First published 2017
Jeremy and Hugh arrive in New Jersey to stay with their grandfather, but family disaster awaits them. A Dutch seizure of one of their ships threatens the family fortune. Jeremy departs for Europe to recover the vessel while Hugh remains behind to help however he can. Hugh finds work as a gardener at the nearby estate of Joseph Bonaparte, Napoleon's brother who has fled to America. Hugh notices a mysterious figure watching Bonaparte and his household. The stranger's presence troubles Hugh, but the adults dismiss his concerns. Hugh must find a way to make them listen to his warnings before the lurking threat becomes something far worse. Set against the backdrop of early American history, Hugh faces the challenge of protecting those around him while his family's future hangs in the balance.
Genres: american-fiction, historical-fiction, 20th-century, adventure, 19th-century, american-history
Vibes: atmospheric, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: New Jersey, Europe
Period: Early American History, Napoleonic Era
137 pages · Paperback · Independently published