Customer Reviews

The Stalking-horse

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As usual, Miriam Grace Monfredo writes a compelling story laced with a "herstory" lesson. I could not put this book down; I finished it in one day. There was so much action, adventure and a bit of romance too! Although I missed reading more about Glynis, the new characters are terrific. Anyone wishing to read a great mystery featuring brave, intellectual heroines should read this series. The only sad part is having to wait another year or so for her next book.

The Stalking Horse is a fast pace novel set in the mid 1800's. Written by the acclaimed author, Miriam Grace Monfredo, this book has numerous vivid descriptions accurately portraying the antebellum South. As expected, Ms. Monfredo has beautifully written a story about a girl and her passionate fight to save the young American nation. This suspenseful book contains all of the important points of a true historical story, along with the attention-grabbing aspects of a wonderfully crafted mystery. Blended in a remarkable way, at the turn of each page the reader feels the pain, sorrow, and happiness of each character. I would suggest this book to students twelve years and over, due to the high reading level and difficult comprehension.

This is a well-researched historical mystery. The historicalaspects, the tone, the characterizations, and the plot are all done very well. Whether you enjoy mysteries or just like straight historical fiction, it works on both levels.

This fifth installment in the Glynis Tryon series is absolutely brilliant! Although we don't see much of Glynis here, we are introduced to her intrepid and fast-thinking niece Bronwen who has become a detective for the famed Pinkerton agency. Bronwen finds herself in a whole mess of trouble as she is trying to track down an agency in the south that is planning the death of President Lincoln. All this is occuring during the week of Lincoln's inaugeration, and Bronwen finds herself against a whole bunch of ruthless and idealogical men who are trying to defend their slavery institution. This book is definitely a page-turner, and it's more espionage than mystery. The setting is in and around the southern states of Virginia and Maryland in early 1860. The setting for this book takes place on and around the train tracks of this very volatile area. And let me tell you, young Bronwen is quite the heroine! Can't wait to read more about her.

This book was dark, moody and probably one of Monfredo's best. heroine Bronwyn Llyr and her compatriots are well drawn and seen in complex terms. The history, as always, is well researched and fascinating -- this time focusing on a pre-inagural assasination plot on Abraham Lincoln. Her historical mysteries are some of the best in the genre. Occasionally, Monfredo has let her characters steps on the soap box a bit too much, but this book avoids doing that -- partially because Bronwyn herself tries to avoid politics on the whole.

The Stalking Horse is a fast pace novel set in the mid 1800's. Written by the acclaimed author, Miriam Grace Monfredo, this book has numerous vivid descriptions accurately portraying the antebellum South. As expected, Ms. Monfredo has beautifully written a story about a girl and her passionate fight to save the young American nation. This suspenseful book contains all of the important points of a true historical story, along with the attention-grabbing aspects of a wonderfully crafted mystery. Blended in a remarkable way, at the turn of each page the reader feels the pain, sorrow, and happiness of each character. I would suggest this book to students twelve years and over, due to the high reading level and difficult comprehension.

This novel is set just before the outbreak of the Civil War. A young woman is sent to the deep south on a spying mission, and is hard put to escape with her life after her contacts are killed and her real reason for being there is suspected. Altho technically this is one of the Glynis Tryon novels, Glynis has only a small part in this one. Like Ms. Monfredo's other books, this one lets the reader learn a little history while being very well entertained by the action and suspense. Should be on every history teacher's list of books to be read for extra credit.

watziznaym@gmail.com

Going into this book, I was a little reluctant to accept the shift from "A Glynis Tryon Mystery" to "A Seneca Falls Historical Mystery". I'd grown accustomed to Glynis Tryon (who would be approximately 45 years old now) and wasn't quite ready to turn over the reins of sleuthing to some snot-nosed niece.

Monfredo made the transition easier for me by creating a book whose mystery was more compelling than the mysteries of the previous Tryon series. With the other books, I was much more caught up on the historical side of the story and gaining insight into what it was like to live during those times than in the mystery. The Stalking Horse, however, had a more involved plot and more tension and action than the other books, and this Tryon was involved in events that could have changed the course of history. Plus, I still got my dose of historical insight. And I have to admit, hanging off the edge of moving railroad cars is not something I think 45-year old Glynis would be likely to do.

I appreciated Monfredo's Historical Notes and her suggestions that we would be seeing a couple more of the historical figures in future stories. I hope the future also includes Jacques Sundown and Glynis as well.

Miriam Grace Monfredo's "Seneca Falls" mysteries are
very good reads. The history is always first-rate, and
the mysteries are compelling. The same holds true for
The Stalking Horse, except the not-believable Bronwen Llyr
as the heroine, and Jacques Sundown as the "deus ex machina."

In short, Bronwen is not credible as a mid-19th century
young woman. She is a late-20th century "supergirl" cast
anachronistically back into 1860 (especially given the
ridulous and confining layers of 19th century women's clothing).

As for Sundown - too much the stereotypical and stoic "noble savage" American Indian with "eyes like a wolf." His characterization, and overly convenient intrusions out of nowhere
to kill the villain, are ridiculous.

None of the above implies that I did not enjoy the mystery, and especially the history. But even good historical novelists like Ms. Monfredo must avoid historical anachronisms and stereotypes to be credible.

Glynis Tryon's niece Bromwen is just like her aunt. Both are independent thinkers, who ignore society's dictates on the proper behavior and occupations for women. Bronwen becomes a Pinkerton agent because she wants to chase down criminals and bring them to justice.

Lincoln has just been elected president and is traveling to the capital for the inauguration. At the same time, Bromwen goes to Alabama, a state that just succeeded form the union, on assignment. She is accompanied by a client, who wants to know how safe his investments in the Deep South is. While in Montgomery, Bromwen overhears a group of fanatical Southern separatists planning to cut off DC from the North and assassinating a pivotal figure. Bromwen must get her information back to the North even as the enemy tries to kill her.

Miriam Grace Monfredo's latest "Tyron" historical mystery spotlights her niece rather than the more famous aunt. This freshens the series while allowing the reader to feel and visualize the moods of the nation as it prepares for the Civil War. The background scenes of Lincoln's presidential ascendancy comes out of the pages of the history books and adds a genuine wallop to a tremendous thriller.

Harriet Klausner