The Constable's Tale: Historical Fiction Novel of Colonial America - Perfect for Book Clubs & American History Enthusiasts

The Constable's Tale is an interesting period piece set in pre-revolutionary America. With the backdrop of a murder mystery, Smith exposes the reader to the daily life, customs, culture, and priorities of colonial times. He skillfully weaves in the language, writing, and spelling of the time in the form of letters among the principals.The murder mystery itself and the road to solve it, is a bit too tortuous and unbelievable; it takes away from the glimpse into the life and times of the day. In particular, it is utterly preposterous that a man on a mission that takes him from North Carolina to Virginia to Philadelphia to Boston to Quebec would continually run into the exact same people seemingly at every turn. After all, I can go a week or more without seeing my neighbors; the very thought of running into them time and again on my travels would be absurd. As for trhe mystery itself, it turns out to be a pretty boilerplate whodunit, with the usual twists at the end.That critique aside, this is an enjoyable read and a pleasant diversion from the run of the mill murder mysteries. I recommend it for anyone interested in the daily life of colonial America.