A Wicked Way To Burn

I loved this book! I think that is has everything in that goes on to make a great mystery. There is a complex plot, lots of suspects and a surprise ending. The main character is Charlotte Willet, a young widow living in a small New England town in 1763. She finds herself in the middle of a perfect riddle and manages to come out of it with grace.The supporting characters include her neighbor Rich Longfellow, an aspiring scientist with a Holmes quality to him; his sister Diana, a Boston, pampered lady who is smarter than people think and Lem, a young boy who works for Charlotte and wants to go to Harvard one day. The whole cast is wonderful and they add color to the overall story.The mystery: a man who just flashed some gold in a local tavern seems to burst into flames and disappear! This is spotted by a local who begins to weave a strange story. This whole novel had a old-time flavor to it and is one of the best modern mysteries that I have read. Oh, by the way, the history is accurate and really places the story in time and place. I highly recommend this to anyone.

It is a fine line which Margaret Miles successfully treads, crossing a lively and well-paced mystery with a text that is historically accurate. The command of her scholarship is evident in the everyday details she provides about life in 18th century Massachusetts, yet her character development is modern, which is a major reason that the story is so riveting. This is a complicated murder mystery with none of the modern conveniences available in either weapons or forensics. Yet, again, due to the author's bone-deep scholarship, the whole premise is compelling and believable. A wonderful read, can't wait to get the next one in the series!

Ms. Miles has done a superb job of capturing the atmosphere of early America - furthermore, the images of New England fall ring wonderfully true. Those images of leaves turning, cool nights and harvest end offered some small relief to this reader suffering through a blazing hot Kansas August. Charlotte Willett, the main character, is intelligent and self confident, without undermining the realistic treatment of her place as a widow in colonial society. I was much impressed by this balance as achieved by the author. The developing political pressures between the colonies and England are present, and offer hope for additional volumes set in increasingly turbulent times. All in all, well researched, convincingly written and with well paced plot turns. I am seeking out the additional volumes immediately.

The book has been summarized already. I just want to add that the book was interesting, kept your interest and brought the time period to life. I hope Ms. Miles continues on her journey through the 18th century and I'm prepared to join her there. Bring on more!

Margaret Miles has carved a cozy niche for herself in Colonial America. Set in the fictional village of Bracebridge, Massachusetts, this first in what one hopes will be a long series of historical mysteries is steeped in rich period detail and lively characterizations. Through adept dialogue and insightful interior monologues, Ms. Miles makes the past resonate for modern readers; remarkably, she manages to do so while never stepping outside the constraints of what was known and believed in 1763. This thoughtful research, coupled with fine writing and a page-turning plot, is sure to kindle mystery readers' interest in "A Wicked Way to Burn."In contrast to the Victorian mysteries by Anne Perry, Ms. Miles' prose is concise, offers flashes of wry humor, and thankfully avoids the former's tendency toward climbing on a soapbox. While Ms. Miles occasionally tweaks the village parson for his self-righteous hypocrisy, the only ax this author has to grind is for chopping wood to heat up Charlotte Willett's tea kettle. With an entertaining plot, intelligent and engaging characters like Mrs. Willett and her scientifically-inclined neighbor Richard Longfellow, and a fresh perspective on life in the Colonies, there's every reason to look forward to the pleasure of a return visit to Bracebridge.Karen Lyon