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4 out of 4 stars
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Filled with action, intrigue, and romance, The Devil Take Tomorrow transports the reader to a defining moment of the American Revolution. Ethan Matlock is a Continental soldier charged with a perilous mission: infiltrating the British Army to foil an assassination attempt upon General George Washington. Using his quick wit and irresistible charms, Matlock immediately plants himself within the social circle of the masterminds behind the attempt, but soon becomes distracted by the beautiful (and fiercely patriotic) Maddie Graves, the niece of a British Loyalist. As Ethan becomes entrenched in his double life, time is running out to save George Washington, and the fate of a nation hangs in the balance.
The Devil Take Tomorrow is a captivating novel that will please lovers of historical fiction, especially those with an interest in the Revolutionary War. According to her biography, the author is an enthusiast of eighteenth-century American history, and did extensive research into the period to deliver a story that is as accurate as it is entertaining. While I am no expert on the American Revolution, some of the details of the novel prompted me to conduct my own research via the Internet, and I was impressed with my findings. In addition, I learned some things about the Revolutionary War that I did not know prior to reading this book.
The plot moves at a breakneck pace, and is combined with a writing style that provides vivid mental pictures of the characters and settings without being overly tedious. As I read, the story unfolded before me as though I was watching a movie. In my mind's eye, I could clearly see the blood-red uniforms of the British officers, elegant ladies in their voluminous gowns, and the stately mansion in which Ethan stays as a guest.
The character development is no less superb. Ethan is a multi-layered protagonist, charming and extremely loyal to his cause, but also not without his share of inner demons. Maddy is fiery, intelligent, and utterly defiant of the expectations of a woman of her station. The villains are thoroughly detestable, but the author avoids painting all British soldiers in a negative light, as so many stories about this period are wont to do. On the contrary, it's made very clear that there are good and bad people on both sides of the conflict.
I don't have any actual criticisms of this book, although I feel the need to warn readers about some of the content. There are some depictions of violence toward women, as well as references to rape. Nothing is graphic, but those who are easily upset by this material might want to avoid this book.
I enjoyed reading The Devil Take Tomorrow and rate it 4 out of 4 stars. Although I have already recommended this book to history lovers, I believe that it has diverse appeal and would be appreciated by a wide range of readers.
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The Devil Take Tomorrow
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