Fiction or Historical fiction?
588080
This story dragged me kicking and screaming back to the Jersey Shore of my youth.
I lived in Pt. Pleasant during this time. Then, we were all somewhat naive and innocent.
While we were all cheering on our teams, these kinds of things were happening all around us.
 Ritchings captures a time in our history when the illusion of decency was replaced with deceit.
I loved this book but miss my 50+ year old amnesia.
1933174
Some readers were troubled by historical errors in the book. I say if you accept that some one can go back in time by changing the time on a clock why be concerned about historical errors. Just read it as time travel fiction which it is. I would be sorry to see someone miss reading a good book because of historical errors. It is after all a book of fiction. It is well written with interesting characters. The author did a really good job of moving smoothly from past to present and back again.  I enjoyed it enough to download  Book 2 as soon as I finished it.
4544344
This is the first book that I have read under the Historical-Fiction genre.  I am a little torn as to whether I will read this genre of books again?

Knowing that the story line was part fact and part fiction allowed me to overlook the sometimes slow advancement of the storyline. The knowledge that this was truly a person's history gave me the opportunity to overlook her onslaught of redundant questions and thoughts.

Jessie Ann Gaebele was  a pioneer in her own right. An eighteen year old girl trying to make her "own" way in a time when women were supposed to be housewives or helpmates only. Jessie wanted her own life, her own business and her own "piece of the pie".

Unfortunately Jessie's life was a bit complicated with the friendship of an older man who was also her friend, teacher and soul mate? As time progresses and fate intervenes...Jessie's life is changed until she realizes who she is meant to be is what she has desperately tried to run away from.

Imagining my grandmother telling me this story helped me to understand the pace, the recollections and the attitudes of that time.

If you like biographies, history and historical fiction...you will find a treasure in An Absence So Great.
2799251
I suppose that I'm looking at this read from a different perspective than the rest of the reviewers- When I read historical fiction I'm looking for more than a period and a place, I want some novel/educational perspective on actual historical events, not a yarn that purports to be historical while fabricating everything but the time period.  OK, there are some nice scenes, descriptions of historical places, dress, smells, etc that are well-researched and crafted, but the overall plot (the mysterious society within the already mysterious Templars) was just plain silly.  Characters are 2-dimensional and born along, summarily killed, or dismissed by arbitrary plot twists and ridiculous convenience.

I very nearly tossed this one in the goodwill pile when the series antagonist manages to (once again) sway the opinion of the series heroine on FUNDAMENTAL relationship issues in the space of 1 page.  However, despite serious character weaknesses, Young does a decent job of drawing the reader in for pure entertainment (hence 2 stars).

For folks who want a period fictional account of the later Crusades this is a fun light read but this is NOT for the fan of historically accurate fiction
3071053
This is an interesting story intertwined with some historical fact.  The story provides some alternative interpretation of historical fact, but is presented as fiction.
2358683
Even though fiction, there is enough history in it to make it enjoyable to the more serious reader.  But do read more about the legend of Melusine.  There ought to be another work devoted to that complicated and interesting story.
4433927
This is an interesting book to read, but it is definitely a novel, not real history, the authors put so many twists in the story based on their own assumptions that it loses credibility as a potential history book.
4868032
Readers should keep in mind that what they are reading has very little historical truth to it.  Other than that, just have fun with it.
1175848
A great work of fiction with a lot of history. Makes me wonder if a lot of the story is true?
4629866
Enjoyable Victorian era soldering in India/Burma. I am great fan of historical fiction, but I am choosy and my choice was/is "Windrush". Interesting, plausible story with historical facts. Good glimpses of India/Burma and 19th century soldier/officer life. The story line has enough surprises to keep the reader alert.
694616
I did enjoy reading about some of these characters, their interactions, and the depictions of life during this time period; however, I'm not sure this is appropriate for a fiction. And that's exactly what this is - a fiction in every respect. I would have enjoyed reading about fictional characters of this time period, but to bring in real people and give them personalities and actions that contradict writings of the time is a misstep. I can't quite recommend Flerlage's book, but I wouldn't completely disparage it either so I'm giving it a three-star review.
1186429
Historical novels are usually documented as to what was actually true and what was fiction. In such a evil time of our history as the civil war and WWII it is necessary.  I need to be horrified about actual events and Understand when the story has been embellished for the sake of the story
4267343
Another historical narrative written and published to be a best seller. Let's see, side-by-side story - check, hyperbolic writing style - check, short chapters for easy reading - check, inspiration for us 'normal' people - check. These can be entertaining, but it's not hard to find something much better to spend my reading time on, and they start running together.
1116520
"Mann is well aware that much of the history he relates is *necessarily* speculative."  This says it all: speculation = non-scientific/unreliable.  And I starred the term "necessarily" because it describes the author's own view that he is consciously aware of writing what in all honesty is fiction.
2141602
I chose this book because I am doing a genealogical study of family from den Haag and running into roadblocks finding information. I love historical fiction! However I almost quit reading this book half way. All the "he caressed her small firm breasts" etc or requisite descriptions of homosexual sex took away from the story. I started to think this must be a dime store romance novel and it cheapened what was otherwise an excellent story.
1537667
I received a free copy of this book through Goodreads Firstreads.

I give the three stars because while it is well-written, it was just not my kind of fiction.  This was my first Detective Sandilands mystery.  I think lovers of the series and/or fans of political-intrigue-type mystery will find it more enjoyable.  Although this is technically historical fiction (it's set during the Roosevelt administration), it did not hold my attention like most historical fiction - I typically read Victorian London fiction, or 1920s fiction.  I did not feel that I got a good sense of time era from the details, other than the cars people were driving, and the lack of technology.  And, again, it may be that it just isn't my brand of fiction.  I think most of the time period details were in the politics and the discussion of political events and leaders.  I'm not really into political plots.

I was hoping that the dowsers from the beginning of the book would play a larger role in the unraveling of the mystery, and that maybe there would be more of a love interest type thing going on between Ms. Hermione and Mr. Sandilands.  The imagery and wit and energy of the first chapter just seemed to dissipate as the book went on.  I loved the imagery of the first lines, but by chapter three I kept having to remind myself what time period I was in.

The plot seemed a bit jumpy.  It's like the plot made leaps that the reader was not led up to.  I found myself flipping pages back and rereading to see if I missed how we arrived at certain conclusions and points.  Also, the book is set in Britain, and I think a lot of that was lost on me.  Sometimes I had a hard time telling when the characters were being sarcastic... maybe just me not getting British humor.

I will give credit for good writing on the action scenes though - I thoroughly enjoyed the escapade at Sandiland's family home.  The last third of the book was quite enjoyable as far as pace and action.  The ending was not wholly satisfying though.  The murder I thought the book was primarily centered around just kind of faded out and the grand conspiracy that is revealed seems to come out of nowhere, and leaves you hanging, kind of like, "Well we tried, but this is just bigger than all of us..."
1886363
I would like to know  if this based on partial facts or if this is a work of fiction?