Pamela Cummings Reviews

Page One

Added December 19, 2004

Duty, Honor, Murder

Author: Pamela Cummings
Publisher: Amber Quill Press
Available At: www.amberquill.com
Publishing Date: Available Now
Genre: Fiction: Historical
Format: Trade Paperback and Ebook download in PDF/HTML/LIT
Price: $15.50 paperback, $6.00 ebook
ISBN: 1-59279-908-6 paperback, 1-59279-065-8 ebook
Reviewer: Joyce Handzo

Duty, Honor, Murder comes from the hands of an author who loves history and knows how to tell a great story!

Set in the nineteenth century at West Point Academy, a grisly murder upsets the orderly life of the cadets. Colonel Robert E. Lee, superintendent of the school, seeks to impart justice while walking the fine line of fairness. As the investigation uncovers unsettling clues, it appears that the murderer has a misguided sense of duty and honor. As the trail leads ever closer to the murderer's identity, panic erupts, and with it, the possibility of another murder.

Pamela Cummings has successfully combined history and fiction. Readers will get a real "feel" of this time period through the careful details interspersed throughout the story. The author smoothly uses dialogue, transportation, clothing, and even food to create the proper historical atmosphere.

The motivations for the characters' actions are also based on the time period, and it was interesting to read the dialogue concerning the proper role of women in society The cadets and the famous school were described with vivid and accurate details. It was especially delightful to see Robert E. Lee in the story, presiding over the school and the murder investigation.

Seeking to solve the murder was great fun for this reviewer! Captain Edgwick, the victim, had made some enemies over the years, and this led to several possibilities for his untimely death. Garet Morgan, former cadet and current instructor at the school, leads his own private investigation into this mystery, and uncovers some disturbing details. As different facts come to light, the spotlight seems to shift to yet another suspect. However, in an appropriate finale, readers will finally understand the motive and the method, and realize the connection between murder and honor.

Author Pamela Cummings has brought to life a fascinating time in history, through her skillful storytelling and strong plot. Readers who love historical fiction will not be disappointed. The element of mystery was very well done and provided an effective sense of tension throughout the story.

Duty, Honor, Murder is great writing and great reading!

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Added June 26, 2004

No Regrets: The Civil War Diary of David Day

Editor: Pamela Cummings
Publisher: Amber Quill Press
Available At: www.amberquill.com
Publishing Date: Available Now
Genre: Non-fiction: Reference/Historical
Format: Trade Paperback and Ebook download in PDF/HTML/LIT
Price: $15.50 paperback, $6.00 ebook
ISBN: 1-59279-944-2 paperback, 1-59279-046-1
Reviewer: Joyce Handzo

David Day was an ordinary soldier in an extraordinary war. His diary is a highly literate and personal story of his life with the Union army. Editor Pamela Cummings enriches this account with footnotes, a bibliography, and a special section explaining the people mentioned in this book.

David takes readers from the idleness of waiting to the engagements with the enemy. As his company traveled into the South, readers will see the institution of slavery through his eyes. Although he found the Southern language difficult, he recorded a conversation he had with the enemy, who was a true Southern gentleman. Some of his comments may appear racist by today's standards, but his words contain no malice.

David was described as a jovial and very popular man with many friends. It appears that he brought his sunny disposition to these diary accounts. While he did write about various battles, he also included humorous incidents, as well as everyday observations about the world around him. While most readers are familiar with the 'big" battles of this war, David's diary is a startling reminder that all battles were big to those who fought in them. It also seems that normal, everyday events were just as important and necessary for survival as the ability to fight well. Soldiers lived in another world, and the contact with familiar and friendly things was a balm to the soul and mind.

David enlisted for three years, partly because of his love of adventure. When he returned home, he was forever changed in body and mind. These words, which he penned during his time as a soldier, will highlight some of those changes, as well as speak to today's readers about one man's contribution to his country.

Readers have the benefit of David Day's own words, as well as the insightful editorial comments by Pamela Cummings. The diary accounts are further explained and enhanced by historical facts. This hindsight of history causes the reader to better understand the bigger picture of the war, while at the same time, observing how it affected one soldier's life.

David Day's diary is "his" story, and part of our nation's history. Read it for reference, enrichment or as a reminder of a war fought by ordinary people just like us.

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