Customer Reviews

Death Piled Hard: A Tale Of The Confederate Secret Services

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In this second of a trilogy we gain more insight into the powerful internal and external forces that threaten to tear Claude Devereux asunder. As a Confederate spy he is well and truly lodged in the heart of the Northern war machine, but he wishes fervently to return to the command of his beloved 17th Virginia Infantry regiment. Claude is a newly named Colonel of US Volunteers, a gray man in a blue uniform, and his heart is full of hate. As he goes to join Grant's Headquarters before the Battle of the Wilderness, the pressures are intense.

This author knows the Civil War, but more important, he knows WAR. The battle scenes are violent, and nearly poetic in their terribleness. A modern reader looks back through the window of foreknowledge and marvels at the inevitability of Grant's arrival as General-in-Chief. The battle of attrition is on, but the elegant Bobby Lee has moves left.

These books are as close to a time machine as we now can achieve. I will read them again and again, and wait feverishly for the third.

Well written and recommend it to anyone who is a civil war buff or involved in Civil War reenactment groups.

And as rule I am not a fan of these type of books.

And the author being a retired military intelligence officer shows. Excellent work.

Both sides of every conflict have those who would do everything they can to make sure their side is victorious. "Death Piled Hard" tells the story of one Southern spy doing what he can to attain Southern victory during the American Civil War. Devereux works to avenge his fallen brother; it's up to him to thwart the plans of Union General Ulysses S. Grant and gain a chance at Confederate victory. A thrilling novel of Civil War espionage, "Death Piled Hard" is a highly recommended read for both Civil War and thriller fiction fans.

Anyone that is a Civil War buff must read this book. The author has put the reader in the field of battle, the meeting and social rooms of both the north and the south, and spying to gain advantage for their side. The Civil War was the most deadly and brutal hand-to-hand combat ever fought that we know of. In many cases it was brother against brother, family against family, friend against friend, and complete lack of care on the field of battle of who or how you killed all of the above.

You will march, ride, and attend meetings with the lowest of ranks, the officers and leaders, and those in the wrong place at the wrong time of each side. You will share time with and against slaves of the south along with the freed slaves in the north, sometimes fighting with their northern army. Many times the slaves in the south also fought beside their masters and friends, not knowing where they stood in this major war.

There are several main players in "Death Piled High', all of which played such important rolls for their own side during the war. While Mr. Lang describes his book as historical fiction I am sure most of it is factual. I have always been a history buff of all wars our nation has fought and have read lots of history's factual occurrences and this book describes so many of the gruesome detail of what actually did occur during those years that so divided our nation.

I am not going into name details from the story but you will recognize many of them from the history you have known. The spy factor is told so well as it describes how spies traveled in and out of areas to learn and then deliver important information to their leaders. Also, the battlefield descriptions of weapons and their utter destruction of a human and animal body will leave you wondering how anyone survived this war. One of the important factors in the Civil War as well as all wars is the medics' work in the field as they attempt to save lives, limbs, and other body parts. One description of a severed hand and how the medic saved the life and how he finished off the wound area was extra vivid.

One suggestion I have for anyone reading this book is to realize there is a list of the various leaders and terms used. You can become confused as you read along as you ask your self "Which side was this man on?" You can easily tell this immediately by flipping to the books end and finding that name or term. I think "Death Piled High" has to be one of the best war books ever written, not just the story but `how' it was written in such great description.

"Death Piled Hard" by W. Patrick Lang is an exceptional book about the Civil War experience. You can sense that Mr. Lang has done extensive research in developing such a realistic approach to this story. You feel as though you are a part of it. Although, I did not read the first book of this series, it doesn't take away from this story. Coming form the North, it's interesting to see the South's point of view. I commend Mr. Lang in writing a stunning portrait of American history.

The Devereux's are a well-off, Virginia banking family who are not too fond of the changes the North wants to make, but maybe didn't exactly want secession either. They have lost one son to the war already, Patrick. At the beginning of this sequel to The Butcher's Cleaver, Gettysburg has just happened and Patrick died there. Patrick receives a full military burial, although spy Claude would have preferred he not. Turns our Claude is pretty high up in Lincoln's government, and although he finds himself liking the man more and more (and realizes he can't be his assassin), Claude doesn't stray from his Confederate spy roots. A cousin called Balthazar come from France to work with a Confederate unit and Claude's ties in Washington continue to enable him to ferry information to the Confederacy.

Lang really knows his history and certain events come alive under his writing. This would be a great Father's Day read for a Civil War buff.