The Ninth Daughter by Barbara Hamilton

The Ninth Daughter by Barbara Hamilton ISBN-13: 9780425244630 Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime Released: October 4, 2011

Source: Bought through Half.com.

Book Description, Modified from Back Cover:
1773: The Massachusetts colony is torn between patriots who want independence from British rule and loyalists who support the King. The educated and beautiful Abigail Adams is the wife of John Adams, a member of the Sons of Liberty--a secret organization opposing the Crown.

When a murder occurs in the home of their friend and fellow patriot, Rebecca Malvern, John is accused of the crime. Rebecca is missing--probably a captive or dead. The Sons of Liberty are desperate to find a document with revealing information about them that is missing from her home. This gruesome murder is similar to older, unsolved murders. With justice in the balance and the lives of her husband and other Sons of Liberty at stake, Abby is determined to uncover the truth.


My Review:
The Ninth Daughter is a historical mystery set in 1773 in Massachusetts. This is the first book in the series. The vivid historical details about the everyday life and politics were skillfully woven into the story.

The characters were fairly true to the time period (their ideas and ideals reflected the time period, including some comments about religious debates of the time). I found the characters engaging and interesting, and they reacted realistically to the situations. I always understood why the characters--including the "bad guys"--were acting the way they were.

The mystery was an interesting clue-based puzzle. Whodunit was guessable but not obvious to me. I realized where the clues were pointing at about the same time Abigail did.

There was some talk about religious topics, but it was as a background/historical aspect of the story. There was no sex, though rape and prostitutes were mentioned in conversation. There was a some explicit bad language (about 16 instances). Overall, I'd recommend this intriguing and well-written novel.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


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