Book Review: Imposters of Patriotism by Ted Richardson

imposters of patriotismI love alternate history and revisionist history. It allows me to dwell in “what if” scenarios and makes my imagination run wild. So, I was really excited when I started reading “Imposters of Patriotism” by Ted Richardson. I was expecting an explosive story but it fizzled even before I got to the good parts.

The premise is diabolical – George Washington wrote a secret surrender letter to the British during the Revolutionary War—a seditious act that would have ended America’s fight for independence.

That line actually made me gasp when I read the description – a big “what if” scenario. The setting is Savannah, Georgia, a place I am very fond of and the bigger than life background character is from Texas, the state which I call home.

I was ready to enjoy the book and give it 5 stars. Unfortunately, after reading even the first few chapters, I found it lacking. The characters are flat, the mystery drawn out too long and the thrill of discovery was stale even before it began.

But, I still continued reading it, hoping against hope that it will turn interesting. Again, I was disappointed. Everything was so cliché. “Imposters of Patriotism” tried to be the Da Vinci Code of American history but it failed miserably. There is no chemistry among the lead characters and the villains are so formulaic.

Quite frankly, I almost did not write this review. I was ready to just let it go. In my heart, I know that author Ted Richardson poured his heart out on this one. So perhaps, I was not just able to connect to the characters. To give both the author and myself the benefit of the doubt, I’m giving this book 3 stars instead of the 2 stars that I was originally planning.

Imposters of Patriotism” is Rated PG 13 due to the revisionist nature of the story. There are no sex scenes in this book.

3
Description

Savannah, Georgia antiques store owner Matt Hawkins discovers a two-hundred-year-old journal containing a stunning accusation. The journal claims that America’s most revered hero, George Washington, wrote a secret surrender letter to the British during the Revolutionary War—a seditious act that would have ended America’s fight for independence.

Meanwhile, the present-day race for president of the United States is a dead heat. The Republican nominee, a direct descendant of Washington’s family, has shamelessly exploited his ties to the Founding Father—a strategy that has worked brilliantly to eliminate a once wide gap in the polls. As the past collides with the present, Hawkins and lovely historian Sarah Gordon are determined to unearth the truth about the journal’s remarkable claim. But they must avoid a shadowy adversary who has a billion dollars riding on the election’s outcome—and who will stop at nothing to ensure that Washington’s surrender letter remains a secret.