Book Blurb:
Politics? Or close friendship and money? Which was the real author of the Confederate’s conspiracy to decapitate the Union? Follow Jemm Pender, a freedman and agent in the National Detective Police Force, as he traces the movements of a Confederate agent known as J.W. Boyd to uncover the truth behind the assassination of our country’s most beloved president.
Book Buy Link: Coming soon from Historium Press
Author Bio:
A student of the American Civil War since visiting Gettysburg more than 50 years ago, T.F. Troy has an award-winning journalism career spanning more than 40 years. He currently serves as Executive Editor of Cleveland Magazine’s Community Leader as well as the Editor of Ohio Business Magazine. He also writes features for Northern Kentucky Magazine and Dayton Magazine, among other regional publications. His work with those publications has won him numerous awards, taking first, second and third place in Ohio for Magazine Feature Writing. Troy’s work has appeared in major metropolitan daily newspapers including the Cleveland Plain Dealer and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
In addition to the previously mentioned publications, Troy also held positions as a Senior Editor for both ABC/Capital Cities and ICD Publications in New York. His work has appeared in numerous national consumer and trade periodicals throughout his career. In his first book Cleveland Classics: Great Tales from the North Coast, Troy interviewed local and national Cleveland celebrities such as: Jim Brown, Bob Feller, Patricia Heaton and Arsenio Hall among others. The Absolution of Mars, set just after the Civil War, is his first novel.
Editorial Review:
“Here comes a blizzard,” the little boy says. He’s only eight years old, a shock of wheat colored hair across his face. He is dressed in a blue suit, with short pants. His ill-fitting white socks are falling into brown shoes. A little girl, no more than three, is dressed in white with a yellow sweater. She picks up a handful of white plum blossoms, which are carpeting the ground under the tree. She plasters Captain Boyd directly in the face. She runs away giggling in delight, as Boyd raises his hands, contorts his face in mock pain, and falls back on the ground feigning injury.
The very first paragraph of The Absolution of Mars draws the reader in, setting a playful scene, and invites you to learn more. Immediately I wanted to know who these children were, who the Captain was, and why they were talking about fighting monsters. I love the way we learn more about the children through dialogue and the things that Boyd says to them. The storytelling has a nice flow and pace to it.
The intriguing opening phrase of the book establishes the mystery and rich historical detail of the narrative. With its intriguing and thought-provoking opening paragraph, the first paragraph successfully grabs the reader's attention and promises a captivating read.
Author T.F. Troy plunges us immediately into the action with the first chapter of The Absolution of Mars. And in this story, we get the ending before the explanation. Chapter one speaks of our main character’s demise and then chapter two bounces us back to twelve days prior.
This writing style creates mystery that keeps you intrigued, waiting to find out what happens next. We are then introduced to a new character, Jemm Pender. Jemm is a slave, owned by the Pender’s. Through him, we also learn of Marnie and her gifts, and a great deal about the times in which they are living.
The book handles really difficult subjects surrounding racism and at times, it’s difficult to read, especially when racial slurs are used. I didn’t see any content warnings to prepare me for this, but readers should be aware going into it that this book deals with some very real, very painful parts of America’s past and the days of slavery. That said, from a historical perspective and a human POV, it’s done very well and accurately.
But they have plenty to fear. Before the morning dawns, the African residents of U Street and other neighborhoods gather at the spire on L Street, the site that will soon be the first African church in the capital. While 70 percent of the City wants justice and answers, they are also quick to blame what they see as an inferior race—the easiest of targets and a convenient repository for their ire. The other 30 percent, the freedmen, are gathering at various places to flee, or seek umbrage against the anger that is sure to come their way.
Downstairs, Colonel Wells has finished his admonishment of Sergeant Henry for letting him go out disheveled.
“Henry, you’ll be shadowing Sergeant Pender during his investigation. You’ll report to me anything he uncovers, before it becomes official. And he should never know that you are so ordered in this capacity. Is that clear?”
“Of course, sir,” the sergeant says.
Character development is a big plus for this historical novel. Through the people in the story, including our main character, we learn so much about the time of history, the cultures and more. The portrayal of Jemm Pender, who was born into slavery and possesses a sharp mind, is nuanced and multifaceted. It is fascinating to watch how he changed from a man constrained by social norms to one who questions and surpasses them. Jemm's brilliant intuition is perfectly countered by the equally well-developed opponent, who only accepts empirical facts.
Strong narrative continuity is maintained, with every action and choice made by the characters making sense in relation to one another. The story's plausibility and complexity are enhanced by the historical setting of Granbury, Texas in 1873, which connects the protagonists' individual journeys with more general societal problems.
The novel is notable for its original viewpoint on historical events, skillfully fusing fictitious components with authentic historical context. The historical fiction genre gains a particular flavor from the distinctive and inspirational portrayal of a protagonist who rises from enslavement to intellectual renown.
The little girl in pantaloons approaches the wagon boldly, her right hand almost completely in her mouth the only sign of any trepidation. Her older sister grabs her before she gets too close to the wagon.
“Leave that man alone, Cora Lee,” the older girl says.
“Hey mister, are you a soldier man too?” the seven-year old boy asks.
“That we are,” Jemm says, his tone taking on a little more authoritative tone.
“Yous been in and out of here, asking questions all along,” says the older boy, as he steps up to the wagon.
“Hey mister, they botherin’ you?” Anna Garrett calls from the front porch. “You kids leave that man alone while he waits!”
“Oh I don’t mind mam, kind of like the chidrens,” Jemm calls back.
“Well if they bother you, you all just let me know,” Anna calls back. “Can I get you a drink, some water maybe.”
“I’m fine mam, I have water here in the wagon,” Jemm yells back.
For the most part, it seems to have been well edited, with very few grammatical or typographical mistakes. The material is easier to read, and the complex plot can progress without interruption thanks to the constant layout.
Regardless of how joyful or sad the ending is, it is incredibly gratifying and fits in nicely with the main ideas of the narrative. It brings the book's primary narrative strands together and has a profound effect on the reader, inspiring thought on the moral and ethical issues brought up throughout.
T.F. Troy demonstrates a mastery of language and narrative style in this polished and emotive writing. Rich and colorful prose vividly and precisely captures the details of the scenes, giving them emotional resonance. The conversations are real and have a big impact on how the story develops and the characters are developed.
To summarize, T.F. Troy's The Absolution of Mars is an amazing work that skillfully combines the components of a fantastic historical fiction book. It broadens the reader's perspective on the nuances of historical legacies and human identity in addition to providing entertainment. Recommended to anyone who values nuanced historical interpretation mixed with intelligent storytelling.
*****
“The Absolution of Mars” by T.F. Troy receives four stars from the Historical Fiction Company
To have your historical novel editorially reviewed and/or enter the HFC Book of the Year awards, please visit www.thehistoricalficitoncompany.com/book-awards/award-submission
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