Rating: 
Summary: Mrazek delivers an intensely captivating and wonderful story
Review: I was "hooked" on this grand adventure right from the start and the excitement, suspense, and powerful story telling never lets up. "Unholy Fire",like Mrazek's earlier book ("Stonewall's Gold") is set during the Civil War and incorporates all the intrepid characters most readers are familiar with as well as Mrazek's wonderful mastery of that time and place. It sets itself apart however with the addition of an intriguing adult romance that spans throughout the story, culminating in a suprising and beautiful twist. I highly recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys great historical writing.
Rating:
Summary: GRIPPING, FASCINATING, FILLED WITH SUSPENSE
Review: I was hooked by this novel from the opening page. John "Kit" McKittredge is a wonderful hero, courageous, decent, smart, caring, unstoppable, and filled with self-doubt. He reminds me of a young Hornblower in the C. S. Forester sagas. The formula may be tried and true but it works. A couple of iconoclastic heroes confronting a monstrous conspiracy and refusing to bow to the pressure and danger. It also brings alive Washington in an indelibly evocative way. A perfect read.
Rating:
Summary: Mrazek Delivers Another Outstanding Book
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Unholy Fire - A Great Read
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: The best kind of historical fiction
Review: 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.
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