Michael Kilian has given us a good read within the setting of our un-Civil War. The Virginian born Rains tries to remain neutral as the nation comes to blows near the rail center of Manassas, but finds it nearly impossible. Jailed by Lafayette Baker (the real overzealous agent working for General Scott)  Raines breaks out so that he can save an actress who is the best friend of the actress Rains loves, even though she loves John Wilkes Booth.

Kilian is adept at working in many of the known characters of the first year of the war, and at placing them reasonably correctly in their historical positions. I will not mention the two plot twists you may not see coming.

Mike Lawrence