Rating: 
Summary: A worthy fourth episode...
Review: *Honor's Kingdom* is half a world apart from the previous book in the series, *Call Each River Jordan.* With the setting of this one in London and Glasgow, it's more reminiscent of a Sherlock Holmes mystery, and some readers may be disappointed that it lacks the feel and fury of a Civil War battlefield in its pages. But I enthusiastically recommend it. I think it's a tribute to the author that each of the books in the series has been unique, not merely a reprise of the previous ones. Owen Parry has managed to make each story fresh, while maintaining the overall series texture, and I think that says a lot for the series and for the writer's enviable skills. In *Honor's Kingdom,* as in the previous three books in the series, Parry conveys vivid sights and sounds, and his new characters continue to be fascinating. The political twists and turns of this fourth story are intricate, and the book requires careful reading to follow the intrigues and to keep the British principals properly sorted. Many of the scenes are riveting with action and colorful mid-18th-century detail, a trait that's characteristic of all the books in the Owen Parry series. In addition to enjoying the rich descriptions of the characters and settings, I was particularly struck this time by the continued development of the protagonist, Abel Jones. Parry's interesting depiction of the different English social classes, and particularly his excellent descriptions of the women in this story, are wonderful and noteworthy. Each of the four novels in the series is engaging and entertaining. As with the previous three, I finished this one satisfied that all the loose ends had been tied, and wondering, "Where will Abel's adventures take us next?" (Actually, there are one or two specifics I'm particularly curious to see play out, but I won't reveal those here for fear of ruining your surprises.) *Honor's Kingdom* is excellent--a worthy addition to the Owen Parry series in all respects. I'm enjoying the continued evolution of Abel Jones, and I look forward to book five.
Rating:
Summary: Not for the usual palate
Review: A wonderful read, as always, shedding new light on our tragic national conflict. Abel Jones, although living with violence in his past, and unable to avoid it in the present, is a man of great integrity, faith, steadfastness--and humor, both intentional and not. A great hero, though the last to consider himself such. A word of warning: DO NOT begin this book with your breakfast, as I did. Nor with any other meal you plan to eat within the next--oh, several days. Particularly not seafood. But let that bide...
Rating: 
Summary: Honor's Kingdom
Review: Abel Jones goes to England to track Confederate activity there, and gets mixed up in a murder mystery. This is a competent historical mystery. Parry probably did well to get out of America for this one. The grotesqueries of contemporary London are well (if not over-) evoked, and since Parry showed in his last book that he currently writes Confederates as cardboard villains, getting away from them strengthens the book. It all resolves rather easily for Jones, but it is a pleasant read with some moments of humor. However, I think the author is capable of more than this. Jones is a strong character, with a powerful and engaging voice, but I'd like to see Parry create a protagonist capable of seeing the world in shades of gray. Jones doesn't change, and that makes four books about him, even though he's a well-conceived character, seem a little much.
Rating:
Summary: An Astounding Accomplishment
Review: Abel Jones is back and his adventures are more compelling than ever, which is saying something, as readers of the earlier books in this extraordinary Civil War series will recognize. In "Honor's Kingdom" Parry has given us another captivating mystery and an astonishingly well-written historical novel, set primarily in the streets of London and Glasgow. And what do events in Britain have to do with the American Civil War? A great deal, actually, as Parry so beautifully illustrates. In the course of solving another murder, Jones meets Henry Adams (both father and son), Karl Marx and Benjamin Disraeli, among other real-life characters, and of course he encounters a lively cast of characters that are the product of Parry's ever fabulous imagination. Parry captures the sights and sounds of the era in exacting and fascinating detail--yet those details never get in the way of this riviting story. From the opening scene (a dead body is discovered in a basket of eels) to the unexpected climax of this page-turner "Honor's Kingdom" is a treat for anyone who values beautiful writing and intelligent storytelling. For my money, no other author, living or dead, has so well or so delightfully captured the Civil War era as Owen Parry. Long may he write.
Rating:
Summary: The Soldier, Abel Jones
Review: At one point in his account of this mission to Great Britain, Major Abel Jones confides in us. He asserts that he is, at heart, simply a soldier; not a spy, nor diplomat, nor detective. But the fact that this character is becoming all four of these should be no surprise to those of us who have traveled with him. What an adventure! The subtitle on the dust jacket is "A Novel of Historical Suspense." That's a fitting description, but doesn't give full credit to the rich portrait of Queen Victoria's England painted for us by the author through the thoughts and observations of Abel Jones and the other fascinating characters in this wonderful tale. If you haven't read the first three volumes in this superb series, you must. But even if you have not been previously introduced to Major Jones, you owe it to yourself to read "Honor's Kingdom." It's a first rate adventure and truly gives us a feel for what made America (and Americans) special in the mid-19th century.
Rating:
Summary: Honor's Kingdom
Review: I hate this Owen Parry, AKA Ralph Peters!!! His books are so well written as to be an impossible pinnacle for another struggling author to seek to achieve. I've written two books, then I made the mistake of reading his civil war series. Am now considering File 13 for my work. It's a terrible thing when you read an author such as Parry/Peters and just know that he's the best there is, and, most likely better than you will ever be. Another problem is that I now find it difficult to read other authors, most of whose product is of lesser quality. I truly hate, and envy, Parry/Peters!
Rating:
Summary: Honor's Kingdom
Review: I hate this Owen Parry, AKA Ralph Peters!!! His books are so well written as to be an impossible pinnacle for another struggling author to seek to achieve. I've written two books, then I made the mistake of reading his civil war series. Am now considering File 13 for my work. It's a terrible thing when you read an author such as Parry/Peters and just know that he's the best there is, and, most likely better than you will ever be. Another problem is that I now find it difficult to read other authors, most of whose product is of lesser quality. I truly hate, and envy, Parry/Peters!
Rating:
Summary: That ... Parry!
Review: I have never eaten an eel pie, but I've heard of 'em and thought perhaps some day I might enjoy the experience. Not now! Not after reading the first chapter of Abel Jones's latest adventure. That ... Parry has such a command of English prose he used it to make me ill! I haven't read anythng quite as graphic as Chapter 1 of "Honor's Kingdom" since Swift's "The Lady's Dressing Room." But once into this book, as all of Parry's novels, I couldn't put it aside. So what's Abel Jones doing in England? I thought this mystery was pretty straight forward: the redoubtable Major is there to thwart the Confederates' English confederates from building warships for Richmond's fledgling navy. The CSS ALABAMA springs immediately to mind. But the ALABAMA was launched and she wreaked havoc with Yankee shipping. So Jones' mission we know from the beginning of this book is a failure. OK, so he'll solve some grisly murders? Well, read the book. Owen Parry's plots aren't THAT transparent. Now that the "Washington Post" has blown Parry's cover it's obvious this talented literary gentleman has been leaving clues to his real identity buried in the pages of his books. Turn to p. 75 in this edition. There it is and it's hilarious. The real Owen Parry evidently has a self-deprecating sense of humor that combined with his devastating talent as a writer must make him in real life a very endearing person. He also knows English lit. In "Honor's Kingdom" you'll meet Thackery, learn something about Dickens (to whom Parry's writing has been favorably compared), get to know young Henry Adams, and get a liberal dose of William Shakespeare. Parry has something in common with the Bard too: His bad guys get some of the best lines. Oh, and if Karl Marx has any living descendants they may well sue Mr. Parry. But if that happens, don't worry, old bean, all your fans will happily contribute thousands to your defense! And kudos to Ms. Barbara Levine, the cover artist. I wish I could get her to work for me. ...
Rating:
Summary: Couldn't get through it...others probably will!
Review: I just couldn't get into it. There are several things going on here. It's not the war history that's bugging me...but if you notice the other reviewers seem to be mostly men. So maybe his audience is men with interests in reenactments, war, etc. Parry seems to be an excellent writer, well-read, and obviously did research for all this. It just was not sufficiently interesting. His protagonist is a Methodist, and I guess, speaks like they did back then. I don't know about that...but one of the major sentences frequently used in the book is "Let that bide." AFter the 50th time reading that I was about to hurl the book. I don't usually mind the introduction of actual people into fictionalized books provided it was done well. This time, it felt very 'fake' and contrived. Maybe I am wrong here...but Marx was not well-known outside of Europe, and he became very well-known later when Lenin got ahold of his works and used them for his own purposes. The information glut we have now from computers did not exist then...newspapers were usually rags of yellow journalism, especially here in the U.S. I find it difficult to believe a young religious soldier would be familiar at all with Marx. There is an audience for this author. He writes well (though the same thing over and over again). The books are clean. There are definitely worse things to read (or watch) then these books. I won't be getting any more myself... Karen Sadler
Rating: 
Summary: time for a new character
Review: I loved Faded Coat of Blue. The books have been going downhill ever since. The last one I bought meandered through a convoluted other-wordly yarn in upstate New York. Isn't this the Civil war? I read this one after taking it out from the library on my military post. Give me a break. Maybe, Mr. Parry is just going through the motions because he signed on for a series. Try something new.
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