Murder at Manassas

A Southern gambler is on the trail of a coldblooded killer as war breaks out between the States in this "e;enjoyable and entertaining"e; debut mystery (Historical Novel Society). It's July 1861, and both the Union and Confederate armies expect to win the war within 24 hours. For Harrison Raines, a southern dandy ensconced in DC society, it's time to choose a side. Though Raines loves Virginia, he hates slavery with a passion. And joining either army would mean leaving Washington and deserting the beautiful Caitlin Howard, a British actress whose heart, sadly, lies with the eccentric thespian John Wilkes Booth. For Caitlin's sake, Raines attempts to remain neutral in a time when neutrality means death. On the morning of the battle, Raines escorts Caitlin to watch the carnage firsthand. When the First Battle of Bull Run turns into a rout, he sees 1 major fighting to rally his troops a major who is later found dead far behind Union lines, branded a deserter. To clear the dead man's reputation, Raines must solve a murder as bullets continue to fly. Murder at Manassas is the 1st book in the Harrison Raines Civil War Mysteries, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.