An entertaining historical legal drama set in1860s Portland, Oregon, and gets it right to, for accuracy. ( )

Based on a true story. Right after slavery was abolished but yet “masters” will still not abiding and giving false hope and promises to the slaves. Sad how people were taken advantage of. ( )

Interesting history of Oregon's stance on slavery. Ok story. ( )

Very different from the thriller's Phillip Margolin usually writes but an excellent historical novel. He did a lot of research into the Oregon Territory's laws and history bringing some versions of actual events to life.

The characters and struggles of the black man in the Territory and of the times were well portrayed. ( )

Phillip Margolin is one of those special authors who, when a reader picks up their book, they know they are in for an entertaining experience.

I was sent this book from Amazon vine, in return for my review and I couldn't be happier that I picked this book.

The time is 1860 and Oregon is really beginning to grow. Matthew Penny and his wife decide to move west from Ohio and travel by wagon train. However, Matthew losses his wife when a wagon is swept down a river crossing.

With this burden behind him, he moves to Phoenix, Oregon where he's appointed to defend a man accused of theft. When he wins the case, another man approaches him and tells him that this man has information that Matthew can use to win another case he was preparing for. All this man wants is the promise from Matthew that if the information helps, Matthew would promise to return the favor. (For just a bit, it seems like the devil in Damn Yankees).

Matthew wins the new case and what the man wants is Matthew's help in getting his daughter who is being kept as a slave by a wealthy but unscrupulous man.

It's difficult not to give away plot but the story moves along swiftly. The characters are vividly drawn as is the setting of the early days of Portland, Oregon. We see such things as the first steam locomotive in that part of the country.

This is one of the best books I've read this year. My heart was beating faster and faster as I approached the conclusion which was both appropriate and satisfying. ( )