RISE TO REBELLION

Summer 1776. Different missions call Faith Clarke and Jeremy Butler to Philadelphia, where delegates are meeting to determine the path of the rebellious American Colonies. Faith has been called back to her childhood home to make peace with her terminally ill mother, while Jeremy has been summoned by General Washington to report to Philadelphia to deal with a crisis impacting the Continental Crisis.  Yet nothing is as it seems.

Her mother’s wandering mind reveals a secret that no one wants to discuss, but Faith realizes must come to light.  A child, born out of wedlock, haunts her mother’s memories and destroys her peace.  No matter the cost, Faith knows this child must be found for her mother to pass in peace, even as her own family tries to stop her. Only her older sister, Hannah, is willing to help her find the truth that will allow her mother to die in peace.

Meanwhile, Jeremy Butler hunts for an assassin determined to kill a member of the congress meeting to draft a proclamation from the American Colonies.  All attempts lead back to Benjamin Franklin, who is at the heart of the negotiations to send a united message to the King of England. But who would want to kill Franklin, a man respected by all?  Alone in a strange town, Jeremy enlists the help of Faith’s sister, Hannah, a formidable widow with a mind of her own. Together, they work to keep Franklin safe while hunting a ruthless killer wandering the streets of Philadelphia.

While Jeremy seeks answers from Franklin’s estranged son, William, Faith, and Hannah hunt for their long-lost sister, who they believe may still be living in Philadelphia.  None of them realizes that in a city rife with rebellion, anyone could be tempted to rise up and revolt against those held responsible for the deepest of betrayals.

. . .

"Author  Julie Bates's wonderful new novel, Rise to Rebellion, brings to life  the earliest days of the American Revolution with taut suspense and  vibrant characters-including Benjamin Franklin and John Hancock-who leap  off the page. A mystery of the American Revolution, to be sure, but  also a story about families, courage, treachery, and love in  18th-century Philadelphia. Meticulous research and descriptions conjure a  world on the cusp of change and make this a not-to-be-missed story for  any fan of early American history or historical fiction."

~ Mally Becker,  Agatha Award-nominated author of

The Turncoat's Widow and The Counterfeit Wife

"Stunning! A well-crafted  blend of history, mystery, and suspense that grips the reader on page  one and doesn't let go!"

~ J. C. Eaton, author of The Sophie Kimball  Mysteries,

The Wine Trail Mysteries, The Charcuterie Shop Mysteries,

and The Marcie Rayner Mysteries