The Case of the Hydegild Sacrifice
About the Book
Uncover The Secrets History Tried To Bury…
Washington, D.C., 1865. The Civil War is ending. The nation is fragile, divided, and desperate for stability. And a single gunshot is about to change history forever.
When Major Findo Gask and his Sherlockian companion Erroll Rait arrive in the capital, they are drawn into a covert mission with the famed Pinkerton Agency: stop the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.
But the deeper they probe, the more troubling the case becomes.
This is no simple plot of one fanatic and a handful of conspirators. Clues vanish without explanation. Telegraph wires fall mysteriously silent. Witnesses shift their accounts. What begins as an investigation soon unravels into something far more unsettling: a landscape of political tension, hidden influence, and dangerous ambiguity.
Then, Lincoln falls.
In the chaotic aftermath, Washington transforms into a city ruled by fear, secrecy, and power. As authorities race to secure arrests and convictions, Gask and Rait uncover disturbing irregularities: an investigation controlled from above, evidence that raises more questions than answers, and judicial proceedings conducted behind closed doors.
Someone is not searching for the truth. Someone is shaping it.
And, if Gask writes down what he suspects, he may not live long enough to publish it.
The Case of the Hydegild Sacrifice is a richly atmospheric historical mystery grounded in the real events surrounding Lincoln’s assassination. Blending meticulous research with relentless suspense, the novel carries readers through wartime Washington’s intrigue and surveillance, the dramatic manhunt for John Wilkes Booth from Ford’s Theatre to Garrett’s farm, and the suffocating pressures of a trial where justice itself becomes uncertain. At its core lies a question that lingers long after the final page: Who truly benefited from Lincoln’s death?
Perfect for readers of historical mysteries, political conspiracy thrillers, and courtroom drama, this gripping installment explores a deeply unsettling idea about power, truth, and history:
Sometimes the guilty are chosen…and truth is the sacrifice.
History holds its breath. Will you dare to follow the evidence where it leads?
Praise for the Major Gask & Erroll Rait Mysteries Series:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “An ingeniously plotted tale of suspense and mystery, Cairns draws on extensive historical research to re-examine the turbulent aftermath of Lincoln’s assassination, casting fresh light on one of history’s most debated and enduring mysteries.” —Book Excellence
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “Bursting with mystery, action, and adventure…Cairns cleverly blends historical context, mystery and action into a Sherlock Holmes-esque story.” —Aspects of History
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “The author has a keen eye for period detail, based on meticulous research, and this is woven into the narrative to create a gripping, fast-paced read.” —The Historical Novel Society
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “Captivating historical fiction…a definite Sherlock Holmes vibe…thoroughly enjoyed the mystery, suspense and intrigue.” —Reader’s Choice Book Awards
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “A thrilling mix of mystery, adventure, and conspiracy that keeps readers guessing until the very end”
—Reader’s Favorite
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “A fascinating combination of historical fiction and classic mystery. I couldn't put it down!” —Reedsy.com
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “Cairns has found an excellent vehicle for telling this riveting tale. (A) history lesson and whiten(s) those knuckles, too, like a good mystery should!” —ReaderViews
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “A palpable sense of unease.” —Crime Fiction Lover
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