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


The invitation to present at a botanical conference is in direct opposition to Dr. Katrin Nissen’s research, but it provides the MI6 agent with the perfect cover for visiting Germany in June 1940. Another American agent has gone missing; Katrin must determine why, find him, and recover missing microfilm. His half-sister may be helpful, but she is a staff photographer for Heinrich Himmler. Or there is the mole within the University of Berlin’s physics department if Katrin can determine who he is. Soon after her arrival, small items go missing, her room is searched, and she happens upon the body of a murdered professor. The deceased is neither the first nor the last victim, and most are in direct opposition to current Nazi thinking. The mystery intrigues her, and there are many suspects, but solving it is not her primary objective.

Crosswind is an entry in a well-researched World War II series, but it is not a spy thriller. There are occasional passages filled with information readers may find themselves skipping over, and the author occasionally repeats explanations about cultural differences within the narrative and the afterword. The story unfolds from three perspectives – Katrin’s is in first person, while the missing agent and his half-sister are in third person – which is the only justification for using similar names for Katrin and the half-sister (Kristine). Although reminiscent of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, Crosswind lacks as much tension as readers may expect. The most compelling scene unfolds during a side trip in which the Gestapo arrest Katrin, yet her extrication from the situation seems contrived. For readers seeking an interesting tale without full immersion, or who want to see the seemingly innocuous ways in which the Nazis manipulated research to reinforce their goals, Crosswind is worth the read.


(This review originally appeared in Historical Novels Review: https://historicalnovelsociety.org/re...)



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Review of Baptiste Pinson Wu's Yellow Sky Revolt

Yellow Sky Revolt by Baptiste Pinson Wu

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Liao Hua, a defeated general, dictates his story to keep alive the memory of his fallen comrades and to recount the upheaval in imperial China after the Han dynasty falls. The present is 263 CE, yet like all stories, his begins in the past . . . a past when he tilled the earth but dreamt of being a soldier like his uncle Cheng.

Six-year-old Liao accompanies Cheng on a trip to Xiangyang in 183 CE where they witness an unjust beheading. In a time when ripening unrest ripples through the countryside, Liao realizes his uncle may face a similar death. The militia arrests Cheng, but the villagers retaliate; soon, others join the revolt. Known as the Yellow Turbans, this army of peasants fight for freedom and justice against corruption and greed. They lack martial weapons and training, but win battles until the emperor unleashes his hardened warriors. Taken prisoner, Liao is noticed by one victor. If Liao swears loyalty to him and does his bidding without question, Colonel Cao Cao will educate and train Liao to be a warrior. But the way is filled with painful and bitter lessons that leave indelible scars.

Yellow Sky Revolt is the first book of ten in The Three Kingdoms Chronicles and covers the first seven years of Liao’s journey. It is told in first person, with interludes of the present interwoven with the past. Wu vividly re-creates time and place, bringing to life the characters and history. Rife with emotions, the recounting hooks readers much like Cheng’s stories captivate Liao. This is a tale of endings and beginnings, of love and vengeance, of actions and consequences, of rivalry and trust. Readers connect with Liao and witness how he begins to mature from a child to the man he will become.


(This review originally appeared in Historical Novels Review: https://historicalnovelsociety.org/re...)



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Review of Teri M. Brown's An Enemy Like Me

An Enemy Like Me by Teri M. Brown

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The American flag: a symbol of freedom, a symbol of sacrifice. William Miller is proud to be an American, but Veteran’s Day 2016 brings back memories. Some long forgotten. Others as vivid as they were in 1944 when four-year-old William watches the train depart. He only understands that his father is leaving, Mommy is sad, and nothing is the same.

Jacob Miller is proud to be a first-born American, but he also has an abiding affection for his German heritage. With minor hiccups in their lives, he and Bonnie welcome their first child. Then Japan bombs Pearl Harbor. He wants to fight the Japanese, but his conscience tells him it’s more important to take care of his family. Until his friend is sent to an internment camp because his loyalty is questioned. If Jacob wishes to keep his family safe, he must enlist to fight the Japanese. Instead, he ends up fighting Germans.

Born into money, Bonnie Phillips finds her world upended when the stock market crashes. She’s been taught that classes don’t mix, but meeting Jacob alters her perspective. She doesn’t understand his insistence on joining the army, until she sees other German-American men boarding the train. While Jacob is away, she fights her own battles, waging a mental war of “what-ifs” that threaten to overwhelm her.

This novel spans nearly a century, although the majority occurs in the United States between 1939 and 1946. Brown poignantly demonstrates how war affects everyone, not just those who fight, and that trying to understand those changes may take years. This story tugs at heart strings and skillfully depicts life-altering events from the perspectives of a child, a wife and mother, and a husband and father. It will also affect readers as strongly as it affects the characters.

(This review originally appeared in Historical Novels Review: https://historicalnovelsociety.org/re...)



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Review of C. Michael Hiam's Murder Aboard

Murder Aboard: The Herbert Fuller Tragedy and the Ordeal of Thomas Bram by C. Michael Hiam

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


On 3 July 1896, the Herbert Fuller left Boston. Ten days later, the captain, his wife, and the second mate were dead. Murdered with an ax while they slept. Surrounded by ocean, that meant someone on board had done the horrendous deed and any one of the survivors could be next.

There was no inkling of anything out of the ordinary before that fateful night. The barkentine carried a cargo of white pine bound for South America on a journey that should have taken about two months. There were twelve people aboard the ship, including Lester Hawthorne Monks, a student at Harvard University. That night, before going to sleep, he read a story of mutiny and murder by William Clark Russell. Sometime after he retired, he was awakened by a scream. When he went to investigate, he found Captain Charles Nash dead. Later, he and the steward also found the bodies of Laura Nash and August Blomberg.

Soon after, the remaining nine men aboard decided to preserve the bodies and some of the evidence and to sail for Halifax, Nova Scotia, which they deemed the closest port where they could report the murders. They also tried to determine who did the deed. The most likely suspect was Charley Brown, a Swedish sailor who acted suspiciously. But perhaps Thomas Bram, the first mate, was the murderer. Or maybe the two acted together. Whatever the truth, surely the authorities in Halifax would find the answer. If not them, the Americans would since the victims were American, the Herbert Fuller was American, and she had departed from an American port.

What ensues, however, is an account of questionable justice rife with lies, exaggerations, racism, and manipulation. No one, not even the passenger Monks, the victims, the sailors, or even the attorney who prosecuted the case, were above reproach. Only one victim supposedly got justice, because errors made by the grand jury meant the defendant could be tried for only one murder. Black-and-white pictures and diagrams, some submitted as evidence, are included, as is a bibliography and index.

Hiam provides an insightful and riveting account of the days before, during, and after the murders were committed. He shows how even some of the participants and those who followed the proceedings questioned the findings and the verdicts. It is also a compelling commentary on society and the legal system in the final years of the 19th century.


(This review originally appeared at Pirates & Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/Hiam.html)




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Review of Bernadette Rowley's The Lady and the Pirate

The Lady and the Pirate by Bernadette Rowley

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Lady Esta Aranati, also known as Lady Moonlight, is a masked smuggler who does so to provide for those who work on her estate. She and her crew are on their way home when they are boarded by pirates. The Singing Pirate, alias Samael Delacost, and his Lenweri elves, never leave a prize without plunder and since Lady Moonlight has none, he decides to take her. Lady Star, her younger sister, thwarts that plan with black magic much to Esta’s relief and Samael’s dismay.

Back on the estate, Esta focuses solely on the needs of her mother and those in her family’s care. Her sister thinks it’s high time Esta put herself first, but that goes against her grain unless and until she finds sufficient funds to return the estate into a prosperous venture. One item from a smuggling foray may provide her with that possibility. Inside a chest, she finds a map and an engraved metal rod. With her sister’s help, they decipher the clues and set sail to find the treasure.

But they are not the only ones privy to this secret. Samael overhears some men talking about the treasure, and he and his elves shadow the men’s ship as they shadow Lady Moonlight’s. Before Samael can catch up to them, the scoundrels attack her ship, leave her unconscious, and attempt to abscond with the map and rod. He arrives in time to take both from the pirates, and save her and her crew from their sinking ship. After some finagling, they come to an arrangement and set off together to find the treasure. The venture doesn’t quite work out as planned, and Esta returns home with nothing; her sister is harmed and seeks help from her mentor, also skilled in black magic; and Samael goes home to visit his parents.

Except the reunion is anything but joyous. Instead, he discovers that he is adopted, which explains why he’s always felt like an outcast. Compelled to seek out the woman who abandoned him, he attends the queen’s ball where he runs into the masked lady who has haunted his thoughts ever since he boarded her vessel.

Without a ship, Esta’s only path forward is to find a suitable and wealthy husband. That man cannot be Samael. After all, he is a pirate and the king’s admiral is determined to bring him to justice. Still, she helps him in his quest to find his mother. The truth proves more harmful than either expects for them both.

This sixth title in the Queenmakers Saga is a delightful fantasy romance laced with piracy. Some encounters are for adults only, and promised tension doesn’t always reach the level that readers expect. Still, the heart wants what it cannot have and secrets revealed sometimes open unexpected doors. The Lady and the Pirate is a fast read and a welcome diversion from everyday life.


(This review originally appeared at Pirates & Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/adult-fant...)



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Review of Samuel Pepys and the Strange Wrecking of the Gloucester

Samuel Pepys and the Strange Wrecking of the Gloucester: The Shipwreck that Shocked Restoration Britain by Nigel Pickford

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Samuel Pepys. His is a name well-known in naval and maritime circles. In 1682, he was forty-nine years old and wanted to reclaim his former power and prestige. He had been ousted as secretary of the admiralty, where he had worked for two decades, until being accused of “Piracy, Popery and Treachery” and briefly imprisoned in the Tower of London. (6) Three years had passed and he was still unemployed, but now his prospects were looking up. Among his influential acquaintances was James, Duke of York, and his older brother, King Charles II, was finally permitting James to return to London. Pepys was determined to be among the first to greet the prince and renew their friendship.

James had been named heir to the throne, but he and his wife, Mary of Modena, were neither Protestant nor popular with many people of the country. In fact, there were more than a few who wanted him dead. Now, that he was back home, James wanted his wife, who was pregnant and still residing in Scotland, to join him. One might assume he would travel by land, but James loved ships and sailing, and never missed an opportunity to enjoy his passion, one that he shared with Pepys. So, in May 1682, he and some of his party boarded the Gloucester. Although invited to sail with James, Pepys decided to board one of the other vessels that comprised the small flotilla heading north. This last-minute decision would later be described as one of divine providence.

The Gloucester had been built in 1654 as a third rate of 755 tons and with a crew of 210 men and 52 guns. But she was an old warship, had been in ordinary (meaning laid up rather than plying the oceans), and corruption was rife in the Royal Dockyards. Still, she and the vessels that would accompany her were made ready to sail. Soon after this flotilla set sail, observers could see that navigation skills left much to be desired. One ship became grounded on a sandbank. Two others got lost. Eventually, only five vessels remained with Gloucester. Then, at 5:30 in the morning, while sailing at around seven knots with a strong wind propelling her forward, Gloucester ran aground, the waves alternately lifting and dropping her onto a sandbank. Forty-five minutes later, she was gone and 200 people lost their lives.

Pickford recounts the events leading up to, during, and after the wrecking of the Gloucester based on historical records (such as letters, diaries, log books, wills, and charts) to recreate what happened and to relate how it affected those who were participants either on the voyage or in the aftermath. The primary focus is on Pepys and James, but many others’ stories unfold here, including those who often go unnamed, such as Thomas Smith, who had signed on as an able seaman to get out of debtor’s prison, leaving behind a wife who was blind and indigent; or Rowland Rowleson, who, two weeks before his departure, legally declared what should happen to his belongings should he die. The book includes two appendices (People On Board the Gloucester and Bounty Payments), eight pages of color illustrations, notes, a bibliography, and an index.

Perhaps more interesting than the groundwork and the wrecking itself is Pickford’s rendering of the aftermath of the wreck. He focuses not just on the facts, but also incorporates the rumors that popped up, such as the Fanatick Party’s avowal that the wreck had been a plot to kill James. Equally compelling is the fact that two court-martials were held on the same day and at the same place, but only the transcript of the second trial remains. And the court-martial for the Gloucester was anything but impartial, given that seven of the judges had commanded other vessels in the same flotilla and one had publicly argued with the defendant before the sinking. Pickford also ably demonstrates how media was manipulated even in the 17th century. Although he tends to jump back and forth in time throughout the narrative, Samuel Pepys and the Strange Wrecking of the Gloucester is an entertaining and enlightening glimpse into the past that reveals that, although centuries have passed, not much has changed.


(This review originally appeared at Pirates & Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/adultpirat...)




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Review of Alyssa Drake's An Imperfect Scoundrel

An Imperfect Scoundrel by Alyssa Drake

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Going to America isn’t Alana Flannery Dubois’s idea. Her brother deems it the safest way to keep her from harm as her family hunts for their uncle’s killer. She agrees only on the condition that should she find a new husband – her first beloved died – then her brother must wed too. But just as there are dangers on land, so they exist at sea and Alana has the misfortune to cross paths with an infamous pirate who attacks ships off the eastern seaboard of the United States. Since her family can’t afford to pay her ransom, Captain Shaw will make her swim to shore. Except she doesn’t know how to swim and doesn’t want to die. That leaves only one option: assume her late husband’s persona and pass herself off as Sebastian Dubois. Sometimes, though, her spirited temper has unforeseen consequences.

Newspapers in America and England decry the fiendish exploits of Cedric Shaw. The hype may be overblown, but it suits his needs. Just not enough. The price on his head must be higher. Perhaps taking the Crescent Rose and murdering one passenger, a man who deserves to die, will finally achieve that goal. Then Cedric can claim the reward for himself, retire with a new identity, and help his sister escape a forced marriage. What Cedric doesn’t bargain on is the puny man who attacks and defies him. He offers Sebastian Dubois a choice: become his cabin boy and do whatever he’s told, or die.

Despite all that she endures, Alana discovers Cedric isn’t quite as merciless as rumors suggest. Nor is he the pirate she should fear most. After a rendezvous to collect a ransom nearly goes awry, the navy appears more quickly than expected, and something goes wrong with his secret weapon, Cedric discovers there are those aboard who are determined to thwart his carefully laid plans. Not to mention that the heart has a habit of wanting what it should not.

An Imperfect Scoundrel is the fourth book in the Wiltshire Chronicles. Readers unfamiliar with the series will have no problems following this tale, but Drake warns her readers upfront that this tale is rife with graphic violence, torture, and abuse, making this historical romance suitable only for adults. If you dare venture past this warning, An Imperfect Scoundrel unfolds from two points of view (Alana’s and Cedric’s) and takes place during the Victorian Era when steam is a relatively new means of powering maritime ships. Although piracy is rare in this time period, it does occur and Drake’s portrayal of the pirates shows why they are not heroes or role models. The action, which includes ships afire and sea battles, is riveting and spine-tingling.


(This review originally appeared at Pirates & Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/adult-roma...)




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Review of Julian Stockwin's The Admiral's Daughter

The Admiral's Daughter by Julian Stockwin

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Peace does not bode well for Thomas Kydd in 1803, because he stands adrift on English soil since his return from Australia. Although pressed into the Royal Navy, it has become his life and he desperately wants to return to its fold. The peace, however, is tenuous and the powers that be in London have decided it is better to declare war anew first rather than allow Napoleon Bonaparte to proceed with his plan to dominate the world. Kydd receives a summons to appear in Plymouth, but by the time he arrives there, the admiral has few ships to offer him. He opts for one that he knows well, HM Sloop Teazer, his last command. He also secures permission for Nicholas Renzi, now a civilian, to accompany him aboard Teazer as his secretary. (A position that allows Renzi time to work on his study of natural philosophy with an aim to write a book that will shed new light on this topic.)

As the ship is readied for duty, Kydd must hurriedly set sail with less-than-a-full complement for France. It is vital that British citizens leave before Napoleon learns of the imminent declaration of war. But it is a race against time because Napoleon has already issued arrest orders for any English found in France. Through luck and ingenuity, Kydd and most of his crew escape aboard Teazer with their rescued passengers.

After returning to his new home base at Plymouth, Kydd meets with his commander, Admiral Sir Reginald Lockwood. He is in charge of protecting the coast of England, and Kydd is assigned to patrol from Weymouth to the Isles of Scilly. His primary task is to stop enemy privateers and warships from attacking coastal vessels. Secondary duties include delivering dispatches, important passengers, and unusual cargo to wherever they may be needed, as well as to work with the Revenue to stop smugglers. This is Kydd’s first time to sail in home waters, so there is a learning curve to master, and the chance for fame and glory is minimal. But this assignment allows him to be in total command, away from the watchful eye of superiors.

Privileges and responsibilities come with his new command, some of which find him not at sea but on land. As an officer in command of his own vessel, he is expected to have a real home and to entertain . . . at least this is what his sister Cecila tells him. He also needs to look to his attire; he must have suitable civilian fashion to mix and mingle at social affairs. At one of these parties, he meets Persephone Lockwood, the admiral’s daughter. They are attracted to each other, even though her family has ties to the royal court. Two problems arise as their relationship grows serious: her mother is determined to separate the lovers, and a sojourn with Renzi brings someone new, who quickly becomes an obsession, into Kydd’s life.

This eighth volume in the Kydd Sea Adventures offers readers a wealth of experiences rarely encountered in other naval adventures (a tour of Plymouth Dockyard, what occurs when a ship is caught in a ground sea, and a church service at sea). His nemeses this time around are himself, a brutal French privateer whose knowledge of England’s coast is beyond remarkable, and a mystery man who has organized the smugglers over a wide region in ways that allow them to evade capture. There is a nail-biting chase that results in a difficult choice. There are several confrontations with Renzi, one that threatens to dissolve their friendship once and for all. A dangerous mission results in friendly fire from a frigate off a treacherous section of the French coast. Someone from Kydd’s past provides surreptitious clues about how smugglers work and ventures undercover into their perilous enterprise. Readers experience the frustrating futility that Kydd and his men do as they watch a merchant ship wreck and are unable to rescue her crew. There is the promise of retribution to come, as well as devastating grief. The Admiral’s Daughter is a blend of highs and lows that will affect each reader in different ways. It is consummate storytelling that is not to be missed.


(This review originally appeared at Pirates and Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/Stockwin.h...)




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Review of Yuanfei Wang's Writing Pirates

Writing Pirates: Vernacular Fiction and Oceans in Late Ming China by Yuanfei Wang

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


In 1827, the German writer Goethe coined the phrase “world literature.” One might think this referred to literature written in all countries; in reality, he had a narrower perspective: books translated into European languages and in which the characters sailed from European ports to visit other locales.

This narrow Western view also pertains to colonial expansion. During the Ming dynasty, many Chinese emigrated and established communities elsewhere in Asia. Such diasporas, however, weren’t state-sponsored as they were in the West. Key to such expansion is the ocean, for conveyance to other locations often involved the maritime world. Trade was a key component of that during this time period, despite the Ming government’s occasional sea bans prohibiting foreign trade. When these occurred, legitimate merchant traders turned to piracy and smuggling to conduct business.

The author combines these two themes – piracy and colonialism – to study Ming literature that was published for the general public as opposed to more formal writings meant for the educated class. Her purpose is to show that these 16th- and 17th-century offerings provide fresh perspectives and new ways of looking at Chinese literature and the Chinese way of life. This period was one of upheaval and terror, but it also produced a wide offering of unofficial histories, vernacular fiction, and regional depictions of confrontations at sea and Chinese communities in places like Siam, Japan, and Korea.

The book is divided into three parts: Southeast Asia, Japan, and Jiangnan, China. Each of these has two chapters that examine how the writers depict Chinese culture and race within those regions and among the pirates found there. Literary passages are provided in both English and Chinese. Color illustrations are found throughout the book. The book includes footnotes and an index. At the end of her conclusion, the author poses questions geared toward future studies.

One of this book’s strengths is the author’s understanding of piracy. She makes it clear from the start that words and images most readers use to identify pirates do not equate to those found in Asian waters. At the same time, she shows common threads to demonstrate parallels between Western and Eastern literature. Her approach is twofold: to emphasize the importance of history and to show how depictions of that history change over time.

Writing Pirates is an interesting and eye-opening look at an often-studied historical period but from a different perspective. Although some familiarity with Asian piracy may be helpful, it’s not essential. While Writing Pirates is a bountiful and valuable treasure for any academic library where literature and piracy are popular fields of study, this book has a limited audience because it is a scholarly work. Since it is a study of vernacular literature, Writing Pirates would gain a wider and equally appreciative audience if there were also a version written for the general public.


(This review originally appeared at Pirates and Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/adultpirat...)




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