Customer Reviews

Unholy Fire: A Novel of the Civil War

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Former Congressman Bob Mrazek has done a superb job with "Unholy Fire" following his wonderful first Civil War novel, "Stonewall's Gold." Here is a terrific page turner filled with the horrific stories of the underbelly of corruption and intrigue during Lincoln's presidency. For once the reader is not bombarded with the righteousness of the Union struggle but instead is given an underground tour of the many unfit "military" minds of the Union army combined with the crisp storytelling style and historical accuracy we have come to appreciate from Mrazek. There is much here to savor for both Civil War buffs and anyone looking for a satisfying read. For those Civil War aficiandos out there ... there are overtones here and there of Abel Jones in the wonderful Owen Parry books to be found in Mrazek's best detective narrative. What surprised me the most here is how Mr. Mrazek was able to change his approach from his first novel. The adventurer in him is still very apparent but in many ways this book is much more of a "grown-up" read. There is something for everyone here! One can only hope that there will be many more books to come from Mr. Mrazek! Thank you Congressman ... we still miss you in Huntington, NY!

I picked up this book because a friend who is a real civil war buff told me that the author's previous book, Stonewall's Gold was the best civil war thriller he had ever read. This one was also billed as a thriller, but it begins with one of the most vividly recreated battle scenes I've ever read. I saw combat in Korea and can tell you that the author takes you through what combat is really like. The recovery scenes in the hospital also ring very true. The thriller doesn't really get started until you're sixty pages in, and then the book clicks in like a civil war Grisham story. I just loved the character of Val Burdette, the sloppy but brilliant lawyer doing battle against the same parasites that have always fed off our military establishment right to this day. This book is a fantastic read, and I don't know why it isn't a best seller. There is even a fine, understated love story that plays out very painfully in the background. I recommend it wholeheartedly, and look forward to Marzek's next book.

A master storyteller and a masterful work of suspense, mystery, love, and heroism. What an enormous pleasure it was to read this book. With the deft strokes of a Wouk or Vidal at their best, Mrazek captures the mood and spirit of Washington during the Civil War and puts the reader squarely in the middle of a wonderful tale. The characters come alive on the page, both those who actually lived, and those I only wish had lived, including the most beautifully etched Lincoln I've seen realized in fiction. A very special novel.

This novel is really special. The time we live in is so cynical that ... passes for good fiction. I picked up The Jester by James Patterson, and can only wonder at how such garbage gets on the best seller list when a novel of the same period like Bernard Cornwell's VAGABOND ends up in the equivalent dust heap. Mrazek writes like one of the masters-short,vivid, wonderful word pictures that put you in that time and place without cutting corners. It is a true reading pleasure to see how he progressed from his last book, Stonewall's Gold, which was superb, too. As someone who participates in Civil War re-enactments, I can tell you that Mrazek brings me closer in my imagination to what happened on those hallowed fields than anyone else currently writing about that war.

Mr. Mrazek has once again produced an excellent example of unique historical fiction. I have looked forward to my next opportunity to experience his work since I read his previous book, "Stonewall's Gold." I was not to be disappointed. Furthermore, in many ways, I found this storyline to be even more intriguing.

In support of those previous statements, I would note that Robert Mrazek holds a gift for expressing uncommon levels of detail through his storytelling skills. The resultant product of his efforts is embodied in this outstanding work, which holds both great richness and depth. Indeed, it provided me with the page-turning experience that I enjoy so well.

This tale is set at the beginning of the Civil War (a.k.a. War Between the States or War of Northern Aggression for some of us below the Mason Dixon Line). The story is woven around a young Federal officer who is first exposed to the horrors of war during one of the initial engagements of the conflict, at a place known as Ball's Bluff. True to Mr. Mrazek's talent for unearthing previously unexcavated elements of Civil War fiction, a departure from the expected norm of the genre followed. My hopes were rewarded, as I was subsequently treated to an intriguing behind-the-scenes look at personal struggles, Washington politics of that era (or perhaps any era), and the character of prominent and not-so-prominent military and civilian personalities that molded those early days of war. In deference to future readers' pleasure, I will not divulge elements of the plot that pull these seemingly disparate pieces together, but will instead suffice to say that it was most unique by my experiences. I should also mention that the wrap-up to the ending was quite unexpected.

In summary, I would gauge Mr. Mrazek's book as a "must read" for lovers of historical fiction.

I was sort of shocked at how great Unholy Fire was. This is a book that I picked up and groaned. I thought it looked like sort of stale. But it isn't. The story rocks along to a nice clip and you are brought into a vivid world that will engage you to no end. I read a few of the reviews here by other amazon readers and I have to say that I don't know every aspect of the Civil War like some of these folk seem to. For myself, the probable vast historical inaccuracies went over my head. So unless you are a Civil War buff, these complaints by others will not matter at all.

The main beef I have against this book is the very end. It seems to have gone a little out of control and then it gets sort of sappy. I won't give away the plot, so it's kind of hard for me to express the sorrow that I hold towards this otherwise classic historical mystery/thriller. The entire story up til' the last forty or so pages is a riveting who done it that is amazing. In the end it becomes ridiculous. To try to put an analogy on this without giving the plot away, imagine if in "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly," Clint Eastwood found himself in a situation where he was in a mad end race against the bad guy who suddenly had it in his hands to destroy the world. Instead of the cemetary shoot-out, Clint saves the day and the world. You'd be scratching your head at another hollywood over the top endings and the movie would not be a classic. That is what happens here. If you can over look that, you are in for a 90% treat.

One of the best civil war reads in quite some time. I could not put it down - the pace, action and writing style are truly impressive. I recommend this for every summer reading list.
Hooker's tale is one for all times.

I bought this book after reading a review by Nelson Demille, one of my favorite novelists. I know it's a cliche to say that "I couldn't put this book down." Actually, I did, and that's because I wanted it to last longer. The ending on the barren island off the coast of Maine was stunningly poignant. As Demille wrote, "great writing coupled with great history."

An incredible mixture of heroism, adventure, sacrifice, and love. It vividly brings alive the nation's capital at its darkest time in our nation's history. The portrait of the remarkable general, Joe Hooker, is the best I've ever read. Truly compelling.

I loved Stonewall's Gold, and couldn't wait to read Unholy Fire, but I was sadly disappointed in the quality of this work. Stonewall's Gold was interesting and a fascinating adventure story, but Unholy Fire dragged on and lacked an ability to engage the reader. I felt there was an obsession with the life of prostitution in Washington D.C. during the war. The fact that a 21 year-old war hero genuinely falls in love with a prostitute after she performs oral sex was just too much. I finished reading the book and tossed it. It is not worth reading.