Dead March: A Civil War Mystery [Unabridged] [Audio Cassette]

Ann Mcmillan (Author), Kimberly Schraf (Amer.) (Narrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1999

In the gilded Virginia spring of 1861, talk of secession fills Richmond's parlors and dark doings are afoot in its medical school and cemetery. Narcissa Powers, a well-to-do young white widow, is thrown together with Judah Daniel, a free black herbalist and "conjure woman", to solve the murder of a slave girl whose cadaver is dug up by anatomists and their grave robbers. Aided by a fledgling British news correspondent, these two women from opposite ends of society risk their lives as they infiltrate the worlds of men, medicine, and war that are about to collide in the bloody battle of First Manassas. DEAD MARCH is the opening salvo in a series that will delight both mystery and Civil War buffs. This book is recorded on 7 cassettes.

Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Books on Tape - Collector's Edition (1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0736644172
• ISBN-13: 978-0736644174
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,063,857 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Ann McMillan was born in Columbus, Georgia, and lives in Richmond, Virginia.

Ann's Civil War mystery short story, Castle Thunder, is now available on Kindle. Like her novels, the story tells a dramatic story of what might have happened against a scrupulously researched historical background -- in this case, the infamous Confederate prison.

"Please Dispose Of Properly" -- a short story with a modern setting (inspired by a trip to the Hanover County dump) -- appears in They Had It Comin' (Chesapeake Crimes IV).

Ann's four Civil War mystery novels set in Richmond weave together three points of view: Narcissa Powers, a white widow who becomes a Confederate nurse; Judah Daniel, a free black doctoress; and Brit Wallace, a British war correspondent.

Each novel has a medical theme. Dead March tells what happens when the "sack-'em-up boys" who rob graves to supply the medical school with cadavers dig up a murder victim. Angel Trumpet involves the hallucinogenic effects of datura poisoning. In Civil Blood, smallpox-tainted money wreaks havoc on those too greedy to destroy it, as well as the innocent with whom their lives intersect. Chickahominy Fever infects its heroine with malaria.

For more information, including a bibliography, see Ann's website, civilwarmystery.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dead March is a fascinating blend of history and mystery, December 4, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Dead March (Civil War Mysteries) (Hardcover)

Dead March is a Civil War mystery that is right on target. Ann McMillan combines deadly accurate historical and medical research with excellent plotting and characters with real depth. Main character Narcissa Powers is both a woman of her century and a person today's readers can identify with. Virginians may particularly like the references to Richmond, Chesterfield, Hampden-Sydney College and the Medical College of Virginia in the 1860s, but this is far more than a local book, drawing on national, medical and social issues of the times - not to mention a page-turning mystery plot. If you're looking for a Christmas gift, for a friend or yourself, this is it. I can't wait for the sequel.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A promising debut for a Civil War-era mystery series, June 5, 2000

By 

drdebs (CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dead March: A Civil War Mystery (Mass Market Paperback)

When Narcissa Powers, a young widow, is called to the deathbed of her brother (a young medical student in Richmond at the outbreak of the Civil War) she expects to find tragedy, but not information that points to illegal activities and possibly murder. The charred remains of a letter from her brother persuade Narcissa that there is more to his death than meets the eye. Through the story we are introduced to the "resurrection men" of Richmond who procure corpses for the medical school, a black conjure woman named Judah, and the character of ante-bellum Richmond society on the eve of war.

As with most historical mysteries, the plot is not completely surprising (one major exception here is the Margaret Lawrence mysteries set in Revolutionary Maine which leave you gasping) but does have interesting twists and turns. For most historical mystery buffs, the characterizations are the thing and this novel introduces us to some fascinating and complex figures. As for the historical detail all mysteries leave a lot to be desired in this department--but most US readers know more about the American Civil War than they do about 19th-century London or Medieval England, so perhaps the author's flights of fancy are more glaring. Still, McMillan is accurate about 97% of the time, which is more than most!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a wonderful first historical mystery., November 2, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Dead March (Civil War Mysteries) (Hardcover)

DEAD MARCH gives historical mystery readers everything they need to beg for more: Ann McMillan has created likable characters whom we want to know better. Civil War sentiments are explored just enough, and historical scientific facts are combined with interesting protagonists in a highly readable way.

Especially when young white widow Narcissa Powers interacts with Judah Daniel, an intriguing freed slave and "conjure" woman, future prospects for sequels come to mind.

Although there is the beginning of love interest (choices, yet) for Narcissa, I hope Judah too gets her just share. A conjure woman will manage that, surely.

If Anne Perry's ancestors had moved to the states, she would have written like McMillan. If Agatha Christie had any historical interest, she could have also.