In July 1861, just months after the Battle of Fort Sumter plunges the young nation into civil war, President Lincoln’s top priority is to unite the country, while Adam Quinn finds himself on the trail of a murderer . . . On Independence Day, the citizens of Washington, DC, are celebrating as if there isn’t a war. But the city is teeming with green Union recruits while President Lincoln and his … President Lincoln and his War Department are focused on military strategy to take Richmond in Secessionist Virginia in order to bring the conflict to a swift end. Manassas, Virginia, near Bull Run Creek, is in their sights.
The very next morning, as Congress convenes once more, a dead body is found hanging from the crane beneath the unfinished dome of the Capitol. Lincoln’s close confidant, Adam Speed Quinn, is called upon to determine whether the man had taken his own life, or if someone had helped him.
With the assistance of Dr. George Hilton and journalist Sophie Gates, Quinn investigates what turns out to be murder. But the former scout is about to be blindsided, for a Southern sympathizer in the city is running a female spy network reporting to the Confederacy, and she has an insidious plot to foil the Union Army’s march to Manassas by employing the charms of one Constance Lemagne to get as close to Adam as possible . . .
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Murder At The Capitol is the third book in the Lincoln’s White House Mystery series.
It’s July 5th and the streets of Washington, D.C. are filled with revelers heading home from the July 4th celebration and soldiers awaiting orders to head off for their first major battle. A messenger has arrived at the White House with a message for President Lincoln’s confidant and friend, Adam Speed Quinn. Quinn is needed to report to the Capitol Building’s construction site. When he arrives he finds that there is a body hanging from the unfinished dome. He notices that his friend, Sophie Gates, an aspiring newspaper reporter, is there. He also sees Constance Lemange, a Southern belle and sympathizer, someone he has previously met. At first, it appears that the victim had committed suicide. Quinn engages Dr. Hilton to perform an autopsy. Once it is completed he has determined that it was murder. With the help of Sophie, Quinn sets off to learn who might have had it in for the victim.
I love historical mystery series and this one in particular. The author provides the reader with a view of what life was like for citizens at the beginning of the Civil War and for President Lincoln. The story is very well-written the characters are very interesting.
I’m anxiously awaiting the next book in this interesting and informative series.
The newest addition to the great Lincoln’s White House mystery series. Loved reading these characters again. And the research – wow!
A thoroughly enjoyable historical mystery, shining light on Washington, D.C. at the time of the Civil War. This third book in the series continues to develop the central characters, as well as the atmosphere and attitudes of the inhabitants of the city. The mystery itself is intriguing and the solution not immediately obvious. The characters are interesting, although there may be questions as to some of their attitudes and how they change during the course of the series.
I don’t normally read mysteries, but this book caught my eye. For the fact that it is set during President Lincoln’s time.. that of the Civil War. I was pleasantly surprised at how wonderful a read this was. It was well-paced and interesting. Definitely a story that will reside on my bookshelf hereafter.
July 4, 1861 Washington, D.C. and the city is bursting at the seams with troops almost shoulder to shoulder, streets impassable and gun fire and cannons going off night and day. The troops are itching to get into a battle but nobody can say when that will happen. Lincoln is trying to make it a short event but, as we know, it will last four years – April 12, 1861 to April 9, 1865. The Dome of the Capitol is under construction and Lincoln is in talks with his War Department. Then a murder disguised as a suicide comes on the scene. A man is found hanging from the unfinished Dome. The best person to investigate is Lincoln’s best friend, Adam Speed Quinn. Quinn is joined in his task by journalist Sophie Gates and freeman Dr. George Hilton. Soon their investigation brings them into contact with a mysterious Southern lady, Miss Constance Lemagne along with various spies and a killer.
The mystery itself is engrossing and the history is very well researched, blending real and fictional characters seamlessly. The subject of slavery is, of course, center stage. I enjoyed this mystery very much and I hope there will be more in this series.