I wasn't sure I was going to like this obvious departure of Margolin writing a period piece set in 1860's Oregon and although the legal aspects are quite simplistic, I rather enjoyed the story. It's intriguing that Margolin based it on an actual incident in history. Margolin spends a little more time on characterization than he does in his regular novels but this area is still not his forte.

Written at a grade 10 reading level. It takes an interesting aspect of law in the wild west and stretches it out through violence, romance and Victorian mores. I was taken in by the book reviews. This is not an author I would ever read again, although I might suggest it to a younger reader who would like a black and white plot line.

The first few chapters were very interesting; then everything kind of degenerated to predictable and boring.

The author provided an interesting legal story inspired by actual historical events but failed to convince me that he had a good grasp of other historical details. It's worth reading to understand the difficulties of Blacks in early Oregon but it's not a great novel.

I really enjoyed this story.

Simplistic. In the author's notes, Margolin says this was a book he worked on then put away when his legal thrillers hit. Sorry to say, it reads like a first novel attempt. Very basic characters and plot. About the only interesting thing is the time in which it's set - Oregon, on the brink of the Civil War - and even that's not well drawn.

An interesting tale that reveals sordid aspects of slavery but also the character of the black family - so much more human than some of the "whites" in the story. Good courtroom scenes.

Excellent, couldn't put it down.

Phillip Margolin brings to life the
1860"s , The old north west territory
with clear beauty. A legal thriller that
is something special . A good clean
satisfying ending.

A well researched and intriguing historical narrative based on a true story. Wonderful characterization, setting, and suspense, as in his other titles.