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duparker's review against another edition
3.0
This was not intellectual writing. That said, it was a fun read. Part historical fiction, part thriller/mystery. Probably 40 pages too long, but the pacing was really good and overall the book flew. I liked the characters, even if they didn't feel all that original - part Spenser part dude from National Treasure.
gaderianne's review against another edition
3.0
It took me a long time to really start (and finish) this book, but the more I read the more I liked it. Although it wasn't a fast read , it didn't pull me or capture my attention right away, and it wasn't one of my favorite books I did like it. In short, Peter Fallon (a rare documents dealer) is contacted by several people of various political persuasions to find a rumored/lost first draft of the Constitution annotated by delegates from New England with their thoughts on the document. Both sides of the political spectrum have stakes in finding this document because of a proposed amendment to the Constitution to ban the second amendment.
The search is dangerous with multiple attempts at Peter's life (and his girlfriend Evangaline) and even kidnapping. Each chapter is interspersed with the story behind this historic document. The first historical "flashback" (for lack of a better word) starts at the beginning with Shays' Rebellion and the New England delegates creating their annotations on a draft, which ends up being stolen. So begins a centuries long search for the document (all within one family) through all of history starting in the 1780s, the Civil War, the Industrial Revolution, Prohibition, the great depression, Watergate, even the Bill Clinton Impeachment. (All moments in history where truly knowing what delegates thought when the constitution was written could have changed the outcome of current events.) I really enjoyed the historical parts.
Meanwhile in the present...there were so many characters that it was hard to keep track of. But the book was written in such a way that it wasn't jarring or confusing jumping back and forth in time. A good read for anyone who is a history nerd like me.
The search is dangerous with multiple attempts at Peter's life (and his girlfriend Evangaline) and even kidnapping. Each chapter is interspersed with the story behind this historic document. The first historical "flashback" (for lack of a better word) starts at the beginning with Shays' Rebellion and the New England delegates creating their annotations on a draft, which ends up being stolen. So begins a centuries long search for the document (all within one family) through all of history starting in the 1780s, the Civil War, the Industrial Revolution, Prohibition, the great depression, Watergate, even the Bill Clinton Impeachment. (All moments in history where truly knowing what delegates thought when the constitution was written could have changed the outcome of current events.) I really enjoyed the historical parts.
Meanwhile in the present...there were so many characters that it was hard to keep track of. But the book was written in such a way that it wasn't jarring or confusing jumping back and forth in time. A good read for anyone who is a history nerd like me.
afox98's review against another edition
4.0
Great adventure, and if you like American history, you'll love it.
katymvt's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked the flashback parts. My one complaint of this book is that there were too many people during the search in the present that it was hard to keep it straight who was who. And for some reason, I'm not really sure why, I didn't like Evangeline at all. I think it was that she was too sure of herself and that she was right and anyone who disagreed with her was wrong. Peter was more open-minded, or at least more polite.
stricker's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
leialocks's review against another edition
4.0
This would make a great mini-series in the 1970s...when they used to make great miniseries. I'm a sucker for the stories of families across time, so I really liked this book. It's part Centennial, part Steve Berry book. I think this book accomplishes the task better than Berry.
I loved the "flashbacks" until the book was in the Gilded Age. The author was either tying up strands quickly or I was just ready to solve the mystery. The Peter Fallon plot started out strong, but I was bored with it at the big climax. Hated the ending. SPOILER ALERT! I'd rather they didn't find the document as opposed to how it played out. Overall, a definite recommend.
I loved the "flashbacks" until the book was in the Gilded Age. The author was either tying up strands quickly or I was just ready to solve the mystery. The Peter Fallon plot started out strong, but I was bored with it at the big climax. Hated the ending. SPOILER ALERT! I'd rather they didn't find the document as opposed to how it played out. Overall, a definite recommend.
canada_matt's review against another edition
4.0
Martin has his wonderful duo, Peter Fallon and Evangeline Carrington, back for another treasure hunt through time. As the US Congress begins debate on repealing the Second Amendment of the Bill of Rights (that infamous right to bear arms), Fallon is made aware of an early draft of the US Constitution, annotated with the intentions of the New England delegation of Founding Fathers as it relates to a Bill of Rights. This draft was stolen and smuggled out of Philadelphia, making its way through various hands all over New England. As Fallon and Carrington seek to track the document down, scholars and prominent members of the rare document community begin turning up dead. Carrington soon falls into the hands of one invested party, keen on ensuing that Fallon finds the document before it's too late. As Fallon searches, Martin illustrates the historical movement of this draft and how its content could have altered some key constitutional events through to the present day. From the early days of the American political experience, through to the Civil War, the Prohibition Era, and even Clinton's impeachment allegations, Martin takes the reader through a multi-generational story, offering insights at every turn. Explosive to the final pages, Martin flexes his literary muscles to draw fans in for his most electrifying series novel to date.
A keen reader of constitutional books, fictional and factual alike, I was drawn to this book years ago. I tried reading it at that time, but struggled. Having made the effort to read the Fallon series from the beginning, I was better prepared for this book and the format it takes. Martin has made a name for himself as both a historical writer, but also choosing to take a much deeper approach, writing a modern-day story that juxtaposes its historically evolving sub-plot that mirrors Fallon's plot. The plot is highly political in its nature, but the novel deals more with the passing of the document from generation to generation with a historical backdrop than the political content of the annotated document. Fans of the series will catch some of the crumbs Martin offers from past novels and the nuances in the character development, which is always a lovely addition to the reading experience.
Kudos, Mr. Martin on another exciting addition to the Fallon series. I find myself more addicted with each passing novel.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A keen reader of constitutional books, fictional and factual alike, I was drawn to this book years ago. I tried reading it at that time, but struggled. Having made the effort to read the Fallon series from the beginning, I was better prepared for this book and the format it takes. Martin has made a name for himself as both a historical writer, but also choosing to take a much deeper approach, writing a modern-day story that juxtaposes its historically evolving sub-plot that mirrors Fallon's plot. The plot is highly political in its nature, but the novel deals more with the passing of the document from generation to generation with a historical backdrop than the political content of the annotated document. Fans of the series will catch some of the crumbs Martin offers from past novels and the nuances in the character development, which is always a lovely addition to the reading experience.
Kudos, Mr. Martin on another exciting addition to the Fallon series. I find myself more addicted with each passing novel.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
ebeyrent's review
3.0
Fascinating premise, and I loved the historical aspects. The author wove present and past together, weaving storylines together to an unsatisfactory, predictable, and absurd ending. There were too many characters to remember, and with the exception of the historical ones, none of them were fleshed out or had their motivations explained. The ending was particularly awful.
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