Faded Coat of Blue

As a reader with a lifelong interest in the Civil War, I was absolutely knocked out by this incomparable novel. I have never found the atmosphere and character of the Civil War era so accurately portrayed--beyond which, the writing itself is superb. Mr. Parry has a flawless ear for dialects--yet he never overdoes it. The book reads very quickly, and leaves the reader hungry for more--as all the best books do. From the portrayal of wartime Washington to the joys and sorrows of a soldier's life, this book rings truer than any other I've read. And Abel Jones is one of the most interesting characters I've encountered in a lifetime of reading. This book is also a mystery, of course, but I valued it just as a terrific story and a wonderful portrait of our past. I do, however, have to take issue with one of the other reviewers who criticized Mr. Parry for mentioning the Thanksgiving holiday a year before it became an official national holiday. In fact, it's Mr. Parry, the author, who's correct. Parry never said Thanksgiving was a national holiday at that point in 1861, only that it was widely celebrated, which was absolutely true. As a former history teacher myself, I can assure all readers that Thanksgiving was very widely celebrated prior to the Civil War, especially in the North. Parry's portrayal of the unofficial celebrations in the Army of the Potomac in 1861 are completely accurate, and the historical records support it. In New England, it was already an established family holiday, with reverential tones. In the Union Army, it was a great excuse for getting drunk. When Lincoln made Thanksgiving a national holiday later in the war, he was simply formalizing a celebration that already had a long tradition. Overall, Mr. Parry's book is incredibly accurate--the details are marvelous and telling--and I personally could not find a single error in this very-well-researched novel. But, ultimately, what matters is just that this is a great read. Were I still teaching, I would use it to lure my students into the realms of history. Bravo!

It's always a treat to discover a new author, and a new genre. I've never read a mystery set in the Civil War times before, and I thoroughly enjoyed this one. The detail and sense of place gave me the impression that the author did an enormous amount of research into the personalities and the times. I can't vouch for the accuracy of his Washington scenes, but the narrator is from the Anthracite coal fields of Pennsylvania, where I reside. When the action shifts to Pottsville and vicinity, and discusses some of the historical characters there, I know the author is correct, for I am well acquainted with the geography and streets of Pottsville, and other persons mentioned in the book. The accuracy is comforting, for then I know the author has the research knowledge to be true to the historical record, as far as it is necessary to advance his story. It's well-written, and I look forward to more tales of the exploits of Major Abel Jones.

No doubt about it. Owen Parry could never fake it this convincingly. He is a former soldier(as his brief bio betrays), a keen student of history, and one who has somehow embraced the investigator's art. Add to these qualifications a gifted pen that enables Parry to craft page after page of captivating prose, and you have the ingredients of the best fiction I've seen in years--historical or otherwise. "Faded Coat of Blue" is a thoroughly delightful, page-turning work, made even more valuable by its skilled embodiment of every literary trick in the book, combined with remarkable historical accuracy. (Parry's detailed, visceral description of the streets of Washington during the Civil War is nothing short of masterful.) As a career investigator, armchair historian, and writer, my hat is off to Parry. In creating the continuing adventures of Captain Abel Jones, he is giving us the literary equivalent of the Ken Burns PBS series, "The Civil War." Bravo!

I enjoyed this novel immensely. With a background in history, I tend to be picky about details. I did not find one error in the historical setting of this book, which indicates a great deal of research. I suspect the author may be a moonlighting historian himself. The atmosphere is just terrific--you can smell and feel Civil War Washington--and the plot kept me guessing until the very end. But the best parts of the book were the characters--even the secondary figures seem vivid and convincing--and the quality of the writing. Although the book is easy to read, the language is poetic. I'm not an expert on accents, but they rang true to me, as well. Great dialog. The historical figures live and breathe, but Abel Jones, the narrator, is the real treasure of the book. A great personality, quirky, cantankerous, and quietly admirable. In summary, this book is first-rate from page one to the end, and well worth picking up, whether or not you normally read mysteries or historical fiction. I noticed it because of the review in the Washington Post and was not disappointed. I await the next book in the series. A fine reading experience!

Owen Parry is a new historical novelist to watch. In "Faded Coat of Blue", Parry (pseudonym of an established writer of both thought-provoking non-fiction and modern thrillers) has produced a moving and evocative protrait of Civil War-era Washington. The murder mystery carries the story along, but the book is really the chronicle of the love affair of a Welsh immigrant Indian Army veteran for his new country. Accurate in portraying time and place, the prose often becomes lyrical, conveying the touch, feel and smell of the era. As Owen Parry, the writer has achieved a new "voice", displaying a storytelling skill rarely matched. Students of American history will gain new insights into our past through the eyes of the protagonist, Abel Jones. Owen Parry and Abel Jones will be names to watch as this continuing Civil War saga unfolds in the coming years.