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Rebel Falls

A Novel

Tim Wendel author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Cornell University Press

Published:15th May '24

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

Rebel Falls cover

Set during a critical moment in the Civil War, Rebel Falls follows Rory Chase as she undertakes a perilous mission to thwart Confederate spies.

In Rebel Falls, Tim Wendel transports readers to the summer of 1864, a pivotal moment during the Civil War. As Sherman advances on Atlanta and Grant and Lee clash in Virginia, the North faces a growing war-weariness that casts doubt on Lincoln's reelection bid. Amidst this turmoil, Confederate agents gather at Niagara Falls, plotting a bold strategy to alter the course of the conflict. Their audacious plan threatens to unleash chaos in Northern cities, heightening the stakes for both sides as the nation stands on the brink.

The story centers around Rory Chase, a determined young woman driven by a desire to assist the Union cause. Tasked by Secretary of State William Seward, she embarks on a dangerous mission to thwart the plans of two Confederate spies, John Yates Beall and Bennet Burley. Their objective is to commandeer the U.S.S. Michigan and unleash terror on the North, just as the election looms. To succeed, Rory must navigate a treacherous web of deception, gaining the trust of the rebels while relying on the support of the Underground Railroad operating from the elegant Cataract House hotel.

Rebel Falls not only weaves a thrilling narrative but also sheds light on a lesser-known chapter of the Civil War. With its rich historical backdrop and character-driven storytelling, Wendel's novel captures the tension and beauty of this era, making it a compelling read for history enthusiasts and fiction lovers alike.

Based on actual yet long-obscured events, Wendel's absorbing novel is rich in dramatic history, while his depiction of Rory's internal conflicts brings depth to her high-stakes mission.

-- Leah Strauss * Booklist *

Put Tim Wendel's Rebel Falls on the shelf next to The Falls by Joyce Carol Oates and The Day the Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan. They are great Niagara novels by great Niagara-born writers. They write of its raging waters with prose so good you can almost feel the mist rising off the page. Wendel's deep research undergirds the story but does not slow it down. His novel moves swiftly, like the river that animates it.

-- Erik Brady * Buffalo News *

Author Wendel provides an entertaining story that merges an interesting but largely unknown episode from the War Between the States, with historically grounded but imagined interactions with major players in the conflict.

-- Brodie Curtis * Historical Novel Socie

ISBN: 9781501774881

Dimensions: 229mm x 152mm x 23mm

Weight: 907g

272 pages