I am a big fan of David Liss’s work, especially A Conspiracy of Paper, a historical mystery set during the the world’s first stock market crash, which will give some insight into what happened nearly 300 years ago, wrapped up in a story of pugilism and prostitution.
And then, once you’ve finished A Conspiracy of Paper, you can read The Coffee Trader (the introduction of coffee to the commodities exchanges in Amsterdam in the mid 17th Century) and A Spectacle of Corruption (about the machinations involved in an early 18th Century British national election) … all are timely novels to read in the current political and economic climate … a little history to put current events into perspective.
Set in and around Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and New York City in the years after the Revolutionary War, this clever thriller from Liss (The Ethical Assassin) follows the adventures of Ethan Saunders, once a valiant spy for General Washington, who’s fallen on hard times by war’s end. Suspected of treason, Ethan has lost the love of his life, Cynthia, who’s married the fiendish Jacob Pearson, an entrepreneur who managed to prosper during the British occupation of Philadelphia.
At Cynthia’s urging, Ethan agrees to go looking for the missing Jacob, prompted in large part by a desire to redeem his reputation. Meanwhile, the so-called whiskey rebels on the western frontier are trying to bring down the hated Alexander Hamilton and his Bank of the United States.
The courageous Ethan is a likable rogue, and even though Ethan spends too much time delving into the complications of 18th-century finance, he can be counted on when the chips are down and the odds against him soar.
Oddly (at least to me), the only novel Liss has written that I didn’t enjoy was the one mentioned in the Publisher’s Weekly synopsis. The Ethical Assassin was certainly well-written, but the darkly comic novel was set in modern times; it wasn’t what I really expected from Liss, and while I tried to give the book a chance, it never really grabbed me. I have yet to finish it. Perhaps I’ll give it another chance after finishing The Whiskey Rebels
Picked up my copy of The Whiskey Rebels last night, and am already thoroughly engrossed.
Hello there
The angel from my nightmare
The shadow in the background of the morgue
The unsuspecting victim
Of darkness in the valley
We can live like Jack and Sally
If we want
Where you can always find me
And we’ll have Halloween on Christmas
And in the night we’ll wish this never ends
We’ll wish this never ends
(I miss you)
(I miss you)
Where are you?
And I’m so sorry
I cannot sleep
I cannot dream tonight
I need somebody and always
This sick, strange darkness
Comes creeping on so haunting every time
And as I stared I counted
The webs from all the spiders
Catching things and eating their insides
Like indecision to call you
And hear your voice of treason
Will you come home
And stop this pain tonight?
Stop this pain tonight
Don’t waste your time on me
You’re already the voice inside my head
(I miss you, miss you)
Don’t waste your time on me
You’re already the voice inside my head
(I miss you, miss you)
Don’t waste your time on me
You’re already the voice inside my head
(I miss you, miss you)
Don’t waste your time on me
You’re already the voice inside my head
(I miss you, miss you)
Don’t waste your time on me
You’re already the voice inside my head
(I miss you, miss you)
Don’t waste your time on me
You’re already the voice inside my head
(I miss you, miss you)
(I miss you, miss you)
(I miss you, miss you)
(I miss you, miss you)
(I miss you, miss you)
Don’t worry about me, I’m gonna make it alright
Got my enemies cross-haired and in my sight
I take a bad situation gonna make it right
In the shadows of darkness I stand in the light
You see it’s our style to keep it true
I’ve had a bad year, a lot to go through
I’ve been knocked out, beat down, black and blue
She’s not the one coming back for you
She’s not the one coming back for you
If I fall back down, you’re gonna help me back up again
If I fall back down, you’re gonna be my friend
If I fall back down, you’re gonna help me back up again
If I fall back down, you’re gonna be my friend
It takes disaster to learn a lesson
You’re gonna make it through the darkest night
Some people betray one and cause treason
We’re gonna make everything alright
Well the worst of times, now, they don’t phase me
Even if I look and act really crazy
I went way down, she betrayed me
Now my vision is no longer hazy
I’m very lucky to have my crew
They stood by me when she flew
I’ve been knocked out, beat down, black and blue
She’s not the one coming back for you
She’s not the one coming back for you
If I fall back down, you’re gonna help me back up again
If I fall back down, you’re gonna be my friend
If I fall back down, you’re gonna help me back up again
If I fall back down, you’re gonna be my friend
If I fall back down, you’re gonna help me back up again
If I fall back down, you’re gonna be my friend
If I fall back down, you’re gonna help me back up again
If I fall back down, you’re gonna be my friend
If I fall back down, you’re gonna help me back up again
If I fall back down, you’re gonna be my friend
If I fall back down, you’re gonna help me back up again
If I fall back down, you’re gonna be my friend
If I fall back down, you’re gonna help me back up again
If I fall back down, you’re gonna be my friend
If I fall back down, you’re gonna help me back up again
If I fall back down, you’re gonna be my friend
Someday you gotta find another way,
you better right your mind
and live by what you say
Today is just another day
unless you set your sights
and try to find a way
I say fuck authority
Silent majority
Raised by the system
Now it’s time to rise against them
We’re sick of your treason
Sick of your lies
Fuck no, we won’t listen
We’re gonna open your eyes
Frustration, domination, feel the rage of a new generation,
we’re livin’, we’re dyin’ and we’re never gonna stop, stop tryin’
Stop tryin’
Stop tryin’, stop tryin’
You know the time is right to take control,
we gotta take offense against the status quo
No way, not gonna stand for it today, fight for your rights,
it’s time we had our say
I say fuck authority
Silent majority
Raised by the system
Now it’s time to rise against them
We’re sick of your treason
Sick of your lies
Fuck no, we won’t listen
We’re gonna open your eyes
Frustration, domination, feel the rage of a new generation,
We’re livin’, we’re dyin’, we’re sick and tired of the endless lyin’
Destroy,
Enjoy, your fucking world is our new toy, dominate, eliminate,
Your gonna feel the wrath, wrath of hate?
Fuck authority
Silent majority
Raised by the system
Now it’s time to rise against them
We’re sick of your treason
Sick of your lies
Fuck no, we won’t listen
We’re gonna open your eyes
Frustration, domination, feel the rage of a new generation,
we’re livin’, we’re dyin’ and we’re never gonna stop, stop tryin’
Stop tryin’
Stop tryin’, stop tryin’
David Liss’s new book, The Whiskey Rebels is finally available.
