Very clever treatment of fact and fiction.
924626
I lived in this time.period. I was in the Army Air Corps and one of the first troops to occupy Japan.  I have gratitude for the factual people in the book.
1413702
I love the Victorian touch with modern overtones.  Very clever how real life scientists and other famous personalities are worked into the stories.  I enjoy George's jumping to the conclusions of future uses for some of their "inventions".  The stories are well thought out and clever.  The cast are wonderful and give great depth to their characters.
2358845
Jon Anthony Hauser does an amazing job of combining fact and fiction in this novel. The action starts immediately in the prologue with peasants rallying against a greedy lord and paying the ultimate price. A messenger is sent to warn the sole survivor of the family, a monk who would rather not be a monk. The characters and storyline recreate the Crusades in a way that makes this part of history fascinating. What I really like is how at the end of each chapter there's more detail about the facts that inspired the writer's imagination. If you like accurate historical fiction, then this book is definitely for you.
1776375
I loved this story, although history tells you that it is fiction, it is well written and makes you question what you already know.
1992635
Very good mix of fiction and history, it makes history more interesting, more than just the facts, brings it alive.
643886
The Man From 2063 has the magical element a researcher of the past would wish for; the ability to travel to a past event and influence the outcome and therefore a domino or ripple effect in other events.
Jack Duffy cleverly uses his background as a lawyer to present his case and ideas in the conspiracy leading up to the tragic assassination of JFK. As well documented as the facts are, the author cleverly weaves fact and fiction to make conspiracy believers of his readers. The book made explore possibilities that I had not been willing to explore before.
A historical read with a Sci Fi twist. Conspiracy theorist should enjoy this book very much.
3976639
I read this novel twice, about ten years between readings, and I enjoyed it both times. The only reason I give it four stars instead of five is that the pacing is a bit slow. But this story, featuring brilliant amateur British detective Philip Trent, is quite clever and a very enjoyable read. Bentley, the author, set out to write a Sherlock-Holmes type story in which the brilliant hero reaches brilliant conclusions -- which turn out to be wrong. Wrong not once, but twice. And the reason Trent's conclusions are wrong is that he cannot look at the facts objectively because his emotions intervene: he finds himself falling in love with Margaret Manderson, one of the suspects in the case. Thus Trent looks at the facts subjectively, and errs.

Worth reading not only because of what it says about objectivity versus subjectivity, but because it's one of the first of modern detective novels, setting standards for those that followed.
1470783
This is a fascinating book which supports the saying, "Truth is stranger than fiction." Synchronicity amazes the reader as the well-researched case is detailed in taut, concise sentences. At times it is a big repetitious, but it helps the reader keep each piece of the story separate.
141650
This book is not intended as great historical research or literature, but the author tells a good tale with more
detail than one would expect considering that over 100 impostors of every ilk are featured. Some of the
impostors stem from recent news story so the book has both old and new impostors.  For pure
entertainment , this one is a winner.

Bruce Altshuler
1630679
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and, while some will say it's a bit farfetched, I'd respond by saying that's the reason it's called "fiction."
2507888
This delightful mixture of fact and fiction is a truly enjoyable read, I am looking forward to book three with anticipation.
1792708
Washington County Murder & Mayhem will be enjoyed by anyone who appreciates a well-told good story.  Fact is again proven more interesting than fiction.  I was unable to put down this based on fact book about murder and mayhem.  A great collection of stories.  I found "The Murder of Thelma Young" by Big Bob Dreamer thought provoking particularly after reading about his postmortem autopsy.  Bravo, and encore, please give us more.
1424746
The amount of research into the history of the period is impressive.  At no time did the fiction alter or manipulate the known facts.  And yet, the plot was such that truth and fiction flowed well together.
3864702
this novel recycles fact into fiction to create a tale about the original Pendleton Roundup.  There's a heap of synthesis here, from oral and written histories, old photographs, interviews, newspaper articles and conversations.  Kesey connects them and supplies imaginary material to create a farce with a gonzo tilt, as if he were on acid and explaining to Hunter Thompson.  Kesey uses local color well and has an ear for period phrases,  even when slapping them on with a palate knife, but that's the fun of it--watching Kesey stretch his brain around facts.  The book is really about the author and how he chooses to indulge himself, not about what happened in Pendleton or what the reader should think about what went on there.  In fact, the way Kesey jumps from one time frame to another shows how little he's concerned with keeping things straight for the reader.  This book is bent.  You can enjoy its distortions or look away, but you can't deny the brilliance or uniqueness of its colors.  One burr under my saddle is that his cowboys aren't as "strong, silent and truthful" as I'd expect.  Pendleton must have been far more polite and stuffy than Kesey lets on.  But bizarre distortion reflects his intention of zonking out on history until it assumes a form more pleasing to him.  In taking this trail, he proves that the humblest writer scribblng a dime novel from dubious fact is more of an author than all the librarians at the Library of Congress.  The point, after all, is the mind in the act of making the mind.  If connections seem bizarre, well, that's just Kesey taking on reality, whether the time is now or a century ago.
1981987
Nice work of fiction with elements based on "recent" news events.
1458882
Though fiction, it seems to be factually correct.  I enjoyed it very much and also " On to Richmond", the second book in the series.  Well done.
146670
I enjoyed this book.  I am a lover of history and this is an unique approach to telling a story of historical characters.  While the writing is somewhat different than your typical historical fiction, I found it refreshing and very readable, very no nonsense.  I loved the incorporation of mystical aspects into unknown details and events.  I thought it was a very clever approach and it encouraged me throughout the novel to understand what was fact and what was fiction.  As any historian knows, history is written through the eyes of the pen holder.  In this respect, Gregory takes all aspects of fact and fiction and incorporates them into her "version" of this period.  It is believable (as long as you do not have an extensive affinity for this time period.  As with all books which incorporate fact, if you are a lover of the "truth" and knowledgeable and defensive of the subject matter, this is probably not a book you would enjoy).  For me it was an adventure which led to curiosity.  While clearly not all true, it provided me with a better understanding of the cast of characters and an intrigue to learn more.