Blood of the Oak: A Mystery of Revolutionary America

Written by Eliot Pattison

Narrated by Matthew Waterson

The Edgar Award-winner’s colonial series continues as Scottish exile Duncan McCallum uncovers a loyalist conspiracy―“Historical mystery at its best” (Booklist, starred review).

The American Colonies, 1765. As the Stamp Act dissent marks the first organized resistance to English rule, someone is kidnapping and killing members of the Iroquois Nation. Asked by an elder to investigate, Scottish exile Duncan McCallum soon uncovers a network of secret runners supporting the nascent “committees of correspondence,” engaged in the political dissent fomenting across colonial borders. But as Duncan follows the trail further, it leads to his capture.

Thrown into slavery with the kidnapped runners, Duncan discovers a powerful conspiracy of highly placed English aristocrats bent on crushing all dissent. Inspired by an aged Native American slave and new African friends, Duncan decides not just to escape but to turn their own intrigue against the London lords.

A Publishers Weekly Best Book, the fourth entry in the Bone Rattler series moves ever closer to the beginning of the American Revolution. With a cast of characters that includes Benjamin Franklin, Samuel Adams, the early Pennsylvania rebel James Smith, and Dr. Benjamin Rush, Blood of the Oak takes a fresh view on the birth of the new American nation.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Everand Productions
• Release date: Mar 16, 2021
• ISBN: 9781094416663

Eliot Pattison

Eliot Pattison is the author of The Skull Mantra, which won the Edgar Award and was a finalist for the Gold Dagger, as well Water Touching Stone and Bone Mountain. Pattison is a world traveler and frequent visitor to China, and his numerous books and articles on international policy issues have been published around the world.

Reviews for Blood of the Oak

[Mary D · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Very interesting. The constant getting into trouble and getting out, while is too much to be believable, is entertaining. The history of the tribes is very interesting and a large part of the reason I'm listening to this series.

[fred mench · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Adventure, intrigue, romance, tales of native activity and settler diversity, all tied together in an interesting story, make this a good account and narrated excellently.

[Mariam Shah-Rais · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is the fourth book in Pattison’s “A Mystery of Colonial America.” As with the other books, the plot is complex and requires careful listening. As in the other books, there is a lot of violence and descriptions of torture. So be warned! However, the audiobook is difficult to put down. It is well written, deftly brings to life an important chapter in American history, and it is brilliantly narrated. I loved the parallels between Native American and early African American customs and the evocative chapters on the strong spirituality embedded in Native American lives and their strong connection to nature leading to a very different outlook on life than Europeans.

[Ed · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is brilliant, inspired piece of historical fiction. It is imagined in such a manner as to allow you to believe events happened in just this way.

[Bud Tyler · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Is it possible to have too much intrigue , I think not ! Bravo on a fine series ,or maybe it's not over.....

[Michael Anthony Santoro · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It was a great series and I enjoyed the reader as well.

[Morris-Ken · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love every book I have read in this series each are excellent and can't wait for the next one