Secrets Worth Killing For: A Founding Fathers Mystery

Founding Fathers Mystery #2

by Jamison Borek

Scandals, lies, political hatreds, a fiercely contested Presidency, and a Congress deadlocked by partisan conflict - Sounds familiar? It's 1797!
No one paid very much attention when the housemaid Bridget died – not, that is, until Thomas Jefferson was accused of killing her.
Jefferson had secrets worth killing for, to be sure – his affair with his slave Sally Hemmings and his role (if the rumors were true) in Senator Blount’s treasonous conspiracy. He wasn’t the only one with dangerous secrets to hide, however. Poor Bridget was a magnet for scandal.
Senator Jacob Martin most reluctantly becomes involved, along with the Senate Doorman James Mathers, in trying to discover who really killed her. It is a task that wins him no friends, as he must unearth the scandals of some of the richest and most powerful men in the country. The political cost is bad enough, but the damage to his budding relationship with Elizabeth Powel is disastrous.
Secrets Worth Killing For, takes you back to the precarious early years of the United States, a time when powerful enemies without and bitter conflicts within threatened the survival of the fragile young nation

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery

308 pages, Paperback

Published October 28, 2016

About the author

I love mysteries and always wanted to write them. When my husband and I became involved in 18th century "living history," I realized that the late 1790's were a fascinating time and decided to set a mystery series in that period. My job as a lawyer and diplomat at the US Department of State left little time for working on it, however, until I retired. Then "Patriots & Poisons,"a 1797 mystery in which John Adams is accused of trying to murder Thomas Jefferson, really began to take shape. The next in the series, "Secrets Worth Killing For," should be available in November of 2016.

"Amanda's Secret" and "Amelia's Dream" (published under my nickname Jami Borek) developed thanks to two handmade "18th century" style dolls. I got them to entertain children at various events and demonstrate 18th century clothing. I named one Amanda after a friend's daughter and the other Amelia, and then started to make up a story for them - these two books (and at least one more to come) were the result.

Reviews

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

During John Adam's presidency, a young servant girl dies during a yellow fever epidemic. A doctor doubts that she died of the fever, but another, more sinister, cause. A well to do widow, and a United States Senator investigate with a little help from their friends.

The investigation makes the papers, which are almost as bad as the media we have today. This puts a lot of pressure on the Senator, and on the relationships between the investigators. They actually believe what they read in the papers.

Overall, very readable.

[Roxann · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the cover: Bridget LeClair was only a housemaid so when she died, no one paid very much attention – not, that is, until Thomas Jefferson is accused of killing her. Jefferson had secrets worth killing for, to be sure – his affair with his slave Sally Hemmings and his role (if the rumors were true) in Senator Blount’s treasonous conspiracy. He wasn’t the only one with dangerous secrets to hide, however. Poor Bridget was a magnet for scandal. Senator Jacob Martin most reluctantly becomes involved, along with the Senate Doorman James Mathers, in trying to discover who really killed her. It is a task that wins him no friends, as he must unearth the scandals of some of the richest and most powerful men in the country. The political cost is bad enough, but the damage to his budding relationship with Elizabeth Powel is disastrous. Secrets Worth Killing For, takes you back to the precarious early years of the United States, a time when powerful enemies without and bitter conflicts within threatened the survival of the fragile young nation.

I received the book for free through Goodreads Giveaways.

I enjoyed this book. I did not read the first book in the series, but this one can be read as a stand alone book. I liked James Mathers character. He was smart and resourceful. I'm not certain how I feel about Senator Martin-he seems quite intelligent, but wanted to not get involved. I liked reading about the life at the time of the book-what it was like for women, immigrants, etc. It was a nice little mystery, but left questions at the end of the book.

Nice book to read.