Second book in my R.I.P. XIII reading challenge and last in Barbara Hamilton's excellent Abigail Adams mystery series was Sup With Devil.
The year is 1774, and the nervous patriots of Boston are awaiting the ship from London that will determine the fate of the city and Massachusetts Colony for the crime of dumping crates of tea into Boston Harbor the previous December.
Against this backdrop of tension, Abigail is sucked into life at Harvard College, where her erudite nephew is a scholar, and solves a murder of a student. The story involves pirates, buried treasure, prostitutes, alchemy, and a host of other delightful elements.
I absolutely adore this series, and am so sorry that I don't have another book in the series to read next October. The relationship between Abigail and husband John is simply wonderful, and I enjoy meeting other revolutionary notables such as Paul Revere, John Hancock, and the ever-maddening Sam Adams.
Hamilton gives them believable dialogue and characters, and I appreciate the details she piles on--Abigail having to do her housework (laundry, cooking, child rearing, cleaning, etc.) all while gadding off to Cambridge, Concord, Lexington, and other outlying villages around Boston.
The mystery itself is well-constructed and whodunit neatly hidden for most of the book
A thoroughly enjoyable historical mystery with one of America's leading ladies as the star.
I haven't heard of this series, but it sounds delightful. Especially this one! Buried treasure, alchemy, Harvard? I'm in. :)
ReplyDeleteThis series seems very curious to me. As you know I am a bit off an American Revolutionary buff. John and Abigail were an interesting pair so I can see why Hamilton would center a series on them.
ReplyDeleteThese do sound like fun books.
I havent heard of this series either but it sounds like fun. I'm a fan of the Adamses. Go Abigail !
ReplyDeleteYet another reader who has never heard of this series. It sounds great! I love fun historical fiction. And you are doing so well with the RIP challenge too. Good job!
ReplyDeleteI really did not heard about the series. But really love to read your blog post. I am so glad to be here. I added book in my collection and will read soon. As I found so many book online and last I Download People Like Us PDF eBook online and read the novel. Its also interesting tale.
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