Post-Revolutionary Financial Shenanigans
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I tend to like historical mysteries/thrillers, but for some reason, had never picked up any of Liss' well-regarded books until now. The post-Revolutionary War setting intrigued me enough to try this one out, as I know next to nothing about the era in general, and precisely nothing about the real speculation and banking panic which inspired the story.
The book is driven by separate plotlines featuring a pair of awfully compelling protagonists. Captain Saunders is a penniless, drunk rogue who left the Revolutionary Army under scandalous (and possibly unfounded) circumstances some years earlier, and spends most of his time stewing in his own disgrace. He becomes embroiled in the search for the missing husband of his true love, which leads him down some shady streets, and into the corridors of power. Namely those of his former commander, Alexander Hamilton, now the Secretary of the Treasury. Meanwhile, Joan Maycott is a forward-thinking young woman of brains and beauty, who marries her first love and sets out with him to the wild wild West (that is to say, Western Pennsylvania). She heads down muddy paths and into a grim future, eking out a living with her husband under the thumb of a despotic overlord.
Unfortunately, although the two plotlines alternate chapters, their timelines do not coincide, making for some rather awkward back and forth. Captain Saunders' adventures take place in 1791, while Mrs. Maycott's take place several years earlier, and must catch up to the Saunders timeline. This results in some herky-jerky pacing, as days in one chapter give way to months in another. All of while gets even more confusing when other characters appear in both plotlines. It's not impenetrable, it just takes one out of the story a smidgen, which is unfortunate.
Otherwise, the two plotlines juxtapose well, as Saunders' story allows the reader to revel in Revolutionary-era Philadelphia, and follow the process of the fledgling financial markets, while Mrs. Maycott's captures the brutality of the West and how it changes its settlers. Of course, eventually the two stories dovetail, as a powerful speculator attempts to manipulate the market in a manner that might well spell doom for the fledgling American republic. Unfortunately, at this point Mrs. Maycott more or less stops being a full character and instead acts as a mysterious catalyst, robbing the reader of the more sympathetic of the two protagonists. Saunders takes center stage in a game of financial cat and mouse with huge ramifications.
Although Liss could never have known when he started, the subject matter is all too timely, and those looking for a good read dealing with market panics will find this to their taste. It's also got some rich historical atmosphere and detail, combining historical and fictional characters in a seamless manner. The dialogue deserves special mention, as Liss clearly revels in doling out clever wordplay to his protagonists. All in all a good read slightly undone by problems of pace, construction, and length.
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