This follow up to Ambush in the Alleghenies is a tight tale of the action, pain, and forged friendship. Mountain man Lightning Jack Hawkins' experiences form the spine of this action intense story of frontier war. The action sequences are visceral and intense without being hollywood. From the moment he is attacked by evil rum traders to the brutal yet hopeful last page we experience both great fear, pain and loss but also life changing friendships and the will to survive.
Of positive note, the women are not typical of those in many other historical fiction books. Yes, some are very pretty and can make a man smile in bed, but they are so much more. They are full characters many with inner and outer strength like Wah-ta-Wah of The Deerslayer or a lot of our wives /girlfriends. These women matter. ( )

Attack in the Alleghenies - William P Robertson/ David Rimer
2010

5*****

“Attack in the Alleghenies” by William P. Robertson and David Rimer is a well written re-enactment of a specific battle in the mid 1700s, during the French/Indian wars. Filled with sometimes gory, but accurate accounts of the brutality of this period in American history, Robertson‘s novel gives the reader a clear image of the harshness of early pioneer life.

“Attack in the Alleghenies” tells the story of three men in particular who, for their own reasons, decide to aid nearby settlers and soldiers in a vicious battle for their very survival against the group of Indians in an alliance with French soldiers during this period. Robertson’s book also touches on the issues of compassion and humanity, told through the experiences and eyes of these three heroes.

The photos dispersed throughout the book, which show modern day re-enactments of “The Attack in the Alleghenies” are great and help provide visual images of the terrifying painted faces of the Indians, the soldiers and the forest environment.

The ONE thing that threw me off what the book would be about - was the cover. To me, though the cover image is great art - it seemed too modern, too ‘metal’, to connect with the story’s mid 1700s period of American history.

I rather enjoyed reading William Robertson’s “The Attack in the Alleghenies” and would love to read more of his books concerning American history.

I received this book for free to review from Librarything. I am a member of Librarything, Goodreads, BookDivas, Black Velvet Seductions and the Penguin book club. ( )

"Attack in the Alleghenies" by William P. Robertson is a well crafted historical fiction set in mid-eighteenth century Pennsylvania. Author Robertson’s careful attention to detail would make this book a useful addition to middle school social studies supplemental reading lists, especially in, but not limited to, Pennsylvania schools. The book is easy reading for a young person, and many middle-school-aged boys would find the savage scenes of torture and scalp taking to be fascinating which might motivate them to take more of an interest in local history. The book should also prove of interest to adult readers with a bent towards this particular setting and historical period.

The novel follows the adventures of Lightnin’ Jack Hawkins and his trapper friends, dour Alexander MacDonald, ancient Bearbite Bob Winslow and young Will Cutler and their Indian wives Little Mink,Gathering Flowers,Bear Woman, and Bright Star, from Hawkins’ capture by “rum selling vermin” to his adoption into the Delaware tribe at Kit-Han-ne to the defeat of the tribe and the death of the charismatic chief, Captain Jacobs at the Battle of Kittanning (Kit-Han-ne).

"Attack in the Alleghenies" is a well put-together book, illustrated with photographs from French and Indian War reenactments and includes an introduction that clearly delineates the historic events covered by the novel, a bibliography, glossary and a list of characters both fictional and historic.

Attack in the Alleghenies by William P. Robertson is a book I received from Member Giveaways. It is a fairly well written, action packed novel about the 1755-1756 Delaware Indian Wars in Pennsylvania. This novel would serve well for a young person whom you might be trying to interest in reading. Be aware, however, that there are some fairly graphic scenes describing the cruelty of the Delaware in their attacks on the English settlers they were at war with. Don't expect this novel to provide any deep philosophical narratives regarding the impact of early colonial American life on the eventual taking of land from native Americans. It's just not there. This is entertainment reading in it's rawest and most basic form. ( )