Anything But Civil

In this historical mystery from the "superb" Hattie Davish series, the traveling secretary discovers some Civil War grudges are still deadly twenty-five years on (Library Journal). Hattie Davish is delighted to be ably assisting her wealthy employer, Sir Arthur Windom-Greene, an English scholar who is fascinated by the American Civil War and who is hard at work putting together a definitive biography of Union general Cornelius Starrett. Their research takes them to the small town of Galena, Illinois, where they quickly learn that the twenty-five years since the war's end have done little to heal old wounds. Distrust and betrayal seem to linger in everyone's minds-none more so than General Starrett's own pompous son, Henry. Hattie is certain he has something to do with a string of bizarre incidents that have recently plagued the town-and her suspicions are bluntly confirmed when the much-disliked Henry turns up dead. Between her work for Sir Arthur, preparing for Christmas, and unscheduled visitors from her past, Hattie hardly has time to investigate a murder-but her curiosity prevails, and she soon finds herself lost in a labyrinth of secrets and deceit that leads to more questions than answers . . . The bestselling author of A Lack of Temperance continues her Victorian-era mystery series that Emily Brightwell calls "a welcome addition to the genre."