The Stalking-Horse

by Miriam Grace Monfredo

Book Overview

It's the eve of the Civil War, and Glynis Tryon's niece, Bronwen, has joined Pinkerton's Detective Agency. While on her first assignment in the South, two agents are murdered. When word reaches Seneca Falls that Bronwen is in trouble, Glynis heads south -- and finds her niece caught in the midst of a diabolical plot designed to strike at the very heart of the United States government.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0425166953
• ISBN13: 9780425166956
• Release Date: January 1999
• Publisher: Berkley Books
• Length: 340 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 4.2" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

One of the best Monfredo books

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.

Another Great Historical Mystery

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. watziznaym@gmail.com

Excellent historical mystery

This is a well-researched historical mystery. The historicalaspects, the tone, the characterizations, and the plot are all done very well. Whether you enjoy mysteries or just like straight historical fiction, it works on both levels.

Outstanding!

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.

Perhaps Monfredo's best

Going into this book, I was a little reluctant to accept the shift from "A Glynis Tryon Mystery" to "A Seneca Falls Historical Mystery". I'd grown accustomed to Glynis Tryon (who would be approximately 45 years old now) and wasn't quite ready to turn over the reins of sleuthing to some snot-nosed niece. Monfredo made the transition easier for me by creating a book whose mystery was more compelling than the mysteries of the previous Tryon series. With the other books, I was much more caught up on the historical side of the story and gaining insight into what it was like to live during those times than in the mystery. The Stalking Horse, however, had a more involved plot and more tension and action than the other books, and this Tryon was involved in events that could have changed the course of history. Plus, I still got my dose of historical insight. And I have to admit, hanging off the edge of moving railroad cars is not something I think 45-year old Glynis would be likely to do. I appreciated Monfredo's Historical Notes and her suggestions that we would be seeing a couple more of the historical figures in future stories. I hope the future also includes Jacques Sundown and Glynis as well.