Liss' historical novels are just about the best I've read. This one combines enough real events and people with imagined events and people to create a thoroughyl delightful work. ( )

I received an ARC of "The Whiskey Rebels" by David Liss through LibraryThing. It was the second Liss novel I have read.

From Booklist, as part of a review by Bill Ott, via Amazon.Com, here is a rundown on the plot:

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It’s a tumultuous time, with Hamiltonians sparring with Jeffersonians, and Hamilton himself hoping to secure his position with the establishment of the National Bank. Into the mix comes Ethan Saunders, a celebrated spy during the war but now living a dissolute life in Philadelphia as a drunkard and gambler. Attempting to come to the aid of his former lover, the wife of a stock trader and associate of Hamilton’s, Saunders falls in with the “whiskey rebels,” back country moonshiners furious with Hamilton’s whiskey tax and ready - with the help of the wily Joan Maycott, wife of one of the whiskey boys - to foment trouble in the financial markets, possibly causing the failure of Hamilton’s bank.

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Now, I never intended to read Liss's work again. His first three novels, and then his fifth, are all historical fiction based in Europe, mostly in Victorian England, and deal with national finance. Though his writing is fantastic, I found the one novel, it's story and mystery, not my cup of tea. But seeing that this story takes place in early American history, I wanted to give it a try. I don't really remember that whole description, and probably glanced over it, because I don't remember this having to do so much with finance. But it did.

One thing that I feel needs to be pointed out, is that many historical figures play small to medium size roles in this book. Alexander Hamilton as mentioned above, along with Hugh Henry Brackenridge, William Duer, Maria and James Reynolds, Aaron Burr, and a brief cameo by George Washington.

The chapters, for most of the book, go back and forth between Ethan and Joan. Both are in first person. Ethan's follow the here and now of the story. Joan's starts back to her days as a precocious teen. Joan's chapters were far more interesting at the beginning of the book. They tell a story. It's not a mystery/thriller. Sure, there are some thrilling moments. But it's a great story of a couple as they grow up, get swindled, and make the best of what they can and make new roads and friends. But soon the two stories merge, and it all becomes a financial mystery, though with some more intrigue.

Like the other novel I read by Liss, his writing is amazing. He seems to know how people spoke during that time. I don't doubt he really knows. This is due to exhaustive research, or so I assume. It just seems to me that he did a great job making the story real. But his prose is excellent as well. He is very descriptive, and actually at times that hinders the story. Too much of it dragged the story down at times. And overall, the story seemed too long. It never became boring. But it slowed, and at times things, though at least keeping the story moving, seemed superfluous and unneeded.

For those interested in American history, this is basically a fictionalized reason behind the Panic of 1792. Duer is the man behind it, but things have been changed. As one that is not too terribly familiar with this part of American history, or the Whiskey Rebellion that later followed, also supposedly involving some of these characters of the story, it didn't bother me. It grabbed enough of my attention, and gave me a realistic feel. But I'm not sure other who are more familiar with this event would be happy with it. Also, the last chapter made me laugh at how absurd it was. I hate to give it away, but it basically places Joan as the bug in Aaron Burr's ear to shoot directly at Hamilton during their duel that eventually killed the man on the ten dollar bill. Thankfully it was done as a wrap-up, and didn't hurt the overall feel of the story. But probably, in my opinion, should have been changed.

So it's a well written, complex novel. But not necessarily following something that really interests me, but makes me want to show my respect for it.

David Liss' work has impressive historicity and is exceptionally interesting. His characters are typically flawed but compelling (mostly because they are flawed). The Coffee Traders was great and excited me for The Whiskey Rebels, which takes place in the early days of the United States' existence as a nation.

Unfortunately for me, the interleaved stories here did not drive me through the book as those in his other works did. Ethan is flawed but compelling; Joan just seems to talk all the time. There's lots going on in her world, too, but there is way too much time spent in her head and not enough out in her world. I struggled to make it through and the conclusion did not do enough to satisfy my early frustrations. This is likely a function of my own impatience, rather than a deficiency of Liss', but I was not as taken with The Whiskey Rebels as I have been with his other stuff. ( )

Not an easy to book to read at all. It was very hard to get into and at times confusing. But I persevered and got through it. A goo read. ( )

I had trouble getting into this book. Once I did it turned out to be pretty good, but it’s probably not something I’ll ever read again.