The Gold of Cape Girardeau

I really enjoyed this book! The Gold of Cape Girardeau is an exhilarating tale of life on the Mississippi during the 1850's and the civil war. The historical side of the story is part river adventure, part war story and part love story, with characters both real and varied. Meanwhile the villain and the hero posses that full measure of chilling menace and lion-hearted likeableness that kept me either cheering or booing throughout the whole book. A fun twist is that Swingle adds a feel of time-travel without resorting to science fiction. He gives the reader a present-day courtroom drama that joins the older story--not in time--but in the basement of an old house in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Morley Swingle has crafted a perfect story, with great attention lavished on both his characters and his steamboat & civil war history. While the modern courtroom scenes are the smaller part of this book, courtroom buffs will relish Swingle's realism on that battlefield as well.

Intertwining a contemporary, modern-day setting with the Civil War past of a small Mississippi town which had divided loyalties during the Civil War, The Gold Of Cape Giradeau is a riveting novel about a treasure trove of gold, a history of murder and betrayal, and Allison Culbertson, a young female lawyer who must battle in the courtroom to prove that the gold belongs to her client. An exciting and multilayered tale of love, greed, history, and hidden secrets, The Gold Of Cape Giradeau is the debut and highly recommended novel by Morely Swingle that will leave the reader looking eagerly toward his next literary effort.

Mr. Swingle has spun a unique story spanning several generations. As a native of the area, I particularly enjoyed the authentic local history. It is clear by the information provided in the afterword that the author "did his homework"...taking much of his research from exhaustive eyewitness accounts. However, it is not necessary to be a history buff to enjoy this novel. By introducing very real and likeable characters (and a few unsavory ones!) he captured the essence of the riverboating and Civil War eras. Add in a little courtroom drama and suspense and it adds up to one thoroughly enjoyable novel. I recommend it highly.

It only took me a day and a half to read it. The comparison to Michener was an understatement. He did a terrific job. I will be looking forward to his next book. Morley is a genius.

"The Gold of Cape Girardeau" is an awesome novel with adventurous characters and an unpredictable plot. The mystery in this book will keep you up all night. I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys history and intrigue.