Mini Book Reviews: Historical Fiction

You all know I love a good historical tale and today I'm sharing my thoughts on two novels that were recently published that will surely immerse readers in a different time period in American history.

The Jackal's Mistress by Chris Bohjalian

Pages: 336

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction

Pub. Date: March 11, 2025

Publisher: Knopf Doubleday

Source: Publisher for review

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

Goodreads says, "Virginia, 1864—Libby Steadman’s husband has been away for so long that she can barely conjure his voice in her dreams. While she longs for him in the night, fearing him dead in a Union prison camp, her days are spent running a gristmill with her teenage niece, a hired hand, and his wife, all the grain they can produce requisitioned by the Confederate Army. It’s an uneasy life in the Shenandoah Valley, the territory frequently changing hands, control swinging back and forth like a pendulum between North and South, and Libby awakens every morning expecting to see her land a battlefield. 
    And then she finds a gravely injured Union officer left for dead in a neighbor’s house, the bones of his hand and leg shattered. Captain Jonathan Weybridge of the Vermont Brigade is her enemy – but he’s also a human being, and Libby must make a terrible Does she leave him to die alone? Or does she risk treason and try to nurse him back to health? And if she succeeds, does she try to secretly bring him across Union lines, where she might negotiate a trade for news of her own husband? 
    A vivid and sweeping story of two people navigating the boundaries of love and humanity in a landscape of brutal violence, The Jackal’s Mistress is a heart-stopping new novel, based on a largely unknown piece of American history, from one of our greatest storytellers.

Libby Steadman lives in the Shenandoah Valley and helps to operate her husband's mill. Her husband, Peter, is a Confederate soldier. He is being held captive by the Union army in a prison and his fate is uncertain. Libby lives and operates the mill with Joseph, who was formally enslaved by her husband's family. Joseph has helped her in so many close calls as the fighting is coming closer to their land. Joseph's wife encounters an injured Union soldier and Libby decides to help him despite the dangers. He has been left for dead, with his leg partially amputated and he is in dire straits. The parallel storyline is from this soldier's point of view, Captain Jonathan Weybridge. He is a Union soldier and professor from Vermont. While fighting nearby, he got hit by a canon and he has been left behind. Both Libby and Jonathan long for their spouses and have much more in common despite being on conflicting sides of the war. As time progresses, a fast friendship ensues, but rumors are going around that a Union officer is on the loose and this puts Libby in a dangerous situation if she is caught harboring Jonathan. To make matters worse, Jonathan needs medicine in order to survive and the only place that has what they need is at Harpers Ferry, twenty miles away. Chris Bohjalian's The Jackal's Mistress is an adventurous romp that will transport readers to the Civil War and highlight a challenging time in our nation's history.

Bohjalian writes a compelling Civil War tale that is actually based on real-life people; however, it is to be noted that he took some historical liberties in The Jackal's Mistress. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed this story that felt more adventurous than romantic despite the title. Bohjalian builds suspense throughout the novel and it kept me flipping the pages. In addition to this, Civil War fans will especially relish all the historical details and the author paints a vivid picture of the time.

 

 

The Girl from Greenwich Street by Lauren Willig

Pages: 352

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction

Pub. Date: March 4, 2025

Publisher: Harper Collins
Source: Publisher for review

Other Books By Author: Band of Sisters, The English Wife,

The Ashford Affair, The Other Daughter, and

The Passion of the Purple Plumeria

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

Goodreads says, "At the start of a new century, a shocking murder transfixes Manhattan, forcing bitter rivals Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr to work together to save a man from the gallows. 

Just before Christmas 1799, Elma Sands slips out of her Quaker cousin’s boarding house—and doesn’t come home. Has she eloped? Run away? No one knows—until her body appears in the Manhattan Well.

Her family insists they know who killed her. Handbills circulate around the city accusing a carpenter named Levi Weeks of seducing and murdering Elma. But privately, quietly, Levi’s wealthy brother calls in a special favor….

Aaron Burr’s legal practice can’t finance both his expensive tastes and his ambition to win the 1800 New York elections. To defend Levi Weeks is a double a hefty fee plus a chance to grab headlines.

Alexander Hamilton has his own political aspirations; he isn’t going to let Burr monopolize the public’s attention. If Burr is defending Levi Weeks, then Hamilton will too. As the trial and the election draw near, Burr and Hamilton race against time to save a man’s life—and destroy each other.

Part murder mystery, part thriller, part true crime, The Girl From Greenwich Street revisits a dark corner of history—with a surprising twist ending that reveals the true story of the woman at the center of the tale."

Elma Sands is living at her cousin's boardinghouse in New York City. One night in December, she leaves and doesn't return. Her cousins know she had a relationship with a fellow boarder, Levi Weeks, and they thought they had plans to be married. However, Levi doesn't know where Elma is and once her body shows up in the Manhattan well weeks later, all fingers point to Levi. Levi's brother, Ezra, is wealthy and hires an excellent attorney to defend his brother. Enter stage left: Aaron Burr. Due to politics and the sensation around this case (perhaps some jealousy, too?) Alexander Hamilton insists he helps with the defense of Levi as well. This trial became a sensation in New York City with a lot of attention as this was the first US murder trial. Fans of true crime, historical mysteries, and Alexander Hamilton will savor The Girl from Greenwich Street by Lauren Willig.

What makes The Girl from Greenwich Street so compelling is the fact that this book is based on the first US murder trial that has a transcript of the court case. Willig's story is based heavily on this and truly brings these real people to life. I really enjoy true crime stories and the fact that this one included such famous names as Burr and Hamilton only added to my enjoyment. Willig, a lawyer herself, was able to capture the courtroom expertly. Lastly, I was really captivated by the whole case and thoroughly enjoyed Willig's author's note at the end of the novel. The note demonstrates how much research she put into this and fills in any gaps. So, if you are a fan of historical mysteries, look no further!

 

 

Have you read The Jackal's Mistress or The Girl from Greenwich Street? Are either book on your spring TBR list? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.