The Messenger

Hannah Sunderland was raised a Quaker in Philadelphia.   Quakers are peacemakers and, therefore, don't believe in war or conflict.   She and most of her family were quite content to remain neutral even though most around them were taking sides as a Patriot or Loyalist, even her own twin brother when he chose to side with the Patriots.  When a British officer makes the Sunderland home his headquarters in 1778, the officer forces them to move into a relative's home because of his unacceptable behavior.  When Hannah's twin, Robert, is thrown into prison, she can no longer sit idly by and do nothing.  She will stop at almost nothing to save her brother from the fate of death that surely awaits him if he remains in General Howe's prison.  The circumstances Hannah finds herself in during these days of British occupation cause her to question everything she has known as "truth".  

Jeremiah Jones, a Colonial spy, wounded war veteran, and local tavernkeeper, has a plan but he can do nothing without access to the same prison Hannah's brother is in.  He needs a messenger.  Jeremiah is able to convince Hannah that she can aide her brother and help him pass information into the prison. What Jeremiah isn't prepared for is Hannah's level of moral truth and honor toward her parents and her faith.

Jeremiah and Hannah make an unlikely pair.  Hannah's Quaker faith is ingrained in her and Jeremiah has long ago surpassed his need for God. However, they find in each other just what the other needs.

Ms. Mitchell has tackled a time period where very few historical novels have been written. I chose this book for this very reason.  Colonial history is fascinating and yet I find few fictional books written around the time period.  The Messenger opens from Hannah's point of view and Jeremiah's point of view follows in the next chapter.  The entire book is written in the manner and makes the transition from the two perspectives wonderfully woven together.

I must admit, that at first, I found the book a bit difficult to get into.  I reread the first two chapters a couple of times because I would read them and not be grabbed by the storyline and put it down only to pick it up weeks later to reread.  However, once I got past the first couple of chapters, the characters of Hannah and Jeremiah begin to endear themselves to me and I didn't want to put the book down.  As Jeremiah struggles with the man he has become and grieves the man he once was, you can't help but love him and feel for him as his insecurities surface.  Hannah, longing to be the faithful and dutiful daughter, struggles with her choices and decisions.  Her feelings, both loathing and kind toward Jeremiah, make her a woman you want to keep reading about.  Watching their friendship and attraction toward one another slowly unfold was beautiful.  I loved the fact that it was gradual and not another love at first sight kind of relationship and that both of them made the other a better person.  Isn't that what love is about?

I did receive this book free from the publisher and was, in no way, obligated to leave a positive review.  If given the opportunity.  I would love to read another of Siri Mitchell's books.