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Rating: 
Summary: Pitiful Sequel
Review: My review of Marks' previous Grant mystery, "The Ambush of My Name," applies fully to this lame sequel, (if you've read one of these books, you've truly read them all,) so rather than repeat myself, I shall just say that this is not only one of the worst fictional portrayals of Grant and his wife, Julia, that I have ever read, but it's a truly feeble detective yarn, to boot. I wish like crazy that Marks would either educate himself about the real Grants before he attempts another book in this series, or forget about USG altogether and turn to mangling the life of Franklin Pierce or Millard Fillmore or anyone else he pleases and leave poor Ulys alone.
Rating: 
Summary: strong historical mystery
Review: The Civil War has been over for six months but General Ulysses S. Grant remains the hero who won the war and preserved the nation. Everyone agrees that Andrew Johnson is a one-term president and that General Grant will in all probability be the next president. Grant tours the county, campaigning to win the presidency if he chooses to run. On his way to Cincinnati, he stops at the small Ohio town of Bethel where five of his childhood friends reside.All five of the men spent time in Andersonville, a horrible prison where federal inmates lived in horrific conditions. Grant attends one friend's funeral and before long two other pals are dead. His son finds gold coins in the home of the widow and it isn't long before one of the two remaining friends tell him they returned with gold that was part of the confederate treasury. The two survivors don't know where the booty is hidden and somebody else knows about the loot and will kill to keep the others from having it. In A GOOD SOLDIER, readers observe Ulysses S. Grant, as a person who has known the horrors of war and still grieves for the men that were killed and the nation that remains divided in principle. The audience also sees an individual who adores his wife and youngsters. The audience also sees glimpses of the general who once committed to a cause sees it through to the bitter end. Though a strong historical mystery, the key character enables the author to make his mark as a gifted storyteller who makes history come alive. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: strong historical mystery
Review: The Civil War has been over for six months but General Ulysses S. Grant remains the hero who won the war and preserved the nation. Everyone agrees that Andrew Johnson is a one-term president and that General Grant will in all probability be the next president. Grant tours the county, campaigning to win the presidency if he chooses to run. On his way to Cincinnati, he stops at the small Ohio town of Bethel where five of his childhood friends reside. All five of the men spent time in Andersonville, a horrible prison where federal inmates lived in horrific conditions. Grant attends one friend's funeral and before long two other pals are dead. His son finds gold coins in the home of the widow and it isn't long before one of the two remaining friends tell him they returned with gold that was part of the confederate treasury. The two survivors don't know where the booty is hidden and somebody else knows about the loot and will kill to keep the others from having it. In A GOOD SOLDIER, readers observe Ulysses S. Grant, as a person who has known the horrors of war and still grieves for the men that were killed and the nation that remains divided in principle. The audience also sees an individual who adores his wife and youngsters. The audience also sees glimpses of the general who once committed to a cause sees it through to the bitter end. Though a strong historical mystery, the key character enables the author to make his mark as a gifted storyteller who makes history come alive. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: A Good Soldier Indeed, But a Lousy Novel
Review: Unfortunately, my review of Marks' previous Grant mystery, "The Ambush of My Name," applies fully to this sorry sequel. The author provides not only one of the most insulting, inaccurate portrayals of Grant and his wife Julia that I have ever read, but it's a lame detective yarn, to boot. I wish Marks would either educate himself about the real Grants before he attempts another book in this ill-conceived series, or turn to mangling the lives of Franklin Pierce or Millard Fillmore or anyone else he pleases and leave poor Ulys alone.
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