The Last Fatal Hour by Jan Matthews

Impressively crafted, refreshingly original, and fronted by a dauntless protagonist, The Last Fatal Hour by Jan Matthews is a timely gem of historical fiction. Navigating the perils of normal life after serving as a “lady soldier of the Union Army,” Leona Gladney has nearly completed her controversial memoir, but a series of personal tragedies and public embarrassments threaten her ambition, reputation, and even her freedom. Desperate for answers and exoneration, she turns to the murky realm of spiritualism, but the only ghosts haunting Leona are the grim specters of her past. A historical portrait of trauma, feminine resilience, and the treacherous paths some tread for healing, this painstakingly penned novel is a transportive and emotional thrill, offering a fascinating portrait of life in the antebellum North that is both rich in historical detail, and strikingly contemporary.