Lord Dunmore's Folly: Treachery on the Ohio

by Robert J. Shade

This is the fourth volume in the Forbes Road Series. A Conspiracy at the Forks of the Ohio! The ten years since Wend Eckert fled Pennsylvania at the order of the Cumberland County Sheriff have been good for him and his vivacious wife Peggy. On their farm near Winchester, Virginia, Wend's gunsmithing trade has prospered and the couple have been welcomed into local society. But the year is now 1774, and everyone feels the cold shadow of growing tension with the King's Government as the British Army occupies a defiant Boston to enforce the Intolerable Acts. British Governor Lord Dunmore recognizes the signs of impending insurrection and, with a ring of henchmen which includes duplicitous merchant Richard Grenough, concocts a scheme intended to keep Virginia's colonists loyal. His men seize control of Pittsburgh and then treacherously provoke the Shawnee and Mingo tribes of the Ohio Country into a vicious war against the Virginia settlements. With the frontier in flames, Dunmore calls a militia army of border riflemen to arms, promising subjugation of the Indians and generous land grants in Ohio and Kentucky to veterans. Against his will, Eckert is dragged into the conflict and forced to march as part of an expedition against Shawnee villages along the Muskingum River. Dispatched on a secret mission, he finds he must stand in single combat against a vindictive warrior to reunite with the son he conceived years ago with Abigail Gibson, English medicine woman of the Mingo. Meanwhile Peggy becomes involved with a mysterious gentleman of highborn manners who visits Winchester and begins a seductive pursuit of her favors. Then, on a dark, blustery spring night of 1775, Wend, defying Peggy's explosive anger, rides out alone to keep the pledge he made over his father's grave and exact final vengeance on Richard Grenough. Near the Shenandoah River, Eckert confronts Grenough under startling circumstances and with an outcome neither could have predicted.

489 pages, Paperback

Published November 4, 2016

Reviews

[Richard Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book

This is the last book in the series of the life and times of colonial America in the wilderness areas of the country. I am glad to read that Wend grew as a man should and how he protected his friends and family.

[Christopher Lutz · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great series this turned out to be for me. I’m passionate about revolutionary/early American frontier history and these novels brought it to life in a great way. Full of memorable fictional characters that interact with just about every historical figure from the period imaginable, the Forbes Road books are instant favorites for me as far as historical fiction goes. I look forward to reading all about Wend Eckert’s adventures during the revolution as soon as I can.

[Phillip Mclaughlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The last and final of Forbes Road

Thoroughly enjoyable, well cast set of adventures between Lancaster and Point Pleasant in colonial America from the end of the French and Indian War up to Lexington, Concord.
Best of all Michael Cresap is not blamed for starting Dunmore’s war.

[Sam Hossler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Great Story

I enjoyed all four books in the series this number four tied the people places and events in an exciting and entertain ing package. I would recommend the reader start with the first to give them an understanding of events and actors.

[EileenNH · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is what GREAT HISTORICAL FICTION is.

[Dana Reeves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Revenge

A well set tale of adventure, intrigue, and revenge. I hope the author carries the story through out the Revolutionary War.

[Ervin B. Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great series!

Just finished book 4 of the Forbes Road series. Thoroughly enjoyed. Mr. Shade is an accomplished researcher, historian, and novelist. Look forward to his next efforts!

[Ellis lee Knox · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best frontier series of its kind

I often could not put these books down. The epic story epic of Wend Echard, and his ad.ventures and ladies is spell binding.

[Skip · Rating 5 out of 5]

LORD DUNMORE’S FOLLY continues the story of main character Wend Eckert’s adventures as a gunsmith, marksman, and scout for the British during the pre-revolutionary period of the 18th century. Although this is the fourth book of a series, it does well as a stand alone historical novel. Author Robert J. Shade does a phenomenal job of tying up loose ends from the previous three books while relating a story that remains true to historical events of the period. If you read this book and enjoy it, without having read the first three, you will want to go back and start at the beginning. On the other hand, if you have read the others, you may be wishing for more. I enjoyed learning about the historical period through the adventures of Wend Eckert and his cohorts. The events of the story were not well covered in my History classes ( I’m not a History Major), and now I’ll be looking forward to anything new that Mr. Shade writes. Skip Tananis