Battle Cry of Freedom by James M. McPherson

"James McPherson's fast-paced narrative fully integrates the political, social, and military events that crowded the two decades from the outbreak of one war in Mexico to the ending of another at Appomattox. Packed with drama and analytical insight, the book vividly recounts the momentous episodes that preceded the Civil War--the Dred Scott decision, the Lincoln-Douglas debates, John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry--and then moves into a masterful chronicle of the war itself--the battles, the strategic maneuvering on both sides, the politics, and the personalities. ...This authoritative volume makes sense of that vast and confusing "second American Revolution" we call the Civil War, a war that transformed a nation and expanded our heritage of liberty"  - Amazon 

Normally I wait until I finish a book before I post my thoughts.  But I am now on page 454 of Battle Cry of Freedom (1988) by James M McPherson and this book ends at page 868.  And since I didn't want to allow too much time between posts and decided to write my thoughts now.  

Battle Cty of Freedom is a masterpiece.  Winner of the 1989 Pulizer Prize for History this book covers the American Civil War Era from 1848 - 1865).  I am so glad that I chose to read it because if I had gone with a shorter history book about the Civil War era I know I would have always wondered should I have read Battle Cry of Freedom?  But now I don't have to wonder. I am reading what many critics regard as the greatest one volume history of the American Civil War era ever written and I agree.

At over 800 pages Battle Cry of Freedom is a long book.  You cannot zip throughit it but it's not a chore to read.  James McPherson has done an incredible job of research.   But like all great historians he knows what to include and what to leave out so that Battle Cry of Freedom doesn't get bogged down in statistics and troop movements etc.  McPherson is also an excellent writer who makes history come alive.

If you are curious about the Civil War era, which remains very relevant in today's divided America, Battle Cry Freedom is the best book out there on this subject.  5 stars 

Moonflower Murders by Anthony Horowitz

Moonflower Murders (2020) is the second book in Anthony Horowiz's Susan Ryeland mystery series.  Susan when we first met her in Magpie Murders was living in London and working as an editor at Cloverleaf Books.  Her main client was a bestselling mystery novelist, Alan Conway.  Alan was murdered in the first book and Susan almost died trying to figure out who killed him.  

Susan solved the case and at the end of Magpie Murders moved to Greece with her fiance Andreas to open a small hotel, the Polydorus.  But two years have passed and running a hotel even in a beautiful environment is not all its cracked up to be:

"I found myself starting a new life, and frankly too much of it was hard work. Inevitably, this had had an effect on my relationship with Andreas... In London, Andreas had always been my best friend. Perhaps it was because we weren’t living together that I had always looked forward to seeing him. ..But Crete had trapped us in an altogether different sort of arrangement ... I was already thinking about a way out, even if I wasn’t actively looking for one".

Susan loves Andreas but she misses London, editing and the world of publishing..  Plus the Polydorus is amassing debts.  And then a British couple, Lawrence and Pauline Treherne, arrive at the Polydorus looking for Susan.  Eight years ago a guest at their 5 star hotel was brutally murdered.  His name was frank Parris and he was murdered  on the same night the hotel was hosting the wedding reception for the Treherne's daughter Cecily.  

The police arrested one of the employees working at Branlaw Hall, Stefan Codrescu, for the murder.  Stefan confessed but Cecily Treherne has never believed Stefan was gulty.  And recently Cecily has read Alan Conway's third Atticus Finch novel "Atticus Takes The Case" which is based on the murder of Frank Parris at Branlaw Hall  Cynthia is sure based on Alan's novel that she knows the real killer.

Lawrence and Pauline Treherne have come to Susan Ryeland knowing she was Alan's editor.  They ask Susan to come to London they will pay her to interview people who knew Frank Parris, were at the wedding and the Treherne's hope Susan will be able to discover what Cynthia learned by rereading Atticus Pund Takes The Case.  But Susan tells the Treherne's why not just ask your daughter Cynthia?  Because Cynthia is now missing.

As  with Magpie Murders, Moonflower Murders is a novel within a novel. The first part of the book involves Susan Ryeland travelling to Suffolk, interviewing potential suspects and Susan siting down and rereading Atticus Takes The Case.  What follows is the entire Atticus Pund novel.

And it's not an exhausting experience. The time period in which AtticuscPund lives is 1950's England.  Atticus has old world charm.  He struck me as a cross between.  Hercule Poirot and Louise Penny's Armand Gamache. Atticus Pund suffered during the war and he is a very smart, compassionate detective who is under no illusions about human cruelty. 

We read Atticus Takes The Case knowing that the fictional author Alan Conway dropped clues in his book as to who murdered Frank Parris, the case that Susan Ryeland is trying to solve.  I know it may sound a bit confusing but I had no trouble following Moonflower Murders.  The Atticus Pund section of the book was so well done and I liked Susan Ryeland Atticus' present day detective counterpart as well.  And Andreas, Susan's fiance, is a great guy, a partner in every sense of the word.  A four star read for me.