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L Verge · 05-06-2014, 06:55 PM

For those of you who have devoured my laments about losing my family's home to arson this past weekend, you will probably remember mention of the 25 charred pages that my daughter found near the ruins. Those 25 pages are a pretty good read! And, the first five or so deal with the military court and show some decent research on the part of the author.

The book is definitely a historical novel, and I am offering a challenge to someone to find out the title and author. Hints: definitely a paperback, probably written before 1990 (no one lived in the house after the summer of 1993), heroine is Melissa Armstrong married to George Ainsworth with friends named Will Harper and Sam McClelland and Melissa's doctor brother, Jeremiah Armstrong.

There is some kind of plot line dealing with White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, and what may be a plantation in that area known as Shady Run. Not much to go on, so I'll make the prize a generous one -- one free seat on a Fall 2014 Booth Tour to the first person who can identify and verify the title and author of this book. In order to do that, please post the front cover and also scan page 63 to compare with my page 63.

I know of at least three people on this forum who write historical novels, so maybe they have some contacts? Just a note: I do not believe in the supernatural, but this time, I feel like my old house coughed up this one last challenge to make sure I never forget it...

brtmchl · 05-06-2014, 08:33 PM

On beyond Leatherbark?

L Verge · 05-06-2014, 09:42 PM

(05-06-2014 08:33 PM)brtmchl Wrote: On beyond Leatherbark?

Translation please???

Linda Anderson · 05-06-2014, 10:12 PM

Laurie, you won't believe what I found in Google Books when I searched for Melissa Armstrong and George Ainsworth.

Can your book be Richmond: The Fire by Elizabeth Fritch?

http://books.google.com/books?id=RpYXT9x...CDQQ6AEwAA

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1067...ond-2-fire

BettyO · (This post was last modified: 05-07-2014 06:25 AM by BettyO.)

Congratulations, Linda!

It's an odd coincidence isn't it? Too strange for comfort - references to the Lincoln Assassination; a book entitled "Richmond Fire!"

Somehow one can't make these things up....

brtmchl · (This post was last modified: 05-07-2014 07:55 AM by brtmchl.)

(05-06-2014 09:42 PM)L Verge Wrote:
(05-06-2014 08:33 PM)brtmchl Wrote: On beyond Leatherbark?

Translation please???

Just a wild guess Laurie. Based on some of the area. The book is about the Cass Railroad. Linda's find sounds much more exciting than railroads. Especially as a read for my wife. Is this a civil war shades of grey? Nice job Linda!

L Verge · 05-07-2014, 08:18 AM

Mike - After asking for the "translation," it dawned on me to look up "Leatherbark," so I apologize for my curt response. That book does sound interesting, however, since I married into a West Virginia family and one of my crew chiefs here at the museum is a West Virginia boy with memories of the logging industry there.

I may have to compare time stamps on these answers! I also received a PM from Susan Higgenbotham suggesting the same book. Now we need to find a copy and compare page 63. If this is the book that the survived the Huntt fire, it would certainly be ironic -- note the "fire" in the title. This is starting to get really weird.

brtmchl · 05-07-2014, 08:25 AM

(05-07-2014 08:18 AM)L Verge Wrote: Mike - After asking for the "translation," it dawned on me to look up "Leatherbark," so I apologize for my curt response. That book does sound interesting, however, since I married into a West Virginia family and one of my crew chiefs here at the museum is a West Virginia boy with memories of the logging industry there.

I may have to compare time stamps on these answers! I also received a PM from Susan Higgenbotham suggesting the same book. Now we need to find a copy and compare page 63. If this is the book that the survived the Huntt fire, it would certainly be ironic -- note the "fire" in the title. This is starting to get really weird.

I never took your response as curt Laurie. I took it more as a teacher asking a student to show their work. There is nothing to apologize for I assure you. Besides, I did not adhere to the instructions of the assignment which was often a flaw of mine in school.

RJNorton · 05-07-2014, 09:10 AM

(05-07-2014 08:18 AM)L Verge Wrote: Now we need to find a copy and compare page 63.

Laurie, if I am reading this correctly, it should say (on p. 63), "Melissa's fingers caressed the shiny metal lovingly, and she felt the tears welling up again. Thank you,..."

Susan Higginbotham · 05-07-2014, 10:21 AM

(05-07-2014 08:18 AM)L Verge Wrote: Mike - After asking for the "translation," it dawned on me to look up "Leatherbark," so I apologize for my curt response. That book does sound interesting, however, since I married into a West Virginia family and one of my crew chiefs here at the museum is a West Virginia boy with memories of the logging industry there.

I may have to compare time stamps on these answers! I also received a PM from Susan Higgenbotham suggesting the same book. Now we need to find a copy and compare page 63. If this is the book that the survived the Huntt fire, it would certainly be ironic -- note the "fire" in the title. This is starting to get really weird.

It was a penny on Amazon, so I ordered a copy. I can pass it on to you if you're interested, or if not, I have a pal who loves romances from this period.

L Verge · 05-07-2014, 11:48 AM

I'm at work right now, Roger, and my charred pages are at home. I don't remember that sentence on page 63, but I will definitely check. Most of page 63 is about the members of the military tribunal being taken to Ford's Theatre for an inspection of the crime scene.

RJNorton · 05-07-2014, 03:26 PM

Laurie, when I looked for p. 63 on Google Books that is all that came up. The full text of the book is not available on Google Books, and that is all I could see for p. 63.

Susan Higginbotham · 05-12-2014, 01:36 PM

Alas, I just received a copy of "Richmond: The Fire," and while all of the characters Laurie mentioned are present (as is the place named Shady Run), I don't think this is the right book. It's book 2 of a series, and this book ends with the assassination.

The book contains a preview of book 3, "Richmond: The Embers," and I suspect that is our quarry, since it mentions the manhunt underway for Booth. So off to order book 3!

In "Richmond: The Fire," a number of historical figures, including Lincoln, make walk-on appearances, and Lincoln invites the Sam McClelland mentioned by Laurie to join him in the box at Ford's. Fortunately for Sam, but unfortunately for Lincoln (since Sam seems to be the sort of stand-up guy who would have sensed Booth's presence and saved the President just in time), Sam is eager to spend an evening with his wife and refuses.

L Verge · 05-12-2014, 04:18 PM

By, jove, Susan, I think you've got it! And perhaps the title of book 3 is more appropriate and ironic to my old house's fire since the charred pages were found by my daughter in the dead embers.

P.S. Please let me reimburse you for the books - and don't forget that I will make good on my offer about a free seat on one of our Fall 2014 Booth Tours.