I wasn't sure what I thought of the idea of the 1st lady as a detective, but I love the Adams family so I gave it a try.
The only irritating part was the attribution of modern ideas about crime to people living in the 1700's.
Understanding the psychology of the serial killer and the importance of chain of evidence, felt it a bit far fetched.

Killer was certainly no surprise, but that was because author played fair ( )

I didn’t expect to enjoy this book as much as I would! It was a great mystery with a hefty set of characters (historical and otherwise) with an underlying theme of political tension playing throughout the plot.

I think that’s what made the book enjoyable, was despite the mystery being the main hook, the political tension and bickering between the patriots and the British was always in the forefront and mentioned when need be as it was central to the story. Every so often you had mention of Abigail’s refusal to drink tea for example, or minor scuffles happening between citizens and the Redcoats.

Despite the tensions however, Abigail puts her ideas and beliefs aside and works alongside the British to solve this mystery. I enjoyed reading her character. She’s strong willed and has a good retort every so often when she needs to speak out, which shocks other characters as it wasn’t considered “proper”. I enjoy Abigail’s unorthodox behavior and it may seem as if she gives an air of an annoying stubborn woman, but it’s because of her personality that things get done no matter whose side you’re on or who you support.

John and Abigail’s relationship was also nice to read. They’re both equals and you can see a subtle quiet strength between them and they compliment each other perfectly. There’s a mutual respect between the two and if they were alive now, they would probably be a political supercouple ;)

The mystery aspect of the book was good and the intrigue is definitely noted. The setting is superbly done and very descriptive. The list of suspects was substantial and revelation of the culprit isn’t much of a surprise but the execution of obtaining the criminal and his background story was excellent to read , and was very satisfying to see the bad guys get their dues. The supporting characters are also well done - although I have to admit, there are just a little too many for me. Even minor characters have their personality and details and although it’s good and makes the world building more detailed and rich, sometimes it’s a bit hard to follow as to who’s who. (Perhaps a section of cast of characters would help in this case - especially when some characters share the same last name)

I’ll be picking up the next book to read. It’s definitely worth looking into for those that love historical fiction mysteries. The tea has been dumped!!! So you have to figure out what sort of chaos is going to happen and what mystery Abigail will solve next. ( )

Abagail Adams helps a British officer solve a murder in 1773 Boston right before the Boston Tea Party. I couldn't put it down.

http://nicolewbrown.blogspot.com/2014/10/the-ninth-daughter-by-barbara-hamilton....

Well, we have it on the authority of Scripture that the Lord shall avenge the stripes of the righteous, and uphold the children against those who slander them…Though sometimes I wish Scripture were a little more specific about when, exactly, these events will take place.
---Barbara Hamilton (The Ninth Daughter p 95) ( )

What I remember most about this book is the relationship between Abigail and her husband, John. I should remember the clues to the murder or the details surrounding the various events in the story, but there were so many times when I felt as if I'd skipped pages or missed parts of the plot that I'm not at all certain about the actual murder itself. It felt to me as if there weren't any real clues as to what was happening and why, only more events piled on top of each other that gave an illusion of complication. I enjoyed the time period the book is set in and I enjoyed seeing events in Boston overlap with the events of the murder. Some of the characters were very well written, but most sort of ran together in my mind until I wasn't quite sure who was who. Overall, it wasn't a bad book and it was entertaining, but I don't know if I am going to hunt after the rest of the series or not. It is average enough in writing and level of mystery that it doesn't really stand out as a must have, but is an enjoyable enough read to pass the time.

Tension is high between British soldiers and the citizens of Boston, many of whom are affiliated with the Sons of Liberty and the patriot cause. When Abigail Adams discovers a murdered woman inside a missing friend's house, she forms an uneasy alliance with a British lieutenant in order to find her friend. For some reason, the lieutenant suspects John Adams of the murder, and Abigail is as anxious to clear him of suspicion as she is to find her friend. She has to cooperate with the lieutenant without revealing the secrets of the Sons of Liberty, who are presently preoccupied with preventing a ship from unloading its cargo of tea...

The gruesome details of the murder and the edge of suspense mark the book as more historical thriller than historical cozy. I don't quite buy Abigail Adams' character in the book. Whatever her views on slavery and servitude, I somehow doubt that she would treat slaves and servants as social equals. She seems to be written to appeal to our 21st century sensibilities. The book didn't flow well, and I found myself re-reading many passages in order to make sense of them. Many sentences are poorly constructed, which is surprising from an experienced author. I struggled enough with the writing to make me think twice about continuing with this series. ( )