Historical information about lifestyle and the politics of the war come through Dan as an accessory to his character, and not in preachy historian style. That his struggle includes some rather devious plans actually show the timbre opf the times-the do-anything-to-get-by aspect of the early society. The authentic details and language are excellent and Dan's situation-from one misadventure to another-pulled me in.ĭan is a likeable rogue struggling to get by in the upheavals of the American Revolution. The first-person presentation made me feel as if Dan McCracken returned from the 18th century, plunked himself down at my kitchen table and begin telling me his story. I enjoy Lindermuth's work, and this book ranks at the top. I downloaded the Kindle edition of this book after reading about it on Lindermuth's blog. Yet, the die was cast without my having a word to say about it. I still don’t consider myself a hero it was purely an accident and one that, for the most part, I would have preferred to avoid. I never once in my long life entertained ambition to become a hero and never expected fate would cast the opportunity before me. It has been my experience such was the case with those I met who were elevated to that status and I know with undue certainty it was so in my own case. I’ve long held the opinion heroes are made and not born. He switches sides once more as he discovers his conscience as a result of love and his actions-not through choice but circumstance-make him a hero. McCracken is enamored of the girl, but when her husband returns from the front he flees and falls in with a band of British spies.

Wounded and on the run from the law during the American Revolution, Dandy Dan McCracken is rescued and nursed back to health by the lovely ward of Benedict Arnold’s procurement officer in Philadelphia. A rogue becomes a hero during the American Revolutionary War

The Accidental Spy by J.R. Lindermuth