The Secret of the 48th Foot

The Secret of the 48th Foot

The Secret of the 48th Foot is the tale of the search for one of the great “lost treasures” in history, a chest of gold and silver coins that disappeared after General Braddock was defeated near present-day Pittsburgh in July 1755. In this suspense thriller academicians Ben and Julia come upon a coded message full of riddles and clues that tell them not only where the treasure may be but that a ruthless band of right-wing militiamen are also after the treasure and have vowed to kill anyone who gets in their way. To keep ahead of their murderous pursuers the pair must rely on their wits, an academically-challenged former student and even the town fool. In a series of desperate moves and gutsy maneuvers, they careen across West Virginia and western Maryland, pursued by armed killers. What began as a race to find a historic treasure becomes a deadly race against time with a finale that is both surprising and poignant. Here is what some readers have said about this novel . . . . . . A bit of history, a bit of academia, a bit of the mountains of West Virginia and a bit of imagination; put it all together and the author takes you on a rollercoaster ride that will have you holding onto the rails. The Secret of the 48th Foot is an exciting book. You will enjoy it. . . . This quick read packs a wallop. History, mystery, geography, geology, logic, law, camping, hiking, and romance color the action. Ben and Julia, university professors and erstwhile lovers, struggle to stay one step ahead of evil thugs in search of long-hidden loot. . . . An entertaining, action-filled, treasure-hunting tale. The Secret of the 48th Foot, wonderfully and artfully written, peppered with true historical events and people, will bait the reader with a cat-and-mouse game between our unwitting heroes (Ben and Julia) and their ruthless adversaries . . . I highly recommend this book as each clue and each chase will compel you to keep turning the pages to the impressive ending! . . . An Appalachian Da Vinci Code. This book was entertaining from page one. If you are a fan of Dan Brown, Steve Berry, James Rollins or any thriller writers you will love this book. . . . The Secret of the 48th Foot is an exceptionally well-written book; the principal characters are very compelling; the bad guys are truly despicable; the storyline is simply excellent; in short, I couldn't put this book down until I finished it. What did I like? Being a history buff, this was right up my alley, add in mystery and you have a bestseller!! I loved the interaction between the lead characters and the emotional connection between them. It made the book so much more interesting. What will you like? Well written, very developed, thoroughly researched and includes plenty of historical details. The descriptions are precise and so well done that I felt like I was the one in the book. Action and an utterly fascinating storyline that is so plausible for the mystery that they are involved in. This would make a great series, hope the author thinks so too. -- DD Gott - Donadees Corner The polish that exudes from this excellent novel betrays the fact that it is a first novel by a new author about whom we will most assuredly be hearing more. The ability to combine history with the ever-popular concept of a search for buried treasure makes this fine novel a rich experience. The prose is refined, incorporating variations of the language of 1755 with the flavor of contemporary conversation, the result is a degree of credibility that enhances the quality of the characters and the progress of the story. This is an important debut novel from an author with strong future . Very highly recommended. -- Grady Harp A bit of history, a bit of academia, a bit of the mountains of West Virginia and a bit of imagination; put it all together and the author takes you on rollercoaster ride that will have you holding on to the rails. The Secret of the 48th Foot is an exciting book. You will enjoy it. John Myers III This may be Mr. Bowman's first novel, but it is quite obviously not the first thing he has ever put on paper. The story is well organized, beautifully written , and it grabs the reader with an unrelenting grip from the first paragraph. I especially enjoyed the travelogue thru the WVU campus and Morgantown, south to the capital along the Kanawha River, and up into the high and rugged mountains of the Allegheny Front. The characters are vividly portrayed and a modicum of humor is injected amid the suspense. Let's have another one, Mr. F. J. Bowman! -- Michael J. Haney The story is brilliantly done! I was impressed with the author's uncomplicated but precise descriptions of people and places which made it all very real. I feel I know the people in the story and share their anxiety about the threat to their lives as well as the resumption of their physical relationship. The story is moving, intricate and suspenseful in a way I cannot imagine how one does that. -- Ed Flower