The Frozen People by Elly Griffiths

THE FROZEN PEOPLE by Elly Griffiths is the start of a new mystery series which features Ali Dawson who has the extraordinary capability to travel in time. She leaves the modern day to go to 1850 London in an attempt to find out whether the ancestor of a government official is guilty of murder. But, something goes wrong, and she is trapped there while a modern-day murder results in her son being arrested. Ali’s colleagues frantically try to return her so that she can apply her crime-solving skills to her son’s case. This series is quite different from the historical mysteries and police procedurals that Griffiths’ fans have come to enjoy, but it does convey a dark feeling of menace and readers will be engaged. Kirkus says, “Murder on several time planes is a fascinating premise enhanced by an enthralling look at Victorian London.” Griffiths herself notes, “Even though the plot is somewhat fantastical, I wanted to make the details as convincing as possible.” Her research and clever writing shine through.

New titles about the American Civil War

The first national observance of Memorial Day occurred on May 30, 1868. Then known as Decoration Day, the holiday was proclaimed to honor the Union soldiers who had died in the Civil War. Here are reviews of three excellent books which deal with the Civil War time period.

WIDE AWAKE is a newly published book by Jon Grinspan who is Curator of Political History at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. Grinspan’s love of history and his devotion to scholarship shines through as he relates steps in his research on “The Forgotten Force that Elected Lincoln and Spurred the Civil War.” I was intrigued by his comments of looking into newspaper databases and was able to locate over one hundred and fifty front page newspaper articles from 1860 or earlier about this paramilitary group. They wore uniforms, had banners with a wide-open eye (see image of certificate below), marched (often with torches), and widely supported Lincoln and other Republicans in the 1860 election. Almost all ended up eventually joining the Union forces. Commenting on the echoes of history, and this “grassroots force pushing elite leaders into action,” Grinspan writes that the “Wide Awakes of 1860 wrestled with the same forces -- mass democracy, public protest, free speech, political violence, slavery, and race -- that we grapple with today.” Booklist gave WIDE AWAKE a starred review and Kirkus describes his well-written text as “a welcome study of an overlooked aspect of the Civil War and the events leading up to it.” Extensive notes and references comprise roughly twenty percent of this text.

THE AGITATORS by Dorothy Wickenden (Nothing Daunted) is about “three friends who fought for abolition and women's rights.” Readers may be familiar with stories about Harriet Tubman, a famous underground railroad conductor, but are likely less well-versed about Martha Coffin Wright, a Quaker (and sister to Lucretia Mott) who criticized Lincoln’s position on slavery and organized women’s rights conventions with Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. The third member of the trio is Frances Seward; as the wife of Governor, then Senator, and then Secretary of State William H. Seward, her influence was often largest behind the scenes. The three friends lived in Auburn, New York and Wickenden traces their efforts from the 1820s onward through 1875 in a detail-filled text. Her afterward, extensive notes, and selected bibliography together comprise at least a fourth of the book. THE AGITATORS received starred reviews from Library Journal (“Filling a gap in the telling of women's and abolitionist history, this highly readable book gives these three women their due.”) and Publishers Weekly (“an essential addition to the history of American progressivism”).

Finally, THE DEMON OF UNREST by Erik Larson (The Splendid and the Vile) is subtitled “A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War” and the best-selling author definitely chronicles the exploits of some unsavory characters. For example, Larson recounts James Henry Hammond’s sexual abuse of his nieces and subsequent selection to Federal office, serving as Senator for South Carolina. Often commenting on other parallels to today’s headlines, Larson writes, “I had the eerie feeling that present and past had merged. It is unsettling that in 1861 two of the greatest moments of national dread centered on the certification of the Electoral College vote and the presidential inauguration.” This text, too, is extensively researched with approximately twenty percent devoted to a lengthy bibliography and detailed notes. THE DEMON OF UNREST did receive starred reviews from Booklist and Publishers Weekly. While highly regarded, it did not feel as compelling as earlier works by Larson, however.

The Sweet Blue Distance by Sara Donati

THE SWEET BLUE DISTANCE by Sara Donati is a work of historical fiction set in 1857 which describes the many adventures and resourcefulness of Carrie Ballentyne, a young nurse and midwife. First, there is the sometimes harrowing travel – via train, riverboat, stage, and horseback – from New York State to Sante Fe where she has accepted a position with a Dr. Markham. Both along the way and once in Sante Fe, this young woman finds her beliefs tested as she faces hypocrisy and bigotry (against women and people of different races or classes). The book is quite long and Donati stresses this cultural bias to the point where her modern perspective almost overrides the historical one. However, the story’s action (many births and medical emergencies), elements of mystery, and a romantic subplot will likely keep readers engaged. With so much involved, the author provides a detailed list of the cast of characters and their families, a Spanish-English glossary, and a robust bibliography. Carrie proves herself to be very resilient, mirroring her own mother’s advice: “You are the daughter of strong women and equal to whatever challenges you meet. Missteps are inevitable, but you will find your way.”  

The Arctic Fury by Greer Macallister

THE ARCTIC FURY by Greer Macallister is a work of historical fiction which was a LibraryReads selection for December 2020. Initially, I was intrigued by the premise:Virginia Reeve, a young female guide on the overland trail to the Pacific Ocean is asked to lead a different expedition. This time, a wealthy woman asks Virginia to guide 12 women in their 1855 quest to find The Franklin, a ship missing in the Arctic. I enjoyed the beginning and learning about the character traits of various expedition members, but then the book seemed to drag. Maybe that was my own dread of the harrowing conditions they would face, as I silently encouraged them to turn back? Macallister adds to the realism by offering differing perspectives as the voyage continues and by employing flashbacks between the journey and an ensuing murder trial. Fans of adventure stories like Into the Wild may enjoy this story of survival and female courage; based on true events.

Westering Women and The Giver of Stars

WESTERING WOMEN by Sandra Dallas is a work of historical fiction written by one of my favorite authors. In this latest work, she relates the story of Maggie and Mary, two women who befriend each other and decide to join a wagon train in the 1850’s, travelling west as prospective brides. They, like many of the other women on the train, are escaping difficult situations, including spousal abuse, betrayal by men, and families who would not help them. Readers will develop affection for the many characters Dallas introduces, including the two ministers who run the wagon train and women like Dora, Penn, Sadie, and Winny – who with Maggie and Mary learn to set up camp, navigate across the plains, and drive the oxen.  Along the way, they also learn each other’s secrets and build a strong emotional bond as they face many physical challenges together, including Indian visits, disease and an unexpected pregnancy, plus swift flowing rivers and a dangerous desert that need to be crossed. As Maggie reflects, “There was no choice.  Either they would work together or they would never make it to the gold diggings.” In my opinion, Dallas is at her best when she writes about strong women and the bonds of friendship they develop (look especially for The Persian Pickle Club, Alice’s Tulips, or The Diary of Mattie Spencer). 

THE GIVER OF STARS by Jojo Moyes is another work of historical fiction about strong women. The setting for this new novel from the best-selling author is primarily 1930s rural Kentucky.  That is where Alice Wright, an unconventional English socialite, moves with her new husband and her father-in-law, who manages the local mine. Feeling stifled and out of place, Alice volunteers to work with the Kentucky Packhorse Librarians – delivering books and magazines to the rural residents. She joins Margery, another independent spirit, and other young women, establishing connections with local residents, even as labor strife grows and her father-in-law’s opposition to her work turns more vindictive.  This novel also contains a romance for Alice and another for Margery, adding to the appeal for Moyes’ many fans. If you like historical fiction, I encourage you to also look for The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek – a novel which was published last Spring – and contains a unique story about the same library delivery service.