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A Lincoln and Speed Mystery #1
These Honored Dead
Joshua Speed, the enterprising second son of a wealthy plantation owner, has struck off on his own. But before long, he makes a surprising and crucial new acquaintance—a freshly minted lawyer by the name of Abraham Lincoln.
When an orphaned girl from a neighboring town is found murdered and suspicion falls on her aunt, Speed makes it his mission to clear her good name. Of course, he'll need the legal expertise of his unusual new friend. Together, Lincoln and Speed fight to bring justice to their small town. But as more bodies are discovered and the investigation starts to come apart at the seams, there's one question on everyone's does Lincoln have what it takes to crack his first murder case?
Inspired by actual events from the American frontier, Jonathan Putnam's thrilling debut These Honored Dead brings renewed verve and vigor to the historical mystery genre that readers haven't seen since Caleb Carr's The Alienist.
When an orphaned girl from a neighboring town is found murdered and suspicion falls on her aunt, Speed makes it his mission to clear her good name. Of course, he'll need the legal expertise of his unusual new friend. Together, Lincoln and Speed fight to bring justice to their small town. But as more bodies are discovered and the investigation starts to come apart at the seams, there's one question on everyone's does Lincoln have what it takes to crack his first murder case?
Inspired by actual events from the American frontier, Jonathan Putnam's thrilling debut These Honored Dead brings renewed verve and vigor to the historical mystery genre that readers haven't seen since Caleb Carr's The Alienist.
297 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2016
About the author
Jonathan F. Putnam
4 books106 followersJonathan Putnam is a writer and attorney. A graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School, he is a nationally renowned trial lawyer and a recognized Lincoln scholar. His historical mysteries in the Lincoln & Speed Mystery Series include A House Divided (July 2019); Final Resting Place (published 2018), Perish from the Earth (2017) and These Honored Dead (2016).
Jonathan has given many lectures about Lincoln to historical societies, libraries, bookstores, civic organizations, and lawyer groups around the country. The focus of his Lincoln scholarship is the great president's early professional years, including his defining, lifelong friendship with a well-born Southerner named Joshua Speed.
Jonathan has given many lectures about Lincoln to historical societies, libraries, bookstores, civic organizations, and lawyer groups around the country. The focus of his Lincoln scholarship is the great president's early professional years, including his defining, lifelong friendship with a well-born Southerner named Joshua Speed.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 158 reviews
July 17, 2016
Narrated by Joshua Speed, this mystery is firmly rooted into the attitudes and behaviors of the Nineteenth Century. It is 1837 and Speed, who runs a general store, is asked if he knows a place where a newly minted lawyer - Abraham Lincoln - can bed down. They end up sharing a bed in the room above the shop where Speed lives with two other men.
When a young woman is murdered, the two need to work together on the case. The woman is the niece of the widowed woman Speed is secretly seeing. When the Widow Harriman falls under suspicion, Speed is determined to clear her name. When her nephew is also murdered, even more suspicion falls on her.
When Speed goes to warn her that she is soon to be arrested, he finds that she has been murdered too. Suspicion then falls on the prominent doctor because he and the Widow Harriman were also in a relationship.
The descriptions of the medical practices of the day were frankly horrifying as were the descriptions of the lifestyles of the indigent in workhouses. Both the medical practices and the workhouse figured prominently in the plot.
The trial scenes were vividly depicted. Because the book was narrated by Speed, I didn't feel that I got nearly enough of Lincoln in the story. The trial scenes gave him a chance to shine with his folksy style.
This was a well-written story filled with great period detail.
When a young woman is murdered, the two need to work together on the case. The woman is the niece of the widowed woman Speed is secretly seeing. When the Widow Harriman falls under suspicion, Speed is determined to clear her name. When her nephew is also murdered, even more suspicion falls on her.
When Speed goes to warn her that she is soon to be arrested, he finds that she has been murdered too. Suspicion then falls on the prominent doctor because he and the Widow Harriman were also in a relationship.
The descriptions of the medical practices of the day were frankly horrifying as were the descriptions of the lifestyles of the indigent in workhouses. Both the medical practices and the workhouse figured prominently in the plot.
The trial scenes were vividly depicted. Because the book was narrated by Speed, I didn't feel that I got nearly enough of Lincoln in the story. The trial scenes gave him a chance to shine with his folksy style.
This was a well-written story filled with great period detail.
May 4, 2019
The first book in the Lincoln and Speed series. It is a historical fiction that is based on Lincoln lawyer cases. This book background is early Springfield. Joshua Speed is a son of a wealthy plantation owner who is sent to the town to work in the store. A young lawyer, Abraham Lincoln is his bed partner above the store. Joshua has an affair with a woman store owner, Rebecca Harriman in a nearby town. After it ends she takes in her niece and nephew. Her niece is murdered and later the nephew is also killed. Speed has a surprise as his sister, Martha has convinced their father to allow her to visit her friend, Molly who married the sheriff and is expecting their first child. Martha brings with her a slave who is a midwife.
The Sheriff feels the Widow Harriman is guilty of the murders. Lincoln is her lawyer, his first murder case. The book has many twist and turns before the guilty party is exposed. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK AND SERIES.
The Sheriff feels the Widow Harriman is guilty of the murders. Lincoln is her lawyer, his first murder case. The book has many twist and turns before the guilty party is exposed. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK AND SERIES.
October 15, 2016
This is the first time I have read a book from this author. And he did not disappoint. I am a HUGE Lincoln buff anyways, this was a different kind of book than the other Lincoln books I have read. I absolutely loved every minute of it. The only flaw I have and its a minor one is the beginning was kinda slow. It took a few pages to pick up.
July 9, 2016
"These Honored Dead" features historical figures Abraham Lincoln and Joshua Fry Speed (with whom Lincoln shared a bed in a room above a general store). It's 1837, and Speed, shortly after falling in love with strong, intelligent, feisty businesswoman Rebecca Harriman - a widow who has continued to run her husband's store in his absence - meets Lincoln, a newbie to the world of attorneys, and agrees to allow him to bunk with him in a room with two beds - the other occupied by two other fellows.
It's months after Rebecca makes a heartbreaking decision that Joshua sees her again, under tragic circumstances: her niece, Lilly, has been murdered and found in Rebecca's barn. Joshua determines to help clear away any suspicion from Rebecca and find the killer, but the situation grows more and more complex. Throw into the mix a poorhouse with a wicked proprietor; a fire that threatens a stable and another business; more murder; a doctor Lincoln is representing in court who has a dead first wife and a missing second wife and who's in a land dispute; a foreigner at the scene of a crime who ends up with a broken leg while seemingly trying to flee; and Joshua's sister, Martha, who arrives with a slave in a state where slavery is against the law, and there's all kinds of mischief afoot.
The characters engaged and interested me, and the story/mystery were easy to follow despite the many threads. The romance between Rebecca and Joshua felt rushed and a bit fake, and the conclusion, while it was well written enough and I understood it, didn't leave me feeling quite satisfied, but overall the story amounted to a good effort that interested me enough to pick up another book if there were to be a series.
It's months after Rebecca makes a heartbreaking decision that Joshua sees her again, under tragic circumstances: her niece, Lilly, has been murdered and found in Rebecca's barn. Joshua determines to help clear away any suspicion from Rebecca and find the killer, but the situation grows more and more complex. Throw into the mix a poorhouse with a wicked proprietor; a fire that threatens a stable and another business; more murder; a doctor Lincoln is representing in court who has a dead first wife and a missing second wife and who's in a land dispute; a foreigner at the scene of a crime who ends up with a broken leg while seemingly trying to flee; and Joshua's sister, Martha, who arrives with a slave in a state where slavery is against the law, and there's all kinds of mischief afoot.
The characters engaged and interested me, and the story/mystery were easy to follow despite the many threads. The romance between Rebecca and Joshua felt rushed and a bit fake, and the conclusion, while it was well written enough and I understood it, didn't leave me feeling quite satisfied, but overall the story amounted to a good effort that interested me enough to pick up another book if there were to be a series.
May 21, 2022
Springfield, Illinois. March 1837. Jonathan F Putnam ‘s debut novel These Honored Dead (Lincoln and Speed Mystery #1) is a historical fiction novel which springs from historical fact. Abraham Lincoln and Joshua Speed were ‘lifelong’ friends who met in 1837 when Lincoln (who had been admitted to the bar by Judge Wilson, an ancestor of my late husband) arrived in Springfield, he need a place to stay. Lincoln ended up sharing a bed with Joshua Speed. Joshua Speed ran the A. Y. Ellis & Co. dry goods store with a progressively very silent partner which was located in downtown Springfield. Lincoln thanks to Speed is about to try his first murder trial. Can he win? The reader gets to know Lincoln from his early days in Springfield. Definitely read the Historical Note at the end of the novel (after you read the novel, of course). It provides fascinating facts of the USA IN 1837, one being Springfield was on the edge of the frontier. The author, trial lawyer turned writer, has huge interest in Abraham Lincoln as have I. This series consists of 4 books. On to book 2. 3.5 stars.
January 18, 2018
In 1837, Abraham Lincoln, a newly minted lawyer, finds his way to Springfield and boards with the young merchant Joshua Speed. The two effortlessly strike a friendship, but Speed fails to mention his shaky relationship with the widow Rebecca Harriman, who soon becomes a disreputable figure. When her niece is murdered, she’s the prime suspect, until two more murders follow. While Joshua seeks the truth, Lincoln undertakes his first murder case, in which he defends a man he believes to be innocent.
These Honored Dead is a well-researched debut, based on real-life historical figures, including but not limited to Abraham Lincoln. The author presents a solid mystery, but the spirit of the novel emerges through the gripping trial. Readers will become engrossed by Lincoln’s folksy humor and dramatic speeches, and see how frontier justice differs from the law of today. Propelled by bold words and bold actions by an amateur lawyer and a merchant turned amateur sleuth, the story reaches a clever but plausible resolution. It is sure to breed curiosity towards what might have really happened during these historical events.
These Honored Dead is a well-researched debut, based on real-life historical figures, including but not limited to Abraham Lincoln. The author presents a solid mystery, but the spirit of the novel emerges through the gripping trial. Readers will become engrossed by Lincoln’s folksy humor and dramatic speeches, and see how frontier justice differs from the law of today. Propelled by bold words and bold actions by an amateur lawyer and a merchant turned amateur sleuth, the story reaches a clever but plausible resolution. It is sure to breed curiosity towards what might have really happened during these historical events.
July 5, 2017
I listened to this story as an audio book which increased my pleasure as the narrator did such a great job not only with Speed's slightly Southern voice as well as the women, but got Lincoln's known to be high pitched voice right, too. For a mystery, this starts slowly, building the characters and the setting in meticulous historical detail. When triple murders do occur, Lincoln, new at law, takes on the defense of a man he is sure is innocent but won't say so after the other prime suspects dies. Most of the book is actually Speed trying to find evidence to stop several injustices. I caught on to the killer before the reveal, but it comes late in the book. Lincoln does not act out of his character and mostly expounds on the laws of the times, not only for murder but the Illinois Black Code. While slavery was banned in the state, blacks could not testify in court or serve on a jury. Even the end notes were interesting with an amazing number of the characters being real but not as well-known as Lincoln and this includes Speed himself.
April 4, 2018
Excellent book!! Well written. I thoroughly enjoyed it! A good historical novel which I was intrigued by the time period. It’s about Lincoln and his early years as a new lawyer. I can’t wait for the rest of the books! I know there are at least two of them as of this time!
February 26, 2020
History come to life. With just a smidgen of sex and mayhem thrown in!
My Full Review
My Full Review
August 16, 2018
Joshua Speed was Lincoln's friend and roommate in Springfield when they were youngish men. The story is told from Speed's perspective as a son from a good family who has declined to read law and has entered the dry goods profession. Lincoln is a minor character, even though he gets to be defense attorney at a murder trial.
There are three murders in the neighboring area which all involve Speed's recently ex-paramour. He and his sister attempt to find the identity of the murderer and go on several expeditions that are based on actual occurrences of the 1830's in Springfield.
For a Harvard graduate and a lawyer, Putnam slings quite a few anachronisms into a book set in the 1830's. For instance, Alfred Nobel didn't invent dynamite until the 1860's.
All in all, a fast summer read, but don't confuse fiction with history.
There are three murders in the neighboring area which all involve Speed's recently ex-paramour. He and his sister attempt to find the identity of the murderer and go on several expeditions that are based on actual occurrences of the 1830's in Springfield.
For a Harvard graduate and a lawyer, Putnam slings quite a few anachronisms into a book set in the 1830's. For instance, Alfred Nobel didn't invent dynamite until the 1860's.
All in all, a fast summer read, but don't confuse fiction with history.
August 1, 2017
Didn't know that Lincoln here was Abraham Lincoln. Nice courtroom scenes.
September 12, 2018
An excellent read with interesting plot twists and fine historical research. The author also captures Lincoln’s spirit perfectly. Highly recommend and intend to read more by this author.
August 10, 2017
Local, independent bookstores through authors talking about their books can exposed you to books you might not otherwise read. My local bookstore is One More Page, in Falls Church, Virginia. A few weeks ago, on a Friday night, Johnathan Putnam gave a talk about his new book Perish from the Earth. He also talked about his transition from being an attorney to a writer. It is clear from his talk and the book that, as good authors do, he has done a great deal of research about the lead protagonists, Joshua Speed and Abraham Lincoln, at the time of their real-life friendship, namely 1837 in Springfield Illinois. As Putnam explained, this is a point in time in Lincoln’s career where he (Lincoln) is not fully formed in the way we think of him today (seeing him as the President that preserved the United States during our civil war).
As with other authors of historical fiction, Putnam takes some liberty about details of Lincoln’s and Speed’s role in the events, as portrayed in the book, and at the same time stays true to what we know about the time, people, customs, and laws. The author also wanted to put Speed in the foreground and as the narrator, giving him (the author) a bit more literary freedom (most of us know little about Speed).
After deciding to read the author’s book, it turns out that the new and second book of the series was sold out, so I purchased a copy of the first one, These Honored Dead. This first Speed-Lincoln mystery begins to introduce us, the readers, to Springfield in 1837, as a frontier town; and to the idea of differences in laws between Illinois and Kentucky with respect to slavery, which was allowed in the latter but not the former. And it allows us to see a bit of how people interacted as communities.
The driving force of the story is around the serial deaths of members of a family, and trying to determine who did it. There is a court scene, where Lincoln is in his first murder case. And there is a wonderful story twist at the end.
One way to judge a book is whether or not a reader will decide to read the next one by the author. I will!
As the author stated in his talk, he is trying to portray the time and place, knowing what we know about the national history, which is of course unknown to the characters in the book. I look forward to seeing how this developed in the second book. There are at least four books in this series of Speed-Lincoln mysteries! The very positive reviews of the first book lead to extending the author’s contract!
Hope others will enjoy reading books of this series.
As with other authors of historical fiction, Putnam takes some liberty about details of Lincoln’s and Speed’s role in the events, as portrayed in the book, and at the same time stays true to what we know about the time, people, customs, and laws. The author also wanted to put Speed in the foreground and as the narrator, giving him (the author) a bit more literary freedom (most of us know little about Speed).
After deciding to read the author’s book, it turns out that the new and second book of the series was sold out, so I purchased a copy of the first one, These Honored Dead. This first Speed-Lincoln mystery begins to introduce us, the readers, to Springfield in 1837, as a frontier town; and to the idea of differences in laws between Illinois and Kentucky with respect to slavery, which was allowed in the latter but not the former. And it allows us to see a bit of how people interacted as communities.
The driving force of the story is around the serial deaths of members of a family, and trying to determine who did it. There is a court scene, where Lincoln is in his first murder case. And there is a wonderful story twist at the end.
One way to judge a book is whether or not a reader will decide to read the next one by the author. I will!
As the author stated in his talk, he is trying to portray the time and place, knowing what we know about the national history, which is of course unknown to the characters in the book. I look forward to seeing how this developed in the second book. There are at least four books in this series of Speed-Lincoln mysteries! The very positive reviews of the first book lead to extending the author’s contract!
Hope others will enjoy reading books of this series.
July 10, 2017
This book did earn it's second star back with its climax so it did have some redeeming features, but for the most part, it's a boring read even though the novel itself is not that long. The sudden affair by page 18 felt so contrived and, well, inconceivable that it started on a sour note.
This book's jacket puts a heavy emphasis on Abraham Lincoln as a young lawyer as a character, but for the most part he just isn't present, which honestly drags the novel down because Speed isn't that interesting of a character, and it breaks the promise to the reader. I kind of wish we were in Martha's head instead.
The mystery wasn't much of a mystery that in turn made the book feel longer than it was. Is it well-written structurally, sure, but story-wise, this just needed more action and less traveling.
This book's jacket puts a heavy emphasis on Abraham Lincoln as a young lawyer as a character, but for the most part he just isn't present, which honestly drags the novel down because Speed isn't that interesting of a character, and it breaks the promise to the reader. I kind of wish we were in Martha's head instead.
The mystery wasn't much of a mystery that in turn made the book feel longer than it was. Is it well-written structurally, sure, but story-wise, this just needed more action and less traveling.
January 7, 2019
Okay
It's an OK story. It held my interest until the end, and I've no trouble putting down books that aren't worth reading. But it would benefit from a proofread to comb out the few glaring (I'm not sure what to call them, bigger than typos but not major plot holes). In any case, a critical re-read. It's obvious there are follow on volumes. Lincoln is a rather wooden supporting character. I didn't really get a sense of him. The plot is ok. So overall, worth finishing if you find it in your hands, but not worth crossing the street to lay your hands on.
It's an OK story. It held my interest until the end, and I've no trouble putting down books that aren't worth reading. But it would benefit from a proofread to comb out the few glaring (I'm not sure what to call them, bigger than typos but not major plot holes). In any case, a critical re-read. It's obvious there are follow on volumes. Lincoln is a rather wooden supporting character. I didn't really get a sense of him. The plot is ok. So overall, worth finishing if you find it in your hands, but not worth crossing the street to lay your hands on.
July 25, 2016
See my Amazon review: https://www.amazon.com/review/R1RUBO5...
October 11, 2016
I liked his writing style. Straight forward. No flowery prose. Interesting description of "Lincoln. Not what I expected for a portrayal of his legal career.
October 9, 2020
I think some of the buzz around this book gave me unrealistic expectations. It made it sound like Lincoln and Speed would be Sherlock and Watson and this is far more like a John Grisham courtroom drama. Which, fair enough because Lincoln (and the author) was a lawyer. My bigger disappointment wasn't that Lincoln wasn't out there solving mysteries it was that he's really not that much of a presence in the novel. It's told first person from Speed's point of view and I have to say I didn't like Speed much.
Some other reviewer said it would have been better with Martha, Speed's younger sister as the protagonist. Yes, she was far more interesting but bound by the huge restrictions placed on young women (or women in general) at this time period. The issues with Speed are he wasn't that interesting and the fact there were some real life problems with him that are reflected in the text.
Like most amateur sleuths, Speed is drawn into the case when his would-be love interest is suspected of murdering a family member and he is out to clear her name. As more bodies drop, things get more dire. It sounds like it could be a riproaring investigation but honestly it's not. Speed doesn't do much investigating at all and some of it just falls into his lap.
Lincoln is there to illustrate how American court of law has changed (Martha too, like when she's annoyed that women can't be jurors) Back then a case might last one or two days and you were hung almost immediately. PoC couldn't even give evidence no matter what they had witnessed. And Lincoln was given 2 days to prepare his case which was considered generous. We can only imagine how many innocent people were hung in those days given all this.
The ending was at least a bit more exciting and I enjoyed the author's historical notes, such as the fact Lincoln had been charged with helping defendants escape if he thought they were innocent but were unlikely to be judged that way.
So spoilers here. What I didn't like about Speed is unfortunately from real life. He was raised wealthy and the family had about 60 slaves. He saw nothing wrong with it and he and Lincoln did argue bitterly about it (there are letters to that effect). That is a major plot point when his sister's slave, who had been brought along as a midwife for Martha's friend, the wife of the sheriff, is taken. Speed doesn't care about her or why she was taken (as he wanted Lincoln to lose because he thought the person was guilty and the slave might have evidence to the contrary) He was more annoyed that Phillis, the slave, wasn't more grateful to him for helping her because slaves should be grateful for all their white masters do for them.
So you can see why this makes Speed a less than likable protagonist. In real life, Lincoln lamented Speed's love for slavery (even if Speed did side with the North and Lincoln in the war). Putnam can't really change that. Speed and slavery are part of history. It might have been better had it not been a plot point but it was so that might make a reader uncomfortable but maybe that's the point. It should make us uncomfortable.
Some other reviewer said it would have been better with Martha, Speed's younger sister as the protagonist. Yes, she was far more interesting but bound by the huge restrictions placed on young women (or women in general) at this time period. The issues with Speed are he wasn't that interesting and the fact there were some real life problems with him that are reflected in the text.
Like most amateur sleuths, Speed is drawn into the case when his would-be love interest is suspected of murdering a family member and he is out to clear her name. As more bodies drop, things get more dire. It sounds like it could be a riproaring investigation but honestly it's not. Speed doesn't do much investigating at all and some of it just falls into his lap.
Lincoln is there to illustrate how American court of law has changed (Martha too, like when she's annoyed that women can't be jurors) Back then a case might last one or two days and you were hung almost immediately. PoC couldn't even give evidence no matter what they had witnessed. And Lincoln was given 2 days to prepare his case which was considered generous. We can only imagine how many innocent people were hung in those days given all this.
The ending was at least a bit more exciting and I enjoyed the author's historical notes, such as the fact Lincoln had been charged with helping defendants escape if he thought they were innocent but were unlikely to be judged that way.
So spoilers here. What I didn't like about Speed is unfortunately from real life. He was raised wealthy and the family had about 60 slaves. He saw nothing wrong with it and he and Lincoln did argue bitterly about it (there are letters to that effect). That is a major plot point when his sister's slave, who had been brought along as a midwife for Martha's friend, the wife of the sheriff, is taken. Speed doesn't care about her or why she was taken (as he wanted Lincoln to lose because he thought the person was guilty and the slave might have evidence to the contrary) He was more annoyed that Phillis, the slave, wasn't more grateful to him for helping her because slaves should be grateful for all their white masters do for them.
So you can see why this makes Speed a less than likable protagonist. In real life, Lincoln lamented Speed's love for slavery (even if Speed did side with the North and Lincoln in the war). Putnam can't really change that. Speed and slavery are part of history. It might have been better had it not been a plot point but it was so that might make a reader uncomfortable but maybe that's the point. It should make us uncomfortable.
December 29, 2022
If this book is any indication as to what Mr Putnam has to offer for his Lincoln/Speed books, count me IN! I'm a Fan.
Jonathan F Putnam takes the facts of a case and spruces them up, adding a little here and a little there, filling in some details until... voila! - a magnificent murder mystery! Lloyd James is phenomenal at voicing these characters, to the point that I listened to his female voice to be sure it was really him and I only knew it was him because Audible told me so (well, at first you could tell, but toward the end, he was nailing it!).
Okay, the story is so riveting! This is the first book in the series, so we start out with Joshua Speed (who is the narrator) meeting Abe Lincoln for the very first time. I really enjoyed the way Putnam crafted the story around what it might have been like, those two meeting for the very first time... how Lincoln had to order a special bed, and other details that made it so real.
Before too long, the murder happens and Lincoln is pulled in. Putnam has his wry sense of humor as he tells about Lincoln explaining how he hasn't lost a murder case yet... he hasn't HAD a murder case yet, but he hasn't lost one! Each little detail Putnam puts in (I won't spoil the fun) deepens the richness of the story.
The murder is of a young girl, and the aunt eventually is blamed. The thing is, young Speed has recently taken up with said aunt, so he's pushing Lincoln to vindicate his new love interest. More murders happen, each where the aunt could very well have done them. It's not looking good. Speed is desperate now.
Throw in some slave stealing, to which Lincoln has a BIG problem in this book, (This author paints Lincoln as an abolitionist, but there is proof that he wasn't, that he wasn't all about freeing the slaves, but just stopping the war and keeping the country unified) and a great trial, and you've got one masterpiece of historical fiction.
At the end, we are told of every bit of information that Putnam worked with that is true, the historical evidence in its totality to backup this novel, including the details of the murders and Lincoln's trial history. It's extremely fascinating, and Putnam puts it all together. DEFINITELY a worthwhile credit! I'll probably read it again sometime. I really liked this one.
Jonathan F Putnam takes the facts of a case and spruces them up, adding a little here and a little there, filling in some details until... voila! - a magnificent murder mystery! Lloyd James is phenomenal at voicing these characters, to the point that I listened to his female voice to be sure it was really him and I only knew it was him because Audible told me so (well, at first you could tell, but toward the end, he was nailing it!).
Okay, the story is so riveting! This is the first book in the series, so we start out with Joshua Speed (who is the narrator) meeting Abe Lincoln for the very first time. I really enjoyed the way Putnam crafted the story around what it might have been like, those two meeting for the very first time... how Lincoln had to order a special bed, and other details that made it so real.
Before too long, the murder happens and Lincoln is pulled in. Putnam has his wry sense of humor as he tells about Lincoln explaining how he hasn't lost a murder case yet... he hasn't HAD a murder case yet, but he hasn't lost one! Each little detail Putnam puts in (I won't spoil the fun) deepens the richness of the story.
The murder is of a young girl, and the aunt eventually is blamed. The thing is, young Speed has recently taken up with said aunt, so he's pushing Lincoln to vindicate his new love interest. More murders happen, each where the aunt could very well have done them. It's not looking good. Speed is desperate now.
Throw in some slave stealing, to which Lincoln has a BIG problem in this book, (This author paints Lincoln as an abolitionist, but there is proof that he wasn't, that he wasn't all about freeing the slaves, but just stopping the war and keeping the country unified) and a great trial, and you've got one masterpiece of historical fiction.
At the end, we are told of every bit of information that Putnam worked with that is true, the historical evidence in its totality to backup this novel, including the details of the murders and Lincoln's trial history. It's extremely fascinating, and Putnam puts it all together. DEFINITELY a worthwhile credit! I'll probably read it again sometime. I really liked this one.
Read
January 18, 2018In 1837, Abraham Lincoln, a newly minted lawyer, finds his way to Springfield and boards with the young merchant Joshua Speed. The two effortlessly strike a friendship, but Speed fails to mention his shaky relationship with the widow Rebecca Harriman, who soon becomes a disreputable figure. When her niece is murdered, she’s the prime suspect, until two more murders follow. While Joshua seeks the truth, Lincoln undertakes his first murder case, in which he defends a man he believes to be innocent.
These Honored Dead is a well-researched debut, based on real-life historical figures, including but not limited to Abraham Lincoln. The author presents a solid mystery, but the spirit of the novel emerges through the gripping trial. Readers will become engrossed by Lincoln’s folksy humor and dramatic speeches, and see how frontier justice differs from the law of today. Propelled by bold words and bold actions by an amateur lawyer and a merchant turned amateur sleuth, the story reaches a clever but plausible resolution. It is sure to breed curiosity towards what might have really happened during these historical events. –AD
Click here to place a hold: These Honored Dead .
Enjoyed this? Try the next Lincoln and Speed mystery: Perish from the Earth .
These Honored Dead is a well-researched debut, based on real-life historical figures, including but not limited to Abraham Lincoln. The author presents a solid mystery, but the spirit of the novel emerges through the gripping trial. Readers will become engrossed by Lincoln’s folksy humor and dramatic speeches, and see how frontier justice differs from the law of today. Propelled by bold words and bold actions by an amateur lawyer and a merchant turned amateur sleuth, the story reaches a clever but plausible resolution. It is sure to breed curiosity towards what might have really happened during these historical events. –AD
Click here to place a hold: These Honored Dead .
Enjoyed this? Try the next Lincoln and Speed mystery: Perish from the Earth .
July 31, 2019
I'm really torn about this book. The mystery was interesting, the characterization was good. I didn't see the ending coming. Overall, it was a promising first book in a series, and it left me interested to read more.
But.
The thing I keep coming back to is the treatment of slavery, and I can't decide what I think about the way it was handled. I don't think the author, or the book as a whole, is suggesting that slavery was ok. Lincoln, characteristically, spoke against it clearly. The portrayal of Phillis did not romanticize slavery at all. It seemed to be reasonably historically accurate.
But the POV character, Speed, was a Southerner whose family owned slaves, and who was quite clear about the fact that he saw no problem with that whatsoever. His treatment of Phillis was callous until he realized that she had knowledge that he needed. He argued for the continuation of slavery in a conversation with Lincoln. And yet he was the character we were supposed to identify most closely with throughout the story. It was unsettling. It would be unrealistic for a man with a background like Speed's to have any sort of enlightened views on race. But a hero who defends slavery is grotesque.
This is the first in a series. If I had to guess, I'd say that subsequent books will show a gradual evolution in his thinking. (That is a guess; I haven't read any others yet.) But don't know that I'm willing to go on that journey. Joshua Speed was a real person, and I don't know what his actual trajectory was; if he remained a close friend of Lincoln's I imagine he ended up on the right side eventually. But I'm not sure that I want to read about it.
But.
The thing I keep coming back to is the treatment of slavery, and I can't decide what I think about the way it was handled. I don't think the author, or the book as a whole, is suggesting that slavery was ok. Lincoln, characteristically, spoke against it clearly. The portrayal of Phillis did not romanticize slavery at all. It seemed to be reasonably historically accurate.
But the POV character, Speed, was a Southerner whose family owned slaves, and who was quite clear about the fact that he saw no problem with that whatsoever. His treatment of Phillis was callous until he realized that she had knowledge that he needed. He argued for the continuation of slavery in a conversation with Lincoln. And yet he was the character we were supposed to identify most closely with throughout the story. It was unsettling. It would be unrealistic for a man with a background like Speed's to have any sort of enlightened views on race. But a hero who defends slavery is grotesque.
This is the first in a series. If I had to guess, I'd say that subsequent books will show a gradual evolution in his thinking. (That is a guess; I haven't read any others yet.) But don't know that I'm willing to go on that journey. Joshua Speed was a real person, and I don't know what his actual trajectory was; if he remained a close friend of Lincoln's I imagine he ended up on the right side eventually. But I'm not sure that I want to read about it.
August 12, 2019
Can't believe I wrote half of a review and it all disappeared. Damn it. Okay:
Setting is Springfield, MO. Joshua Speed had struck out to on his own from his wealthy family and was trying to make a go of his general store. Abraham Lincoln arrived in town, a brand new lawyer in need of a place to stay. In the fashion of the day, they ended up bunkmates.
Evidently Joshua Speed was, in fact, a real person and a lifelong friend of the real Abraham Lincoln. The characters in frontier town Springfield and in the mystery are depicted according to the time, the late 1930s, a period of Lincoln's life that is not well document. Joshua's lady love, a strong, self-assertive woman, was managing a general store following her husband's death. She called off their relationship because she knew she could not keep her store going if her reputation was besmirched over Joshua's out of town visits. When two children taken into her care were murdered, one shortly after the other, Speed enlisted Lincoln to take the case.
Setting is Springfield, MO. Joshua Speed had struck out to on his own from his wealthy family and was trying to make a go of his general store. Abraham Lincoln arrived in town, a brand new lawyer in need of a place to stay. In the fashion of the day, they ended up bunkmates.
Evidently Joshua Speed was, in fact, a real person and a lifelong friend of the real Abraham Lincoln. The characters in frontier town Springfield and in the mystery are depicted according to the time, the late 1930s, a period of Lincoln's life that is not well document. Joshua's lady love, a strong, self-assertive woman, was managing a general store following her husband's death. She called off their relationship because she knew she could not keep her store going if her reputation was besmirched over Joshua's out of town visits. When two children taken into her care were murdered, one shortly after the other, Speed enlisted Lincoln to take the case.
May 16, 2017
I found this book readable and the story line was good. Once I started reading, I couldn't stop. Of course, it helped that I was off work with a cold and could read to my heart's content. I felt like the author did his research and, without having lived it, depicted the time and the issues accurately. I found the legal issues of slavery interesting and the description of the poorhouses deplorable. It didn't take me long to figure out who was the killer. I will say I never really picked up on the great friendship between Abraham Lincoln and Joshua Speed. In fact, I thought of this book being more of a Joshua Speed mystery with Lincoln only participating somewhat. I think he had more help from his sister in solving the mystery than Lincoln. It would be interesting to see Lincoln have a more active role in the solving of the murders. Nevertheless, it was an entertaining story and I would recommend it to others to read
January 23, 2018
I really liked this fun and informative, fictional yet historically accurate depiction of Abraham Lincoln as a young lawyer. Jonathan Putnam, a renowned lawyer in his own right and an amateur Lincoln scholar, has done his research and manages to educate the reader on the time period while writing an entertaining story. According to the afterword, many of the characters are based on actual people and there evidently was a relationship between the Speed family and Abraham Lincoln.
I listened to the audio version read by Lloyd James who does an admirable job with the many voices, male and female alike. It was very easy to listen to. The crime/s is apparently an amalgamation of crimes typical of the time period and the courtroom scenes were riveting. The plot may have had a few holes and hiccups but for a debut novel it is a fine effort. There is a second one in the series in publication and Putnam has contracted to write at least two more. I am looking forward to them.
I listened to the audio version read by Lloyd James who does an admirable job with the many voices, male and female alike. It was very easy to listen to. The crime/s is apparently an amalgamation of crimes typical of the time period and the courtroom scenes were riveting. The plot may have had a few holes and hiccups but for a debut novel it is a fine effort. There is a second one in the series in publication and Putnam has contracted to write at least two more. I am looking forward to them.
August 25, 2018
Excellent mystery. Believable characterization — everything about Abraham Lincoln as presented in this novel is absolutely in line with what we know about him. His friendship with Joshua Speed begins accidentally when Lincoln needs a place to stay, and Speed offers him one (for a fee, of course). Speed is working as a storekeeper for a cousin, and is also a relative newcomer to Springfield. But when the niece of a widow with whom Joshua had had a relationship is murdered, and the aunt Rebecca becomes a suspect, Joshua feels compelled to investigate, and enlists Lincoln's help. They are joined by Speed's younger sister, Martha, also in Springfield, visiting a friend. But why was Lilly killed? What possible motive was there for her death? And when it is followed by further deaths, the solution seems murkier than ever. This is a fascinating look at life on what was then the frontier, especially the position of those on the fringes of society. Highly recommended.
May 4, 2017
A highly engaging historical mystery. We're treated to not just one, but two real-life historical figures, the young Abraham Lincoln and his close friend—and the book's narrator—Joshua Fry Speed. The book is a treat because we get to see Lincoln long before he achieved any fame, and watch him in action in the courtroom. (The court scenes ring true—the author is a lawyer.) The plot is intriguing and zips along nicely. I particularly liked the author's richly detailed descriptions of 19th century life in the Midwest: even in brief scenes, the settings come to life, as the author takes us through stores and taverns and more. He was especially good in touching on the grim fate of the impoverished at the time, and the increasingly controversial issue of slavery. A great read for fans of historical mysteries.
October 11, 2018
The prose is nice but in the context of this book, it seemed overwritten and thus, unbelievable and sometimes laughable. The scenes with Rebecca were too dramatic, to the point of alienating the reader rather than bringing them along.
Make sure you read the bit at the end which gives explains the historical context and the research that went into the book, because that sort of turned it around for me. I like how the story keeps to attitudes of the times with respect to topics such as slavery and women. It adds a bit more depth to the characters because you end up liking them, but not all of them. I can't tell if they really treated attorney-client privilege and confidentiality so flippantly back then though, or if that was just a way to keep the plot moving.
Make sure you read the bit at the end which gives explains the historical context and the research that went into the book, because that sort of turned it around for me. I like how the story keeps to attitudes of the times with respect to topics such as slavery and women. It adds a bit more depth to the characters because you end up liking them, but not all of them. I can't tell if they really treated attorney-client privilege and confidentiality so flippantly back then though, or if that was just a way to keep the plot moving.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 31, 2020
I have recently read several fiction and non-fiction books pertaining to the Civil War and people who lived during that era. Interspersed with those I enjoy a variety of fiction, mostly mysteries. This book was "suggested" to a character in one of those books and sounded interesting, so I thought I would give it a try. Set in Springfield, IL during 1837, the author portrays a young Mr. Lincoln and his friend Joshua Speed as they solve a string of murders. The setting and the characters seem true to their time and other historical information. The plot is a good one and the supporting characters are well portrayed. I enjoyed Mr. Lincoln's dry sense of humor illustrated by the tales he tells to make his points.
October 26, 2022
The concept is interesting, but reading from Speed’s point of view is very difficult. I understand not wanting to write from the point of view of Lincoln, but reading from the mind of a slave-owning southerner makes it pretty much impossible to want to keep reading or root for the duo. It doesn’t matter that there seem to be hints at Speed changing his views. It is not an enjoyable reading experience. And while no, we shouldn’t avoid harsh historical truths, we also don’t have to spend time in the mind of a slave-owner as he buys a woman. Also, speaking of avoiding harsh historical truths, man is Lincoln romanticized. I wish it wasn’t so, but documents pretty much prove he wasn’t the anti-slavery advocate people paint him as.
March 13, 2017
The cover of this book touts it as a "Lincoln and Speed" mystery. Which is why I read it. Because Lincoln. Alas, Lincoln was really just a side character and not much involved in solving the mystery. Nor was Speed, for that matter. Speed more wallowed around and struck upon clues with luck. Unless, perhaps, the Speed refers to Martha Speed, who was much more clever and enterprising than her brother Joshua Speed.
The lack of Lincoln is what resulted in a two-star rating. Had I not been led to believe I would be getting all Sherlock Holmesy with Lincoln, I might have given it three stars. Alas, I was left disappointed by the lack of story afforded my most favorite President.
The lack of Lincoln is what resulted in a two-star rating. Had I not been led to believe I would be getting all Sherlock Holmesy with Lincoln, I might have given it three stars. Alas, I was left disappointed by the lack of story afforded my most favorite President.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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