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Michael Kenneth Smith
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In the Shadow of Gold: A Tale of the Lost Confederate Treasure Kindle Edition

by Michael Kenneth Smith (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 62 ratings
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April 1865. Richmond, Virginia. Two trains. One treasure. And a question worth millions.

As the US Civil War was drawing to a close, and Grant was about to take Richmond, two trains left the city in the dark of night. One carried Confederate President Jefferson Davis and his cabinet. The other carried the Confederate Treasury guarded by a young midshipman from the CSA Navy. A few weeks later, Davis was captured by Federal troops near Irwinville, Georgia, and the treasure…was gone. People have been speculating on what happened to the Confederate treasure for decades.

In The Shadow of Gold offers a fresh interpretation of this on-going mystery—imagining what could have happened to the millions in lost gold, silver, and jewelry, and the lives it could have changed for generations to come.

“Veteran author Michael Kenneth Smith has spun another unique tale…offer[ing] thoughtful and sometimes direct commentary on issues of inequality and racial injustice, drawing a hopeful picture against a dark historical background…This is a historical novel for our own challenging times.”—Civil War Monitor

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  1. Print length
    295 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publication date
    December 1, 2020
  5. File size
    3876 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"[T]he author's comprehensive knowledge of the Civil War and its aftermath lends depth and texture to a high-stakes, well-paced adventure saga." --Kirkus Reviews

"Readers seeking an involving blend of mystery, evolving relationships, questions of moral and immoral behaviors, and an alternate speculation of what could have happened to so much treasure will find that In The Shadow of Gold excels in both its sense of place and its sense of purpose." -- Midwest Review

"Packed with suspense, mystery, and adventure, In The Shadow of Gold is an intriguing story, which lovers of historical fiction will thoroughly enjoy. Highly recommended!" --
The Columbia Review

"To read Michael Kenneth Smith's fascinating novel is to surrender to a raconteur of the traditional school. His writing is rich with strong characterization, compelling plotting, and above all, his storytelling gift which is abundantly supported, thanks to expertly voiced narration and masterly evocation of time and space." -- Bookpleasures

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08MCLL8B3
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 1, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3876 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 295 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 62 ratings

About the author

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Michael Kenneth Smith

Michael Kenneth Smith

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Praise for the writing of Michael Kenneth Smith.

"This is a well-constructed and paced story. A polished novel with really good characters... convincing and entertaining. The flying scenes and the particularities of each plane, of course, add to the authority of the novel. The scenes build on each other, by turns emotional and exciting." —Greg Michalson, Publisher, Unbridled Books

“Michael Kenneth Smith drafts readers into the heart of wartime with his latest novel...Capturing the tension and visceral experience of an aerial dogfight is a challenge, but Smith can tear a scene out of the sky and throw it onto the page...a timeless story that rings with relevance in ever age, so long as war exists."—SPR

"Smith creates a moving, memorable account of World War II...While its focus on military engagements and war make it highly recommended for libraries strong in military historical fiction, All is Fair's concurrent examination of not just survival and conflict, but matters of the heart open this world to non-military-fiction readers, as well"—Midwest Book Review

"This lean sequel packs in more history and raw emotion than a 600-page epic. Smith knows the Civil War in his bones, and his novel will leave readers emotionally drained but grateful."—KIRKUS REVIEW

"History buffs and scholars alike will appreciate Smith’s dedication to historical accuracy."—The Civil War Monitor

"Historical fiction and Civil War buffs will wish SCARRED were closer to the epic length of GONE WITH THE WIND, simply because the subject never grows tiresome. Both will find Smith's solidly written novel an engrossing, moving read."—BLUEINK REVIEW

MICHAEL KENNETH SMITH is the author of six historical novels including the international Amazon bestseller, The Postwoman, based on the true story of WWII Resistance fighter, Andreé De Jongh. Trained as a mechanical engineer, Smith turned to writing after building—and selling—a successful auto parts business. Storytelling is his lifelong passion.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
62 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

V.E.
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Historical Fiction
Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2021
Verified Purchase
In the Shadow of Gold: A Tale of the Lost Confederate Treasure by Michael Kenneth Smith is a compelling and intriguing book. Much of the appeal to the book is due to the rich texture of the writing, which within a historical context simply explodes on the page. The characterization details, the scene-setting, solid plotting, and perfect narration make for a must-read for history fans and fiction fans alike. This story tells the tale of what might have happened to the Confederate treasury. With alternate time periods, this book holds your attention as the plot unfolds nicely. Immersive and addicting, a true education awaits the reader in this Civil War tale. This is a highly recommended book for historical fiction fans and more.
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J Armstrong
4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable book on a fascinating topic
Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2021
Verified Purchase
The United States 1865, towards the end of the Civil War that ravaged the United States, there is much that happened that is recorded in history. One such event is the loss of the Confederate Treasure that was travelling with the Confederate president and then was lost. In this story, the man guarding the treasure states that a man named Yancey Arvindale (later known by Arvin), stole the treasure and hid it away. This book, set against the backdrop of this tumultuous time, gives us an intriguing account of what might have happened to the lost treasure.
A fascinating tale, I did not know anything about the lost Confederacy treasure and spent a few minutes researching and reading up on the topic prompted by this book. Always a good thing when a book can get you to learn about new things, even if the book is fiction. A good story and a great way to spend some downtime.
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Guy Wheatley
5.0 out of 5 stars An imaginative tale about the Confederate Gold
Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2021
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There has been a lot of speculation about what happened to the Confederate Gold. This is an imaginative tale of what might have happened to some of it. We also follow the path of several people as their stories converge.
We jump back and forth from 2020 to 1865. The first couple of jumps are clearly labeled, but the author eventually stops notating the time jump. The writing is clear enough that I was never confused when the time jumped. Still, I would have preferred to have the notations.
For people in the south in 1865, the world was ending. Yancey and Ellie both take their destiny into their own hands. Their paths eventually converge as they set in place the foundation that leads to the part of the story in 2020.
Characters are well developed the story is interesting. I recommend this book.
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A Cannady
5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent weaving of history with fiction
Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2021
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“In the Shadow of Gold: A Tale of the Lost Confederate Treasure” by Michael Kenneth Smith is a history buff’s treasure. Whether you already know about the Civil War era or you’re interested in all things historical, the author provides a strong background of factual information to bring along with his story. The missing Confederate treasure has turned into a myth based on real events, similar to the pirate treasure maps of long ago. After the Civil War, millions of dollars worth of gold was “lost,” and Smith’s story takes us back to that time period. The alleged thief is Yancey Arvindale, but did he really do it, or was he framed? And if he stole the treasure, where did he hide it? The story takes us back to his time period, when slaves were freed but still had no education, land, or food. Did Yancey - part black himself - steal the money to help these people? And if so, how does it get proven this far in time? And should he be prosecuted? So many theories and questions abound in this tale of buried (or hidden) treasure, one of the Civil War’s greatest mysteries.
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quirru
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2021
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In the Shadow of Gold by Michael Kenneth Smith is a historic novel based on the Confederate Treasury that was lost in April 1865, the novel starts on our time and then goes back to what might have happened to the treasures after the man that was its guardian was captured by the Federate troops, the author takes us into a journey of very possible suppositions about what had happened to at least part of it, the treasure was composed go Gold, Silver, and jewels and some of the suppositions that are made in this book are very credible and some of them a little devious but with a clear reasoning and good vision at the end. The boo is easy to follow, I got immersed in it because of all the mental cobwebs that he follows that make me think of so many possibilities as he was describing them by the plot or history, or both mixed and I finished the book without even noticing.
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S. J. Main
4.0 out of 5 stars Well written story
Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2021
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In the shadow of gold is an interesting story embodying an inclusive knowledge of the Civil war and what happened afterward. The literature is filled with mystery, adventure, and so much suspense. You really don’t want to put the book down and simply wish to read it till the end. The book is written well. I recommend it to anyone who likes American history. I wasn’t a big fan of the cover design of the book. I thought it didn’t complement the rich content inside. I look forward to reading more from this author.
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AliReads
5.0 out of 5 stars A Tale of Treasures and Repercussions
Reviewed in the United States on April 14, 2021
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In The Shadow of Gold is a historical novel. It is based on the recollections of Captain William Harwar Parker during the American Civil War. Parker was a Naval Officer in charge of the Confederacy treasures. This riveting story details the loss of this treasure – gold, silver, and jewels – and speculates what might have happened to it.
Banking upon his vast academic expertise as a Civil War historian, Smith knits a believable scenario regarding one of Civil War’s most intriguing events. It is a thought-provoking and highly recommended piece of fiction for the readers of history or those who hold a keen interest in one of the most tumultuous periods in American history.
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Jimmy ray
5.0 out of 5 stars Lost gold of the confederacy
Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2021
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This story is a good read that keeps your attention from the first page and pulls you along the journey to discover the lost gold of the confederate states. During the end of the civil war when Davis was escaping to the south, with the gold reserves from the confederacy, he was captured and the gold was missing. There are many stories about what happened to this massive treasure and where the gold ended up. This book offers a fun and entertaining story of the lost fortune and where it ended up. Great characters and a fun read. I enjoyed this one and you will too. Check it out folks, it is worth the read.
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