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Book description

It is America 1861 and North and South have never seemed further apart: the threat of civil war hangs heavy in the air...

For Lon Price, the issue is simple. He has inherited from his Methodist father both a burning sense of right and wrong, and a desire to see an end to slavery. So much so that he is prepared to resign from the Pinkerton police agency to fight for the North. But his departure is not necessary, for the federal government is well aware of the agency's work, and in Lon they see a prime candidate for secret service...

Margaret Miller is part of a family that prides itself on supporting the South: her father Calhoun is owner of the secession supporting Baltimore Independent; her brother Cicero has similar views, though the circles he moves in are considerably less law-abiding. When Calhoun is killed by a Yankee bullet, Margaret becomes as determined as Lon to uphold the ideals of her father...

www. johnjakes. com John Jakes is the best historical novelist of our time. The factual details in ON SECRET SERVICE are simply astonishing: you walk the muddy streets, smell the acrid smoke of battlefields, and experience firsthand the inner workings of a vast conspiracy. Jake s' new novel is a fascinating account of how the Secret Service began and a powerful new perspective on a war the world can't forget PATRICIA CORNWELL Another gripping Civil War epic packed with action and strong characters. PETERBOROUGH EVENING TELEGRAPH The theme is maintaining honour in war, while pursuing relationships that cause conflicting loyalties. In exploring this theme, Jakes maps the inner soul of America. HISTORICAL NEWS REVIEW Born in Chicago in 1932, John Jakes began writing professionally when he was at university, having sold his first story for . He did freelance advertising copy while writing short stories and in 1973 started his 8-volume saga, The Kent Family Chronicles - all were bestsellers.