Customer Reviews

Murder by the Waters: Further Adventures of the American Agent Abroad (Benjamin Franklin Mystery)

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I found Robert Lee Hall's first Benjamin Franklin book at a little used book store in Pasadena, TX and came to Amazon to buy the rest. Wow. Originally being from Philly, old Ben has always been a qusi-hero of mine and so I was delighted to find this series. Murder by the Waters is the fifth book in a series of six that has our hero going to Bath, England to partake of healing waters, look up some old fop that used to run the town, and become involved with plots to kidnap, extort and murder.

One thing I can say - human nature has not changed in 250 years. The books are set between 1756 to 1760 and people are still more interested in how they look to other people than in themselves. They still long to be Big Fish in Little Ponds and they are still attracted to "power". Life is fleeting - more so for some than for others - and all this preoccupation in looks does not prepare one for Later. Benjamin Franklin is portrayed as more worried about the Later and in Justice and Truth. There's a hard word for you - Truth. Depends on your definition of it; even in 1757.

This is a rolicking good book and will keep you fascinated from cover to cover.

Why has Mr. Hall apparently stopped writing? If you ever read this, please think of bringing back Ben & Nick from end-of-series oblivion. We will never know what happens to Polly, Peter, Mrs. Stevenson and all the other fine characters given life in this wonderful series of books. Imagine fighting crime before there was even a Scotland Yard! Sherlock Holmes had it easy!