Hello, all --

This book is on the "new book" shelf at the genealogy library I frequent so I thumbed through the pages, promising to look again during my next research trip.

This evening, I stopped in the bookstore and found that it's on the shelves. Six hours later, I'm just now putting it down after reading nearly half of the book. It's excellent!!!

The history of Missouri, Missouri slavery and crime in this state is captured and presented eloquently by Dr. Frazier. I live in Missouri, so the subject matter is particularly interesting to me, and I'd recommend it for anyone who wants to learn so much more about Missouri slavery than ever before! There's ten pages about the events preceding and including the trial of Celia, the woman enslaved and raped by Robert Newsom and later put to death for what was justifiable homicide. (When I signed on to write about this book, I looked initially for the researcher who wants to learn more about the Newsom family but was unable to locate the query she posted; I hope she finds this book for her own research).

This book is exceptional and a must-read for all genealogists.

DRK