Not One Shred of Decency [Paperback]

Bob Brown (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 15, 2000

In 1842, a spine-chilling mutiny attempt climaxed with the summary hanging of the son of Secretary of War John Spencer. This sparked a national controversy and murder charges against Captain Alexander Mackenzie. Inspired by actual events, this novel describes a U. S. Navy sail ship's harrowing days on the high seas and the tumultuous reception of Captain Mackenzie when the Somers arrived in New York. Intrigue and suspense began with a shrewdly planned mutiny and continued long after three of its perpetrators were hanged from the yardarm. Was Captain Mackenzie a courageous hero who saved his ship and men, or a murdering scoundrel? Would a court-martial clear his name or sentence him to death?

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Bob Brown is the pen name for Robert L. Brown. A scandal captivated the nation in 1842-3. The true story was made to order for Brown's entertaining style of writing that breathes life into characters that history has long forgotten. The officers of the U. S. Somers, under pressure of imminent death at the hands bloodthirsty mutineers, felt compelled to support the Captain in his veiled determination to hang the ringleaders. The consequences of their actions and the behavior of Captain Mackenzie shook the nation when they arrived back in the United States. Brown's writing will place you on board the Somers and in the subsequent murder trial of Captain Mackenzie where you will witness the entire incident blow by blow.

From the Author

While researching a naval incident that occurred in 1872, I stumbled onto vague references of a naval mutiny attempt in 1842 in which three men were hanged from the yardarm. One of the men was the Secretary of War's son. The explosive nature of the Secretary of War fueled a national controversy when he discovered that his son had been hanged with only ten minutes notice. Further investigations convinced me that this story was the more compelling than the first story I was working on. After court-martial of Captain Mackenzie, the incident was, for valid reasons, soon forgotten and it is not even mentioned in most reference books. True stories that give an author the opportunity to explore the driving forces behind men's actions, are not work to write, they are pure pleasure.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 265 pages
• Publisher: River City Books (January 15, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0967567300
• ISBN-13: 978-0967567303
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,489,721 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Bob Brown is the pen name for Robert L. Brown. His writing includes many short stories and the historical novel Not One Shred of Decency in 2000 and Nathan's Valley in 2003. Bittersweet Revenge, a book of short stories, was published in 2006. Several short stories and most of his inventions are on his website. The inventions on his website are free to anyone with no expectation of personal gain. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama in 1926. Until moving to Montana in 2000, he lived in the three southern states of Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee. During World War II he served two years in the U. S. Navy and was assigned to a Landing Craft Infantry (LCI) ship in the Philippines. He did not participate in any battles. With the help of the GI Bill he graduated from Auburn University as an Electrical Engineer in 1950. After three years in Atlanta with Georgia Power Company, he moved to Kingston Tennessee where he accepted a job in Oak Ridge working for the Electrical Engineering Department of Union Carbide. From 1957 until his retirement in 1988 he worked as Research and Development Engineer for Fusion Energy Research in the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. On this assignment he worked on the development of conventional and superconducting magnets. He obtained five patents in magnet research and three more patents for utility devices useful around the home. After forty-five years of marriage, his wife, Betty, died of cancer in 1992. They had two children, David and Sandra.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars WELL CRAFTED STORY, January 6, 2006

By 

Dusty Bellieu (Kalispell Montana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Not One Shred of Decency (Paperback)

The writer seems to capture a time of history that truly makes the charecters and scenes jump out at the reader. I found it was a book that I truly enjoyed. The author crafted this story well and puts most of the Patrick O'Brien novels to shame. The seriousness and complexity of the story only add to the enjoyment of reading this book.

5.0 out of 5 stars Exciting Historical Novel, April 4, 2001

By 

Joanne James (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Not One Shred of Decency (Paperback)

The rich historical setting blended with the exciting drama of mutiny, incited by the son of the Secretary of War, made for a very satisfying read. The characters were vividly fleshed-out by the author. I appreciated the research that went into writing about this incident in our history. Excellent book.

5.0 out of 5 stars Exciting Historical Novel, April 3, 2001

By 

Joanne James (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Not One Shred of Decency (Paperback)

The rich historical setting blended with the exciting drama of mutiny, incited by the son of the Secretary of War, made for a very satisfying read. The characters were vividly fleshed-out by the author. I appreciated the research that went into writing about this incident in our history. Excellent book.