Father Figures: Faith, Trials & Tribulations

The Sergeant, The Incredible Life of Nicholas Said: Son of an African General, Slave of the Ottomans, Free Man Under the Tsars, Hero of the Union Army

by Dean Calbreath

non-fiction history

Pegasus Books, February 2023

Author's note, twenty-eight chapters, epilogue, notes, and an index recount the details of one impressive man's journey across continents and through pivotal historic times and events.

from near the end of the epilogue:

He [Nicholas Said] witnessed firsthand the impact of jihads in the Muslim world, enslavement in Africa, the decline of the Ottoman Empire, unrest in Tsarist Russia, the golden age of European aristocracy, and the Civil War and Reconstruction in the United States.

It's a compelling march through history as humanized by Nicholas Said's experiences in his own words about them in addition to others' observations about him.

Double the Lies (Annalee Spain #2) by Patricia Raybon

early 20th-c. fiction, mystery

Tyndale House Publishers, February 2023

This layered, intricately woven mystery offers rich historical sociopolitical context, believable multifaceted characters, emotional depth, intrigue, suspense, and its own distinct narrative alchemy that captivates. This second installment in the series works as a standalone and as an incentive to go back and read All That Is Secret.

Fans of Nekesa Afia's Harlem Renaissance series, Leslye Penelope's The Monsters We Defy, the Lady Sherlock series from Sherry Thomas, and other similar historical mystery series that feature complex characters with competing strengths and vulnerabilities set in immersive historical settings should enjoy this author's storytelling gifts, especially readers who appreciate the inclusion of Christian religious and spiritual themes.

Weekly Reading Binge

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