Customer Reviews

Must the Maiden Die (Seneca Falls Historical Myster)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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This is one of a series of historical novels based in the years immediately prior to the Civil War. Glynis Tryon, the protagonist of all of the novels is an intelligent, independent woman who is a librarian of a small New York town, Seneca Falls. This is an engrossing novel both as a mystery and as a point-of-view story. I would highly recommend it!

Once again, Monfredo has delivered a well-researched dose of history to her readers. For me, the mystery has never been the draw to her novels; it's the history. Monfredo gives us a slice-of-life view of the 1860s that is at once maddening (women HAVE come a long way), and intriguing.

The Civil War is about to get started, and a man is found murdered in Seneca Falls. It turns out that he was connected to illegal gun-running; guns are being bought from England, smuggled thru the port of Oswego, New York, thence to Seneca Falls and eventually to the about-to-secede southern states. A young girl whose father had sold her into indentured servitude to the murdered man is the prime (but wrong) suspect in his murder. Glynis (of course) figures out who really did the murder, and exonerates the maiden.

There is much more in this novel, mystery and suspense and adventure enough to make it a really enjoyable read, and as a bonus, (HISTORY TEACHERS TAKE NOTE!) you learn a bit about American history. Highly recommended!

watziznaym@gmail.com

I happened on this book in an airport bookstore. It hooked me on this author. I enjoy the glimpse into an era when women's rights were the headlines. She does a very good job of presenting the issues without being preachy. The mystery is well woven into political and historical events of the day, giving the reader some insight on how complicated life could be, even in "simplier" times.

I have really enjoyed the Glynis Tryon series, and I hope that Ms. Monfredo decides to take up her pen where she left off with this one now that the Cain trilogy is out and published. I would hate to think that I cannot read more about Glynis and the Seneca Falls people! This book is set in the spring of 1861, and it is the beginning just before the first shots were fired in the war between the states. Glynis' niece Emma is getting married, and her other niece Bronwen is up to her secretive doings again. When a prominent member of the Seneca Falls society is found murdered in his library, Glynis finds that she is working with her constable to try to track down a murderer. While they investigate they discover all kinds of treachery, treason and family secrets that actually give a number of people a good motive for the killing. I love the writing in these books, and that is why I am going to read the Cain trilogy next. I really enjoy Bronwen and her work with the Treasury, and I hope to get more of the same, but I don't want to say goodbye to Glynis either. Please, Please don't leave us hanging Ms. Monfredo!