4 out of 4 stars
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Book of Matthew, by Catalina DuBois, is about Matthew Colburn, a white boy. Matthew is an heir to his father's vast plantation, and he falls in love with Sarah, a black servant girl working for his parents, as an apprentice nurse. Matthew's parents strongly believe in tradition and class stratification, and they'll never allow their son to marry a servant girl. Being fully cognizant of that, Matthew works out a plan to make Sarah his wife.
Meanwhile, someone working on the plantation is attacking every girl who gets close to Matthew, and their primary target is Sarah. Will Matthew's parents accept his marriage? What's the assailant's motive? Will he or she be apprehended? Exploring the themes of love, true friendship, jealousy, and betrayal, this book gives insight into slavery in the United States in the nineteenth century. It shows how young people in love with each other suffered due to racialized slavery.
This fast-paced narrative is intriguing and exciting. I was hooked from the first paragraph. Consisting of 210 pages, it's a quick read, and its plot is simple and suspenseful. Written in the third-person point of view, the tale is comprehensible and entertaining. The dialogues are engaging. Being the first part of a serial story, it can stand alone, and since it's a mix of historical, crime, and romance fiction, it contains some sex scenes. However, the sex scenes are not explicit. They are okay for a romance tale.
In addition, this well-written novel is filled with fun and fascinating twists. When I thought the assailant had been apprehended already, another suspect would show up. As the story progresses, a lot of shocking secrets are unveiled. I think this is a good read for everyone except persons who don't like books about slavery.
The author described all the characters very well. She provided enough background, personality, and physical details about them. They are intriguing and realistic, and I enjoyed reading about them. Most of the characters are teenagers. Hence, they are full of life and energy. The only flaw I noticed in the character development is that some of the teenagers acted older than their ages, even Matthew, the protagonist.
In conclusion, the narrative is appealing and gripping. It's a worthwhile read. It was professionally edited; I didn't find any grammatical and typographical errors. Thus, with delight, I rate it 4 out of 4 stars and recommend it to persons who enjoy reading historical mystery and romance novels.
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Book of Matthew
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