Book excerpt: Frank L. Gertcher weaves an exquisitely crafted Civil War era murder-mystery. The story includes good detective work by Jeremiah and James, romance between key characters and insight with regard to the battle of good and evil within the human soul. Frank uses vivid dialogue between characters and emotional first person thoughts to let readers vicariously experience love and hate, rage and remorse, ecstasy and fear, joy and sadness. Yet always, accurate descriptions of historical events and scenes are there, and the reader is immersed in time and place, just like the characters.