The Case of the Hydegild Sacrifice

Loved it! 😍
A humorous and thrilling mix of historical fiction and classic mystery. Major Gask and Rait make a delightful team!
SYNOPSIS
A Dangerous Web
The next chapter in the adventures of Major Findo Gask and Erroll Rait begins not with a bang, but with a whisper—a whisper that draws them into the darkest corners of American history. Arriving in Washington D.C., the two friends are swiftly recruited by the famed Pinkerton agency, their mission nothing less than to prevent the impending assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.
But this is no simple task. As they peel back the layers of the plot, Gask and Rait discover a tangled web of intrigue far more complex than a fanatical actor and a group of vengeful Confederates. The conspiracy stretches far beyond what anyone could have imagined, its tendrils reaching into the highest echelons of power.
With every clue they follow, the stakes grow higher, the shadows deepen, and the truth becomes more chilling. They soon realise that it's not just Lincoln's life on the line, their own may also be forfeit.
The Case of the Hydegild Sacrifice by David Cairns of Finavon is part of the Major Gask & Erroll Rait Mysteries series. This is the fourth book in the series, and as such, it does contain some spoilers from the previous books. I would recommend reading them in order, but each book contains its own mystery, so it's possible to read them separately, if needed. The story is a fascinating combination of historical fiction and classic mystery. While much of the information is skillfully woven throughout the story, there are occasional footnotes given to offer readers additional historical context and helpful references to events in past books; these supply readers with any additional background information they might need without bogging down the narrative flow.

I was elated to find that the story references Pinkerton and some of his agents at the time! I read a book years ago called Girl in Disguise that mentioned Tim Webster. The Case of the Hydegild Sacrifice is unique in that it presents the story of a time of extreme uncertainty in American history from an outside source, a former British officer and his Australian companion. Major Gask and Erroll Rait are an entertaining pair, and their humor and insight make this a diverting read. In addition to the thrilling sense of adventure the story carries, Gask and Rait prove themselves to be very knowledgeable about the world around them, and I loved hearing their thoughts on the different topics that arose. In the story, Gask is the narrator, and his inquisitive yet mildly socially awkward nature finds him in some interesting situations. While not quite Sherlock Holmes, what Major Gask lacks in renown, he makes up for in persistence. He's always up for an adventure and meets some very interesting people in his travels. His title brings a level of intrigue that seems to draw attention and rumor alike, sometimes to his disadvantage. I liked getting a glimpse at his thoughts, as well as hearing his discussions with Rait and the others in the story.

Overall, I adored meeting the characters and enjoyed the conversational tone used to tell the story. The historical and mystery elements wove together beautifully and kept me glued to the pages. From the moment they met Mrs. Lewis, I was invested in the story and couldn't stop thinking about it. The mystery revealed itself slowly at first, but once I got to that point, I couldn't put it down because I had to know what would happen next!

April 1865, the American Civil war is grinding to its brutal end and scores are being settled between former allies of convenience as much as between those on the Union and Confederate sides of the wire. The stakes could not be higher with the future political direction of a superpower in waiting hanging in the balance.

Hired by an engineering company keen to profit from reconstruction Major Findo Gask and his friend Errol Rait are sent to Washington to negotiate a contract. They find themselves at the centre of the dramatic events surrounding the assassination of President Lincoln and the hunt for and trial of the conspirators responsible.

In the fourth instalment of his popular series featuring Major Gask David Cairns delivers another first-rate historical thriller. He draws on real events to give a picture of the fevered days leading up to and following the assassination, exposing political machinations within the Lincoln administration matching those of the handful of conspirators seeking to strike one last blow for their lost cause.

His attention to detail is meticulous and he captures the fevered atmosphere following the events at Ford’s Theatre as the authorities state a poorly executed manhunt ending in the, convenient for some senior figures, death of John Wilkes-Booth. This is made all the more interesting thanks to the inclusion of real individuals who are seldom presented in the flattering light they might have hoped history might shine on them.

There are, as Cairns would probably be the first to say, as many questions and conspiracy theories surrounding the assassination of Lincoln in 1865 as there are that of Kennedy almost a century later. This book explores the events that inspired them with a genuine feeling for the spirit of the times and, maybe, suggests some unsettling answers.

It’s rare to find a historical mystery that combines meticulous research with pulse-pounding suspense so seamlessly. I was drawn into the shadowy aftermath of Lincoln’s assassination, following Major Gask and Erroll Rait through twists that felt both unexpected and perfectly earned. ………..The blend of courtroom drama, political intrigue, and carefully plotted mystery keeps readers on edge while grounding them in a world that feels vividly real.