The Stalking Horse

Rating:
Summary: Great history, good mystery, flawed characters
Review: A thrilling and accurate tale of the Southern attempt on President Lincoln's life as he traveled through Baltimore enroute to Washington for his inauguration. The author's fictional
Pinkerton female operatives are well cast, generally dependable and loyal to their mission. Of course they are stimulated by wartime patriotism. For a sketch of a not so dependable "Pink Rose" in later peacetime adventures see THE PINKERTON EYE.

Rating:
Summary: Review by Allen P. Bristow, author of THE PINKERTON EYE
Review: A thrilling and accurate tale of the Southern attempt on President Lincoln's life as he traveled through Baltimore enroute to Washington for his inauguration. The author's fictional
Pinkerton female operatives are well cast, generally dependable and loyal to their mission. Of course they are stimulated by wartime patriotism. For a sketch of a not so dependable "Pink Rose" in later peacetime adventures see THE PINKERTON EYE.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent historical mystery
Review: As usual, Miriam Grace Monfredo writes a compelling story laced with a "herstory" lesson. I could not put this book down; I finished it in one day. There was so much action, adventure and a bit of romance too! Although I missed reading more about Glynis, the new characters are terrific. Anyone wishing to read a great mystery featuring brave, intellectual heroines should read this series. The only sad part is having to wait another year or so for her next book.

Rating:
Summary: Great history, good mystery, flawed characters
Review: Miriam Grace Monfredo's "Seneca Falls" mysteries are
very good reads. The history is always first-rate, and
the mysteries are compelling. The same holds true for
The Stalking Horse, except the not-believable Bronwen Llyr
as the heroine, and Jacques Sundown as the "deus ex machina."

In short, Bronwen is not credible as a mid-19th century
young woman. She is a late-20th century "supergirl" cast
anachronistically back into 1860 (especially given the
ridulous and confining layers of 19th century women's clothing).

As for Sundown - too much the stereotypical and stoic "noble savage" American Indian with "eyes like a wolf." His characterization, and overly convenient intrusions out of nowhere
to kill the villain, are ridiculous.

None of the above implies that I did not enjoy the mystery, and especially the history. But even good historical novelists like Ms. Monfredo must avoid historical anachronisms and stereotypes to be credible.

Rating:
Summary: The Stalking Horse - a Student Review
Review: The Stalking Horse is a fast pace novel set in the mid 1800's. Written by the acclaimed author, Miriam Grace Monfredo, this book has numerous vivid descriptions accurately portraying the antebellum South. As expected, Ms. Monfredo has beautifully written a story about a girl and her passionate fight to save the young American nation. This suspenseful book contains all of the important points of a true historical story, along with the attention-grabbing aspects of a wonderfully crafted mystery. Blended in a remarkable way, at the turn of each page the reader feels the pain, sorrow, and happiness of each character. I would suggest this book to students twelve years and over, due to the high reading level and difficult comprehension.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best Monfredo books
Review: This book was dark, moody and probably one of Monfredo's best. heroine Bronwyn Llyr and her compatriots are well drawn and seen in complex terms. The history, as always, is well researched and fascinating -- this time focusing on a pre-inagural assasination plot on Abraham Lincoln. Her historical mysteries are some of the best in the genre. Occasionally, Monfredo has let her characters steps on the soap box a bit too much, but this book avoids doing that -- partially because Bronwyn herself tries to avoid politics on the whole.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best Monfredo books
Review: This book was dark, moody and probably one of Monfredo's best. heroine Bronwyn Llyr and her compatriots are well drawn and seen in complex terms. The history, as always, is well researched and fascinating -- this time focusing on a pre-inagural assasination plot on Abraham Lincoln. Her historical mysteries are some of the best in the genre. Occasionally, Monfredo has let her characters steps on the soap box a bit too much, but this book avoids doing that -- partially because Bronwyn herself tries to avoid politics on the whole.

Rating:
Summary: Another Great Historical Mystery
Review: This novel is set just before the outbreak of the Civil War. A young woman is sent to the deep south on a spying mission, and is hard put to escape with her life after her contacts are killed and her real reason for being there is suspected. Altho technically this is one of the Glynis Tryon novels, Glynis has only a small part in this one. Like Ms. Monfredo's other books, this one lets the reader learn a little history while being very well entertained by the action and suspense. Should be on every history teacher's list of books to be read for extra credit.