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Summary: A feast for the book-lover's soul
Review: Any lover of the written word -must- read Owen Parry. His vividly evocative and lyrical prose fires the imagination in the first paragraph and doesn't let up.
I have recommended this book to every reader I know, because you do not have to be a fan of mysteries (or the historical mystery sub-genre) to be entranced by Parry's masterful use of language, finely-drawn and very human cast of characters, and settings so deftly described that it is often difficult to recall that you haven't been there yourself.
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Summary: Civil War Suspense
Review: Owen Parry, by now the known psuedonym for Techno-thriller writer, military and international affairs analyst Ralph Peters, is a gripping novel.Written in the prose of Cold Mountain, but with a more direct story line, this novel excels at keeping your attention. Mr. Peters' command of Victorian Era vernacular and insight to how the various ethnic and cultures intermingled before melding in our great "melting pot" is most commendable. All historians will appreciate that there is no presentism here. It is written very much in tune with the period and conveys a tremendous amount of research to make it period sensitive and historically accurate. Not since the Flashman series have I had so much enjoyment reading a historical novel.
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Summary: Great Historical Mystery
Review: Abel Jones is a recent Welsh immigrant to the U.S. at the time of the Civil War. He's been through Britain's wars in India and he leaves his wife in Pennsylvania to enlist in the Union army just in time for First Bull Run. He is a wonderfully eccentric character, limping from a war wound, a complaining stoic, morally rigid yet warm-hearted, courageous and obstinate. And he speaks, even to himself, in a pleasant Welsh burr. It's fun to follow him as he unravels the murder of a young abolitionist Union officer. Owen Parry kicks off his Civil War mystery series with "Faded Coat of Blue". He writes in the postscript of his passion for the period, his research and his trips to the places that he writes about. He's done a good job getting the period right, with lots of wry observations (the Fowler's Philadelphia mansion is "Haversham House" after the batty recluse in Dickens' 'Great Expectations'), he just comments on the building on the Virginia ridge overlooking Washington's Mall, without adding that it was Robert E. Lee's home and now the center of Arlington Cemetery. Of course, in a strained final scene, President Lincoln himself makes an appearance. Parry didn't want to waste either his sympathy for or his knowledge of Lincoln. But the research is right, the details, the streets of Washington, and the history provide a wonderful context for a murder mystery. With one small exception: the book's final scenes culminate in the 1861 Thanksgiving holiday. Alas, Lincoln didn't declare Thanksgiving a holiday until 1863.
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Summary: This one has everything.
Review: Anthony Fowler is a young man from a wealthy upper-class Philadelphia family. He has become nationally known and admired for his passionate campaign against slavery. When the Civil War begins, he is of course among the first to join the Union army. But one night he is found mysteriously shot dead on the edge of a military campground. Captain Abel Jones, the main character of this novel, is appointed (much to his surprise) by General McClellan to solve the mystery of Fowler's murder. It doesn't take long for Jones to discover that Fowler's death was no random military casualty. He was murdered elsewhere and the body dumped where it was found. Jones, a rigidly patriotic, religious, and somewhat self-righteous character, begins to uncover the facts, layer by layer. Each layer moves the guilt another step higher in political and social circles, and soon Jones is treading on dangerous ground indeed. By the description above, this could be an ordinary mystery. But at the same time that he is giving us a captivating mystery, Parry provides a vivid and convincing portrait of Washington and Philadelphia of the Civil War era. The book includes an afterword by the author, discussing his research and the few minor cases in which his story deviates from strict historical accuracy. He also recommends several references for those who are interested in more background material. The book succeeds on every level. Jones and his supporting cast are well-drawn characters with whom the reader is happy to spend time. The history is enriching, and the mystery itself is solidly crafted. Everybody should like this one.
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Summary: What a Find!
Review: This is a wonderful book and a grand start to a series. Set in the Civil War FADED COAT OF BLUE features Abel Jones a recent arrival to these shores from Wales via a stint in the British army in India. Despite his recent marriage to his Welsh sweetheart Mary Myfanwy and the arrival of his new son, Abel feels honor-bound to fight for his new adoptive country. But after suffering a shattered leg in an heroic action (which he genuinely downplays) at Bull Run, Jones finds himself clerking in Washington D.C. Soon, however, Abel finds himself the confidential agent of newly elevated General George McClellan who directs him to investigate the death of a Philadelphia golden boy assassinated on a Washington campground. Abel, a non-drinking, non-cussing, straight-thinking Methodist, is soon swept up into matters seemingly far beyond his experience and understanding. We meet several delightful characters who prove to be series stalwarts: Mary Myfanwy herslef (clearer thinking and more worldly wise than her husband), Mrs. Schutzengel (Abel's stout German landlady and budding communist), Jimmy Molloy (a former Irish underling from the India wars now a down-and-out drunk), and Dr. Tyrone (protestent Irish, incredibly cynical physician). Their interactions with Abel highlight his character and their assistance helps him solve the riddle of murder, greed and corruption swirling around Washington. This mystery is several cuts above the norm. The writing is powerful, the ideas are compelling, the characters are real and the setting is beautifully delineated. And the few pages wherein we meet President Lincoln are truly fine. This is a superior book.
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Summary: "They did their fighting not for kings and crowns..."
Review: Setting this murder mystery in the early days of the Civil War, Parry effectively uses real people and events from this tumultuous period to add drama and strength to his mystery. Including elderly Gen. Winfield Scott, arrogant Gen. George McClellan, and larcenous Sec. of War Simon Cameron in the novel, he allows his fictional characters to interact with them, drawing on the reader's existing knowledge and feelings about these real characters to lend credence to the invented story. And when he sends Capt. Abel Jones, the main character, on a carriage ride to Ford's Theater with troubled President Abraham Lincoln, he draws on our image of a national hero and his death to double the impact of the scene. The murder mystery itself is fairly traditional, but Parry's hero is unusual. Abel Jones, a Welsh immigrant, is a priggish and somewhat prejudiced man who participated in the horrors of war in India but who hates "the muchness of death." Fearful that a divided country will affect the dreams of immigrants, like him, to be "part of something great and vast, something mighty and yet undefined," he reluctantly enlists in a Pennsylvania artillery company. After nearly losing a leg in the Battle of Bull Run, he is assigned to the Ordinance Office in Washington, where, at the request of Gen. McClellan, he investigates the death of an abolitionist war hero from Philadelphia and uncovers all manner of corruption and profiteering connected to the highest levels of government. Though the story depends, to some extent, on our acceptance of stereotypes (the Irish drinker, the German housewife, snobbish Philadelphia society, corrupt politicians, the nouveau riche), Parry's effective incorporation of mountains of period detail elevates the novel, giving it a wider scope and capturing the reader's interest at levels beyond the mystery. This is the first of a series of four Abel Jones mysteries--one a year since 1999--and with this winning main character and Civil War setting, Parry is not likely to run out of material anytime soon!
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Summary: One of the best books I've read in a long time!
Review: An excellent first novel. Parry's use of the vernacular of the times adds flavor to an exciting and suspenseful story. Parry's hero, Abel Jones, is a Welshman with his own prejudices that are common to the times(The Irish are all drunks, the Germans will never be good soldiers). Parry manages to capture an authentic feel of the times by using historical characters such as McClellan, Pinkerton, Lincoln, and others to flesh out the story. This was one of the best books I have read in a long while. I look forward to reading subsequent books in the series.
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Summary: Simply brilliant writing!
Review: This is a novel of remarkable literary quality, no matter how you classify it. I actually thought it was a very good mystery, but, as a historical novel, it's absolutely superb. I've never been so convinced by the characters in a work of historical fiction--they're almost always just modern temperaments playing dress up. But the psychological reactions here are perfect, starting with the narrator, who tells his tale in a beautiful, warm voice that reads almost like poetry. If this weren't a "genre" novel, it would have won every literary prize there is. Great storytelling. Simply great. And, as best I can tell, the historical detail is extremely accurate. Having read this first book in the series, I look forward to the others. I hope Parry can sustain this sort of quality. Every single page of this book was a delight to read--the prose makes you want to read it out loud. Enough said. Just read it.
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Summary: 5 Stars For Civil War Period History; 3 Stars For Mystery!
Review: Faded Coat Of Blue, Owen Parry's debut novel of historical suspense in his series featuring Abel Jones is a worthwhile read. However, while deciding on whether to read this book, make sure that your interest skews more to the history element than the mystery element. Parry's historical recreation of the Civil War period in and around Washington D.C. is very interesting and insightful, his narrative skills are excellent, and his dvelopment of his hero, Abel Jones is first rate. The combination of Parry's abilities in these areas makes you feel that you are right there along side Jones in this turbulent period of the nation's history. Be aware, however, that Faded Coat Of Blue is more a novel of historical fiction than a mystery. The mystery element is not very mysterious and somehat predictable; and serves more as the vehicle to convey the history of the time period and to develop the very likable Abel Jones. If this is acceptable to you, I think you'll enjoy Fade Coat Of Blue very much and go on to read the next two books in the series (as I plan to do). However, if your interest lies more in reading a mystery that will keep you guessing and "on the edge of your seat," you may want to skip this book.Whatever, your decision, I hope you enjoy your next reading experience!
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Summary: Absolutely True to Its Times
Review: I hope women will pick up this book, even though its cover may prove it's not being marketed to females, except those who are already fascinated by the American Civil War. Owen Parry has created a soldier with the voice, morals, accents, vision and views of his time, not our sanitized and popularized version of things. I was deftly immersed in the era - in the smells and sounds of swampy 1860's Washington and the sensibilities of a married man in love with his wife. This is a yet a Washington that is still served by slaves (they weren't freed even in DC when this series begins) and revisionist history has hidden that truth from all but serious students. How wonderful that Parry can combine the most complex and fascinating part of our national history with a love story in a murder mystery in a war story! This is mystery writing as it should be - the reticence of the age is the natural shield from modern descriptions of gore and puke and sex ad literal nauseum we must bear as writers shock and sicken us with descriptives. Fortunately, Parry actually has a story and can tell it, and tell it in the characters of the times, from India to Pennsylvania and back again. As an additional bonus, he portrays General McClellan as the strutting, empty uniform he apparently proved. From the boarding house to the bordellos and on the streets and the trains, it was a reading luxury through and through and I can't think of another opening book in a modern series that has been such a pleasure.
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